Brisbane to Maroochydore: Distance, drive time & road trip stops
The Brisbane to Maroochydore drive covers a 104km distance in a driving time of around 1h25m. If visiting Maroochydore as part of a road trip itinerary, good stops include the Wild Horse Mountain Lookout and Aussie World.
The Brisbane to Maroochydore drive takes you from the Queensland capital to the commercial hub of the Sunshine Coast. Cotton Tree Beach and the various businesses along the Maroochy River are part of Maroochydore.
Brisbane to Maroochydore distance and driving time
By car, the Brisbane to Maroochydore drive covers a distance of 104km. Visitors should expect a driving time of around one hour and 25 minutes.
6 supreme Brisbane day trips that will improve your holiday
- Moreton Island day trip – with kayaking, sandboarding and snorkelling or with dolphin-feeding and desert dunes adventure.
- Springbrook National Park glowworms and rainforest tour – including Tamborine Skywalk.
- Eumundi Markets day trip – Australia’s best markets, plus the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa.
- North Stradbroke Island day tour – with cruise, wildlife spotting and guided walk.
- Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
- Maialia rainforest walking and wildlife tour – visit lesser-known D’Aguilar National Park.
The Brisbane to Maroochydore starts off ploughing through Brisbane’s northern suburbs. The Bruce Highway then heads past Burpengary and Caboolture.
Brisbane to Maroochydore road trip: A little detour?
Just north of Caboolture, you might want to take a detour along Steve Irwin Way towards Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Ngungun and Australia Zoo.
If you just want to stick to the motorway, there’s a good photo stop at the Wild Horse Mountain Lookout makes for a good photo stop.
Brisbane to Maroochydore drive: Sunshine Coast section
After passing between the Glasshouse Mountains and Beerburrum East State Forest, you’ll then hit the bottom end of the Sunshine Coast.
The motorway then passes between the Glass House Mountains and Beerburrum East State Forest to the bottom end of the Sunshine Coast. You’ll go past Caloundra, the Jowarra section of the Mooloolah River National Park and the Aussie World theme park, before turning off the Bruce Highway at junction 194.
The Sunshine Motorway
The Sunshine Motorway then takes you towards popular beach spot Mooloolaba. For Maroochydore, keep going on the Sunshine Motorway until you reach the Maroochydore Road exit. This will bring you into Maroochydore itself.
If coming from Brisbane Airport, the drive takes roughly the same amount of time.
Maroochydore accommodation options include the four star Elouera Tower and the spacious Reflections Holiday Apartments.
12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now
- Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
- Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
- Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
- Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
- Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
- Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
- Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
- Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
- Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
- Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
- Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
- Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
9 brilliant Brisbane experiences to book in advance
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tickets (or entry plus river cruise combo) – hold a koala and see lots of adorable native wildlife.
- Brisbane River cruise – see the key sights and learn about the city on the way.
- Story Bridge Adventure Climb – walk along the top of Brisbane’s famous bridge, with 360 degree views.
- Combine the Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Kangaroo Point Cliffs on a fun Segway tour.
- Helicopter flight – see the city from a bird’s eye view.
- Kayaking tour – choose the night tour to see the city light up, the day tour to enjoy the sunshine.
- XXXX brewery tour – see how Australia’s most famous beer is made.
- Guided wine flight tasting – get an Aussie wine introductory course.
- See Brisbane’s spooky side on a city centre ghost tour.