Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive time, distance & road trip stops
The Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive covers a 97km distance in a driving time of roughly 1h19m. Road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Wild Horse Mountain and the Aussie World theme park.
The Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive connects the Queensland capital to one of the best resort towns on the Sunshine Coast. It’s not a long drive by Australian standards, although if covering the distance as part of a road trip itinerary, you might be interested in making a few stops along the way.
Brisbane to Mooloolaba distance and driving time
By car, the Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive covers a distance of 97km. Visitors should expect a driving time of around one hour and 19 minutes.
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.
The Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive sets off through Brisbane’s northern suburbs, with the Bruce Highway passing the easily skippable towns of Burpengary and Caboolture.
What to pre-book in Mooloolaba
- A sunset cruise along the palm-lined waterways
- The Aquaduck tour – it’s a bus tour, and then it’s a cruise, all in the same amphibious vehicle.
- A canal cruise – on a historic wooden ferry.
- Sealife aquarium tickets – visit the biggest aquarium on the Sunshine Coast.
- In season, a whale-watching cruise – get close to the migrating humpbacks.
- Your accommodation.
Just north of Caboolture, Steve Irwin Way heads towards Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Ngungun and Australia Zoo. Stick to the motorway, however and the Wild Horse Mountain Lookout makes for a good photo stop.
Brisbane to Mooloolaba road trip: Southern end of Sunshine Coast
The motorway then passes between the Glass House Mountains and Beerburrum East State Forest.
At the bottom end of the Sunshine Coast, the turn-off for Caloundra is next to the Jowarra section of the Mooloolah River National Park.
Caloundra has plenty to offer, including surf lessons at Kings Beach and kayaking along the Pumicestone Passage.
Brisbane to Mooloolaba drive: Sunshine Motorway junction
But if you keep going to Mooloolaba, you’ll pass the Aussie World theme park, then turn off the Bruce Highway at junction 194. The Sunshine Motorway will then take you into Mooloolaba. The last few hundred metres towards Mooloolaba Beach are along Brisbane Road.
If coming from Brisbane Airport, the drive takes roughly the same amount of time.
Things to do in Mooloolaba include having a few beachside beers at the Mooloolaba Surf Club, riding the Sunshine Coast Aquaduck taking a Sunshine Coast submarine tour.
Mooloolaba accommodation options include spacious Mantra Mooloolaba and the laid-back Landmark Resort.
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.
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.
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