Brisbane to Tennant Creek: Distance, driving time & road trip stops
By car, it’s a distance of 2,485km from Brisbane to Tennant Creek. Break up the 27 hour road trip itinerary with stops Queensland outback towns such as Longreach and Mount Isa.
The Brisbane to Tennant Creek drive is an extraordinary mission through the Queensland outback and into the centre of the Northern Territory. It connects several quirky outback towns and plenty of desert. Most people taking this epic road trip on will be doing so as part of a longer journey – either Brisbane to Darwin, Brisbane to Alice Springs or Brisbane to Uluru.
Book in advance for the best prices on Tennant Creek accommodation.
Brisbane to Tennant Creek distance and driving time
The distance from Brisbane to Tennant Creek by car is 2,485km. That makes for a gruesome driving time of 27 hours.
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.
It’d be frankly dangerous to attempt that in one stint. Therefore, prepare to make the drive into a Brisbane to Tennant Creek road trip, making a few judicious stops along the way.
Australia Travel Questions has researched guides to the separate legs of the journey. Click through for the detailed versions if planning a road trip itinerary, although an overview is below, further down the page.
Best stops between Brisbane and Tennant Creek
The best stops between Brisbane and Tennant Creek are Roma, Longreach, Winton and Mount Isa. But there are other options, too.
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.
On the Brisbane to Roma leg of the Brisbane to Tennant Creek road trip, the largest city is Toowoomba. This is a place of parks and gardens, but the DownsSteam railway museum is also worth a visit.
Top Toowoomba accommodation recommendations
The best Toowoomba accommodation options are:
- For central location and undercover parking at a 4.5 star with a pool: Oaks Toowoomba.
- For well-equipped apartments: Athena Motel Apartments.
- For a holiday park with plenty for the kids: Big4 Toowoomba Garden City.
- For a surprisingly good motel at cheapish rates: Applegum Inn.
Further along the route southern Queensland, local history fixes come courtesy of the Pioneer Park Museum in Dalby or the Chinchilla Historical Museum in Chinchilla.
Best places to stay in Chinchilla.
The top Chinchilla accommodation options are:
- First choice for overall quality: Chinchilla Downtown Motor Inn.
- For villas at bargain rates: Chinchilla Motor Inn.
- For a good outdoor pool and affordable prices: Palms Motor Inn.
Keep going to Miles, where Chinamans Lagoon fills with with rare pink water lilies.
Click through for the next section: Roma and Charleville.