Byron Bay to Hervey Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops to add to a Byron Bay to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary include the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Noosa. By car, the distance from Byron Bay to Hervey Bay is 453km and driving time around 5h8m.

A Byron Bay to Hervey Bay road trip connects two of the most popular spots on the east coast of Australia.

Byron Bay offers kayaking with dolphins, beach and waterfalls tours and surfing lessons. To check out more Byron Bay tours and experiences, click here. For Byron Bay accommodation deals, venture this way.

Hervey Bay is the major gateway to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) in Queensland. K’gari tours are best booked ahead of arriving in the city.

Hervey Bay also offers sunset cruises, whale-watching and wildlife cruises in the Great Sandy Strait. To pick out Hervey Bay experiences that pique your interest, look here. For Hervey Bay accommodation, nosy around here.

Pick the best K’gari/ Fraser Island tour for you

HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE: One day coach tour from Hervey Bay.
FROM THE SOUTH: One day 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach.
PACK MORE IN: Two day tour, staying at K’gari Beach Resort.
BEACHY: Boat cruise with west coast beach stops.
BACKPACKERS: Three day, drive-yourself camping adventure from Hervey Bay. Or similar from Rainbow Beach.
MORE LUXURIOUS: Three day adventure, staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort.

However, there are several excellent attractions between Byron Bay and Hervey Bay. This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Byron Bay to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary.

Byron Bay to Hervey Bay distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Byron Bay to Hervey Bay is 453km. This makes for a driving time of around five hours and eight minutes.

Excellent road trip stops between Byron Bay and Hervey Bay include the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Noosa.

Good Byron Bay activities include brewery tours, art and wine classes and turtle snorkelling tours.

8 amazing Byron Bay experiences worth booking today

Experience the region’s glorious natural landscapes from above – on a hot air balloon ride.
Go kayaking with dolphins – and get much closer to them than on a boat tour 🐬.
Learn to surf – on a half day surf lesson 🏄‍♀️.
Discover the local secrets – let a guide show you the hidden beaches and waterfalls 🏖️.
Go on a three habitat wildlife safari – spotting koalas, kangaroos and flying foxes 🐨🦘.
See glowworms light up the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
Explore the Byron Bay hinterland – including the rainforest walk to Minyon Falls.
Taste craft beers and spirits – on a tour of Byron’s breweries and distilleries 🍻.
Also try… Skydives | Sea-kayaking | Whale-watching.

For Byron Bay accommodation, take a look at the beachside Cavvanbah, the Bayview Beachfront Apartments and the Ingenia Byron Bay holiday park.

Byron Bay to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary: Brunswick Heads and the Tweed Coast

It’s another 45 minutes from Byron Bay to Tweed Heads, NSW’s most northerly town.

The drive initially goes past Belongil Beach and the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

Further along, Brunswick Heads has a tremendous beach. You can also kayak or cruise on the Brunswick River and enjoy a snorkelling tour to Julian Rocks.

Here’s why you should stay in Brunswick Heads – four fantastic experiences

Take a snorkelling tour to the protected subtropical paradise – at the marine life-packed Julian Rocks.
Take an eco-cruise through the rainforest – in the day time or on a sunset cruise.
Watch migrating humpback whales between June and October – on a whale-watching cruise with a marine biologist guide.
Take a nature kayaking tour along the river – choose from sunrise, daytime and sunset tours.

Brunswick Heads accommodation picks include the stylish Brunswick and the pool-centred Sails Motel.

Mooball National Park, Pottsville, Hastings Point, Cabarita Beach and Tropical Fruit World in Duranbah present more exploration options. The latter offers a farm tour and boat cruise.

Five fabulous Tweed Coast experiences to at least consider booking

Tweed River lunch cruise – with wildlife viewing in the rainforest.
Crab-catching tour in Tweed Heads.
Farm tour at Tropical Fruit World – with wildlife spotting cruise.
Progressive four course meal across four top Kingscliff restaurants.
Husk Distillers distillery tour – with tastings.

Rum-tasting at the Husk Distillery in Tumbulgum is another option before the motorway rejoins the coast at Kingscliff. Here, Watersports Guru hires out kayaks.