Canberra to Brisbane road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

Canberra to Brisbane 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.

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.

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.

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.

Top Kingscliff accommodation options

The best places to stay in Kingscliff are:

For a Balinese-style resort: Oaks Santai Casuarina Resort.
For a kid-friendly holiday park: Ingenia Holidays Kingscliff.
For suites with a lagoon pool: Mantra on Salt Beach.
For good value by the beach: The Blue Water.

Things to do in Tweed Heads include crab-catching adventures, Tweed River cruises, and brewery and distillery tours.

Tweed Heads accommodation favourites are the well-rated Tweed Heads Vegas Motel and Arabella Motor Inn.

Canberra to Brisbane by car: The Gold Coast

Coolangatta is the first town on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Things to do in Coolangatta include walking from Point Danger to Snapper Rocks, swimming at Coolangatta Beach and throwing yourself into surfing lessons.

Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast — There are plenty of things to do in Coolangatta, but you come to the southern end of the Gold Coast for the surf. Photo copyright 2017 Getty Images.

The Pacific Motorway, however, runs west of Coolangatta, Kirra Beach, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Currumbin and Palm Beach.

Most of the things to do on the Gold Coast, such as jet boat rides, sunset cruises, parasailing and amphibious vehicle tours, require a short deviation towards the coast.

7 Gold Coast experiences worth booking in advance

See waterfalls and natural wonders – on a full day Springbrook National Park tour.
Be awed by massive migrating humpbacks – on a great value whale-watching cruise.
Feast as you explore the Gold Coast waterways – on a dinner cruise.
Kayak with dolphins and snorkel with hundred of sub-tropical fish – on the same tour.
Enjoy high speed thrills along the waterways – on a jet boat adventure.
Glide above the beautiful hinterland – on a serene hot air balloon flight.
Taste the best Scenic Rim wines – on an indulgent Tamborine Mountain wine tour, with lunch.

Gold Coast accommodation is mainly apartments, but top Surfers Paradise hotels include the luxurious Q1 Resort and Spa and the budget-friendly Vibe Hotel.

Staying near and you can enjoy the David Fleay Wildlife Park on Tallebudgera Creek or Nerang National Park.

But most travellers will probably be more interested in the Gold Coast theme parks.

Warner Brothers Movie World, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular and Wet N Wild Gold Coast are around Oxenford. Dreamworld and Whitewater World are further north in Coomera.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Canberra to Brisbane road trip: Brisbane attractions

The Gold Coast and Brisbane merge into each other somewhat. But on the way into the Queensland capital, attractions worth considering include the Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum, plus the Logan River Parklands, Springwood Conservation Park and Mt Gravatt Lookout.

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.

For things to do in Brisbane itself, try the Streets Beach, the Museum of Brisbane, the public art trails and City Botanic Gardens.

Other top options include a Moreton Island day trip, climbing the Story Bridge and visiting native wildlife at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Great Brisbane accommodation choices include the swaggering W Brisbane, the heritage-lavished Treasury and the buzzy, photogenic Ovolo.

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.