Brisbane to Hervey Bay drive: Distance & road trip stops
The 290km road trip from Brisbane to Hervey Bay in Queensland takes around three hours and 24 minutes. If your plan is to visit Fraser Island, you may be better off taking the barge from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach. The 254km drive from Brisbane to Inskip Point takes around three hours and four minutes.
This guide is aimed at travellers planning a Brisbane to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary.
The Queensland town of Hervey Bay is a major stop on the classic east coast route from Sydney to Cairns. This is largely because it’s the main gateway to Fraser Island/ K’gari – the world’s largest sand island. But there’s also excellent whale-watching to be had. Several whale cruises leave from Urangan harbour.
Hervey Bay offers sunset cruises 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.
For many, the previous stop before Hervey Bay will have been Queensland capital Brisbane.
Book these 8 Hervey Bay experiences now
- 1. Great Sandy Strait wildlife cruise – with a great chance of spotting dingos or dugongs.
- 2. All-inclusive Fraser Island day tour – with pick-up at your accommodation.
- 3. Fraser Island two day tour – see much more.
- 4. Fun cruise – get close to dolphins and turtles while lounging in the boom netting.
- 5. Sunset cruise.
- 6. Dolphin sailing adventure.
- 7. Whale-watching – this is arguably the best place in Australia to spot humpback whales.
- 8. Fraser Island west coast cruise – with lunch & kayaking.
Brisbane to Hervey Bay road trip stops
This is a mistake, because driving straight from Brisbane to Hervey Bay means you miss out on the Sunshine Coast. That’s no boat cruises in Mooloolaba, no markets in Eumundi, no Kondalilla National Park walks from Montville and no koalas in the Noosa National Park.
You’re missing some of the best experiences and towns in Queensland. If you’ve got the time, drive from Brisbane to Noosa, and stay in Queensland’s best beach town for a few days before moving north.
That said, Australia Zoo and the Aussie World theme park are just off the Bruce Highway should you fancy animal encounters or a log flume.
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.
Direct Brisbane to Hervey Bay drive
However, time pressures might dictate that you need to do the drive from Brisbane to Hervey Bay in one hit, or as the first leg on a Brisbane to Cairns road trip. According to Google Maps, the Brisbane to Hervey Bay drive is 290km long.
This is mainly along the Bruce Highway, via the towns of Gympie and Maryborough. That makes for a Brisbane to Hervey Bay driving time of three hours and 24 minutes.
Book these 8 Hervey Bay experiences now
- 1. Great Sandy Strait wildlife cruise – with a great chance of spotting dingos or dugongs.
- 2. All-inclusive Fraser Island day tour – with pick-up at your accommodation.
- 3. Fraser Island two day tour – see much more.
- 4. Fun cruise – get close to dolphins and turtles while lounging in the boom netting.
- 5. Sunset cruise.
- 6. Dolphin sailing adventure.
- 7. Whale-watching – this is arguably the best place in Australia to spot humpback whales.
- 8. Fraser Island west coast cruise – with lunch & kayaking.
However, if the plan is to head straight for Fraser Island, you don’t want to head to Hervey Bay itself. The Fraser Island barge, carrying 4WD vehicles across to the island, leaves from River Heads. This is just south of Hervey Bay.
The bad news is that you have to swing around the outskirts of Hervey Bay to get on the River Heads Road, and the journey takes longer. The drive from Brisbane to River Heads is 301km long, and should take around three hours and 34 minutes.
Brisbane to Inskip Point driving time
There is an alternative access point to Fraser Island, however. If your plan is to leave Brisbane, drive up, then go straight to Fraser Island, you should aim for the Manta Ray barge at Inskip Point. These barges go to the southern tip of Fraser Island.
Inskip Point is just north of the small town of Rainbow Beach – well worth seeing for the multicoloured sands. Staying in Rainbow Beach is a legitimate alternative to Hervey Bay, too. There are several hostels, a caravan park and a few apartment-style resorts. Several Fraser Island tours leave from Rainbow Beach.
5 brilliant Rainbow Beach experiences you should book in advance
- Kayaking with dolphins – including a 4WD beach driving adventure.
- Beginner surfing lessons – you’ll be standing on the board by the end.
- Stand-up paddleboarding and 4WD tour combo – great value day out.
- Fraser Island day tour – visiting the island’s main highlights.
- Fraser Island three day tour – covering parts of the island most visitors miss.
The drive from Brisbane to Inskip Point is 254km long, and should take around three hours and four minutes. The Hervey Bay weather is best outside the summer months.
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.
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.
More Queensland holidays
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What is the story behind the Maheno shipwreck on Fraser Island?
What can I see in the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane?
Where can I see kangaroos on the beach in Queensland?
Is it worth visiting the Cairns Botanic Gardens?