Brisbane to Noosa drive: Distance from city & airport

The drive from Brisbane to Noosa is 153km from Brisbane CBD or 148km from Brisbane Airport. That means a Brisbane to Noosa driving time of just under two hours from the city centre, but around one hour and 42 minutes from the airport.

There’s a strong argument for Noosa being Australia’s best beach town. It has a magic combination of surf beaches, river cruises in national parks, high quality food and engaging shopping. But another string to Noosa’s bow is that it is relatively easy to get to. A Brisbane to Noosa road trip doesn’t take all that long, even though Noosa is at the northerly end of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

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.

Brisbane to Noosa distance and driving time

In fact, many Brisbane residents use Noosa as a weekend getaway destination. The drive from Brisbane to Noosa is 153km long, most of which is straight up the M1 motorway. Given good traffic and no stops, this Brisbane to Noosa drive should take one hour and 56 minutes according to Google Maps.

Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into

Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.

This obviously makes Noosa an easy break if you’re using Brisbane as your Australian base. It also makes Noosa a logical first stop on a Queensland road trip from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, the up the coast to Cairns.

Brisbane Airport to Noosa

But this Brisbane to Noosa driving time is based on driving from the CBD of Queensland’s state capital. If you’re going from Brisbane Airport instead, it’s quicker.

If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?

The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.

Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.

That’s because Brisbane Airport is north of central Brisbane. The distance from Brisbane Airport to Noosa is 148km, but because you hit the M1 much quicker, the driving time from Brisbane Airport to Noosa is just one hour and 42 minutes.

Providing you think you’ll be in a fit state getting off the plane after a long international flight, that makes Noosa a tempting place to start your Australian holiday. Get off the plane, pick up a hire car, and you can spend a few days in a Queensland beach town that’s almost perfectly set up for getting over jetlag. There’s nothing an early morning stand-up paddle-boarding session won’t fix.

Noosa, Queensland — Noosa is the perfect town to beat jetlag in. And the drive from Brisbane to Noosa only takes an hour and 42 minutes if coming from the airport. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Brisbane to Noosa road trip

Alternatively, forget the strict Brisbane to Noosa drive time and make a day of the drive from Brisbane to Noosa. There are a few good stops on the way, starting with Redcliffe – home to a street devoted to the Bee Gees. The Bruce Highway also passes close to Australia Zoo in Beerwah.

Further north on the Sunshine Coast is Aussie World, a medium-sized theme park just off the Bruce Highway. Then comes Mooloolaba, which offers a great beach, snorkelling and river cruises. You can also eat fish and chips overlooking the beach at the Mooloolaba Surf Club. Buderim Falls and Mudjimba Beach are easy stops nearby, too.

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.

Brisbane to Noosa drive attractions

A detour into the hinterland will bring you to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Mount Ngungun and Mount Tibrogargan, while one of Australia’s best Big Things is just off the highway in Nambour. The Big Pineapple is incredibly cheesy, but makes for a good photo opportunity. Pretty mountain town Montville and the neighbouring Kondalilla National Park are also good options.

If you’re driving from Brisbane to Noosa on a Wednesday or Saturday, however, the essential stop is Eumundi. The sprawling Eumundi Markets are arguably the best markets in Australia.

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.