Gold Coast to Bundaberg road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Gold Coast to Bundaberg drive covers a distance of 440km in a driving time of around 4h52m. Top road trip stops along the way include Brisbane, Yandina and Maryborough.
The drive from the Gold Coast to Bundaberg passes many of South East Queensland’s highlights.
The Gold Coast offers sunset cruises, parasailing, jet boat rides and amphibious vehicle tours.
Bundaberg brings rum distillery tours, Lady Musgrave Island day trips, ginger beer brewery tastings and farm experiences.
But there’s plenty to see in between…
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.
Gold Coast to Bundaberg distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Gold Coast to Bundaberg is 440km. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 52 minutes.
This is the time and distance measured from Surfers Paradise – it will vary slightly from other parts of the Gold 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 to Bundaberg road trips: Theme parks and Brisbane
On the way north into Brisbane, you’ll go past the famous Gold Coast theme parks.
Warner Brothers Movie World, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular and Wet N Wild Gold Coast cluster around Oxenford. Dreamworld and Whitewater World are bit further north in Coomera.
The boundaries between the Gold Coast and Brisbane are hazy, but other attractions on the way into the Queensland capital include the Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum. There are also 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.
In terms of things to do in Brisbane itself, try the Museum of Brisbane, the Streets Beach, the public art trails and City Botanic Gardens.
Excellent Brisbane accommodation picks include the sassy W Brisbane, the heritage-drenched Treasury and the influencer-friendly 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.
Click through for the next section: The Sunshine Coast.