Gold Coast to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
Gold Coast to Cairns road trip: Maryborough to Childers
The next tempting detour is Bundaberg, where you can taste Queensland’s most famous rum on the Bundaberg Rum distillery tours. You can also choose turtle-watching at Mon Repos, beach time at Bargara strawberry-picking at Tinaberries,.
Excellent value Bundaberg accommodation includes the Villa Mirasol Motor Inn, Bundaberg Spanish Motor Inn and Bundaberg Big4 Cane Village Holiday Park.
Stay on the Bruce Highway, though, and you’ll reach to heritage town Childers and the Snakes Downunder reptile park. A little further along come Good Night Scrub National Park from Gin Gin, and fishing-friendly Lake Monduran.
Attractions between the Gold Coast and Cairns: Gin Gin to Gladstone
For the next excellent detour, turn off at Miriam Vale for twin towns Agnes Water and 1770 are flanked, plus wildlife-heavy Eurimbula National Park.
Activities in Agnes Water and 1770 include amphibious vehicle tours, scooter tours, sunset cruises and bike rentals.
What to book in 1770/ Agnes Water before you arrive
- See the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef – on a Lady Musgrave Island day tour.
- Hire a scooter – and pootle around the back lanes looking for kangaroos.
- Kick back with sparkling wine on a sunset cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Travel on land and water, and try sandboarding – on a quirky full day amphibious vehicle tour.
- Or take a shorter wildlife-spotting coastline tour, with lunch.
- Get the best deals on your accommodation.
For Agnes Water and 1770 accommodation, go for the pool-focused 1770 Lagoons Central Apartment Resort or the kid-friendly NRMA Agnes Water Holiday Park.
Further north, Gladstone is an industrial city, and you’re better of staying in beach suburb Tannum Sands.
Things to do in Gladstone include visiting the Maritime Museum and taking the ferry to Curtis Island. But the main reason to visit is taking the Heron Island ferry to Heron Island and Wilson Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Gladstone accommodation picks include the budget-friendly Aaron Motel, the highly-regarded Harbour Sails Motor Inn and the spacious Oaks Gladstone Grand Hotel.
Click through for the next section: Rockhampton and Yeppoon.