Gold Coast to Noosa road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
The Gold Coast to Noosa drive in Queensland is 219km long, with a driving time of two hours and 33 minutes. It’s motorway pretty much all the way, but travelling by car, you can build some road trip stops into the itinerary.
The Gold Coast to Noosa road trip isn’t a particularly long one, but most people travelling up the Queensland coast will stop in Brisbane on the way.
If, however, you want to hop from beach destination to beach destination, you might conceivably tackle the Gold Coast to Noosa drive in one hit.
Gold Coast to Noosa driving time
The Gold Coast to Noosa driving time depends, of course, on what part of the Gold Coast you’re departing from. And, also, where in Noosa you’re heading to.
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.
As an end point to the journey, we’ll use the Lions Park car park in Noosa Heads, just behind the famous Hastings Street. That’s where most daytrippers would aim for.
As a departure point for the Gold Coast to Noosa drive, we’ll pick Surfers Paradise, the busiest part of the Gold Coast.
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 Noosa road trip from Surfers Paradise
The Surfers Paradise to Noosa Heads drive is 219km long, with a Gold Coast to Noosa driving time of two hours and 33 minutes. This drive is almost entirely along the M1, which you join at Nerang, in its guises as the Pacific Motorway and Bruce Motorway. The route passes Helensvale, the Gold Coast theme parks around Coomera, Ormeau and Yatala before entering what’s essentially Brisbane’s suburbia.
At the northern end of Brisbane, the Bruce Motorway passes through Burpengary and Caboolture in the Moreton Bay region before heading west of Caloundra through the Sunshine Coast. The Surfers Paradise to Noosa Heads drive leaves the Bruce Motorway at Junction 69 in Sippy Downs, just north of the Aussie World theme park. From then on, the journey is almost entirely along the Sunshine Motorway past Mooloolaba, Marcoola, Maroochydore, Mudjimba and Coolum.
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.
Gold Coast Airport to Noosa drive
Coming from the Gold Coast Airport near Coolangatta, the drive from the Gold Coast to Noosa is slightly longer. It’s a distance of 244km, with a driving time of around two hours and 47 minutes.
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