Goondiwindi to Rockhampton road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The Goondiwindi to Rockhampton drive covers a distance of 654km in a driving time of around 7h5m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Miles and Isla Gorge National Park.
A road trip from Goondiwindi to Rockhampton takes you through some lesser explored areas of country Australia. But there’s a surprising amount to see and do along the route. You’ll pass through this way on the drive from Melbourne to Rockhampton or Sydney to Airlie Beach.
If you’re planning to stay in Goondiwindi, track down accommodation deals here.
Rockhampton offers fascinating history walks and cave tours. To source the best Rockhampton accommodation deals, go here.
This guide should help you plan your perfect Goondiwindi to Rockhampton road trip itinerary.
Click through on the individual places and attractions for more detailed, specific information.
If you need to hire a car, find the best rental deals. And don’t forget to do all your pre-road trip shopping.
Goondiwindi to Rockhampton distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Goondiwindi to Rockhampton is 654km. This makes for a driving time of around seven hours and five minutes. Obviously, you may want to make a few road trip stops along the way.
There’s a nice mix of history and culture in Goondiwindi, with attractions including the Customs House Museum and Goondiwindi Art and Sculpture Trail.
Goondiwindi accommodation picks
Hotel booking site Wotif offers Goondiwindi accommodation for from $97 a night. Check the options here.
The following, however, are particularly good choices.
- For central location: Macintyre Motor Inn.
- For cheapish rates and a pool: Binalong Motel.
- For character: O’Shea’s Royal Hotel.
- For family cabins: Freedom Lifestyle Parks Goondiwindi.
Goondiwindi to Rockhampton drive: Goondiwindi to Miles
From Goondiwindi, you need to head north along the Leichhardt Highway. You’re deep into agricultural territory here, and the first stop of any note is the Monte Cristo Rest Area in Billa Billa.
Push on, and you’ll pass through Booroondoo State Forest. There are no visitor facilities here, so you may as well keep going to Moonie. Here, you can take a fuel stop and admire the wonderfully silly Big Yabbie.
If you fancy free camping overnight, then you can pitch a tent at the Rocky Water Hole just north of Moonie.
Further north on the Leichhardt Highway, the Gums Roadhouse is somewhere to pick up supplies before reaching Condamine. There’s a petrol station and caravan park here.
If you can, however, keep going to Miles. There are several good Miles accommodation options, which makes it a good spot for an overnight stay on a road trip. Highly-rated Miles motels include the Western Downs Motor Inn and the Starlight Motor Inn.
Miles, QLD, is one of those small towns that’s surprisingly appealing. Here, the Miles Historical Village and Museum recreates a turn-of-the-century town’s main street.
Miles is also home to Chinamans Lagoon by the side of the Leichhardt Highway. Ordinarily, this would just be a pleasant place for a picnic or barbecue. But visit in summer or early autumn, and the lake is covered with extraordinarily rare pink water lilies.
Click through to the next section: Miles to Wandoan.