Gympie to Brisbane: Distance, driving time and road trip attractions
The Gympie to Brisbane drive down the Bruce Highway covers a distance of 169km. Expect a driving time of around 2h4m. Good road trip attractions include the Noosa Botanic Gardens, Yandina Ginger Factory and the Wild Horse Mountain scenic lookout.
The Gympie to Brisbane drive is one you might undertake as you’re travelling down the Queensland coast. Gympie is a town on the Bruce Highway, at the top of the Sunshine Coast region. It’s between the much more popular Noosa and Hervey Bay.
Gympie to Brisbane distance and driving time
The Gympie to Brisbane drive is 169km in distance. With reasonable traffic, this makes for a driving time of around two hours and four minutes. But, of course, you might want to visit a few road trip attractions along the way.
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.
The Gympie to Brisbane drive runs parallel to the Sunshine Coast. But assuming you’re planning on sticking close to the highway rather than exploring Marcoola, Mudjimba Beach and Mooloolaba, there’s still plenty to see.
Gympie to Brisbane drive: Cooroy, Eumundi and Yandina
Only very minimal detours off the Bruce Highway are required to enjoy the Noosa Botanic Gardens in Cooroy, the Eumundi Markets and the Yandina Markets. Also in Yandina, you can go walking on Mount Ninderry, take a cooking class at Spirit House, visit the Ginger Factory and go swimming at Wappa Falls.
The same short detour principle applies to Thrill Hill Waterslide in Woombye, Buderim Falls in Buderim and the Aussie World theme park near Caloundra.
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.
Gympie to Brisbane toad trip attractions: Glasshouse Mountains
A little further south, the Bruce Highway is close enough to Australia Zoo, the Glasshouse Mountains, Mount Ngungun and Mount Tibrogargan. The Wild Horse Mountain scenic lookout is worth pulling over for, too.
The Gympie to Brisbane drive then passes through the underwhelming towns of Caboolture and Burpengary before entering the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
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.
Road trips from Gympie, Queensland
Gympie to Bundaberg: Distance 194km, driving time 2h13m.
Gympie to Hervey Bay: Distance 121km, driving time 1h27m.
Gympie to Maryborough: Distance 87km, driving time 1h4m.
Gympie to Noosa: Distance 66km, driving time 53m.
Gympie to Rainbow Beach: Distance 73km, driving time 51m.
Gympie to Rockhampton: Distance 466km, driving time 5h20m.