Gympie to Caloundra drive: Distance, time & road trip stops

Top stops on a Gympie to Caloundra road trip include the Noosa Botanic Gardens, Eumundi Markets and the Ginger Factory. By car, the distance from Gympie to Caloundra is 95km, with a 1h2m driving time.

A Caloundra to Bundaberg road trip takes you from the northern end of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to a hugely popular beach town at the southern end.

For Gympie accommodation options, step this way.

Caloundra brings several beaches, jetski tours, waterways cruises and kayak hire. For top Caloundra accommodation choices, hunt here.

This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Gympie to Caloundra road trip itinerary.

Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Gympie to Caloundra distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Gympie to Caloundra is 95km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and two minutes.

Gympie, meanwhile, brings the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum and Mary Valley Rattler steam train.

Well reviewed Gympie accommodation includes the Gympie Muster Inn and the Shady Rest Motel.

Gympie to Caloundra road trip: Attractions near the Bruce Highway

The Gympie to Caloundra 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.

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.

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.

Gympie to Caloundra drive: Caloundra turn-off

The turn-off from the Bruce Highway is, somewhat predictably, along Caloundra Road.

This goes through some of the less appealing sections of Caloundra, but also the Corbould Park Racecourse, the Jill Chamberlain Reserve and the Queensland Air Museum.

Caloundra checklist: 5 fab experiences to book in advance

1. Kayak hire or paddleboard rental at Golden Beach. 2. Self-guided scavenger hunt. 3. Half day Pummicestone Passage jetski tour. 4. Waterways cruise. 5. Two hour Efoil lesson.

Once in Caloundra, there’s a choice of beaches to enjoy. Bulcock Beach is closest to the centre. Kings Beach and Dicky Beach are well known for their surfing, although the Kings Beach Pool is a better place to swim. Moffat Beach is home to the Moffat Beach Brewing Co and you can go kayaking or jetskiing around the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage from Golden Beach.