Gympie to Noosa: Distance, driving time & best road trip stops
The Gympie to Noosa drive covers a 66km distance in a driving time of around 53 minutes. Good stops to add to a road trip itinerary include Tuchekoi National Park and the Noosa Botanic Gardens.
The Gympie to Noosa drive connects one of the inland hub towns of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to the region’s most beloved resort town. It’s not a long drive by Australian standards, and is easy enough to tackle in one stint behind the wheel.
Gympie to Noosa distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Gympie to Noosa is 66km. That makes for a driving time of around 53 minutes. There are a few road trip stops you can make on the way, however.
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.
Coming out of Gympie along the Bruce Highway, you’ll drive past the Deep Creek Fossicking Area, although your chances of finding gold there are pretty minimal. The Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum next to Lake Alford is much more interesting.
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 Noosa drive: Mount Cooroora
You then follow the Mary River past the Six Mile Creek Rest Area, Woondum State Forest and Traveston State Forest before the turn-off for the Tuchekoi National Park. Here, there are walking trails around Mount Cooroora to enjoy.
The turn-off for Noosa, however, is at Cooroy. From here, you can follow the Cooroy Noosa road into Noosa, or branch off slightly to enjoy the Noosa Botanic Gardens by Lake MacDonald or the Mount Tinbeerwah Lookout in Tewantin National Park.
Gympie to Noosa road trip: Noosa tours and attractions
Things to do in Noosa once you arrive include shopping on Hastings Street, surfing at Little Cove or spotting koalas in Noosa National Park.
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.
Then there are the tour options. Try taking a cruise through the Noosa Everglades, a whale-watching tour, a beginners’ surfing lesson or marine life-viewing on a speedboat.
Top Noosa accommodation options include Seahaven Noosa, Habitat Noosa and Sofitel Noosa.
Road trips from Gympie, Queensland
Gympie to Brisbane: Distance 169km, driving time 2h4m.
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 Rainbow Beach: Distance 73km, driving time 51m.
Gympie to Rockhampton: Distance 466km, driving time 5h20m.