Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip: Distance & best stops
The best stops to put on a Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary include Bundaberg, Agnes Water, Yeppoon and Mackay. By car, the Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach distance is 864km, with a driving time of around 9h34m.
Planning a Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary
The Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip takes you between two key destinations on the Queensland coast. Hervey Bay is the main gateway to Fraser Island. Airlie Beach is the main hub for Whitsundays tours.
Hervey Bay offers sunset cruises, whale-watching and wildlife cruises in the Great Sandy Strait. To pick out Hervey Bay experiences that pique your interest, look here. For Hervey Bay accommodation, nosy around here.
Airlie Beach brings Whitsunday Islands sailing and snorkelling cruises, coral and marine life viewing from a glass-bottom boat and day cruises to the staggering white sands of Whitehaven Beach. To explore the full range of Airlie Beach tours and experiences, investigate here. For Airlie Beach accommodation bargains, look here.
Traditionally, these two towns have been the key stops on the backpacker route from Brisbane to Cairns. But there are plenty of places to stop in between.
9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit
- Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
- Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
- Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
- Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
- Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
- Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
- Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
- Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
- Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.
Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach distance and driving time
The distance from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach is 864km. Travelling by car, that makes for a driving time of approximately nine hours and 34 minutes.
Book these 8 Hervey Bay experiences now
- 1. Great Sandy Strait wildlife cruise – with a great chance of spotting dingos or dugongs.
- 2. All-inclusive Fraser Island day tour – with pick-up at your accommodation.
- 3. Fraser Island two day tour – see much more.
- 4. Fun cruise – get close to dolphins and turtles while lounging in the boom netting.
- 5. Sunset cruise.
- 6. Dolphin sailing adventure.
- 7. Whale-watching – this is arguably the best place in Australia to spot humpback whales.
- 8. Fraser Island west coast cruise – with lunch & kayaking.
Good potential stops to add to a Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary include Bundaberg, 1770, Yeppoon and Mackay.
Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach road trip: A stop in Bundaberg
The quickest route from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach joins the Bruce Highway at Torbanlea. However, you may want to continue closer to the coast and visit Bundaberg.
Things to do in Bundaberg include rum-tasting on tours of the Bundaberg Rum distillery. You might also opt for strawberry-picking at Tinaberries, seeing nesting turtles at Mon Repos and relaxing on the beach at Bargara.
6 Bundaberg experiences to make the most of your free time
- (Highly recommended ✅) Tour – with tastings – at the Bundaberg rum distillery.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Day trip to Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Fly out to Lady Elliot Island for a day on the reef.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a four hour whale watching cruise with lunch.
- Brewery tasting tour – including the famous Bundaberg ginger beer.
- Farm life experience at Splitters Farm.
Good value-for-money Bundaberg accommodation includes the Villa Mirasol Motor Inn, Bundaberg Spanish Motor Inn and Bundaberg Big4 Cane Village Holiday Park.
If you ignore Bundaberg and stick to the Bruce Highway, and you’ll soon arrive in heritage building-packed Childers. Here, you’ll find the Snakes Downunder reptile park. Further north, you might want to visit Good Night Scrub National Park from Gin Gin or go fishing at Lake Monduran.
Click through for the next section: Agnes Water and Gladstone.