Hervey Bay to Gladstone road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Hervey Bay to Gladstone drive covers a 281km distance in a driving time of around 3h18m. Stops to add to a road trip itinerary include Childers, Lake Monduran and Gin Gin.
The Hervey Bay to Gladstone drive connects two of the largest towns on the Queensland coast. Hervey Bay is very much tourism focused, and one of the gateways to Fraser Island. Gladstone is primarily industrial, but has a few visitor attractions as well.
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.
Fix up your hotel in advance for the best Gladstone accommodation deals.
Hervey Bay to Gladstone distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Hervey Bay to Gladstone is 281km. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 18 minutes. This is assumes you’re not planning to stop in Bundaberg on the way. If Australia’s rum capital is on your itinerary, you’ll end up taking a different route. For details on Hervey Bay to Gladstone road trip stops that include Bundaberg, check out the separate Hervey Bay to Bundaberg and Bundaberg to Gladstone guides.
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.
The first leg of the Hervey Bay to Gladstone is from Hervey Bay to Childers. This goes past the Koala Weekend Markets and Hervey Bay Airport, plus Vernon Conservation Park, on the way to Torbanlea. This is where you’ll join the Bruce Highway heading north.
Hervey Bay to Gladstone road trip: Childers attractions
Before reaching Childers town centre, you’ll cross the Isis River and can go wine-tasting at the Hill of Promise Winery. The Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo is also to the south of Childers.
Other things to do in Childers include the quirky Childers Pharmaceutical Museum, which delves into Australia’s pharmaceutical industry.
There’s also the Flying High Bird Park, which has thousands of birds flitting around a walk-through aviary.
Childers accommodation options include the conveniently central Childers Oasis Motel and tarted-up camping at the Childers Nature Camp.
Hervey Bay to Gladstone drive: Detour to Agnes Water?
Further along the Hervey Bay to Gladstone drive, you can tackle the Good Night Scrub National Park from Gin Gin, go fishing at Lake Monduran and have a couple of beers Miriam Vale.
If you’ve got plenty of time for your road trip, then you should branch off at Miriam Vale towards the delightful twin towns of Agnes Water and 1770.
What to book in 1770/ Agnes Water before you arrive
- See the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef – on a Lady Musgrave Island day tour.
- Hire a scooter – and pootle around the back lanes looking for kangaroos.
- Kick back with sparkling wine on a sunset cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Travel on land and water, and try sandboarding – on a quirky full day amphibious vehicle tour.
- Or take a shorter wildlife-spotting coastline tour, with lunch.
- Get the best deals on your accommodation.
Things to do in Agnes Water and 1770 include dusk cruises, bike rentals amphibious vehicle tours and scooter tours. Accommodation choices include the pool-based 1770 Lagoons Central Apartment Resort and the NRMA Agnes Water Holiday Park.
Where to stay in Gladstone, Queensland
Keep going, however, and the the turn-off for Gladstone is at Benaraby. Most will choose to stay in beach suburb Tannum Sands. However, you need to be in Gladstone itself to take the ferry to Curtis Island. Or, if you fancy a Great Barrier Reef island stay, take the Heron Island ferry to Heron Island or Wilson Island.
Gladstone accommodation picks include the cheap but well-equipped Aaron Motel, the well-rated Harbour Sails Motor Inn and the spacious Oaks Gladstone Grand Hotel.
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.
More Gladstone road trips
Biloela to Gladstone: Distance 121km, driving time 1h24m.
Brisbane to Gladstone: Distance 531km, driving time 6h32m.
Bundaberg to Gladstone: Distance 186km, driving time 2h10m.
Gladstone to Mackay: Distance 443km, driving time 4h53m.
Gladstone to Rockhampton: Distance 132km, driving time 1h28m.