Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip: Distance & best stops
The best stops on a Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip itinerary include Agnes Water, Yeppoon and Airlie Beach. The distance from Hervey Bay to Townsville is 1,099km, with a driving time of around 12h20m.
This independent, Australia travel expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Hervey Bay to Townsville in Queensland. To just book Townsville accommodation, go here, and to look for the best tours and activities, go here.
To learn more about the Hervey Bay to Townsville drive, including the distance, driving time and the best stops along the route, read on…
Planning a Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip itinerary
The Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip takes you between two key destinations on the Queensland coast.
Hervey Bay is the main gateway to Fraser Island, but also 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.
Pick the best K’gari/ Fraser Island tour for you
- HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE: One day coach tour from Hervey Bay.
- FROM THE SOUTH: One day 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach.
- PACK MORE IN: Two day tour, staying at K’gari Beach Resort.
- BEACHY: Boat cruise with west coast beach stops.
- BACKPACKERS: Three day, drive-yourself camping adventure from Hervey Bay. Or similar from Rainbow Beach.
- MORE LUXURIOUS: Three day adventure, staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Townsville is where you can take the ferry to gorgeous Magnetic Island, enjoy sunset cruises and visit the Museum of Underwater Art. For more Townsville experiences, explore here. To ferret out the best Townsville accommodation deals, look here.
However, if you plan the right road trip itinerary, there are plenty of great stops along the way. Use this guide to help you plan the perfect Hervey Bay to Townsville drive.
Hervey Bay to Townsville distance and driving time
The distance from Hervey Bay to Townsville is 1,099km. Travelling by car, that makes for a driving time of approximately 12 hours and 20 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 Townsville road trip itinerary include Bundaberg, 1770, Yeppoon and Airlie Beach.
Hervey Bay to Townsville road trip: Bundaberg, Childers and Gin Gin
The quickest route from Hervey Bay to Townsville 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 around 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: Gin Gin to 1770.