Kingaroy to Hervey Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The Kingaroy to Hervey Bay drive covers a distance of 217km in a driving time of around 2h29m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Kingaroy and Maryborough.

A road trip from Kingaroy to Hervey Bay takes you from Australia’s self-styled peanut capital to one of the most popular spots on the Queensland coast.

For Kingaroy accommodation deals, investigate over here.

Hervey Bay is the major gateway to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). K’gari tours are best booked ahead of arriving in the city.

Hervey Bay 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.

This guide should help you plan your perfect Kingaroy to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary.

Click through on the individual places and attractions for more detailed, specific information.

If you need to hire a car, find the best rental deals. And don’t forget to do all your pre-road trip shopping.

Kingaroy to Hervey Bay distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Kingaroy to Hervey Bay is 217km. This makes for a driving time of around two hours and 29 minutes.

The best things to do in Kingaroy include stargazing at the Kingaroy Observatory and scoffing fresh peanuts from the semi-legendary Peanut Van.

For those interested in Queensland history, there are plenty of heritage buildings to admire, and the machinery-heavy Kingaroy Heritage Museum inside the town’s former powerhouse.

Highly-rated Kingaroy accommodation options include the Burke and Wills Motor Inn, Room Motels Kingaroy and the Kingaroy Country Motel.

Kingaroy to Hervey Bay road trip: Kingaroy to Goomeri

Leave town on the occasionally windy Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road, then join the Burnett Highway at Sandy Ridges. Heading north, you’ll pass Cherbourg National Park, which is set up for preservation rather than tourism.

Lake Barambah is a more attractive detour. Created by the Bjelke-Peterson Dam, this lake is a popular spot for fishing and watersports.

There are also several wineries around the lakeside town of Moffatdale. You can go tasting at Nuova Scuola Wines, Dusty Hill Vineyard and Moffatdale Ridge.

The next town is Goomeri. There’s a swimming pool here, but it’s more important as the junction with the Wide Bay Highway, which takes you towards the coast.

Road trip essentials that many travellers forget

Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.

Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.

Kingaroy to Hervey Bay road trip: Wide Bay Highway

A possible stop along the Wide Bay Highway is Kilkivan, where you can walk or cycle part of the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail, refuel, and get some snacks at the Kilkivan General Store.

Later on, turn north along the Bauple-Woologa Road, then again up Netherby Road through the village of Gundiah. By now, you’re running parallel to the Bruce Highway, which you finally join at Tiaro.

Kingaroy to Hervey Bay drive: Tiaro to Hervey Bay

Plough on up the highway, and you’ll reach historic Maryborough.

Things to do in Maryborough include learning about the town’s river port backstory at the Bond Store Museum and celebrating all things Mary Poppins at the Story Bank.

For Maryborough accommodation offering value for money, try the Mineral Sands Motel and McNevins.

It’s another 34km to Hervey Bay along the Maryborough-Hervey Bay road.

This goes past horse-riding hotspots Susan River Homestead and Wide Bay Equestrian Park.

Depending on which part of Hervey Bay you’re heading for, you might come in along the Booral Road. In which case, the Pir’ri Walking Track on the River Heads Road is a decent place for spotting koalas.

Top things to do in Hervey Bay include the Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens, Wetside Water Park and Hervey Bay Historical Village.

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.

For experiences from Hervey Bay, try a one day Fraser Island tour, a whale-watching cruise or a sunset cruise.

Good Hervey Bay accommodation options include the apartment-style Mantra Hervey Bay, the Discovery Parks holiday park and the very highly-rated Akama Resort.