Maroochydore to Hervey Bay drive: Distance, time & stops

The Maroochydore to Hervey Bay drive covers a 199km distance in a 2h21m driving time. The best road trip stops along the way are Yandina, Gympie and Maryborough.

The drive from Maroochydore to Hervey Bay takes you from the commercial centre of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to the main Fraser Island gateway.

Maroochydore offers Maroochy River lunch cruises, while Hervey Bay brings whale-watching tours and sunset cruises.

Hervey Bay, meanwhile, 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.

Maroochydore to Hervey Bay distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Maroochydore to Hervey Bay is 199km. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 21 minutes.

The drive out of Maroochydore starts along Bradman Avenue, following the Maroochy River until it becomes David Low Way. Just after the Sunshine Castle in Bli Bli, turn left onto State Route 10 (Bli Bli Road). This brings you out towards the Bruce Highway at Nambour.

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.

Maroochydore to Hervey Bay road trip: Yandina and Cooroy

Now, the main highlights of the Sunshine Coast are on the coast itself rather than on the Bruce Highway, but there are several things to do in Yandina, just to the north of Nambour.

You can go walking on Mount Ninderry and swimming at Wappa Falls. You can also take cooking classes at Spirit House, pay a visit to the Ginger Factory and shop at the Yandina Markets. The Eumundi Markets further north are more impressive, however.

At Cooroy, meanwhile, only a short detour is required to enjoy the Noosa Botanic Gardens.

Maroochydore to Hervey Bay drive: Gympie and Maryborough

Otherwise, keep going to Gympie where you can visit the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum or catch the Mary Valley Rattler tourist train.

On the way out of Gympie, you might want to stop at the Woodworks Museum, which delves into the forestry practiced in the nearby state forests.

Otherwise, there are a couple of nice picnic spots around Tiaro. The Owanyilla Riverside Park or Tinana Creek Weir are pleasant enough, but you’re better off heading straight through to Maryborough.

Good things to do in Maryborough include learning about port heritage at the Bond Store Museum, and delving into all things Mary Poppins at the Story Bank. Author PL Travers, who created Mary Poppins, was born in Maryborough.

McNevin’s Motel is a good value place to stay the night in Maryborough, while the well-reviewed Carriers Arms Hotel has a decent pool.

Maroochydore to Hervey Bay road trip: Maryborough to Hervey Bay

After the Gympie to Maryborough drive, 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.

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.

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

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.

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.