Maryborough to Bundaberg: Distance, driving time and road trip attractions

Attractions on the 111km Maryborough to Bundaberg drive include Wongi State Forest, heritage town Childers and the Bingera National Park.

Maryborough and Bundaberg are not among Queensland’s big-hitter tourist destinations. But both make for pleasant stops on an east coast road trip from Brisbane to Cairns. Bundaberg is home to rum distillery tours, Lady Musgrave Island day trips, ginger beer brewery tastings and farm experiences.

The Maryborough to Bundaberg drive is one, however, that most visitors are unlikely to take, however. That’s because most will detour east at Maryborough to Hervey Bay. This is where the River Heads ferry to Fraser Island departs from.

Maryborough to Bundaberg distance and driving time

However, if you’ve plumped for the Inskip Point barge from Rainbow Beach instead, you might want to skip Hervey Bay. In that case, you’ll pass through Maryborough on the Bruce Highway and continue north to Bundaberg, the next logical overnight stop.

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 full Maryborough to Bundaberg distance is 111km, with a driving time of one hour and 18 minutes. That is, of course, if you don’t decide to detour to the coastal towns of Burrum Heads or Woodgate Beach along the way.

The boat ramp at Burrum Heads on the Fraser Coast of Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland/Sabrina Lauriston.

Maryborough to Bundaberg drive: Wongi State Forest and Childers

Driving north from Maryborough, the Maryborough to Bundaberg drive passes the Wongi State Forest, and skirts the towns of Torbanlea and Howard. You then reach the biggest town on the route – Childers. Attractions here include the Snakes Downunder reptile park and the heritage buildings around Taylor Street.

However, the quickest route from Maryborough to Bundaberg branches off the Bruce Highway just before Childers. Head along the Goodwood Road instead, and it shaves about five minutes off the journey time. It’s a more scenic route, too, as you’ll go past the Bingera National Park on the way.

Reasons to stop around Bundaberg include strawberry-picking at Tinaberries, turtle-watching at Mon Repos, beach time at Bargara and Bundaberg Rum distillery tours.