Newcastle to Rockhampton road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The Newcastle to Rockhampton drive covers a distance of 1,282km in a driving time of around 14h16m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Moree, Miles and Mount Morgan.
Planning a Newcastle to Rockhampton road trip
If you take the quickest inland route, a road trip from Newcastle to Rockhampton takes you through some lesser explored areas of country Australia. But there’s a surprising amount to see and do along the way to the biggest city in Queensland’s Capricorn region.
Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here.
Rockhampton offers fascinating history walks and cave tours. To source the best Rockhampton accommodation deals, go here.
This guide should help you plan your perfect Newcastle to Rockhampton 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.
Newcastle to Rockhampton distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Newcastle to Rockhampton is 1,282km, and the drive takes around 14 hours and 16 minutes.
Good things to do in Newcastle include enjoying wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours, swimming at Merewether Baths and browsing the city’s museums.
9 cool Newcastle experiences you need to book in advance
- An Adventure boat cruise along the Hunter coast – with thrills and scenery.
- A mobile phone-based scavenger hunt – explore the city differently.
- An architecture and street art walking tour – see all the best murals.
- A whale-watching tour – get close to the migrating humpback whales.
- A two hour city highlights tour by bus – get orientated when you first arrive.
- A scenic helicopter flight – see the spectacular coastline from above.
- A three hour craft beer and food-matching tour – get a taste of the drinking and dining scene.
- A food, drink and history walking tour – hear stories and indulge at the same time.
You can also try boat tours along the Hunter coast, street art walks and after dark true crime tours.
Newcastle accommodation highlights include the luxurious Crystalbrook Kingsley, the buzzy QT Newcastle and the heritage-stuffed Grand Hotel.
Newcastle to Rockhampton drive: Newcastle to Muswellbrook
If not going into Newcastle, you need to head north-east along the Hunter Expressway towards Branxton. This is one of the gateways to the Hunter Valley wine region, although the most easily visited are around Allandale on the way.
At Branxton, join the New England Highway and head past Belford National Park. Daredevils may be interested in Skydive Hunter Valley at Whittingham, but the next sizable towns are the thoroughly underwhelming Singleton and Muswellbrook.
Newcastle to Rockhampton road trip: Muswellbrook to Scone
After Muswellbrook, the first town is Aberdeen, where you can hang out by the Hunter River in Jefferson Park.
There’s a potential detour to picnics, fishing and watersports-friendly Lake Glenbawn. Otherwise, Scone is the next town. The 4km Figtree Creek Track through Scone Mountain National Park is the highlight here.
The best places to stay in Scone
The top Scone accommodation options are:
- For a cheap, but surprisingly good quality motel: Isis Motel.
- For a bed and breakfast with an indoor pool: Strathearn Park Lodge.
- For town centre location: Portman House.
Newcastle to Rockhampton road trip: Wingen to the Kamilaroi Highway
Near Wingen, Towarri National Park offers a fabulous swimming spot – the Washpools Waterhole by the Washpools Picnic Area.
Then, between Wingen and Murualla, Mount Wingen is a smouldering coal seam where rocks change colour. The 4km walk trough the Burning Mountain Nature Reserve showcases the vents breaking through the earth’s surface.
Keep going and you’ll reach Murrurundi, a decent lunch stop with a few cafés, art galleries and hotels. You can dose up on local history at the Murrurundi Museum.
At Willow Tree, branch off the New England Highway, and join the Kamilaroi Highway.
Click through to the next section: Quirindi to Gunnedah.