Noosa to Airlie Beach road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
Noosa to Airlie Beach drive itinerary: Rockhampton and Yeppoon
The drive from Gladstone to Rockhampton is dull as hell, although you may wish to stop at the Calliope Conservation Park in Calliope.
Things to do in Rockhampton, however, include getting cultural at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre and the Rockhampton Heritage Village.
Top experiences to book in and around Rockhampton
- (Highly recommended ✅) Great Keppel Island day trip – with lunch.
- Cathedral Cave tour at Capricorn Caves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 90 minute Deep Vault Cave and Flower Pot tour at Capricorn Caves.
- Time Safaris walking tour.
Rockhampton accommodation picks include the roadtripper-friendly Discovery Parks Rockhampton, the budget-conscious Rockhampton Court Motor Inn and the Quest Rockhampton apartments.
Coastal Yeppoon, a 35 minute drive away, is a more appealing place to stay, however. You can go birdwatching in Baga National Park on the way.
Things to do in Yeppoon include swimming at the Yeppoon Lagoon and catching the Great Keppel Island ferry for a Great Keppel Island day trip. You can also try Lammermoor Beach, Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary and spearfishing charters.
Where to stay in Yeppoon
The top Yeppoon accommodation options are:
- For a dependable motel with a pool: Coast Motel.
- For high quality apartments near Yeppoon Lagoon: Salt Yeppoon.
- For Mediterranean-style villas: Villa Mar Colina.
- For a centrally-located boutique resort: Coral Inn Boutique Resort.
Click through for the next section: Sarina and Mackay.