Noosa to Hervey Bay: Distance, drive time & road trip stops

The Noosa to Hervey Bay drive is 174km in distance along the shortest route. But the slightly longer 183km road trip route via the Bruce Highway and Gympie can be quicker – around 2h15m.

On a road trip up the east coast of Australia, both Noosa and Hervey Bay are excellent places to stop. You can make arguments for Kings Beach, Mudjimba Beach, Marcoola, Mooloolaba and Coolum, but Noosa is the most appealing place to stay on the Sunshine Coast. Hervey Bay, meanwhile is the main gateway to Fraser Island – the world’s largest sand island.

Hervey Bay 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.

Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into

Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland — Whale watching cruises are the best things to do in Hervey Bay. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Shortest driving route from Noosa to Hervey Bay

The drive from Noosa to Hervey Bay is not especially long by Australian standards. In fact, it’s not a thoroughly arduous drive from Brisbane to Hervey Bay if all you want to do is get the ferry to Fraser Island. But the shortest route from Noosa to Hervey Bay is not necessarily the quickest.

The short way goes lots of bushland – the Toolara State Forest and Tuan State Forest, before joining the State Route 57 at Maryborough. It then continues on the Maryborough – Hervey Bay road until you reach Hervey Bay. Going this backwater route, the Noosa to Hervey Bay drive takes around two hours and 19 minutes. The distance is around 174km, measured from Hastings Street in Noosa.

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.

Noosa to Hervey Bay distance via the Bruce Highway

Go via the Bruce Highway, from Noosa to Gympie then Gympie to Hervey Bay however, and the distance is 183km. But the Noosa to Hervey Bay drive can be a little shorter – around two hours and 15 minutes. This route joins the Bruce Highway at Cooroy, passing through Federal, Kybong, Gympie, Curra and Tiaro before branching off at Maryborough.

Given that Maryborough is the most interesting place to stop along the way on either road trip route, a lot depends on whether you prefer motorway driving or country driving.

Once you’re done with Fraser Island and whale-watching cruises from Urangan harbour, the next leg of the journey up the Queensland coast is Hervey Bay to Bundaberg.

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.