brisbane to longreach qld road trip

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Iconic outback queensland road trip to longreach, winton & carnarvon gorge.

• Rockhampton to Bilolea, 144km
• Biloela to Carnarvon Gorge, 318km
• Carnarvon Gorge to Springsure, 173km
• Springsure to Longreach, 484km
• Longreach to Winton, 179km
• Winton to Barcaldine, 287km
• Barcaldine to Emerald, 309km
• Emerald to Rockhampton, 270km

Biloela Things To Do

Carnarvon gorge things to do.

• The Moss Garden 7km Return Walk
• Art Gallery 10.8km Return Walk
• Cathedral Cave 18.2 Return Walk
• Rock Pool 600m Return Walk
• Mickey Creek Gorge 3km Return Walk

Springsure Things To Do

Longreach things to do, winton things to do, barcaldine things to do, emerald things to do, you may also enjoy, outback queensland road trips, discover our difference..., never miss a deal get the best queensland escapes in your inbox..

The Road to Longreach

Our Journey started with two slightly nervous Mums, three very excited 5 year olds and an SUV packed with absolutely everything we could possibly need, but most importantly, one red backpack.

This red backpack contained all the very important things like my phone charger, the camera charger, the satellite phone that my very protective parents lent to me (oh, by the way, I’m 39 years old), sparklers, the kids’ Polaroid cameras and all of our warm clothes.

But let’s go back for a second, if you don’t know the bigger picture of why we’re doing this or where we’re headed, read our first article: The Ultimate Outback Queensland Road Trip – with Kids .

The Driving Plan

If you’re going on a road trip with children the first thing you’ll probably contemplate is whether it’s about the journey or the destination.  The main purpose of our trip was to visit the Australian Dinosaur Trail , so we originally considered flying into Longreach and starting our week long holiday there.  In the end we extended the holiday to two weeks and did it by car.  I’m really glad we did!

If you’re driving in Outback Queensland, you’ll be somewhat forced into making your trip about the journey.  The kangaroos start playing “Frogger” with the tourists from dusk to dawn, so you’ll need to restrict your driving to daylight hours.

But this is a great thing, you’ll see a lot more and the kids will only be spending about 4 hours each day in the car (which happens to synch. up with the approximate battery life of an iPad… thanks Apple).

So, for the first leg of our journey, here was our plan:

• Brisbane to Chinchilla – driving time of 4 hours
• Chinchilla to Mitchell – driving time of 3.5 hours
• Mitchell to Blackall (via Tambo) – driving time of 4.5 hours

We were tempted to drive from Brisbane through to Mitchell, but decided to break the journey up and stop in at Chinchilla after a 4 hour drive.  It was just a little stop over for us, this was the place that we discovered that our most important piece of luggage… “the red backpack” was left at home.  So we went shopping.  Compared to Brisbane it was quite limited, however… thanks to their country hospitality I managed to find a lovely shop that sold me the demo model of my camera battery charger (she actually brought me to tears with the effort she put in to help me out), and Target Country provided us with one piece of warm clothing each.  Don’t be fooled by the warm weather, temperatures can drop at night.

Make sure you call into the Purple Bean Cafe for a fantastic breakfast or lunch, the food was lovely.

After a 3.5 hour drive to Mitchell we discovered our first little piece of heaven, The Great Artesian Spa .  I encourage you to… no, I forbid you from going any further without emerging yourself in the naturally heated waters from the Great Artesian Basin.  Given this is all about travelling with kids I’ll make it clear for you.  One pool is a beautiful (and natural) warm temperature and will make you want to melt and float forever, the other is cold, so take it or leave it.  See, if you stop in here, you won’t have to bath the kids tonight.

EDIT: As of June 2020, Bonus Downs Farm Stay is no longer operating. Please contact their office to confirm.

Grab an iceblock at the cafe, then jump in the car and go off road to Bonus Downs Farm Stay, about 30 minutes off the highway, where your adventure will begin!

I really can’t rave enough about this place, I left with Madonna and Lyle (the owners/hosts) embedded in my memory forever.  It wasn’t just the fact that they played with my kids as though they were their blood Grandparents.

It wasn’t the fact that they served “chicken pasta” for dinner and somehow convinced my fussy eaters to devour it.  It wasn’t the fact that they kept the red wine flowing (and I resent them a little for my slight headache the next day)… I think it was just the hospitality and warmth, and to be honest, I couldn’t get a connection on my phone and Madonna called my Mother for me, to let her know I was safe.

Whether you’re a family, a group of backpackers OR a school who is looking for a fantastic experience for a big group of kids, Bonus Downs Farmstay can accommodate all kinds of groups with different accommodation options. If you’re looking for accommodation, stay in the Shearing Shed (I think you’d fit a whole classroom of kids in there)!

Or stay in the Jackaroo Cottage, or simply camp out, you can cook in the camp kitchen…

whilst enjoying canoeing…

… collecting chicken eggs

… simply playing…

… and go on a tour up the road to let the kids experience their first campfire and (mouth watering) damper.

Madonna and Lyle, we’ll be back, I promise.

After leaving Mitchell, we stopped into Tambo on the way to Blackall, just to visit the famous Tambo Teddies .

Their story is amazing and they’ll take the time to share it with you.  Each bear is created from 100% Australian woollen sheepskin and you can see them making them in the shop.  When my little man decided that he wanted to purchase the lovely “Bickie Bear”, the engaged with him and asked whether he needed anything else.

“I’m not sure if he can see very well, maybe could you remove some fur around his eyes please?  It important for him to see”.  Okay then.

Hand on heart, it’s the softest, most loved bear he owns.

Just a one hour drive from Tambo, you’ll find Blackall.  Whilst we didn’t have the time to explore everything there is to see and do (which according to my big brother, is significant – he claims it’s one of his favourite places in Outback Queensland), I can verify that Blackall Caravan Park is the place to stay, they have all kinds of accommodation, but most importantly – DON’T go looking for dinner, just eat there.

We were trying to figure out where to eat then decided to head to reception, stumbled upon a menu, became lazy and just ordered.  The food is actually fantastic, and the outdoor camp kitchen area is beautiful (complete with a little “toilet surprise” that scared the life out of me… since I’m being honest).

Well, Longreach is for another time, there’s just so much to do that it deserves its own article!  So far, we’ve just talked about our trip to Longreach, next… so many adventures.

In summary, make it about the journey and the destination, you won’t regret it.

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A Taste of the Queensland Outback: A 10-Day Road Trip

Updated August 2023

Despite the barrenness and heat, I’m fascinated by Australia’s interior.

Vast open spaces, apparent emptiness (which isn’t empty at all), sunburnt, dark red soil that is so uniquely Australian, and life far removed from what 95% of Australians know (paywall-restricted).

Australia’s outback is hot, harsh and tough beyond measure.

I’m fascinated by what it takes to live in such inhospitable conditions and admittedly, I know I could never live there myself. The long, hot summers would simply kill me. But in winter, it’s a different story and that’s when I get my chance to go out west.

Living on the east coast, you’re never far from people. Out west, you’re almost always far from people.

After a week, you’ll forget that traffic lights exist but take every opportunity to fill up with fuel. You’ll see more road kill than you have in a long time but soon you don’t even notice the carcasses on the road anymore. Your mobile phone stops working, so you simply turn it off and forget you own one.

Out here, life is slower and that forces you to slow down.

And winters are just about as perfect as can be.

GETTING A TASTE OF THE QUEENSLAND OUTBACK

The national parks in the Queensland Outback offer plenty of opportunities for camping, exploring, self-guided drives, and short hikes. And then there are the vibrant country towns with their small bakeries, grocery stores, amazing butchers, famous pubs, annual events, local museums, and increasing caravan parks catering to grey nomads.

We usually pop into a bakery or butcher in town when we need to refuel. But for the most part, our town stops tend to be very short and focused on getting supplies. And we don’t really hang around the (in)famous pubs either.

We go out west for the solitude, time away from life on the coast, and to explore a part of Australia we haven’t seen before.

Since the Outback is rather large, and sadly we don’t all have three months to travel across Australia, here’s my suggestion for spending a bit over a week in the Queensland Outback , focusing on three national parks: Idalia , Welford and Currawinya .

HEADING INTO OUTBACK QUEENSLAND: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Travelling into the Queensland Outback requires a certain amount of preparation .

While most of these places can technically be accessed in a 2WD-vehicle in the dry season, scenic drives within the national parks are usually limited to 4WDs .

With a campervan that has high clearance and careful driving, you could probably manage getting into these three national parks. Just be very mindful of road conditions and that you really don’t want to get stuck out there when it’s even vaguely wet. The scenic drives will be off-limits though.

Ensure you have or know the following:

• Know when to travel: Winter is the best time for outback travel. The days are cooler (mid-20°Cs) with occasionally frosty nights, and relatively little rain. April to September is best (my favourite time is June/July). Temperatures can be very high (40°C+) during summer, and many roads stay impassable long after rain.
• Ensure your vehicle has either a large fuel tank or dual tanks: Distances out here are vast and fuel becomes less and less available. Fill up whenever you can, even if you’re still 3/4 full as fuel stations are known to run out of fuel altogether. Blackall, Windorah, Quilpie, Thargomindah, Eulo will be your best stops for filling up along this loop.
• Carry (more than) sufficient water with you: We took 60L and used water very conservatively (think washing dishes once a day only, etc.). We filled up again in Quilpie (bore water) and used that for all washing and cooking needs from then on. Plan at least 5-7L per person per day.
• Be prepared for flies: We almost went as far as Blackall the year before and experienced virtually no flies. This time, there were flies everywhere. Apparently they weren’t as bad as a few weeks prior but they were sufficiently annoying that I was grateful for my mozzie/fly net, and chose to eat dinner inside the tent a few times.
• Be prepared for mozzies at Currawinya: The mosquitoes were so bad at our first campsite at Currawinya that I wanted to leave that night. It was an onslaught of buzzing insects. The bites didn’t hurt or itch terribly but the buzzing and biting was incessant. Our second site was somewhat better so choose your camping spot wisely. I actually developed Ross River Fever a few weeks (and still have flare-ups years later) later so protect yourself against mozzie bites.
• Pack clothes for cold and hot weather: Based on previous trips into Central Queensland during winter, I was prepared for seriously cold temperatures (scarf, gloves, puffer jacket, etc.). I didn’t need any of these on this trip (first week in July). Instead, I was really hot in my 3/4 leggings, and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of throwing in a pair of shorts.
• Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen: We had four days of blue skies and sunshine, and I couldn’t have done without my hat. Even in winter, the sun is still strong out here.
• Don’t expect to have mobile coverage: Unless you’re with Telstra (and not just a carrier that uses the Telstra network), you won’t have coverage out here. Beyond the towns, you won’t even have access to emergency signals. Carry a PLB (personal locator beacon) and/or have UHF radio in your car in case of emergency or breakdown.
• Expect dust to get everywhere: The drier it’s been and the hotter the day, the more dust will get kicked up as you drive along these outback roads. Expect the red dust to get into everything and to stick. Protect your electronics by wrapping them up – I’d wrap up my camera in a top when I didn’t have it stored in the bag, just to protect it from the dust as we were driving.

A 10-DAY ITINERARY FOR OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

The problem with exploring Central Queensland is that it’s a long way from the coast. From the Sunshine Coast, you have to drive 1,000km just to get to the start of what’s considered the Queensland Outback. And you haven’t even gone anywhere yet.

But making it this far west is definitely worth it.

Doing this loop around Queensland’s Channel Country will give you a real taste of the outback. The towns become smaller, the roads narrower, the road trains longer, and the dirt increasingly redder.

If you want to get off the beaten path, this loop is for you. You won’t see too many Juicy vans, Britz motorhomes or grey nomads in their caravans beyond the towns leading to Longreach or Birdsville.

You can do this loop in either direction and add on plenty of side trips.

Keep in mind that doing this outback road trip is pretty ambitious , and requires moving every day or every second one. If that’s too intense for you, just take more time and add a few days to the itinerary.

We did this road trip in about 9 days , which was just about perfect for us. We clocked up about 3,800km altogether.

Of the 9 days, we had three travel days : Two days to get to our first stop at Idalia National Park, and one day to drive back home.

We had actually allowed two days to drive back home but we mixed up some directions and ended up driving home from Currawinya in one hit (not recommended unless you love driving long distances).

It was a long night…

DAY 1: SUNSHINE COAST / BRISBANE TO MITCHELL OR MORVEN

The drive out to Mitchell (~600km) or Morven (~700km) from the coast is pretty straightforward, it just takes a fair few hours. We usually like to get going early (6am or earlier) and then stop in Chinchilla for a coffee and a quick break.

Roma is a fairly sizeable country town along the way so if you need supplies, this would be a good place. We’ve been through Roma a few times, and once even stayed in a dodgy motel there, but have never really looked around the town much. I think we’re always in travel mode when we come through Roma.

If you break your journey in Mitchell , have a soak at the Great Artesian Spa . We did this the year before after about a week of hiking and camping in Central Queensland, and boy, was I happy to have a shower and a good long soak in the warm artesian waters!

The bakery in Mitchell is also quite famous, and popping in for a snack helps keep these country towns alive. (The husband has to repeatedly deal with my insistent ‘Let’s go in and buy you a nice treat to eat!’ suggestions since I usually can’t eat any of the treats.) 🙂

CAMPING OPTIONS

• Mitchell: Free camping along the Maranoa River at Neil Turner Weir and the smaller Fisherman’s Rest site – both very popular with caravans
• Morven: Camping at the Morven Recreational Facility ; $5 unpowered site

Both sites are fine for an overnight stop, even with a tent, though the spots at Mitchell are much prettier than Morven. On the other hand, the toilets were much cleaner at Morven when we stayed there.

DAY 2-3: MITCHELL / MORVEN TO IDALIA NATIONAL PARK

The drive from Morven to Idalia National Park takes about 7 hours (add an hour / 100km if coming from Mitchell).

We expected the Isisford-Blackall Road from Blackall to Idalia to be unsealed and slow-going. Good news is that it’s sealed all the way to the turnoff for the Blackall-Emmet Road, which then takes you into Idalia.

We stopped briefly in Blackall for fuel, and then went straight to Idalia, getting there by mid-afternoon.

IDALIA NATIONAL PARK

Idalia National Park is a great spot for a couple of days. Here you get to explore rocky escarpments, gorges and relics of a pastoral past.

We stayed two nights at the basic campground at Monks Tank , which seemed just the right amount of time. If you’re after a bit of downtime, plan an extra day or so.

There are a couple of short hikes at Idalia, one of which we ticked off the same day we arrived after setting up the tent. Wave Rock is best explored in the late afternoon light so off we went that first day.

The next morning we started early to hike the short but difficult Emmet Pocket Walk , which ended up being a completely flat walk with no difficulty – or views! – whatsoever.

The Bullock Gorge Walk is another short hike and definitely worth it as you get great views into the surrounding countryside from the escarpment. There are a few other sights to see, including Rainbow Gorge , but none of them will take much time.

READ MORE: A Guide to Idalia National Park

If you’re lucky, you might even spot an elusive yellow-tailed rock wallaby. The husband glimpsed one off Emmet Pocket Lookout .

• Idalia National Park: Monks Tank Camping Area
• Blackall: Camping along the Barcoo River , just outside of town; $5 unpowered site (popular with caravans)

DAY 4-5: IDALIA NATIONAL PARK TO WELFORD NATIONAL PARK

The drive from Idalia to Welford National Park is roughly 250km so not a big travel day.

Make your way back to the Isisford-Blackall Road, which becomes the Emmet-Yaraka Road at Emmet. This is a gorgeous drive as you pass by range after range.

The road is pretty much sealed all the way to Yaraka. Past the tiny settlement of Yaraka (fuel available), it’s more unsealed than sealed but was still in excellent condition (July 2019).

MOUNT SLOCOMBE

Before you get to Yaraka, definitely take the side trip to Mount Slocombe . You’ll get incredible 360° views from up the top, and there’s a fantastic picnic shelter, toilet and even (tank) water available.

This spot would be amazing for sunrise or sunset, you could see for miles around. Alas, we were there at 10:30am so simply had morning tea and headed off.

From there it’s another 100km to Welford, and though Google Maps suggests it’ll take 3.5 hours to get there, it only took us 2 hours to reach the boundary of the national park. More of the road has probably been sealed by now than what Google thinks but travel in the outback is also unpredictable so be prepared for things to take longer.

WELFORD NATIONAL PARK

Like at Idalia, we camped two nights at Welford National Park but unlike Idalia, Welford doesn’t offer much in terms of developed walking trails. Welford also feels much more desert-like than Idalia, which had a distinct rocky feel to it.

Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service have developed three scenic drives at Welford, with the Mulga Drive ending up being our favourite. It offered varied vegetation, and the red soil looked amazing in the late afternoon light.

The drives do take a few hours to drive so two days would be the absolute minimum you need to spend here if you want to explore all the drives.

READ MORE: A Guide to Welford National Park

The highlights at Welford are, no doubt, glistening clay pans, clear waterholes, and the little red sand dune, perfect for sunset watching.

CAMPING OPTION

• Welford National Park: Little Boomerang Waterhole Camping Area

DAY 6: WELFORD NATIONAL PARK TO KILCOWERA STATION

After Welford, you’ll have another long travel day ahead to get to Kilcowera Station an hour south of Thargomindah (~530km).

We left Welford early and stopped at the much-bigger-than-expected town of Quilpie to refuel and frequent the local bakery. 😉 In fact, I got a gluten-free lemon tart at the local supermarket AND a gluten-free passionfruit cheesecake at the bakery, couldn’t quite believe my luck!

If you need to refill water, there’s (bore) water available at the visitor centre but make sure to choose the tap with the sign on it. Otherwise it’ll be scalding hot as the bore water here comes out hot and has to be cooled down first.

Unlike in the Northern Territory, I didn’t find the bore water here particularly sulphuric or odd-tasting.

7km south of Quilpie is Baldy Rock Lookout from where you can get some nice views (so I’m told, we didn’t quite have the time to explore). If you’re staying in Quilpie for the night, I’d definitely do that. I bet sunset is pretty cool from there.

We left Quilpie around 12pm, and it took us another five hours to get to Kilcowera Station, some 90km past Thargomindah. (We did take a slightly more circuitous route though as we wanted to go through some more station country.)

We saw very few cars or trucks on our way from Quilpie to Kilcowera. This is where things really start feeling remote. As you pass by a few isolated stations, you can’t help but wonder how tough life must be out here.

KILCOWERA STATION

If you’ve never camped on a station, here’s your chance.

Kilcowera Station is a working organic cattle station, and has been in the same family close to 30 years. Toni and Greg have set up their property for campers (and other accommodation in the old shearer’s quarters), and you can either get an unpowered or powered site.

We’d never stayed at a station before, and really enjoyed our little site at the lagoon. Plus, I relished being able to have a shower after a week on the road and tons of red dust in my hair.

The next day, we took our time to do the scenic drive around their property (about 5 hours), and then wished we had booked another night here instead of at Currawinya.

• Kilcowera Station : Powered ($50) and unpowered ($40) sites at a working cattle station
• Currawinya National Park: Various camping areas
• Please note that camping is not permitted along the Bulloo River outside of Thargomindah (there’s  a commercial caravan park in town)

DAY 7-8: KILCOWERA STATION TO CURRAWINYA NATIONAL PARK

Getting from Kilcowera Station to Currawinya National Park won’t take more than a couple of hours (~100km). We ended up rushing a bit as we spent the best part of Day 7 exploring Kilcowera Station, and only left the station around 3pm.

Along the way you could stop at Hungerford. It’s a tiny town with a somewhat crazy-looking pub and gravity-fed fuel available.

CURRAWINYA NATIONAL PARK

Currawinya National Park is almost bordering on NSW, and easily one of Queensland’s largest national parks. It has recently been extended and now encompasses a pretty vast area.

The park is a wetland of international importance, supporting more than 100,000 birds, including migratory ones. Obviously in winter, the waterways are relatively dry so bird watching isn’t necessarily at its prime. Still, you’ll see plenty of birds if you keep your eyes out for them.

Currawinya has two large lakes, one fresh and the other salty, and a myriad of channels, waterholes and rivers cruising through the area. Except for one area, camping is found along the Paroo River (think muddy waters, not clear blue).

But what we found really fascinating are Currawinya’s remnants from pastoral times.

Two huge shearing sheds, including a number of other pastoral outbuildings, give a glimpse into the hard life that once was pulsing out here.

We easily spent two days at Currawinya. Just doing the new River Drive takes a day. 3-4 days would allow a more relaxed way of exploring all that Currawinya has to offer, especially if you’re into poking around relics from the past.

• Currawinya National Park: Various camping spots along the Paroo River

DAY 9-10: CURRAWINYA NATIONAL PARK TO SUNSHINE COAST / BRISBANE

Day 9 and 10 will be travel days again, and marked the end of our Central Queensland Outback road trip.

We spent a leisurely morning exploring yet more historic remnants at Currawinya, and then left the national park around lunch time. Our next stop would be Thrushton National Park near Bollon, and after getting fuel in Cunnamulla, we went on to Bollon.

Cunnamulla looked like a super tidy town, and I spotted some painted silos that I totally forgot to photograph. There were plenty of people getting snacks and food from the local pub so it’d probably make for a nice stop for lunch.

We briefly stopped at the camping area in Bollon, and debated staying the night but then decided to move on to Thrushton National Park.

An hour out of Bollon, we realised that we should have turned off the Balonne Highway before reaching Bollon (onto the Mitchell-Bollon Road) to get to Thrushton, and turning around now would mean a fair detour. By the time we’d get back to Bollon, let alone Thrushton, it’d be dark so we decided to keep going, stop in St. George for a quick bite to eat, and drive home that night.

• Bollon: Free camping along Wallum Creek (popular with caravans); hot showers available along the main road in town
• Thrushton National Park: Thrushton Homestead Camping Area and Thrushton Woolshed Camping Area

In the end, Day 10 was spent at home. First sleeping in, and then cleaning out the car and putting all that camping gear away again.

Driving all the way from Currawinya back to the coast meant a big drive (~1,000km). If we hadn’t dawdled so much in the morning, thinking we were going to Thrushton, we would have left early and got home at a somewhat more reasonable hour. That said, Bollon would make a great stop to break up the trip home.

Queensland is a massive state, and even after a few years living here, we’ve still only see a small part of it.

I love heading into the interior, albeit only during the cooler months. If you’re after solitude, wildlife, red dirt and wide open spaces, southwest Queensland is a great spot.

The three national parks are all very different, and I enjoyed each one for different reasons. Idalia offered gorges, rocky escarpments and walks. Welford had beautiful clay pans, Mulga shrubland and sand dunes. And Currawinya gave us a real insight into the former sheep shearing industry (though interpretation panels were somewhat lacking).

10 days isn’t a heap of time for exploring such a vast area so if you have an extra day or two, you’ll be able to travel a bit slower and have some time to relax. We could have used two nights at Kilcowera Station, and would have liked to stop at Thrushton National Park as well. And now that Currawinya is opened up even further, three nights there would be the minimum.

MORE POSTS ON TRAVELLING IN THE OUTBACK

For more detailed information on what to do at Welford, our second stop on this outback road trip, take a look at my guide to Welford National Park .

Perhaps not technically in the Queensland Outback, Carnarvon National Park is an amazing place to explore. With four different sections accessible, it can be hard to decide what to see. Here’s my guide to Mount Moffatt , or if you want to do some overnight hiking, Carnarvon Gorge is a great destination .

The Northern Territory is another vast area, and one that has a lot of popular spots. Read more about my highlights from our Northern Territory road trip .

Hiking in the Australian Outback can be a very special experience. The Ormiston Pound Hike in the West MacDonnell Ranges is a stunning half-day walk. If you’re keen on long-distance hiking, the Larapinta Trail is a must.

Further Reading...

A Scenic Rim Drive: Falls Drive and Condamine River

Hamilton Island: 5 Cool Things to Do in the Wet Season

Meeting Berlin: Famous Landmarks

Was für eine schöne Einleitung 🙂 Und vor allem die Bilder von Tag 2 sind richtig beeindruckend. Lustig wie richtig zu sehen ist, dass alles irgendwie so golden und orange und nach Outback aussieht, also allein vom Licht.

Oh, danke schoen! 😀

Ja, alles sehr golden und hell (teilweise sogar sehr grell) im Outback. Am schoensten finde ich immer die rote Erde mit gruenen Straeuchern, Grass oder Baeumen. Da muss es allerdings gut regnen!

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Idalia National Park Camping Guide

Welford national park camping options, queensland & beyond.

the ultimate travel guide to Longreach

• getting there
• tours and packages

The gateway to the ultimate Queensland outback experience, Longreach is celebrated for its rich history, heritage and community.

Named after the “long reach” of the Thomson River which runs through it, this Western Queensland town is a tribute to traditional industries of cattle and sheep farming and the legends who shaped it.

From immersive experiences that provide a flavour of contemporary rural life to the breathtaking natural landscapes that snake the riverbanks, Longreach offers an endless array of iconic attractions.

Here’s our pick of the best things to see and do in and around Longreach.

Getting to Longreach

Getting to Longreach is easy with regular flights from Townsville and Brisbane. Both Avis and Budget car hire services are available on arrival at Longreach Airport to give jet-setters the freedom to explore at their own pace.

Alternatively, travellers can choose to jump on the Brisbane to Longreach train . The Spirit of the Outback is the only sleeper carriage train in Queensland is the best way to see 1300 kilometres of ever-changing natural beauty. Coming from further north? The two-hour drive from Winton to Longreach makes it the perfect destination for a weekend road trip.

Top Things to Do in Longreach

Enjoy a dose of Australian history in Central Queensland. Aviation geeks and keen travellers alike will appreciate the Qantas Founders Museum , formed by a group of locals who wanted to preserve the story of the airline. The world-class museum opens its doors to roughly 400,000 visitors each year who are thrilled to walk the wing of its hallmark attraction, as a retired Boeing 747 that sits on red dirt outside. Across the road is another must-see Longreach museum, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame whose exhibitions chronicles the lives of the country’s greatest and bravest outback explorers.

Jump in a car and head to the bush for spectacular views of Longreach and surrounding plains. While there are many magnificent Longreach lookouts, Starlight’s Lookout is perhaps the most iconic of them all. With a sunset like no other, the 40-minute drive from town is well worth hitting the road if only to climb the majestic rock where the infamous Captain Starlight and his men camped with their 1,000 strong stolen cattle.

Outback Tours

Home to generations of stockmen and shearers, Longreach proudly pays heritage to its pioneering past and happily shares what it means to live in outback today. Hold onto your hat as you gallop through town and along the original Longreach to Windorah mail route with the Outback Pioneers’ Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience . For a peek inside a historic homestead, tour the working shearing shed and cattle yard of Camden Park Station which once welcomed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

River Activities

One of the best spots to wrap up the day is along the Thomson River. Book early to wrangle a seat on a sunset cruise aboard the only paddle wheeler west of the Great Divide . If you’d rather perch yourself on the riverbanks to cast a line, yellowbelly are plenty so you’re bound to bring in a catch. Keen to immerse yourself in the action? Longreach’s soft-as-silk water makes the ideal conditions to try your hand (or foot) at barefoot waterskiing.

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Top Places to Eat in Longreach

While Longreach’s roots in camp-oven cuisine are still prevalent, the town’s boasts a burgeoning foodscape. For a sumptuous breakfast that will set you up for the day, make your way to The Lazy Sheep cafe . Prefer a pastry to go? Rise early to avoid the queue at Merino Bakery . For dinner, warm your belly at one best Longreach restaurants, Harry’s Restaurant & Bar where a fine but unpretentious dining experience awaits.

Best Places to Stay in Longreach

Nestled in the idyllic bush is one of the newest and more affordable Longreach accommodation gems, Albert Park Motor Inn or opt to stay at Longreach Motor Inn to drift into a deep slumber. Rather ditch the car and explore by foot? Base yourself at Jumbuck Motel and enjoy the convenience of being a stroll away from the area’s top attractions.

Luxury in the outback can be hard to come by, but you’ll find a slice of it at Longreach hotel, Saltbush Retreat . Choose from rustic homestead stables, outback cabins and slab huts to rest your head, all of which have been crafted using traditional techniques. The best part of this boutique lodging? Putting your feet up in one of their claw-foot bathtubs as you look onto the rugged landscape below.

Caravans and Camping

Where else is better to take in the timeless landscapes than in bush itself? Longreach Tourist Park caters for all travellers, whether your idea of an outback oasis is sleeping under a canopy of stars or resting in a comfortable air-conditioned villa.

Tours and Packages Longreach

Longreach is a natural base for discovering the best outback Queensland has to offer. Locally-based tour providers Outback Pioneers and Outback Aussie Tours will provide an unforgettable taste of the bush and the unique characters that call it home. Join a day or multi-day tour to explore further afield and walk the steps of dinosaurs, cheer on a field of racing camel or marvel at the wilderness from above.

Explore More Of Outback Queensland

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There are over 11 hotels to stay in Longreach. Prices range from $53 per night.

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If you are looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Longreach to Brisbane

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Road Trips Australia

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Outback Queensland in 14 days: Epic Road Trip Journey

Are you looking to experience an Outback Queensland Road Trip? Look no further with this 14-day driving holiday adventure showcasing the best of central and Western Queensland. Discover vast and varied landscapes while witnessing expansive, vivid sunsets and the night sky filled with bright, endless stars. Learn of pioneer and Australian history, fossick for Sapphires, walk through ancient gorges, breathe in the fresh air of eucalypt forests…As you traverse the vast landscapes and encounter the warm hospitality of Outback Queensland, this road trip itinerary ensures an unforgettable adventure filled with natural wonders, cultural insights, and cherished experiences.

This Outback Queensland road trip caters to accommodation seekers, campers, and RV travellers. But before rushing away, learn the best Navigation Apps , and meal planning guide to help with a stress-free driving holiday…

When to Visit Outback Queensland?

The best time to visit outback Queensland is during winter, May to September.

Outback Queensland Road Trip from Brisbane

Discover charleville cosmos centre, longreach stockman’s hall of fame, fossicking at rubyvale, and explore the stunning sandstone country of carnarvon gorge on this 14-day outback queensland road trip:.

Day 1 – Lake Broadwater Conservation Park , Dalby, 239 km from Brisbane. Visit the only large naturally-occurring lake in the Darling Downs. Observe the abundance of birdlife on the lake while enjoying some R&R in a peaceful setting. For accommodation seekers, stay at Dalby Tourist Park —for two nights.

Day 3 – Charleville 535 kms. Witness the true outback through this pocket of ‘Mulga Country’ (Mulga Woodlands). As the sun lowers, get ready for a starry sensation! This is where you can see the stars at their best. Visit the Cosmos Centre . Stay at Charleville Bush Caravan Park, offering campsites or accommodation options. Stay two nights.

Day 5 – Longreach 515 km. You have reached the town in the centre of Queensland! Stay at Longreach Tourist Park next to Stockman’s Hall of Fame ! Experience a stagecoach ride or dine at a country café in authentic outback style. Stay two nights.

Day 7 – Rubyvale Gemfields. 391 km. Descend 17 meters underground at Miners Heritage mine tour. Learn about underground mining and try your luck finding a Sapphire. Bags of wash can be purchased, and have a go at fossicking, assisted by a staff member, to find your gem! Stay at Rubyvale Caravan Park or on the Gemfields. A fossicking permit is required if camping or fossicking. Stay for two nights.

Outback Queensland Road Trip: Be prepared when travelling in remote areas. Have appropriate water, food, and fuel supplies.

Day 9 – Carnarvon Gorge National Park , 302 km. Experience the astonishing beauty of this place framed by striking sandstone walls that make up Carnarvon Gorge. Go deep into the gorge, one of the many walking trails, while spotting unique flora, fauna, and ancient Aboriginal rock art. Camp at Carnarvon Gorge or stay at Carnarvon Wilderness Lodge. Stay for two nights.

Day 11 – Condamine Bell Hote l, Condamine, or Caliguel Lagoon campground 439 km. Settle in for an evening overlooking the tranquil Caliguel Lagoon or enjoy a pub meal at the Condamine Bell Hotel. Stay one night.

Day 12 – Crow’s Nest National Park, 346 km. Walk through the eucalypt forest to the stunning granite gorge calved by Crow’s Nest Creek. Rest by cascading waterfalls and breathe in the fresh air from Koonin Lookout. Camp at the park s Crows Nest Falls campground , or finish the trip in style and comfort at nearby Anduramba Homestead B & B .  Stay for two nights.

Day 14 – Return to Brisbane 147 kms to Brisbane.

This 14-day Outback Queensland road trip offers an incredible opportunity to create unforgettable memories in the unique wonders of the region. From gazing at the stars at their best and visiting the Cosmos Centre to learning about Australia’s rich history at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach. Take the chance to go fossicking for sapphires in Rubyvale, unearthing treasures from beneath the earth’s surface. And let’s remember the rugged beauty of Carnarvon Gorge National Park. The striking sandstone gorge demands exploration with multiple walking trails. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to make lasting memories that will stay long after your journey through Outback Queensland ends.

Interested in more road trip inspiration? Explore on a tropical North Queensland road trip or discover ancient gorges of the Savannah Way in North Queensland.

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Queensland Road Trips – 11 BEST Drive Itineraries [2024]

• Last Updated: February 2, 2024

We’ve driven all over the Sunshine State to bring you this epic guide to the best Queensland road trips! If you’re wondering what drives in Queensland you can’t miss, this article is for you!

If you’re the kind of person that loves packing the car and hitting the road on an epic road trip, then chances are you already have driving around Australia on your bucket list.

We have travelled the world searching for the most iconic driving itineraries, yet for some reason we never really had the chance to explore much of our home country.

That all changed in 2020, when we were lucky enough to be able to get up to Queensland on the northeast coast of Australia and travel around in our campervan.

After more than a decade on the road, it takes a lot to impress us. But what we found in the Sunshine State was nothing short of spectacular!

We started in the south exploring the rolling hills and forests of the Hinterland and zig-zagged along the coast all the way to Cooktown.

The further north and west you go the greater the opportunity for some great 4WD Queensland road trips that should not be missed if you have the right vehicle and are prepared for adventure.

If you’re ready to find the best Queensland drives, fill the tank and dive into our latest epic guide!

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Table of Contents

Gold Coast Hinterland Road Trip

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Here is our list of Queensland road trips that all people can enjoy.

We’ll start from the south and work up north, as most people fly into Brisbane or the Gold Coast before continuing onwards.

Let’s hit the road!

• Route – Surfers Paradise to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
• Distance – 109km
• Duration – 2 hours 30 minutes
• Vehicle – Any
• Road Conditions – Fully sealed
• Highlights –  Lush rainforest, waterfalls, lakes, valleys and headlands, Tamborine Mountain, Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park

The Gold Coast Hinterland is an area of stunning natural beauty with ancient national parks peppered throughout the region.

Up here you’ll find plenty of activities for travellers who want some fresh air in their lives, but still prefer to have easy access to the city literally just an hour away.

The Gold Coast Hinterland Tourist Drive boasts plenty of magnificent lookouts out towards the mountains and active volcanic creeks, waterfalls and swimming holes.

This is a short and easy Queensland road trip that starts in Surfers Paradise and heads up towards Toowoomba, making it perfect for a day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, or a possibility for a weekend away.

After you’ve ticked off all the awesome things to do in the Gold Coast , your itinerary will see you drive up to Tamborine Mountain then back down towards Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park.

The beautiful Tamborine Mountain offers a variety of hikes through the national park, as well as hang gliding off of the launch site that overlooks an otherworldly valley!

If you’re more into sampling local produce, there are plenty of distilleries, wineries and fruit and vegetable farms all around this scenic mountain town.

After you’ve hiked, ate and drank all throughout the national park, head down to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area .

This is where you’ll find the gorgeous Springbrook National Park, home to the Hinterland’s most iconic site, the Natural Bridge.

This enchanting waterfall cascades through arches in a basalt cave and is a wonderful place to walk around and practice your photography.

Then wind your way higher along Lamington National Park Road where you can enjoy spotting waterfalls while strolling amidst treetops covered in blossoming flowers.

Finish up your drive at the legendary O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat , where you can take part in a bunch of activities, or spoil yourself by spending the night.

• Route – Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Warwick, Barcaldine, Winton and Birdsville
• Distance – 1892km
• Duration – 5 days
• Vehicle – 4WD (Can do in a 2WD. Route below.)
• Road Conditions – Sealed at the beginning then becomes unsealed near the end. You can take another route, see below.
• Highlights – Nindigully Pub, Artesian mud bath, Dig Tree’s history, Cooper Creek, Birdsville Pub

The Big Red Bash Road Trip is popular for those who want a bit of adventure in southern Queensland.

The Queensland outback is the place to go if you want some of the best, authentic experiences in Australia.

The landscape offers rolling hills, endless horizons, and quaint towns that will make for a memorable trip, with the possibility of seeing a lot more wildlife than other tourists!

Start off in Brisbane and then head inland towards Ipswich , past Toowoomba and then up to Warwick and Barcaldine.

If you can, time your trip to be on a Saturday, where there is a fantastic little market at Pittsworth. So make sure you stop by for some great coffee and home made cakes.

Then on your way South you will find open grazing land where you can see cattle or even the odd horse if you’re lucky.

This drive is Southeast Queensland’s own road less travelled. Satisfy your hunger for adventure with a journey to one of the most unique events in Australia.

In the midst of Queensland’s vibrant red desert, you’ll find The Big Red Bash–the world’s most remote music festival.

It is an annual rock concert hosted on sand dunes along Birdsville’s Simpson Desert border and usually takes place in July.

Getting there is all part of this ultimate Australian experience as well—you’re going to be traversing across some incredible scenery both before getting there and once arriving at the destination itself.

So take your time, enjoy everything that surrounds you while making your way out into our nation’s far-flung corners, stopping every so often to catch your breath and take it all in.

If you have a 2WD, go through Roma and Windorah. There is another way from Brisbane to Birdsville for those who have 2WD vehicles. You can travel through Roma and Windorah.

A Route Breakdown

• Brisbane to Nindigully, 501km
• Nindigully to Cunnamulla, 340km
• Cunnamulla to Noccundra, 340km
• Noccundra to Innamincka, 311km
• Innamincka to Birdsville, 400km

• Route – Brisbane up the coast to Cairns
• Distance – 1874km
• Duration – 10 days.
• Road Conditions – the roads are fully sealed the entire route
• Highlights – Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Ingham, Mission Beach, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, Atherton Tablelands, Cairns

The Pacific Coast Way is a highway that links towns and cities along the east coast of Australia.

The route starts in Sydney, then goes all the way up to Cairns on Queensland’s northeast coast.

Along this path, you’ll find plenty of coastal havens as well as inland hinterland regions with beautiful farming areas – perfect for those looking for an escape from city life!

Keep your eyes open. There are many hidden gems waiting just outside major population centres ready to be discovered off this famous road trip (and they’re worth every kilometre!).

Our favourite side trip took us to Magnetic Island, with which we immediately fell in love! Here’s our day trip to Magnetic Island guide.

READ MORE – Want to learn more about this road trip? Check out our article on Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip .

• Route – Maroochydore, Noosa Heads, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay
• Distance – 419 km
• Duration – 3 – 7 days
• Vehicle – 4WD only
• Road Conditions – Sand Beaches driving. Need to be prepared with rescue gear
• Highlights – Noosa Heads, Double Island Point, Great Sandy National Park, Rainbow Beach, Carlo Sandblow, Fraser Island, 75 Mile Beach, Marcoola Beach

With its endless stretches of coastline here in Queensland, World Heritage listed landscapes and quirky, colourful towns and so many amazing road trips, they don’t come much better than the Great Beach Drive.

This 3-7 day off-the-beaten-track road trip will take you 380km on an adventure from Noosa to Hervey Bay via Fraser Island!

This road trip covers Rainbow Beach, 75 Mile Beach on Fraser Island and Marcoola Beach in Hervey Bay. The Great Beach Drive is full of lots of beach beauty.

This one is only for the 4WD, so bring your own or you can rent one. The four-wheel-drive tracks have beautiful views that are worth seeing on a sunny day.

They also lead to beaches with waves crashing against them in the mornings before sunrise. But also at sunset hours after work for people seeking relaxation or adventure from their everyday lives.

This area has plenty of adorable permanent residents like koalas and kookaburras who live alongside migratory birds too such as pelicans, cormorants and fairy terns which can be seen while fishing off one side or another!

Driving on some of the world’s most stunning beaches and through idyllic National Parks, this road trip also connects to World Heritage listed Fraser Island (K’gari) in Queensland’s Australia Nature Coast region.

There’s no shortage of reasons as to why people love the scenic drive along Fraser Island’s famous 75-mile beach. Another one of Queensland’s pristine stretches of white sands and crystal clear waters, this adventure is like no other.

• Noosa to Rainbow Beach – 70km
• Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island – 157km
• Fraser Island to Hervey Bay – 44km

• Route – Cunnamulla, Blackall, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Karumba
• Distance – 1812km
• Duration – 5 – 8 days
• Highlights – Charleville Cosmos Centre, Longreach museums, Age of Dinosaurs and Lark Quarry stampede site, Karumba.

The Matilda Way is an excellent way to experience rural Australia while travelling 1812 kilometres from the New South Wales border in Tamworth through St George, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Blackall, Mitchell Creek National Park (with over 250 waterfalls), Taroom and eventually Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

So grab two mates along for this extraordinary journey as well your trusty vehicle.

The Matilda Way road trip is a 1,812km highway that is fully sealed, starting from the New South Wales border at Cunnamulla and runs all the way up to the Gulf of Carpentaria .

This road will lead you on an adventurous trip with different experiences each day!

Here is a rough guide

• Cunnamulla to Charleville – 200km
• Charleville to Blackall – 300km
• Blackall to Longreach – 214km
• Longreach to Winton – 180km
• Winton to Cloncurry – 350km
• Cloncurry to Karumba – 445km

• Route – Townsville, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Camooweal
• Distance – 1097km
• Highlights – Historic Charters Towers, Porcupine Gorge, Kronosaurus Korner, Hard Times Mine, Underground Hospital and Camooweal Caves

On your Overlander’s Way road trip, you’ll get to explore untouched natural beauty and dinosaur discoveries while admiring breathtaking landscapes and interacting with rich Indigenous history – without having to take your vacation days from work!

Once only for the 4×4 vehicles, it is now sealed so everyone can explore this part of Queensland.

Along with seeing some amazing natural sights like the Great Barrier Reef and pristine beaches in North Queensland, your journey will also include all sorts of intriguing historic sites such as architecturally rich towns which showcase Australian history.

The road starts near the city of Townsville (check out our guide to all the great things to do in Townsville ), then you head west where the real adventure begins.

From Charters Towers where you will learn all about the gold mining town to learning about dinosaurs in Hughenden at the Flinders Discovery Centre, which are home to some incredible ancient fossil beds with dinosaur footprints preserved by natural forces over time!

You can learn about the cattle drovers at the Drovers’ Camp Museum in  Camooweal Caves National Park , which also has amazing sinkholes dating back 500 million years.

This land is just bursting full-speed ahead into a new future that shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon – even without leaving the bitumen roads behind!

The Overlander’s Way road trip is a Queensland route that will have you fall in love with the country all over again.

This is the inland route for any vehicle to drive. Here is a route guide.

• Townsville to Charters Towers – 137km
• Charters Towers to Hughenden – 248km
• Hughenden to Richmond – 115km
• Richmond to Julia Creek – 149km
• Julia Creek to Cloncurry – 137km
• Cloncurry to Mount Isa – 121km
• Mount Isa to Camooweal – 190km

• Route – Cairns, Ravenshoe, Undara, Forsayth, Cobbold Gorge, Karumba, Boodjamulla
• Distance – 1493km
• Duration – 5 days (2 weeks to do the whole way across to WA)
• Vehicle – Suitable for both 4WD and 2WD vehicles depending on the route chosen
• Road Conditions – Fully sealed but often closed by flooding streams during wet season. Roads can wash away during these times.
• Highlights – Waterfalls in Ravenshoe, Rainforest walks in Atherton, Undara Volcanic National Park, Mt Surprise, Talaroo Hot Springs, Cobbold Gorge, Innot Hot Springs,

The Savannah Way is an amazing route for exploring the tropical savannahs of northern Australia.

The route winds from Cairns, Queensland to Broome in Western Australia and offers a unique opportunity to see some incredible sights along the way including ancient rock art paintings and Australian wildlife.

The Queensland section of Savannah Way goes from Cairns to Hell’s Gate or vice versa.

Your Savannah Way safari starts in Cairns, the crowning jewel of the Queensland coast. Set your sights south toward Millaa Millaa, a drive of about 1.5 hours where you will find stunning waterfalls amidst vibrant green rainforests and waterways that are perfect for swimming at any time during the year!

Once there, make sure to take in not only the well-known waterfall but also Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls before heading on to Ravenshoe.

• Cairns to Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands – 62.5 kms 
• Mareeba to Undara – 229 kms
• Undara to Cobbold Gorge – 229 kms
• Cobbold Gorge to Croydon – 232 kms
• Croydon to Karumba – 226 kms
• Karumba to Burketown – 281 kms
• Burketown to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park  – 234 kms

• Route – Cairns, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation, Mossman, Cooktown
• Distance – 256km
• Duration – 3 – 5 days
• Vehicle – 2WD
• Road – Road it sealed the whole way. You do need to take a ferry over to Cape Tribulation
• Highlights – Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Aboriginal Rock Art, James Cook Museum

If you’ve always wanted to see where the Reef meets the Rainforest, the only place where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites actually meet, this is the road trip for you!

The 327km drive takes four hours and is full of nature, history, and outback characters that will keep your interest for days on end!

You can explore Cooktown’s historical significance as Australia’s first European settlement or enjoy its beautiful harbour with many local attractions in town.

It may not be the most action-packed adventure around – so pack accordingly if you’re looking for some excitement.

But it’ll definitely get your creative juices flowing before heading off into our vast country again!

• Cairns to Port Douglas
• Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation
• Cape Tribulation to Mossman
• Mossman to Cooktown

While Cooktown itself is a bit far to visit as a day trip from Cairns , you can break it up into two days if looking to return back to Cairns.

• Route – Cape Tribulation, Bloomfield, Cooktown
• Distance – 103km
• Duration – 6 – 8 hours
• Vehicle – 4WD only (no caravans or camper trailers)
• Road – Mostly Unsealed. Some areas are sealed. Caution when wet and have had heavy rain. There are river crossings, steep climbs and descends and boggy patches.
• Highlights – Emmagen Creek, Cowie Beach, Bloomfield River and lookout, Bana Yirriji Arts Centre, Wujal Wujal Falls

The Bloomfield Track is one of Queensland’s most scenic short 4WD drives that leads to the coastal town in Wujal-Wujal.

The track passes through a rainforest archway with majestic plants, unexpected wildlife and history.

It was constructed by protestors back in 1983-84 leading up to an important environmental protest known as the “Bloomfield Blockade.”

Nowadays it has become World Heritage protected land thanks to these protesters who were concerned for its natural beauty!

The coast drive from Cooktown down south on Australia’s Northern Territory border all the way beyond Huonbrook Station takes travellers past spectacular views, creek crossings and secluded beaches where they can take some well-deserved rest before continuing their journey inland into more remote areas.

READ MORE: Coming from south of the border? Make the most of the journey with our Sydney to Brisbane road trip itinerary !

With varying conditions and a mixture of gravel, red soil, or wet weather on the road, driving can be tricky.

With its rugged landscape and plenty of natural creek crossings after heavy rainstorms this drive may become impassable at times as well- so make sure you have your 4WD vehicle always ready!

You can do it in one long day or break it up. Here is a rough guide

• Cape Tribulation to Bloomfield – 39km
• Bloomfield to Cooktown – 64km

• Route – Cairns, Cooktown, Cape York
• Distance – 1964km
• Duration – 14 days return
• Vehicle – 4WD
• Road Condition – Can be difficult in areas. Can flood in the wet season
• Highlights – White sand beaches at Portland Roads, northernmost point of the continent, rock art in Laura

No one can claim to have seen all of Australia without going on a long, adventurous road trip.

One such adventure that you should take in your lifetime is the 1000km journey from Cairns straight up to Pajinka (traditional name for the northernmost point of mainland Australia at top of Cape York Peninsula).

Australians have an adventurous spirit that is deeply ingrained in their culture. In Cairns, you can jump into a 4WD and head off on an unforgettable journey to the top of Australia with cooked towns as your stops along the way.

You will experience creek crossings and corrugations, meet interesting people from various communities while encountering relics of wartime history all throughout this life-changing adventure through Cape York !

Along this breathtaking drive, there are natural treasures like national parks with their bird-filled wetlands and rainforests as well as waterfalls, beaches, and Old Telegraph Track which will challenge even the most hardcore adventurer.

Although it’s not easy driving through rough terrain or crossing treacherous waters during the rainy season beware: the rewards never stop coming!

• Cairns to Cooktown – 244km
• Cooktown to Laura – 175km
• Laura to Coen – 220km
• Coen to Lockhart River – 210km
• Lockhart River to Bramwell Station – 154km
• Bramwell Station to Bamaga – 212km
• The Tip – 35km

• Route – Hebel, Roma, Injune, Emerald , Clermont, Charters Tower, Ravenshoe, Atherton, Mareeba, Cairns, Cooktown
• Distance – 1863km
• Duration – 9 days is you choose to start in Hebel to 16 days if you choose to start in Sydney
• Vehicle – 2WD.
• Road Condition – Road is sealed the whole way.
• Highlights – Cobb & Co. Charging Station, Carnarvon Gorge, learn about the gold rush in Charters Towers, Rainforest walks in Atherton Tablelands, Many waterfalls around Atherton, Mareeba and Cairns, Aboriginal experience in Cooktown

Want to go off the beaten track? Then let’s leave the coast and drive inland through Queensland’s outback.

You’ll traverse some of the most uninhabitable landscapes, steep in history with rural towns as well.

Driving up here is a totally different experience than driving along coastal highways since there are fewer service stations.

But it does offer unique experiences for those who want something less travelled that has many tourist attractions such as red sand deserts or gazing at stars under night skies!

The Great Inland Way is a road trip that follows the Australian coast from Sydney to Brisbane.

The Queensland leg of this journey passes through Dirranbandi and St George before detouring off onto some surprisingly flat, sealed roads leading into Surat, Roma and Injune.

Stop for lunch at Nindigully Pub (if you dare!) in Australia’s oldest hotel-turned restaurant which offers up 1.2kg hamburgers called Road Train!

Journey through Queensland’s Outback from the mountains to the coast. Continue along well signed and flat sealed roads to Surat, Roma and Injune en route to sandstone escarpments of Carnarvon National Park.

Stop off at Emerald for a fossicking permit before detouring on Capella, Clermont, Charters Towers or Undara with plenty of stops in between!

Find an authentic Australian experience by visiting Ravenshoe’s highest pub or enjoy gourmet cheeses at Atherton Tablelands’ luxurious resorts after exploring lush rainforest gardens.

Spend time admiring birds-of-paradise and other native flora from Kuranda’s scenic cable car perspective then visit Cairns where you can explore nature above ground as well as below sea level!

Stop off at the gateway to Queensland’s sapphire jewel fields for fossicking permits, detour through the tropical fruit growing area of the Atherton Tablelands for fresh local produce before navigating the Cairns hinterland, Queensland’s largest protected rainforest.

After heading north all the way to Cooktown to explore the outback and the extraordinary Aboriginal rock art.

This road trip is fully-sealed the whole way weaving its way from Sydney to outback NSW and Queensland, the Central Queensland Highlands and then as far north as Cooktown.

• Hebel to St George – 161km
• St George to Roma – 196km
• Roma to Injune – 91km
• Injune to Emerald – 311km
• Emerald to Clermont – 109km
• Clermont to Charters Towers – 374km
• Charters Towers to Ravenshoe – 465km
• Ravenshoe to Atherton – 51km
• Atherton to Mareeba – 33km
• Mareeba to Cairns – 63km
• Cairns to Cooktown – 326km

There are so many great Queensland road trips. We hope this list has given you some ideas for your next road trip.

There is so much beauty to be seen and so many activities and attractions to fill your days.

There are some that are full of adventure that you need a 4WD. And there are some we are yet to do which are all the 4WD ones. But we hope to do them later in the year!

What is your favourite Queensland road trip? Drop a comment below and let us know!

And while you’re at it, check out all these other epic things to do in Queensland !

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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31 Best Stops Between Longreach and Brisbane

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How long is the drive from Longreach to Brisbane?

The direct drive from Longreach to Brisbane is 807 mi (1,298 km) , and should have a drive time of 15 hrs 58 mins in normal traffic.

If you’re going on a road trip from Longreach to Brisbane, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Toowoomba , as well as top places to visit like The Tree Of Knowledge and Blackall Woolscour, or the ever-popular Ilfracombe Machinery and Heritage Museum.

Top city between Longreach and Brisbane

Best stops along longreach to brisbane drive, ilfracombe machinery and heritage museum.

The Tree Of Knowledge

Blackall Woolscour

Miners heritage walk in mine tour, emerald botanic gardens, the rolleston caravan park, great artesian spa, the big rig, miles historical village museum, bunya mountains national park, kingaroy heritage museum, the woolshed at jondaryan, cowboy up trail riding, unisq japanese garden qld, queens park toowoomba, queensland museum cobb+co | toowoomba, picnic point toowoomba, darling downs zoo, exchange hotel kilcoy, kenilworth dairies, glengallan homestead & heritage centre, suttons juice factory, the granite belt maze, brisbane valley rail trail, pitstop cafe, queen mary falls caravan park, summer land camels, queensland museum rail workshops | ipswich, queens park cafe & kiosk, kooroomba vineyards and lavender farm..

Top searches in Brisbane

Other popular road trips from longreach, explore nearby places.

• Boodjamulla National Park
• Mount Barney National Park
• Cooloola National Park
• Indooroopilly
• Everton Park
• Mount Gravatt
• Everton Hills
• Upper Mt Gravatt
• Mount Ommaney
• Acacia Ridge
• Albany Creek
• Eatons Hill
• Clear Mountain
• Mount Crosby

All related maps of Brisbane

• Map of Brisbane
• Map of Boodjamulla National Park
• Map of Gympie
• Map of Caloundra
• Map of Mount Barney National Park
• Map of Cooloola National Park
• Map of Windsor
• Map of Indooroopilly
• Map of Everton Park
• Map of Mount Gravatt
• Map of Everton Hills
• Map of Virginia
• Map of Brookfield
• Map of Upper Mt Gravatt
• Map of Mount Ommaney
• Map of Acacia Ridge
• Map of Albany Creek
• Map of Wacol
• Map of Brendale
• Map of Eatons Hill
• Map of Strathpine
• Map of Samford
• Map of Bray Park
• Map of Springwood
• Map of Capalaba
• Map of Lawnton
• Map of Hillcrest
• Map of Clear Mountain
• Map of Petrie
• Map of Mount Crosby
• Map of Cashmere

Brisbane throughout the year

• Brisbane in January
• Brisbane in February
• Brisbane in March
• Brisbane in April
• Brisbane in May
• Brisbane in June
• Brisbane in July
• Brisbane in August
• Brisbane in September
• Brisbane in October
• Brisbane in November
• Brisbane in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Brisbane?

Get inspired for your trip to Brisbane with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Brisbane Itinerary
• 2-Day Brisbane Itinerary
• 3-Day Brisbane Itinerary
• 4-Day Brisbane Itinerary
• 5-Day Brisbane Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i drive from longreach to brisbane.

Yes! You can drive from Longreach to Brisbane.

How far is Brisbane from Longreach by car?

The drive from Longreach to Brisbane is 807 miles (1,298 km).

How long does it take to drive from Longreach to Brisbane?

Driving from Longreach to Brisbane should take you 15 hrs 58 mins in normal traffic.

How much would gas cost from Longreach to Brisbane?

Gas from Longreach to Brisbane would cost around $71 to $165 , depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Where should I stop on the way from Longreach to Brisbane?

You could check out The Tree Of Knowledge and Blackall Woolscour, or the always popular Ilfracombe Machinery and Heritage Museum!

What are the best cities to visit between Longreach and Brisbane?

People love visiting Toowoomba, among others.

What's the weather like in Longreach?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Longreach in January
• Weather in Longreach in February
• Weather in Longreach in March
• Weather in Longreach in April
• Weather in Longreach in May
• Weather in Longreach in June
• Weather in Longreach in July
• Weather in Longreach in August
• Weather in Longreach in September
• Weather in Longreach in October
• Weather in Longreach in November
• Weather in Longreach in December

What are some other road trips from Longreach?

There are plenty! Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Longreach.

• Longreach to Brisbane drive
• Longreach to Cairns drive
• Longreach to Townsville drive
• Longreach to Winton drive
• Longreach to Port Douglas drive
• Longreach to Noosa drive
• Longreach to Pokolbin drive
• Longreach to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park drive
• Longreach to Cape Tribulation drive
• Longreach to Airlie Beach drive
• Longreach to Bundaberg drive
• Longreach to Beerwah drive
• Longreach to Hervey Bay drive
• Longreach to Rockhampton drive
• Longreach to Toowoomba drive
• Longreach to Broken Hill drive
• Longreach to Summerlands drive
• Longreach to Glenorchy drive
• Longreach to Strahan drive
• Longreach to Coles Bay drive
• Longreach to Lightning Ridge drive
• Longreach to Mackay drive
• Longreach to Kuranda drive
• Longreach to Charleville drive
• Longreach to Mount Isa drive
• Longreach to Maleny drive
• Longreach to Berriedale drive
• Longreach to Yulara drive
• Longreach to Caloundra drive
• Longreach to Yeppoon drive

• Itinerary + map in one view
• Live collaboration
• Auto-import hotels and reservations
• Optimize your route
• Offline access on mobile
• See time and distance between all your places

Cities between Brisbane, Queensland and Longreach, Queensland

Brisbane to longreach midpoint and places to stop along the way.

About ¼ or a fourth of the way, you can stop at Chinchilla, Australia . This is about 3 hours west of Brisbane.

Nonstop driving from Brisbane to Longreach

If you drive straight through without stopping at all, the total distance is 1174 km . The distances shown above don't include local roads to get into each town, so if you're planning a long road trip, make sure you factor in traffic and road conditions, rest stop breaks, and interesting detours along the way. If you're in a rush, you can do the trip with zero stops, and your total travel time would be around 13 hours, 6 minutes .

• Plan a Road Trip
• Plan a Flight
• Find an Airport
• Where to Stay
• All Questions

Longreach to Brisbane drive

Longreach to brisbane road trip planner.

Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Longreach to Brisbane. If you're planning a road trip to Brisbane, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.

10:00 am  start in Longreach drive for about 2 hours

12:08 pm   Blackall stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:08 pm drive for about 5 hours

day 1 driving ≈ 7 hours find more stops

10:00 am  leave from Roma drive for about 1.5 hours

11:33 am   Miles stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:33 pm drive for about 1.5 hours

2:01 pm   Dalby stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:01 pm drive for about 2.5 hours

5:42 pm  arrive in Brisbane eat at Alfred & Constance

day 2 driving ≈ 5.5 hours find more stops

Where should I stop along the way?

Blackall Roma Miles Dalby

Where's the best place to eat in Brisbane?

Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?

Trippy members suggest Alfred & Constance , which was mentioned 2 times.

Here are some more restaurants people talk about:

Want to research more popular restaurants in Brisbane? Click the blue button below.

What are some things to do in Brisbane?

This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.

These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:

Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!

For example, here are some questions people have asked about Brisbane. Click on any question to see answers from the community!

Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Brisbane.

Do I really have to go back home?

Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!

Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Brisbane to Longreach drive , or go to the main page to plan a new road trip .

You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Longreach to Brisbane . Or get a full Longreach to Brisbane flight plan .

Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend.

And if you know Longreach well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Longreach!

More info on this route:

road conditions from Longreach to Brisbane

places to eat

alternate routes

Google driving directions

Honest tourism information about Australia

Longreach to Brisbane train: Timetable, fare prices and stops

• David Whitley

The Longreach to Brisbane train departs twice a week, takes 26 hours and costs from $141. The Spirit of the Outback connects outback towns such as Barcaldine and Emerald.

The Longreach to Brisbane train is one of Australia’s quirkiest train services. It stretches through outback Queensland , in regions where most people simply don’t expect there to be a rail service.

Officially known as the Spirit of the Outback, the Longreach to Brisbane train is one of the country’s iconic long distance rail services.

Longreach offers evocative cruises along the Thomson River , adventures on an old-fashioned stagecoach and an outback sheep station experience . To investigate the best Longreach tour and activity options,  head this way . To pick the right Longreach accommodation,  nosey around here .

As with many of Australia’s long distance trains, the Spirit of the Outback runs more as a tourist experience than a functional way of getting from A to B. That’s not to say that Australians living in the towns along the route don’t use it. But most of the time, it’s far more practical to drive.

Longreach to Brisbane train timetable

According to the Longreach to Brisbane train timetable, the Spirit of the Outback departs twice a week from Longreach , and twice from Brisbane .

6 supreme Brisbane day trips that will improve your holiday

• Moreton Island day trip – with kayaking, sandboarding and snorkelling or with dolphin-feeding and desert dunes adventure .
• Springbrook National Park glowworms and rainforest tour – including Tamborine Skywalk.
• Eumundi Markets day trip – Australia’s best markets, plus the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa.
• North Stradbroke Island day tour – with cruise, wildlife spotting and guided walk.
• Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
• Maialia rainforest walking and wildlife tour – visit lesser-known D’Aguilar National Park.

This outback train departs Longreach at 10.00 on Mondays and Thursdays. The return journey on the Spirit of the Outback leaves Brisbane at 18.10 on Tuesdays or 13.55 on Saturdays. The journey takes 26 hours and covers 1,325km.

Longreach to Brisbane train fare prices

Fare prices on the Longreach to Brisbane train are not unreasonable. Economy seats cost from $141 , although you might have a bit of a sore bum by the end of the journey. If you’d prefer a sleeper, both sleeper and twin sleepers cost from $427. Book via the Queensland Rail Travel website .

There are showers, power sockets and a restaurant on board, but this Queensland outback train service is not in the same luxury category as the Indian Pacific train from Perth to Adelaide or Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin.

4 Longreach experiences to book before you arrive

• Starlights river cruise – take in sunset along the Thomson River aboard a paddlewheeler.
• Cobb & Co stagecoach experience – travel along an outback dirt road pulled by galloping horses.
• Wildlife and woolsheds tour on a double decker bus through Nogo Station .
• Dinosaur-packed day tour to Winton .

Where does the Spirit of the Outback train stop?

Of course, you don’t have to do the full journey. There are plenty of places to stop along the way. The Longreach to Brisbane train stops in Ilfracombe, Barcaldine , Jericho, Alpha and Anakie before arriving at Emerald .

Then it continues to Blackwater, Bluff and Duaringa on the way into Rockhampton. Heading south along the coast from Rockhampton , the Spirit of the Outback stops in Mount Larcom, Gladstone , Miriam Vale , Bundaberg , Maryborough , Gympie , Cooroy, Nambour and Caboolture . It arrives at Brisbane’s Roma Street Station.

If you don’t fancy the long train journey, then a Brisbane to Longreach road trip is a great way of exploring the Queensland outback.

9 brilliant Brisbane experiences to book in advance

• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tickets (or entry plus river cruise combo ) – hold a koala and see lots of adorable native wildlife.
• Brisbane River cruise – see the key sights and learn about the city on the way.
• Story Bridge Adventure Climb – walk along the top of Brisbane’s famous bridge, with 360 degree views.
• Combine the Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Kangaroo Point Cliffs on a fun Segway tour .
• Helicopter flight – see the city from a bird’s eye view.
• Kayaking tour – choose the night tour to see the city light up, the day tour to enjoy the sunshine.
• XXXX brewery tour – see how Australia’s most famous beer is made.
• Guided wine flight tasting – get an Aussie wine introductory course.
• See Brisbane’s spooky side on a city centre ghost tour .

More Queensland travel

Why do cruise ships stop at Willis Island ?

Cross into the far north of Cape York on the Jardine River ferry .

How much does the Townsville to Brisbane train cost?

Take the Palm Island ferry from Townsville .

Ride the Mary Valley Rattler on a Brisbane to Gladstone road trip stop.