Possible Queensland Travel Scenic Drive Route Itineraries

Brisbane Scenic Drive Route Itineraries in Queensland Australia

QUEENSLAND

Gold Coast

(70km south of Brisbane)

Trip duration: One day or longer

On the road
Just one hour’s drive south of Brisbane via the Pacific and Gold Coast Highways.

The Gold Coast, Australia’s premier holiday destination, boasts 42 km of golden, unpolluted beaches stretching from Southport in the north to Coolangatta in the south, with a lush subtropical hinterland. This international resort city offers a multitude of man-made and natural attractions. Superb surfing beaches include Main Beach, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun, Kirra and Coolangatta.

The Gold Coast hinterland is a subtropical hideaway with 7 national parks complete with massive trees, spectacular views, cascading waterfalls and bush walks only thirty minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Surfer’s Paradise, with it’s towering skyline, beachfront esplanade and glamour, is the hub of Gold Coast high life. You will find nightlife, entertainment, sporting facilities, shopping and restaurants galore.

Mermaid Beach has a huge cinema complex close to family restaurants.

At Miami Beach, the Miami Hotel features live music and dancing, food and beer.

At Burleigh Heads, with Burleigh Knoll Environmental Park, Burleigh Heads National Park and Fleay’s Fauna Centre are all worth a visit.

Inland at Mudgeeraba are the Gold Coast War Museum, Skirmish, Movie Militaria and the Boomerang Farm.

Sea World, Sea World Drive, Main Beach, is a marine complex with displays by dolphins and sea lions and many fun rides.

Warner Bros Movie World, Pacific Highway Oxenford, is a movie-based theme park with recreation movie sets. You can look behind the scenes at special-effects creations, as well as visit the many attractions and thrill rides.

Dreamworld, an Australian theme park, has nine theme areas of rides, shows and attractions. Koala Country allows visitors to cuddle koalas and feed kangaroos.

At Fisherman's Wharf Marina, Sea World Drive, sit on the dock of the bay and enjoy fine food and wine, overlooking the broadwater. Browse in the shops and boutiques; children can play safely in the floating pool; and fresh seafood from the market is available daily.

Wet’n’Wild Water Park contains a giant wave pool, waterslide, adventure pool and play areas for children. Poolside movies are shown and a speed slide stunt team performs daily.

Currumbin Sanctuary offers an exciting look at Australian fauna in 70 acres of bushland and gardens. Flocks of rainbow lorikeets swoop around to be hand-fed.

Moving west from the coastline into the hinterland, the terrain climbs steadily to 1000 metres to the breathtaking scenery in the Numinbah Valley at Springbrook. Highlights here include the 190 metre high Purlingbrook Falls, Winburra Lookout and the Hinze Dam.

In the Numinbah Valley on the southern Queensland border is the Natural Arch, a spectacular waterfall that plummets through a stone archway into a rock pool below. This is an excellent spot for picnics, barbecues and bush walks.

For further information, contact:

Gold Coast Tourism Bureau
Level 2,64 Ferny Ave
SURFERS PARADISE QLD 4217
Tel: (07) 5592 2699
Fax:(07) 5570 3144

Kuranda

(1807km north of Brisbane)

Trip duration: A minimum of seven days if travelling from Brisbane to Cairns.

On the road
The long stretch of the Bruce Highway leads north from Brisbane.

CAIRNS

Cairns is one of the most attractive cities in Australia, and the capital of the tropical far north of Queensland. There is The Esplanade that runs along the foreshore, with parks and gardens that appear to be perpetually ablaze with flowers, tropical trees and plants. It is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef; tropical beaches, nearby national parks, the Cairns Highland, world heritage listed rainforest and the remote wilderness of the Gulf Country.

From Cairns, daily cruise boats and sailboats travel to islands and the outer reef. Charter seaplanes and helicopters are also available. At Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the Outer Reef, boats are moored at floating pontoons, or anchored offshore from sandy cays. Many dive options are available from one to four days.

Cairns Night Markets are an eye opening attraction along the Esplanade, complete with leather goods, local arts and crafts and much more. Rusty’s Markets every Friday; Saturday and Sunday night has fresh fruit and vegetables.

Flecker Botanic Gardens and Mt Whitfield Environment Park offer a diversity of tropical flora and fauna habitats. While you are in the area drop into the Tanks Art Centre on Collins Avenue, which houses local artists work.

40km north-west to Kuranda via the Kennedy Highway.

At this rainforest village you will find attractions of singular beauty and diversity. Ride the Kuranda mountain train, see the mighty Barron Falls, and venture into the rainforest. Visit the markets on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday for arts and crafts, Aboriginal artefacts, homegrown produce and gems direct from the mines.

Visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and view more than 35 species as you wander by miniforests and fern-fringed pools. Bird World is home to many birds of the world, where pathways take you to a simulated rainforest.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns is a picturesque tourist train which includes a running commentary with spectacular views of tropical scenery from lovely old carriages.

Alternatively take Skyrail, a gondola cableway departing from Smithfield, taking you over the rainforest canopy. There are two stations in the rainforest with boardwalks and an interpretive centre, that you can visit while on Skyrail. You can also see performances by the Tjapukai Aboriginal Dance Theatre and see traditional skills, dance and Dreamtime legends at the Tjapukai Centre next door to the Skyrail Centre.

At Palm Cove you can visit Wild World animal park, home to many Australian native animals. Have you picture taken with a Koala. See toad races, snake and crocodile shows and cockatoo capers.

A 50-minute dive north of Cairns along picturesque coastal roads brings you to Port Douglas, a relaxing resort village in a tropical tree-covered mountain setting.

The Marlin Coast is a 26km ribbon of Shaded beaches, tiny coves and beach communities offering a range of accommodation along the palm-studded shoreline.

The scenic splendour of Mossman, a small traditional cane town, engulfed by green canefields and the darker green rainforest-clad mountain, is stunning. Mossman gorge, a five minute drive from Mossman, has a spectacular walking track 3km long, leading you to pristine rainforest with crystal clear swimming holes.

For further information, contact:

Far North Queensland Promotion Bureau Ltd
Cnr Grafton and Hartley Streets
CAIRNS QLD 4870
Phone: (070) 512 588
Fax:(070) 510 127

Cairns Highland

(67km west of Cairns)

Trip duration: One day or longer.

On the road
Depart Cairns via Kennedy, Gillies or Palmerston Highways.

ATHERTON TABLELANDS
The Atherton Tablelands is a beautiful green stretch of county known as the cool tropics. Rolling hills, rainforest, pasture lands and the phenomena of long-extinct volcanic crater lakes make up this region behind the Cairns ranges. This wilderness of cascading falls, fast flowing rivers and dense pockets of rainforest is easily reached on good touring roads.

Atherton is a pleasant country town, with abundant rolling hills, fresh green pastures and crisp fresh tableland air. Atherton produces a combination of natural vegetation and agricultural crops, rarely found in the tropics.

Fascinating Facets & The Crystal Caves is an underground fantasy cave, where natural giant crystal formations and real fossils are displayed.

Halloran’s Hill Lookout, has views of the town and surrounding countryside.

At Yungaburra, the central streets have been classified by the National Trust. The markets are on every last Sunday of the month.

Lake Barrine is a volcanic crater lake with wildlife cruises, century-old twin Kauri trees and a 6km path around the edge of the lake. Another volcanic crater lake is Lake Eacham, which has picnic facilities and a 4km path around the lake’s edge-great for swimming.

Malanda is home of Malanda Milk Co-operative, which has the longest milk run in the world. A local retreat is Malanda Falls.

Millaa Millaa is the waterfall capital of the Tablelands. The Waterfall Circuit, along a 30km drive, takes you to Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Elinjaa Falls, set in lush rainforest.

Bellenden Ker Ranges

(138km south of Cairns)

Trip duration: One day or longer

On the road
Depart Cairns via the Bruce Highway, and travel along picturesque coastline to Mission Beach.

The Mission Beach area has tropical rainforest growing on the edge of most beaches, where a long chain of islands can be glimpsed on the horizon. There are about 20 islands to visit surrounding Mission Beach. The holiday resort of Dunk Island lies 4km offshore.

Innisfail, known as the ‘Green Heart’ of the north, is situated on the Johnstone River. Essentially a sugar town, producing one-fifth of Queensland sugar. Warrina Botanic Gardens, take a leisurely stroll in the gardens, there are picnic facilities and information centre. Flying Fish point, a 7km drive north-east of Innisfail is a popular swimming and fishing location. Paronella Park, located on the old Bruce Highway, south of Innisfail at Mena Creek, is the ruins of a Spanish castle, set in tropical gardens.

Further south is Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast from Cardwell. This is the world’s largest island national park and features mountain ranges and tropical vegetation.

Hinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest National Park island. It is uninhabited except for the award-winning, environmentally friendly Hinchinbrook Island Resort at Cape Richards.

The Island abounds in flora, fauna, palm-fringed beaches, mangrove waterways and rugged granite crags.

Hinchinbrook is the perfect place to restore body, mind and spirit. This is the Island to choose if you want peace, beauty and tranquillity.

Hinchinbrook is a bushwalker's paradise. Teeming with wildlife, a jagged chain of mountains forms the backbone of the Island. You'll see rainforests of Milky Pine, Palm Figs, and vines, with more than 66 species of birds, 22 species of butterflies, 29 different mangroves and many varieties of fish and crustaceans.

At Tully River, North of South Johnstone River, experience the thrill of rafting down the wild rapids.

For further information, contact:

Far North Queensland Promotion Bureau Ltd
Cnr Grafton and Hartley Streets
CAIRNS QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 513 588
Fax: (07) 510 127

Matilda Highway

(Cunnamulla, the highway starting point, is 119km from the New South Wales border; Cunnamulla to Karumba, the northernmost point, is 1700km including major excursions)

Trip duration: The entire trip can take more than two weeks to complete. There are 12 highway stages, none of which is longer than 375km.

On the road
From Cunnamulla, near the NSW border, the trip begins on the Mitchell Highway, which becomes the Landsborough Highway at Augathella. Towns along the way include historic Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry. The entire highway is sealed and mostly two lanes. Other major highways and sealed roads link up with the Matilda Highway at various points along its length and these are all suited to a standard family car.

Cunnamulla is between the intersection of two major stock routes, and Cobb & Co coaches began running in the area in 1867. The Cunnamulla-Eulo Festival of Opals is held here in September.

Charleville has strong links with aviation history, through Qantas and the pioneering Smith brothers also the base for both the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of Distance Education. Take a guided tour of the night skies through the telescopes of the Outback Queensland Skywatch.

Blackall on the Barcoo River, is the major town in a thriving pastoral region. Visit the historic Woolscour and the site of the original Black Stump.

Barcaldine the ‘Garden City of the West’.

Between Emerald and Longreach, is another sheep and cattle centre. Barcaldine holds an important place in Australia history, being the site of the revolutionary 1891 Shearers’ Strike.

There’s a folk museum, heritage centre and many historic buildings. Not far from here is Black’s Palace, an Aboriginal site with burial caves and impressive rock paintings.

Longreach, the central west’s largest town and pastoral centre, has an important link with the remarkable Qantas story, and is home to the outback pioneer tourist attraction, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.

Winton is the birthplace of Australia’s alternative national anthem. Waltzing Matilda, and Qantas Airline, Winton is also the town closest to Lark Quarry (a two-hour drive) where hundreds of dinosaur footprints can be seen.

Cloncurry, centre for a copper boom in the last century, Cloncurry was the largest copper producer in the British empire in 1916. The town has close links with the history of the Flying doctor Service, and is a base for journeys to the major mining town of Mount Isa.

The mining town of Mount Isa owes its existence to an immensely rich copper, silver, lead and zinc mine, and the towns skyline is dominated by the massive 270 metre-high exhaust stack from the lead smelter. The Isa, lays claim to being the largest city on the world, it covers an area of 41,255 square km.

The busy town of Charters Towers, 130km inland from Townsville, was the Queensland’s fabulously rich second city in the gold-rush days. Many old houses with classic verandahs and lace work, and imposing public buildings and mining structure remains. On Mossman St a few metres up the hill from the corner of Gill St is the picturesque Stock Exchange Arcade, built in 1887 and restored in 1972. Today it houses the National Trust office, a tourist office, a couple of galleries and shop and a mining museum.

At 62 Mossman St, the Zara Clark Museum, has an interesting collection on transport and lifestyle in the early Charter Towers.

For further information, contact:

Queensland Travel Centre
196 Adelaide Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000]
Phone: (07) 221 6111
Fax: (07) 221 5320

Tamborine Mountain

(650km south-east of Brisbane)

Trip duration: One day or overnight

On the road
Can be approached from Brisbane via the Pacific Highway or the Mt Lindesay Highway.

Must see

At Tamborine Mountains National Park, palms, staghorns, fern and orchids grow in profusion in the clean mountain air. The park is on the north side of Mount Tamborine and consists of a number of adjoining small park areas. Cedar Creek, which has waterfalls and swimming holes is the largest in area at 230 ha. Palm Grove, has extensive walking tracks among the piccabeen palms. Zamia Grove where cycads, ancient palm-like plants, are thought to be 100 years old. Witches Falls, the oldest park in the state, and known for its flower growing and avocado farms. At Joalah is St Bernard’s Hotel, an historic hotel set on 10 acres of beautiful gardens with panoramic views, where smorgasbord lunches are served and visitors can enjoy the afternoon bird feeding. At the high point of Tamborine Mountain with views of the Gold Coast, historic Bungunyah Manor is surrounded by national parks and rainforest. The Manor offers restaurant and recreation facilities. The parks have excellent displays of wildflowers from September to November.

Lamington National Park

(107km south of Brisbane)

Trip duration: One day or longer

On the Road
From Brisbane, take the Pacific Highway south to the Nerang turn-off and follow the road to Beechmont which leads into the park.

Must see

This region of over 50,000 acres in the Gold Coast hinterland covers densely forested valleys and ranges with walks leading to waterfalls. Lamington lies on the southern side of the Scenic Rim, a chain of mountains stretching from the Gold Coast hinterland to Mt Mistake, 75km south-west of Brisbane. This area is part of the World Heritage listed Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves.

Binna Burra has circuit walks to suit everyone’s ability that led through the rainforest beauty. See many species of birds including crimson rosellas and satin bowerbirds; and native fauna such as possums, wallabies and bandicoots. There are picnic facilities and a campsite kiosk, which sells basic supplies.

Springbrook has cool rainforests and eucalypt groves, panoramic lookouts, picnic grounds and walking tracks. The plateau is a remnant of the northern side of a once huge volcano that was centred on Mt Warning and, over time, abundant rainfall has created numerous creeks, spectacular waterfalls, deep gorges and rugged cliff lines in the volcanic rocks.

Surrounding areas:

Tweed Heads, on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. The world’s first laser -beam lighthouse sits atop Point Danger. Tweed Endeavour cruise boat, operating from River Terrace, visiting locations along the Tweed River.

At Byron Bay, surfers from near and far gravitate to Wategos Beach, on Cape Byron. Its northerly aspect makes it one of the best beaches for surfboarding on the east coast.

Ballina, a fishing town at the mouth of the Richmond River in northern New South Wales. Ballina’s ideal year-round temperatures, picturesque farmlands, golden beaches and friendly rural atmosphere make the holiday a popular family destination. Visit the Ballina Maritime Museum, in the tourist information centre. The Big Prawn on the Pacific Highway has fresh seafood.

For further information, contact:

Tourism Sunshine Coast
PO Box 246
MOOLOOLABA QLD 4810
Phone: (047) 436 400
Fax:(047) 436 160

Townsville

(1,430km north of Brisbane, 374km south of Cairns)

Trip duration: Minimum of two days from Brisbane, four hours drive from Cairns.

On the road
Follow the Bruce Highway, south from Cairns passing through the towns of Tully, Cardwell and Ingham.

TOWNSVILLE

Townsville got its start in the 1860s, as a port serving the inland cattle stations. Today it remains the port city for minerals from Mount Isa and Cloncurry as well as beef and wool from the western plains, sugar and timber from the rich coastal region and its own manufacturing and processing industries. It houses two metal refineries a multimillion-dollar world-class aquarium, the Great Barrier Reef Wonderland. Townsville is the administrative, commercial, education and manufacturing capital of northern Queensland. Also gives access to the natural attractions of Magnetic Island, Orpheus Island, Mount Spec National Park and the Townsville Environment Park.

You can walk the length of the Strand with its tropical parks, waterfalls and overhanging bougainvillea gardens. At the end of the Strand is the Rockpool development, which allows year round swimming.

Behind the Strand, Queens Garden on Gregory St, a km from the town centre, are the original botanic gardens in Townsville, dating from 1878. For a chance to see some wildlife, make your way out to the Town Common Reserve, 5km north of the centre, just off Cape Pallarenda Rd. This 32 square km area ranges from mangrove swamps and salt marsh to dry grassland and pockets of woodland and forest. The common is best known for water birds such as magpie geese, and the stately brolgas.

Flinders Mall in the heart of the city, has the Cotter Markets every Sunday morning.

The town has many fine buildings including art galleries and museums. Townsville is the major Townsville’s major attraction is the Great Barrier Reef Wonderland, at the end of Flinders St. The Aquarium’s huge main tank has a living coral reef and hundreds of reef fish. To maintain the natural conditions, ‘tides’ are imitated by raising and lowering the water level, a wave machine simulates the ebb and flow of the ocean, and marine algae are used, in the purification system. The aquarium also has several smaller tanks, with extensive displays on the history and the life of the reef, and a theatrette where films on the reef are shown. While its impressive aquarium is the highlight, there are several other sections including a theatre and the Queensland Museum, which has displays focusing on North Queensland wetland, birds, rainforest, ocean wrecks and Aboriginal artefacts. It also has a good national parks information office, and a terminal for ferries to Magnetic Island and the Outer Reef.

The busy town of Charters Towers, 130km inland from Townsville, was the Queensland’s fabulously rich second city in the gold-rush days.

The Sheraton Breakwater Casino overlooks the marina and Magnetic Island, and has extensive gaming facilities and entertainment.

The Townsville Museum on the corner of Sturt and Stokes Sts, has a permanent display on early Townsville and the North Queensland independence campaigns, as well as temporary exhibitions.

The Jezzine Military Museum, is just off the northern end of The Stand.

Just out of town is the Billabong Sanctuary, a wildlife reserve where you can feed koalas and kangaroos, together with wetlands and environmental parks.

For further information, contact:

Townsville Enterprise Limited
Enterprise House
6 The Strand
TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810
Phone: (077) 71 3061
Fax:(077) 71 4361

Acknowledgements

Tourism Queensland releases materials solely for the purpose of positive promotion of Queensland as a tourism and travel destination. Any breach of this copyright condition could result in legal action.