Thinking about driving from Brisbane to Airlie Beach? You’re in for one of Queensland’s most beautiful coastal road trips. Instead of powering through the 1,097km in a single day (which is nobody’s idea of fun), take your time and turn the journey itself into a holiday.
This Brisbane to Airlie Beach itinerary highlights the best stopovers – from quiet beaches and wildlife encounters to tropical islands and resort-style lagoons – so you can choose how long to stay in each place. Whether you’ve got a long weekend, a week, or plenty of time to linger, this route is packed with classic Queensland holiday moments and family-friendly fun all the way to the Whitsundays.
Leg 1 – Brisbane to Woodgate Beach (342km)
Woodgate Beach is one of Queensland’s best-kept secrets, so keep your voice down a little, okay? We don’t need the rest of Australia flocking here every school holiday. This first leg from Brisbane to Woodgate Beach is 342km, and if you leave nice and early, you’ll get there just in time for fish and chips on the beach for lunch.
If you’ve got extra time up your sleeve, consider stopping in Hervey Bay a few nights before continuing to Woodgate on your Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip!
What to do at Woodgate Beach
Woodgate Beach is all about, you guessed it … the beach. 16 km of clear water and clean sand to be precise. Fishing and boating are pretty good here too, so if you have a tinny or kayak, bring it along. 4WDers can cruise along the beach at nearby Kinkuna and also from the township of Woodgate Beach along to Burrum Point.
Walk your daily steps on the 5.2km Banksia boardwalk track or stroll the beachside walking path. If all of that sounds like too much work, just plonk your towel in the sand and have a nice relax to the sound of the waves gently lapping the shoreline.
Where to stay at Woodgate Beach
The NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park is in a top location directly across the road from the beach. Glamping tents, cabins and villas are available here as well as both powered grass and slab sites for caravan/camping.
Facilities include an on-site cafe, tourist information, clean bathrooms, camp kitchen and BBQs, dump point, car and boat washing area, fish cleaning station, laundry and free WiFi. Kids’ activities are available during the school holidays.
Leg 2 – Woodgate Beach to Agnes Water (176km)
This second leg of your Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip is fairly short as far as travelling distances in Australia go. It’s only 176km between Woodgate Beach and Agnes Water. You can visit in one day, but if you do, you will definitely want to make plans to revisit this place for a week-long adventure another time. Agnes Water is Queensland’s most northern surf beach and the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. This place is all about the relaxed coastal vibes.
What to do at Agnes Water
The beaches at Agnes Water are patrolled during the holiday season, but if you’ve strapped on your surfboard, head on over to Point Break. For those wanting to experience the amazing Great Barrier Reef, book a day trip out to Lady Musgrave or Lady Elliot Island for a memorable day of sunshine (hopefully), snorkelling and sand.
If you want to keep your step count up, hit up the Paperbark Forest Walk or the 30-minute Discovery Trail Walk, which features a great lookout. Alternatively, try the 3km Red Rock Trail and take a dip in the nearby rock pools to cool down at the end.
The nearby town of 1770 is another of Queensland’s best-kept secrets. Here you can stand in the same spot where Captain Cook’s crew first came ashore. Jump on the LARC, a hard-to-miss bright pink tour bus that goes on both land and water or have some fun SUPboarding.
Where to stay in Agnes Water
Agnes Water NRMA Holiday Park is in the perfect beachfront location. It has both powered and unpowered grass and slab sites for those caravanning and camping. For those who didn’t bring their own shelter, choose from glamping tents, cabins and villas. Oh, did I mention it’s dog-friendly?
Facilities include a camp kitchen, clean bathrooms, cafe, laundry, tour bookings, on-site cafe, dump point and picnic tables.
Leg 3 – Agnes Water to Yeppoon (265km)
Allow at least two days for this leg of the Brisbane to Airlie Beach journey as half of the first day will be spent driving between Agnes Water and Yeppoon. To be honest, this stretch is a little boring to drive so crank the tunes and just get it over with. Once you reach Yeppoon, you’ll soon discover tonnes of things to do. However, it’s also the perfect place to take it easy and just have some laid-back fun in the sun.
What to do in Yeppoon
After you arrive and get set up, make sure to check out the free-to-use Yeppoon Lagoon. This 2,500sqm resort-style pool has a swim-up infinity edge that looks out over the Keppel Islands. When the sun is shining, which it often is, this place feels like it belongs in an expensive, exclusive resort and is way too good to be free.
Of course, now that you’ve noticed the Keppels off in the distance, make sure to devote day four to Great Keppel Island. Freedom Fast Cats is a top choice for getting over there, and once you arrive, enjoy a day of island life, sand and snorkelling. If you can’t be bothered with a packed lunch, there is a restaurant on the island that dishes up some great burgers.
Watch the fun we had at Yeppoon NRMA Holiday Park and Great Keppel island:
Got an empty wallet and can’t manage the trip over to Great Keppel Island? Don’t worry, just take your pick of no less than 12 beaches between Yeppoon and Emu Park, where you will also find the famous singing ship sculpture. Families will love the Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary and Koorana Crocodile Farm.
Wanting to keep active? Tackle the 2.3km Bluff Point Walking Track for amazing views over the Keppel Islands. Looking for a 4WD adventure? Explore the sandy tracks of Byfield National Park for a moderate challenge that features both beach driving and inland tracks.
Where to stay in Yeppoon
The NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park is one of my favourites. It’s in a quiet location, not too far from Mulambin Beach, and it’s particularly awesome for families. Why? It has all the fun stuff like a big twisty waterslide, jumping pillow, playground, outdoor cinema and pedal carts. Those who are caravanning or camping will experience well-maintained grass and slab sites with immaculate facilities. Cabins and cottage-style accommodation are also available. We stayed in a cabin and it was fantastic.
There are also fun kids’ activities on during the school holidays.
Leg 4 – Yeppoon to Airlie Beach (506km)
The stretch between Yeppoon and Airlie Beach is a bit long at 506km, so you’ll lose most of the day driving. This means you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a few days left up your sleeve to enjoy Airlie. If you thought the last drive you did was boring, this one is about to take the cake. This one is really boring. However, once you arrive, you certainly won’t be disappointed. After all, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the beautiful Whitsundays.
It’s not all about the Whitsundays, though. There are tonnes of things to do in Airlie Beach as well.
What to do in Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach has an amazing free lagoon, but this one is extra special as its a whopping 4,300sqm. Find it on the foreshore area and take your pick from several pools ranging from wading depth to 2.5 metres. If it’s a Saturday morning, head down to the Whitsunday Markets on the foreshore too.
If you’ve got a hankering for a waterfall, drive out to Cedar Creek Falls just 30 minutes from Airlie Beach. You can swim in the freshwater but it’s not recommended you go under the falls as they really thunder down after some rain. Besides, you never know when a big rock may tumble over the top.
You could spend a week alone exploring the islands of the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef but if time is short, jump on a day tour. We visited Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island with Cruise Whitsundays on a day tour that included lunch. Whitehaven Beach was definitely the highlight!
Check out the fun we had on our day trip out to Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island:
Where to stay in Airlie Beach
The NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park is a palm tree-filled tropical oasis, making it a great base to explore Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. The mangos are free for picking, and the caravan/camping sites are shady and pet-friendly. Cabins, bungalows and villa-style accommodation are also available.
Facilities include clean bathrooms, a camp kitchen with plasma TV, laundry, a pool with a kids’ play area, a tour booking office, BBQs and free WiFi. Shibby’s Fish and Chippery is located at the entrance, for when you don’t want to cook.
Where to linger longer
If you have more than a week to make this fabulous Brisbane to Airlie beach road trip … lucky you! You’ve got time to linger longer in all the good places. Spend a few extra days in Agnes Water, Yeppoon and Airlie Beach. All have amazing overnight experiences on the offshore islands.
Brisbane to Airlie Beach FAQ
The distance between Brisbane and Airlie Beach is about 1,097km by road. Without stops, the drive takes around 12-13 hours, but it’s much more enjoyable when broken into smaller legs.
There’s no perfect length – it depends on how slow or fast you like to travel. Many people take 5-10 days, but you can stretch it longer if you want extra time in places like Agnes Water, Yeppoon or Airlie Beach.
Popular coastal stopovers include Hervey Bay, Woodgate Beach, Agnes Water & 1770, Yeppoon and Airlie Beach.
There are some highway stretches between beach towns which can be a little boring, but stopping into these towns is what makes the road trip between Brisbane and Airlie Beach so great.
Absolutely – the route is full of family-friendly activities, holiday parks, calm beaches, wildlife enounters, playgrounds, water parks and lagoons.
No, the main route is accessible to all vehicles. However, certain side adventures – like Kinkuna Beach near Woodgate or Byfield National Park near Yeppoon – are 4WD only.
The most comfortable weather is generally from April to October, with warm days and lower humidity. Summer is hotter and wetter but still beautiful, especially for swimming and island trips.
Many holiday parks on this route (including several NRMA Parks) are pet-friendly, but beaches, national parks and island have their own rules. Always check ahead.
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