Brisbane to Airlie Beach itinerary on one awesome 7-day road trip
Wanting to enjoy some time in Airlie Beach and the beautiful Whitsundays? Why not enjoy the actual road trip there as well? Brisbane to Airlie Beach is not so fun when you drive the whole 1,097km in one go. But if you spread it out over seven days, visiting some of Queensland’s amazing coastal towns along the way, it will soon become one of those holidays to remember.
Thanks to NRMA Holiday Parks, we tried and tested this route. The verdict? … WOW! Here’s how to do Brisbane to Airlie Beach in seven amazing days.
Day 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 holidays. 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.
What to do at Woodgate Beach
Woodgate Beach is all about, you guessed it … the beach. 16km of clear water and clean sand to be precise. Fishing and boating is 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. There are both powered grass and slab sites and you can bring your furry friend. Glamping tents, cabins and villas are also available.
Facilities include an onsite 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.
Day 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. Although I have only included one day here, 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’re wanting 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 once you reach the end.
The nearby town of 1770 is another of Queensland’s best-kept secrets. Here you can stand in the same spot 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 small dog friendly?
Facilities include a camp kitchen, clean bathrooms, cafe, laundry, tour bookings, onsite cafe, dump point and picnic tables.
Days 3 and 4 – Agnes Water to Yeppoon (265km)
The second leg of the Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip is split over two days. The morning of day three is spent travelling the 265km from Agnes Water to 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.
Read our list of the best things to do in Yeppoon for more inspiration.
Where to stay in Yeppoon
The NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park is one of my favourites in the whole of Australia. 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 that are caravanning or camping will experience well-maintained grass and slab sites with immaculate facilities. Cabins and cottage-style accommodation is also available. We stayed in a cabin and it was fantastic.
There are also fun kids’ activities on during the school holidays.
Days 5 to 7 – Yeppoon to Airlie Beach (506km)
Day five of your Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip will be spent driving the longer 506km from Yeppoon to Airlie Beach. This leaves days six and seven to enjoy the area. 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’s tonnes to do in Airlie Beach as well.
What to do in Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach also has an amazing free lagoon but this one is 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!
Read our list of things to do in Airlie Beach for more inspiration.
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 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.
Alternatively, hit up Hervey Bay for a few nights on the first leg of your trip as your first stop from Brisbane before heading to Woodgate Beach.
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