Discover some of the hottest spots along the Queensland coast and how to get to them on 4 wheels.
A Brisbane to Cairns road trip touches on some of the country's most beautiful forest-to-sea landscapes.
We've prepared three epic road trips for you to take it in, lasting from one to three weeks. They come complete with the must-see spots and must-do activities and how to get to them. All you have to do now is book your car and go.
Search for your ride from Melbourne
Brisbane to Cairns map
Get your bearings before you take off. Here's what a straightforward journey will look like (excluding those fun little side trips).
Recommended itineraries based on length
7-day Brisbane to Cairns itinerary
Brisbane-Cairns itinerary overview
- Distance: 1,913km
- Highlights and attractions: Fraser Island, Whitehaven Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands
- Landscape: Coastal, rainforest, islands
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized (SUV with 4WD needed if driving on Fraser Island)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Distance: 140km Approx. drive time: 2 hours |
Brisbane to Noosa |
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| Day 2 Distance: 0km (if going on the tour) Approx. drive time: 0 |
Noosa to Fraser Island |
 |
| Day 3 Distance: 377km Approx. drive time: 4 hours and 20 minutes |
Fraser Island to Agnes Water |
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| Day 4 Distance: 706km Approx. drive time: 7 hours and 45 minutes |
Agnes Water to Airlie Beach |
 |
| Day 5 Distance: 0km (no driving due to tour) Approx. drive time: 0 |
Airlie Beach to Whitsunday Islands |
 |
| Day 6 Distance: 690km Approx. drive time: 8 hours and 25 minutes |
Airlie Beach to Cairns via Atherton Tablelands |
 |
| Day 7 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 |
Cairns |
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Brisbane: Ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street
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Noosa: Noosa Heads Motel
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Rainbow Beach: Debbies Place
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Agnes Water: Agnes Water Beach Holiday
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Airlie Beach: Colonial Palms Motor Inn
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Cairns: Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside
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14-day Brisbane to Cairns itinerary
Itinerary overview
- Distance: 1,922km
- Highlights and attractions: Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, Magnetic Island, Daintree Rainforest
- Landscape: Coastal, forested national parks
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized (SUV with 4WD needed if driving on Fraser Island)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 |
Brisbane |
 |
| Days 2 and 3 Distance: 140km Approx. drive time: 4km |
Brisbane to Sunshine Coast |
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| Days 4 and 5 Distance: 118km Approx. drive time: 1 hour and 40 minutes |
Sunshine Coast to Fraser Island |
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| Day 6 Distance: 336km Approx. drive time: 4 hours |
Fraser Island to town of Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Water |
|
| Days 7 to 9 Distance: 706km Approx. drive time: 8 hours |
Agnes Water to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands |
 |
| Days 10 and 11 Distance: 275km Approx. drive time: 3 hours |
Airlie Beach to Townsville and Magnetic Island |
 |
| Days 12 to 14 Distance: 347km Approx. drive time: 4 hours |
Magnetic Island to Cairns |
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Brisbane: Ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street
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Noosa: Noosa Heads Motel
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Fraser Island: Sailfish on Fraser (book only if not doing a Fraser Island tour)
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Agnes Water: Agnes Water Beach Holiday
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Airlie Beach: Colonial Palms Motor Inn
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Magnetic Island: Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA
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Cairns: Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside
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21-day Brisbane to Cairns itinerary
Itinerary overview
- Distance: 1,957km
- Highlights and attractions: Noosa National Park, Fraser Island, Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest
- Landscape: Coastal, rainforest, waterfalls
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized (SUV with 4WD needed if driving on Fraser Island)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 and 2 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 |
Brisbane |
 |
| Days 3 and 4 Distance: 238km Approx. drive time: 2 hours and 50 minutes |
Brisbane to Sunshine Coast |
 |
| Days 5 and 6 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 |
Sunshine Coast to Fraser Island |
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| Days 7 and 8 Distance: 322km Approx. drive time: 3 hours and 40 minutes |
Fraser Island to Agnes Water and town of Seventeen Seventy |
 |
| Days 9 to 11 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 |
Agnes Water to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands |
 |
| Days 12 and 13 Distance: 275km Approx. drive time: 3 hours |
Airlie Beach to Townsville |
 |
| Days 14 and 15 Distance: 30km (distance dependent on which attractions you visit) Approx. drive time: 1 hour |
Townsville to Magnetic Island |
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| Day 16 Distance: 235km Approx. drive time: 3 hours |
Magnetic Island to Mission Beach |
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| Days 17 to 19 Distance: 274km Approx. drive time: 4 hours |
Mission Beach to Cairns via Atherton Tablelands |
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| Days 20 and 21 Distance: 583km Approx. drive time: 5 hours and 30 minutes |
Cairns to Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation |
 |
Brisbane: Ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street
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Noosa: Noosa Heads Motel
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Fraser Island: Sailfish on Fraser (book only if not doing a Fraser Island tour)
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Rainbow Beach: Debbies Place
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Agnes Water: Agnes Water Beach Holiday
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Airlie Beach: Colonial Palms Motor Inn
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Magnetic Island: Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA
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Cairns: Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside
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Townsville: Aquarius on the Beach
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Mission Beach: Eco Village Resort Mission Beach
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Cape Tribulation: Heritage Lodge in the Daintree
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Destination overview
- Weather: Queensland’s weather is similar for destinations all along the coast. Tropical North Queensland locations such as Cairns, the Daintree Rainforest and Mission Beach experience hot and humid weather year-round with temperatures hovering around 31°C. Rainy season is November to April. Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands have the same weather along with stinger season during the rainy season so wetsuits must be worn. Further south in Noosa and Brisbane the rainy season is also November to April, though stingers are not an issue and there is less rain. Temperatures in winter are still above 20°C.
- Best time to visit: The shoulder seasons of April to May and October to November are the best months to visit as the temperatures are warm, the rain is minimal and there are fewer crowds.
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized (SUV with 4WD needed if driving on Fraser Island)
Car hire deals in Brisbane
UBER
$12 off first ride
Valid on your first Uber ride anywhere in Australia (T&Cs apply). Only available through Finder.
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Europcar
Up to 20% off car hire
Valid for rentals until 1 August 2019 at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. Minimum of 2 days rental and must be booked 21 days prior vehicle pick up. T&Cs apply.
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Europcar
Up to 35% off car hire
Valid from 8 July - 31 December 2019. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Italy, France and more. T&Cs apply.
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Europcar
$1/day one-way car hire in Australia
Valid on select dates on select car hire relocations in Australia. Destinations updated regularly.
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DriveNow
Campervan hire from $5/day
Available on select routes, dates and locations in Australia and New Zealand.
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Skyscanner Car Hire
Gold Coast car hire from $30
Valid for travel on select dates until May 2020 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Gold Coast include Brisbane, Toowoomba, Lamington National Park and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner Car Hire
Brisbane car hire from $24
Valid for travel on select dates until May 2020 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Brisbane include Gold Coast, Moreton Island, Sunshine Cost and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner Car Hire
Cairns car hire from $24
Valid for travel on select dates until May 2020 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Cairns include Palm Cove, Mareeba and more. T&Cs apply.
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Avis
Australia car hires from $109
Valid for travel on select dates in 2019. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and more. Sample fare is for a 5-seat SUV from Perth Airport. T&Cs apply.
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EasyRentCars.com
Up to 50% off Melbourne car hires
Valid for rentals from 29 May - 31 August 2019 with Aucar across Australia, Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
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Europcar
Up to 20% off Australia and New Zealand car hire
Valid for travel on select dates with pick-ups in Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Discount applies to all participating stations in Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
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Europcar
25% off premium hire insurance
Get up to 25% off on your car rental when you purchase GoZen Cover. Valid at participating locations across Australia and New Zealand. T&C's apply.
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DriveMyCar
Car hire from $24 per day
Hire cars across Australia from as little as $24 per day.
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DriveNow
Hire a car and get your fourth day free
Hire a car with Budget Car Hire through DriveNow for a minimum of four consecutive days and get your fourth day free of base rate charges. Available for pick ups at the airport in Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne (Tullamarine). Valid on select vehicles including family, full-size and SUVs.
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