In 2 Weeks From Cairns to Brisbane With Kids – Our Detailed Road Trip Itinerary for Queensland
The road trip in East Coast Australia is one for the books! Read our detailed 14 days itinerary for Queensland to help you plan an unforgettable family road trip from Cairns to Brisbane of your own.
Things We talk About in This Post
- 1 About the East Coast Australia route from Cairns to Brisbane and Why it is Great for Families
- 2 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary – Day 1 – Exploring Cairns
- 3 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 2 / Cairns Atherton Tableland – Mission Beach
- 4 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary – Day 3 – Mission Beach to Townsville
- 5 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 4 – Townsville to Airlie Beach
- 6 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 5 and Day 6 – Airlie Beach
- 7 From Cairns to Brisbane Road Trip Itinerary Day 7 – Airlie Beach to Mackay
- 8 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 8 – Cape Hillsborough to Yeppoon
- 9 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 9 – From Yeppoon to Agnes Water
- 10 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 10 – Agnes Water to Hervey Bay
- 11 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 11 – Fraser Island
- 12 Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 12 – Hervey Bay to Noosa
- 13 From Cairns to Brisbane Road Trip Itinerary Day 13 and 14 – Noosa to Brisbane
About the East Coast Australia route from Cairns to Brisbane and Why it is Great for Families
Let’s put it straight. There are road trip routes around the World which are iconic and which are a dream for every traveler. The East Coast drive from Cairns to Brisbane all the way along the A1 highway, more known as the Bruce Highway, is one of those dream destinations!
It is also a popular one, if you wish. It is popular among the backpackers, solo travellers, locals and road trip fans, but it is also a VERY popular destination for families. In a matter of fact, Queensland is a popular road trip destination for European parents on their parental leave break.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest travel stories and photos
Why is the East Coast Australia so popular among families?
Well, the beautiful weather, the great service along the way, the feeling of adventure and the friendly Australians surely does have a little to do with the popular factor.
Another reason for the East Coast Australia ride being so popular among families is that you need time for it – it can’t be done in a day or two – you need at least two weeks to properly get the feel. And families usually have time either on holidays or parental leave breaks.
From Cairns to Brisbane or from Brisbane to Cairns? Which way to drive?
There is no real answer to the question where you should start with your road trip through Queensland. Why? It is up to you to decide.
There are three criteria which might help you decide whether you start your road trip from Cairns to Brisbane or vice versa:
- What are the sights you are most curious to see and explore in Queensland?
If you are, like us, a driven person, you might want to stay longer at at place you really enjoy. This will leave you with less days in total and the rush towards the end. So if your points of interest are closer to Cairns, by all means start there. Same goes to Brisbane.
- The costs of renting a motorhome/car/campervan
Yes, there is a difference! There is a whole industry and rates system based on renting our camper vans and motorhomes in Queensland and in Australia. So quite ofter, the rental agencies are running out of cars at one locations and want to have them back – so they make special deals. That is to say, it could be a great deal to drive from Cairns to Brisbane or the other way around depending on the season or vehicle availability. Always check rates for both directions!
- The availability and price of flights
This was a decision maker for us. There are more international flights going in and out of Brisbane than Cairns. Some flight leave only every second day or once per week. We don’t need to explain that the price could be different too.
Just something personal: we found it easier to start our road trip from Cairns to Brisbane in Cairns. Just because of the city size and laid back atmosphere. Brisbane is a busy city with a lot of business going on.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary – Day 1 – Exploring Cairns
The first stop on our Queensland road trip itinerary was Cairns. We have spent 2 nights there. We have arrived late in the afternoon, so we don’t count this day in our road trip from Cairns to Brisbane.
Most travellers arriving in Cairns use it as a base for Great Barrier Reef or Daintree Rainforest excursions. Picking up a car or a campervan is another popular reason.
First thing we did arriving in Cairns was packing away our warm clothes. October in Queensland hit us with 30+C temperatures.
Instead of rushing towards new adventures right away we decided to stay in Cairns a bit longer. Simply to adjust and to have a slow start. It was a great decision – Cairns was touristy, but sunny warm and easygoing which was great for a start. Traveling with a kid you don’t always want to stress yourself out and head straight away to the unknown. Thus we recommend you stay in Cairns for at least a day and take your time to walk around, go for a lazy swim and stock on swimming essentials.
Things to See and Do in Cairns with Kids
- Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. You will learn very fast that in Australia even though the ocean is in front of you you shouldn’t jump into it – stingers are no fun to catch. But for this reason there are outdoor swimming areas where one could swim, relax and stay safe. Esplanade in Cairns is one of them – a very nice green area right next to the ocean. Great for a lazy afternoon next to the water and for kids to swim. It’s not as deep as a swimming pool, but it’s a very nice opportunity for a dip free of charge.
- As we have mentioned previously, Cairns serves as a base for Daintree National Park and Great Barrier Reef excursions. If you don’t have a lot of time and want to have a glimpse of both Cairns is a good place for organising these visits. Please keep in mind, that it’s worth doing some research on the companies, since from what we heard Great Barrier Reed tour operators vary in service quality. We didn’t’ do any of the tours, so we can’t recommend anything here.
- Flying foxes. These might look spooky, but they are harmless. I have never seen as many of them as in Cairns. During the day you can find them hanging from the trees next to the City Library. During dusk they become active and fly around making squicky noise – impossible to miss.
Where to Stay in Cairns
- First night in Cairns we stayed in Coral Tree Inn Motel and were satisfied with money-service relation.
- For the second night we already had our motorhome and stayed right outside the city at a Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut which was a great start to getting accustomed to the motorhome life.
Where to Eat and Drink in Cairns
We are sad to report, but we haven’t found any ‘wow’ eating options in Cairns. The best places we have eaten at were:
- We found Bang & Grind cafe simply by enterring in Google ‘best coffee in Cairns’. And it worked out well. Coffee and breakfast were yummy and the service as friendly as all australian service is.
- An Asian street food stall on the Abbot Street (the back entrance to the Night Market) serves tasty variety of asian dishes.
Some Extra Tips for Cairns
- Cairns is great if you plan to purchase beachwear or clothes with all stores providing a great choice of kids swimsuits and apparel.
- Beanhunter is a great app if you are looking for places with good coffee.
- Wikicamps is a great app for all things related with motorhome (from caravan parks to day time areas).
- Cairns is also a good place to organise yourself a sim-card. We have used the one from Woolworths which came with data volume and free calls and it was relatively cheap, easy and convinient.
- And another tip we have learned about – if you have enough time, don’t visit Great Barrier Reef from Cairns – travel north to Port Douglas instead!
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 2 / Cairns Atherton Tableland – Mission Beach
Distance from Cairns to Mission Beach: 236 km
On our way from Cairns to Mission beach we made a de-tour in our Queensland road trip itinerary and spent a day driving through Atherton Tableland.
From Cairns we took A52 all the way to Atherton and from there A25 towards Innisfail.
It is a very scenic drive where at some point you are not sure anymore whether you are in England or in Australia. Green rolling hills, red earth and hoards of cows. Little charming colonial villages and huge trees. Outside temperature and gum trees set everything is place though.
Things to See and Do in Atherton Tableland
- Village hopping. Since we only had a day to spend we sticked to only one village – Yungaburra. Otherwise you can pick any of the villages Atherton Tableland is famous for. You can spend days in the area and if you have time by all means do. Yungaburra was a good choice because: it has a platform where one can watch platypus in it’s original environment and it is located in a close proximity to curtain fig trees. Many villages are famous for it’s dairy products and some farms offer tours and have shops selling their own produce.
- Platypus watching. On the outsirts of Yungaburra there is a watching platform from which you can spot platypus – the creature every kid would love to spot. Best time for platypus watching is sunrise or sunset (as with most of the animals). But it is worth a try even if you are outside those times – we arrived at midday and after waiting for a while were lucky to see one.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest travel stories and photos
- Curtain Fig Tree. There are more than one curtain fig tree in the area, just watch for the signs, the paths are clearly marked. We didn’t plan on visiting one, but so glad we did. Amazing trees with incredible root system are worth a stop. All the paths are children friendly and have wooden flooring to walk on. We were also lucky to spot a tree kangaoo sitting on top of a fig tree. How cool is this?!
- Innisfail. The town of Innisfail is worth a stop on your Cairns to Brisbane Road trip for it’s brilliant art deco architecture.
- Cassowary Coast Region. As the name says the chances of spotting a cassowary in this region are high. On the way from Innisfail to Mission Beach there are quite some signs warning about these huge birds. We haven’ seen any, but heard from many fellow travellers that they almost hit one. Be careful, cassowary’s are not to joke with!
Where to Eat and Drink in Atherton Tableland
Arriving to Yungaburra by lunch time with all places happily busy with serving food, we decided to join instead of cooking inside the motorhome.
- The noisiest and the bussiest place in the village – the Lake Eacham Hotel. Very simple local food in huge portions (we shared). The building itself is old, rusty and has seen better days, but this adds a colonial feeling to the whole village vibe.
- Just opposite Lake Eacham Hotel the Whistle Stop Cafe serves great coffee and deserts.
Where to Stay in Mission Beach
Dunk Island View Caravan Park was our choice and it was fine. Nothing fancy, but just across the street from the beach with a view on the Dunk Island.
Some Extra Tips for Atherton Tableland
Atherton Tableland roads are quite curvy. It was a bit challenging to drive there with a motorhome, simply because it was our first ride. Roads are in great condition though and if you have a smaller vehicle it’s no problem at all.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary – Day 3 – Mission Beach to Townsville
Distance from Mission Beach to Townsville: 230 km
The part of Bruce Hwy between Mission Beach and Townsville is said to be one of the prettiest along the way. First rainforest and later sugarcane fields which blended into the vast dry areas lining along the ocean were so good to pass by.
Things to Do and See Along the Way to Townsville with Kids
- Five Mile Creek Swimming. Great place for a stop-over on the way to Townsville. And it is safe to swim there. Five Mile Creek is a great stop for having lunch and spending an afternoon. Right next to the parking area there is a fruit stall where one can get local farmers produce – you just take what you need and place the money in the box. Great!
- Townsville. A nice city with some old art deco buildings in the city centre and vibrant students life. The promenade along the ocean which is known as ‘the Strand’ is great for people watching and for long walks.
- Magnetic Island. If you have time by all means spend a day at Magnetic Island. It’s forest hosts a big koala colony and it’s a nice place to have shade and solitude. Diving operators also offer good diving options (especially for the ones who love wreck diving) from Magnetic Island. From what we heard Great Barrier Reef diving is way better from Magnetic Island than from Cairns or from Airlie Beach.
Where to Eat and Drink in Townsville
- Gregory Street in Townsville has some cafes and restraurants to choose out of.​
- Cafe Tide in Townsville serves great breakfasts and coffee.
Where to Stay in Townsville
Rowes Bay Beachfront Holiday Park was our choice. It is a lovely and relaxed holiday park great for families.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 4 – Townsville to Airlie Beach
Distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 275 km
This part of the A1 from Townsville to Airlie Beach goes through dry areas, gum tree forests and sugar cane fields.
Things to Do and See Along the Way from Townsville to Airlie Beach with Kids
- Sugar Cane. In this part of Queensland it’s all about sugar cane. Factories and trains transporting the cane to them is what you will see driving through the area. Some factories also offer tours, please inform yourself in advance.
- Bowen. This town came as a positive surprise, since we never planned on visiting it. As soon as you enter the town you can’t stop wondering how broad the streets are. It felt like we were lost in time – old cars parked along wooden beutiful houses and almost no people in sight. After a quick stop at the Visitors Center we learnt that Bowen was taken as a prototype of Darwin in the Australia movie (the one with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman). The city still lives under the aura of the movie industry and indeed many locals took part in crowd scenes filming. The only building from the Australia movie which still can be found in the town is the police station – everything else was removed after the film crew went home. For children Bowen offers a great open air playground with water facilities right at the waterfront.
Where to Stay at Airlie Beach
Island Gateway Holiday Park was a good choice for two reasons: a walkable distance to the town and to the jetty and the amount of parrots living on the premises.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest travel stories and photos
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 5 and Day 6 – Airlie Beach
Travellers and families coming to Airlie Beach are coming for two reasons: excursions to Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands. Boat companies and a small airport serve for delivering people to these two main attractions. Locals from neighbouring towns come to Airlie Beach to party.
We didn’t like the town much. It felt like being on a tourists street in Bangkok with happy hour bars, low quality eateries and many agencies trying to sell you tours.
We didn’t need anything to get organised, since we booked everything on-line. So one stroll through the town was more than enough to get an impression of what’s going on.
Things to Do and See in Airlie Beach with Kids
- Great Barrier Reef. There are plenty of agencies in Airlie Beach which cater to tourists wishes – diving, snorkelling, helicopter tours, full day tour, half-day tour, staying overnight at an island – you name it. But if you are traveling with small kids, you can not do it all. So we chose the Cruise Whitsundays simply because they had the best feedback and they are one of the biggest operators. We have to report that we have been content with the service. Another advantage of Cruise Whitsundays is that they Whitsundays have bigger boats, which is an advantage for traveling families, since you can bring along a stroller and other
- Whiteheaven Beach. Another place which attracts crowds, but still worth the visit. You can take a boat with a couple of stops or fly there directly. We stayed with Cruise Whitsundays and were happy with the result. The sad part of the Whiteheaven Beach is that it is quite wrecked – cyclone Debbie which took place in March 2017 did a lot of damage to the beach and to the neighbouring islands. So don’t be surprised if you won’t find it in a postcard view state. It is still a gorgeous place which reminds you that everything can change just in a day.
- Sailing Whitsundays. I wish we could have done that, but being on the road with a little one you have to set priorities. If you have time by all means board a catamaran which will take you at a slow pace along Whitsunday Islands. Usually it’s a 2-3 days cruise and from what we’ve sailing Whitsundays is a bucket list experience!
- Conway Conservation Park. Take a hike through the park. There are some pretty viewpoints in the park. You can get a map at your hotel or caravan park. We walked all the way up to “the Beak” and enjoyed some good views over the Whitsunday islands area. The route was easy to navigate with a baby behind our back and it would be possible to walk with elder children.
Tips for the Airlie Beach Area with Kids
- When traveling with kids, we suggest you go for a half-day Whiteheaven Beach tour. The sun is very strong and there is almost no shade at the Whiteheaven beach, which makes it tough for families.
- We suggest self-catering at the Airlie Beach, since we didn’t see or hear anything positive about the food options in the town.
- As we have already mentioned earlier – best option to see the Great Barrier Reef is from Port Douglas up north. Don’t keep you expectations high at Airlie Beach, just saying.
- If you book tours with Cruise Whitsundays you don’t need to bring your own stinger suit , which is a must have in the area. To keep it short – you and the kids shouldn’t approach the ocean without a stinger suit! Cruise Whitsundays they will provide you with one, which makes everything easier.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest travel stories and photos
From Cairns to Brisbane Road Trip Itinerary Day 7 – Airlie Beach to Mackay
Distance from Airlie Beach to Mackay: 150 km
Things to Do and See Along the Way from Airlie Beach to Mackay with Kids
- Mackay. Sometimes unplanned stops turn out to be amazing, are we right? Mackay was one of these stops on our road trip from Cairns to Brisbane. We stopped in Mackay for grocery shopping. It was actually nice to see a city which is not spoiled by the tourist industry and lives it’s slow local life. Mackay also has some beautiful art deco buildings. Check out the Sydney street to learn what we are talking about.
- Cape Hillsborough National Park. Our family was really looking forward to this place, because of all the “kangaroo on the beach” photos we stumbled upon while doing research for the trip. The park itself is beautiful, especially the coastal area. Read about our experience with kangaroos on the Cape Hillsborough beach here.
Where to Eat and Drink in Mackay
- Wood street in Mackay has some family friendly cafes and eateries.
- Woodman’s Axe Espresso in Mackay serves good coffee and a babyccino for kids.
Where to stay for families with kids
- Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park. This place has nothing special to offer in terms of amenities. But it is located right next to the gorgeous beach and it is the only one if you are visiting the Cape Hillsborough National Park to see kangaroos. Kangaroos coming to the beach at the sunrise hours actually reside at this tourist park premises, so you will see them during the day too.
- Smalleys Beach Campground is a cheaper alternative, located further away from the “kangaroo beach” at another beach so you will need to walk to the Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park anyway. The campground has very limited places to offer – better book in advance.
Our Tips for the Road Between Airlie Beach and Mackay
If you take the Yakapari Seafront Road watch out for a hangar with a “Pinapple Sundays” sign on it. As the sign says, on Sundays the hanger is open and a lovely family sells pineapples right from their garden. We have bought about 5 pieces and all of them were delicious.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 8 – Cape Hillsborough to Yeppoon
This was the longest drive we had during the whole trip. The road is straight and not so much is going on on this part of A1.
Distance from Cape Hillsborough to Yeppoon: 400 km
Things to Do and See Along the Way from Cape Hillsborough and Yeppoon
- Rockhampton. You can’t miss on Rockhampton if you love steaks. Everyone is here for the steak experience. And we were no exception. Indeed, Australia’s capital of steak serves great meat. So be sure to arrive hungry. Apart from food Rockhampton is a nice town for a stroll (especially after a good lunch). It has some old art deco buildings worth checking out.
- Yeppoon. Nice easy going beach destination for those who live in Rockhampton or pass by. On the way from Rockhampton to Yeppoon we saw quite some wild kangaroos and emu’s – I’d say the majority of all the animals we saw during the whole road trip.
Where to Eat and Drink in Rockhampton
- The Bush Inn Bar & Grill Steak House in Rockhampton was our choice for the steak delight. And it was delicious! It has all the amenities for kids and also plenty of space to fit in a stroller.
Where to stay for families with kids
During our Cairns to Brisbane Road trip, we have chosen Kinka Beach Island View Caravan Park as a base in Yeppoon. And we enjoyed our stay. The caravan park is located across the street from the Kinka Beach. During our morning walk we saw a sea snake – Olivia was very excited about the find.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 9 – From Yeppoon to Agnes Water
Distance from Yeppoon to Agnes Water: 265 km
Things to Do and See Along the Way from Yeppoon to Agnes Water
- Agnes Water. Agnes Water is a lovely town which mostly caters to surfers. One of the best places to learn surfing and to enjoy the surf vibes. There are some surfing schools to choose out of. Lots of young people, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. We decided that one day we need to come back here to surf.
- Seventeen Seventy. Even more relaxed and laid back than Agnes Water this is more of a settlement with a couple of houses than a town. Seventeen Seventy is great for families, because there is a huge sandy area where kids can play undisturbed by traffic.
- LARC! vessels tours in 1770. The tour boats, which look like space ships will take you on the tour through the area, combining driving on shallow water and sand – they move VERY fast. Really cool experience, but it might be too much for smaller kids.
Where to stay for families with kids in Agnes Water
As we have just mentioned, we would recommend the 1770 Camping Ground for families with children. Aim for the front row with beach views are the best. We arrived too late and stayed at the Workman Beach Camping at Agnes Water. The location is very nice, with clean premises and enough shade as well as lots of birds. There is a beach access and also nice walking trails to follow. The only disadvantage was the amount of bugs which appeared rights after the sunset. No bites, just enormous amount of insects, which we were fishing out of our food, clothes and bedsheets.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 10 – Agnes Water to Hervey Bay
For this part of the road during our Cairns to Brisbane road trip, we didn’t go back to A1, but took the Lowmead Road which turned into Rosedale Road. It is a beautiful stretch of road with rolling hills and plenty of green.
Distance from Agnes Water to Hervey Bay: 236 km
Things to Do and See Along the Way from Agnes Water to Hervey Bay
- Bundaberg. In Bundaberg we were aiming for the rum factory but ended up in the lemonade one instead. Bundaberg rum is an attraction of it’s own and rum factories hold tours (check for the times). But when we arrived we learnt that you will have to pay quite some money for the visit together with tasting, so we decided not to take the tour and went to the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks factory instead. And it was fun. A short free tour and at the end you can shop for your favourite drinks and taste all the products. Kids will have fun, we promise – the factory museum is interactive and easy to handle.
- Fruit plantations around Bundaberg. There are plenty of sugar cane, mango and avocado plantations in the area, in case you are curious to see how the produce grows. For guava plantations check Childers – a small town about 40 minutes drive away from Bundaberg.
- Hervey Bay. Even though most of the visitor are aiming for the Fraser Island, Hervey Bay is a nice area to chill. It is a family friendly one too! Hervey Bay is stretched into different areas and we stayed in Scarness part of Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay is also a great starting point for whale watching – the tours are said to be good, although we didn’t have enough time left to do a tour.
- Woodgate Beach. Looking for hoards of kangaroos and wallabies running around?! Woodgate Beach is your place!
Where to Stay for Families with Kids in Hervey Bay
We have chosen the Scarness Caravan Park. The is little shade, but a beach access with a view over the Fraser Island. We were lucky to have the first row with direct beach access.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 11 – Fraser Island
Let’s be honest here. Even though we recommend you visiting the Fraser Island, we haven’t visited it ourselves. Which is a big regret of ours.
But let us explain why we didn’t visit Fraser Island with our 2 year old daughter.
Along the road we have been chatting with fellow travelers and sharing experiences. Everyone we met said that they loved Fraser Island. But wouldn’t recommend visiting it with a small kid. With Olivia being almost 2 years old at that point, we decided to investigate why it might be tough for small kids. And here is what we found:
The Fraser Island is accessible for the four-wheel drive vehicles only and is usually visited on half day or full day tour basis from Hervey Bay.
It is a lot of driving through the island and all roads go on sand making them very bumpy. And when elder kids would scream from joy, the little ones wouldn’t want to spend the whole time in on a bumpy ride.
Thus we decided that Olivia should enjoy a day at the beach instead of bumpy rides for the parents delight.
Queensland Road Trip Itinerary Day 12 – Hervey Bay to Noosa
The part of the road between Hervey Bay and Noosa was another de-tour from A1. We drove The Maryborough Cooloola Rd instead – a beautiful piece, but at some point we have missed a turn and ended up on a gravel road. So take care of the signs!
Distance from Hervey Bay to Noosa: 200 km
Things to do and See in Noosa With Kids
Noosa. Noosa itself is wonderful. It is full of narrow canals, beautiful villas, hip cafes, surfing beaches and an amazing National Park. At the end of our road trip from Cairn to Brisbane, we said that we would love to return to Noosa!
​Noosa consists of 3 different areas with Noosa Heads and Noosaville being the top attractions.
- Noosa National Park is a beautiful national reserve full of gum trees, gorgeous coastal views, beautiful beaches and tracking possibilities. It also houses a colony of koala (check at the info point at the entrance, they have a bill board where the last koala spotting are noticed). There are several trails for people with different wishes and abilities. We took the Trail Number 4 and went all the way the Hells Gate and were lucky to spot a whale playing in the waters underneath. Right before Hells Gate there are natural famous Noosa fairy pools which are so good for swimming.
- Noosaville is great for dining out and for shopping. Plenty of hip cafes and leisure people – vacation atmosphere is all over the place.
- Big Pelican and Big Shell. If you want to have a photo with a huge pelican statue or a shell, than you should check these out. There are many art pieces in Queensland which are the ridiculous remnants from the 80’s. The Big Pelican in Noosa is one of them!
Where to Stay in Noosa With Kids
- In Noosa you have to fast with deciding where to stay. There are many options, but the good ones go away fast. We stayed at the Noosa Caravan Park and it was a good choice.
- If you want to stay right in the center of everything, than go for the Noosa River Holiday Park. But book in advance, it’s very popular.
What You Might Want to Know When in Noosa
- ​parking spaces next to Noosa National Park are scarce. But if you drive 5 min into Noosa Woods there are more than enough parking options.
- don’t forget to take your swimming suit when visiting Noosa Natoinal Park, since there are swimming options, as well as an opportunity to dive into the fairy pools.
- At the Noosa Tourist Office grab a guide to Noosa to learn about latest happenings and events.
From Cairns to Brisbane Road Trip Itinerary Day 13 and 14 – Noosa to Brisbane
The last part of the road trip from Cairns to Brisbane is the least spectacular one. The last kilometres before Brisbane are on a busy and noisy highway, as opposite to the narrow slow road we experienced when starting our road trip in Cairns.
Distance from Noosa to Brisbane: 142 km
Brisbane is lovely, but after arriving from laid back spots of the Northern Queensland, you might find it busy.
Basically, it is a great Australian city with plenty of options to explore. Brisbane was also our motorhome dropping off station.
Things to do and See in Brisbane With Kids
By all means, don’t take this as a complete guide to explore Brisbane, since we have stayed there only for 2 days and one night before boarding our flight to Melbourne to start out Great Ocean Road adventures.
But from the things we experienced in Brisbane we can recommend you the following:
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – a wonderful place for an early morning walk. Lizards and ibis’s are there too.
- Walk along the Brisbane river and enjoy the views over the Story Bridge.
- Have a coffee at one of the amazing coffeeshops, and don’t forget to ask for a babyccino.
If you need more information on what to do with kids in Brisbane, be sure to check out this post – you won’t get bored, we promise!
Follow us on Instagram for the latest travel stories and photos
You May Also Like
Estonia with a baby – our 3 days road trip itinerary
raja ampat – 8 things to know before you go
