Drive Queensland: Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns

Spread along the bends of the Brisbane River in the subtropical heart of Queensland, Brisbane is a sunny, fast-growing capital with a young and laid-back character. On the south bank of the river lies South Bank, an urban park with the swimmable Streets Beach, art galleries and the Wheel of Brisbane; across the water rise the city’s towers and the Botanic Gardens. The hills of Mount Coot-tha offer views over the city and bushland trails, while neighbourhoods such as Fortitude Valley and West End pulse with bars, markets and multicultural cuisine. A mild climate year-round favours outdoor living, from river cruises to day trips. Brisbane is also the gateway to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and to koala sanctuaries like Lone Pine. A city with a tropical flavour and infectious energy, it invites you to live outdoors under the Queensland sun.

Departure towards the north along the Bruce Highway, following an itinerary that allows access to deserted beaches, virgin forests, tropical islands, and fishing villages. Along the way, stop in Maryborough, known for some rare examples of typical architecture from the past centuries. Arrival in Hervey Bay, a base for excursions to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. (Approximately 290km / 4.5 hours). Hervey Bay stretches along a sheltered stretch of the Queensland coast, protected by the calm waters of its namesake bay and renowned as one of the world's great whale-watching capitals. From July to November, humpback whales pass through these tranquil waters on their migration, offering close encounters that draw travellers from across the globe. Above all, the town is the gateway to Fraser Island (K'gari), the largest sand island on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where rainforests grow on sand, wild dingoes roam the beaches and crystal-clear lakes such as Lake McKenzie invite a swim. Between long walks along the pier, fresh seafood and sunsets over the ocean, Hervey Bay is the perfect base from which to explore one of the most extraordinary corners of Australian nature.

Crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn, Rockhampton sits on the banks of the Fitzroy River in central Queensland and is known as Australia’s beef capital for the vast cattle stations that surround it. Its streets preserve elegant colonial sandstone buildings, witnesses to nineteenth-century prosperity, while nearby lie the limestone Capricorn Caves and Mount Archer National Park. From here the coast is easily reached, with the Capricornia islands and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Rockhampton is an authentic gateway to both the outback and the tropical coastline.

Airlie Beach stretches along the tropical coast of Queensland and serves as the gateway to the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 islands set in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. A lively, laid-back beach town, it owes its fame to the postcard-perfect shores reached by boat or seaplane — chief among them Whitehaven Beach, seven kilometres of pure white silica sand on Whitsunday Island, regularly ranked among the world's finest. From the marina, cruises set out to explore the coral seabed, with diving and snorkelling among tropical fish, while scenic flights reveal Heart Reef, the heart-shaped coral formation that has become the region's emblem. Along the waterfront, a large man-made swimming lagoon allows safe bathing even during stinger season. With its markets, waterside bars and blazing sunsets, Airlie Beach is the ideal base from which to discover one of Australia's most spectacular corners.

Townsville stretches along the tropical Queensland coast, facing the Coral Sea and watched over by the reddish profile of Castle Hill, the granite outcrop rising at its heart. A lively hub of North Queensland, it is the gateway to Magnetic Island, an isle of golden beaches, sheltered bays and wild koalas reached by a short ferry ride. Along The Strand, the elegant seafront promenade, swimming lagoons, palms and seafood restaurants follow one another, while the Reef HQ aquarium tells the story of the Great Barrier Reef. Diving and snorkelling trips set out from here towards the outer reefs and nearby wrecks. A sunlit city where the tropical climate and the ocean set the rhythm of the days.

(350km approx / 5 hours) Heading north, you will cross the Lumholtz National Park and follow along the Wooroonooran National Park. Continue along the Captain Cook Highway until you reach Cairns. Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns sits in tropical Far North Queensland, where rainforest meets a turquoise sea. A lively, informal city, it revolves around the Esplanade, a busy waterfront with its famous swimmable lagoon, palms, seafood restaurants and night markets. From here boats set out daily to the reef — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — for diving and snorkelling among corals and colourful fish. Close by stretches the Daintree, the world’s oldest rainforest, and the mountain village of Kuranda, reached by scenic railway or the Skyrail cableway gliding above the jungle. Waterfalls, gorges and sugar-cane plantations dot the inland Atherton Tablelands. A crossroads between reef and rainforest, Cairns is the ideal base for exploring two of the planet’s most extraordinary natural wonders.