The best road trips in Queensland

Australian TravellerBy Australian Traveller
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Travel from the coast to the outback and back again on any number of road trip journeys through Queensland. From stunning rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef to outback towns, coastal cities and iconic Australian sites – you’ll be surprised at every bend.

Border Range Loop drive, Qld

Take three days to experience this incredible loop drive that takes you to some of Queensland’s most picturesque places. Starting in Brisbane, you’ll head to Ipswich and across the Great Dividing Range to Warwick before heading to the villages of Tamborine Mountain.

 

In Ipswich, Queensland’s oldest provincial city, be sure to explore the stately homes and gardens before moving on to Queen Mary Falls, nestled in the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Allow around 40 minutes for the two-kilometre circuit walk, which will showcase the spectacular natural falls.

 

Continue on to the villages of Tamborine Mountain, which is a haven for talented artists who love to share their passions with passers-by. Next, during your visit to Mount Tamborine, make sure you head to Lamington National Park and explore the stunning rainforests. Even choose to walk some of the 300 kilometre scenic walking tracks.

Booyong Walk in Lamington National Park
Booyong Walk… explore one of the many trails in Lamington National Park.

Central Queensland outback drive

The recommendation is to allow nine days in order to experience every highlight this journey has to offer, but of course you can adjust the timing depending on how often you choose to stop off and how long you choose to spend in each place.

 

Follow the Tropic of Capricorn for the coast-to-outback-and-back-again trip, which includes iconic Australian sites and a whole heap of historical landmarks.

 

Highlights include Sapphire, where – you guessed it – you’re in the midst of the largest sapphire fields in the Southern Hemisphere. Get there early and spend some time fossicking for your own gems! In Longreach we recommend visiting the Qantas Founder’s Museum , where a full-sized Boeing 747 is the centrepiece.

 

From there, head to the tiny town of Rolleston, where you’ll be able to access Carnarvon National Park and explore 30-kilometres worth of white sandstone cliffs, if you’re game. You’ll also be able to check out the Aboriginal rock art, waterfalls and rock pools on site.

Central Qld road trip
Carnarvon Gorge is one of the many highlights on a road trip through Central Queensland.

Airlie Beach to Cedar Creek Falls, Qld

Wanting to get away for the day and indulge in a little freshwater swimming? The journey from Airlie Beach to Cedar Creek takes just half an hour.

 

Once you’re there you’ll be able to dip your toes in the fresh emerald green water and dive under the stunning natural waterfall.

 

If you’ve got time to spare after your swim, make sure to stop in at Conway National Park close by, as here you can experience a breath-taking bird’s eye view of the Whitsundays.

Cedar Creek Falls
Swim in the fresh emerald green water under the stunning natural waterfall at Cedar Creek Falls.

The Qld road-trip as done by Prince Charles and Camilla

The Royal pair took in their fair share of sights during their 2018 visit to Australia. Starting in Brisbane, they then carried on to the Gold Coast, after stopping in at what we’re told was one of their trip highlights; Broadbeach.

 

The next stop on the itinerary was Bundaberg, where Prince Charles indulged in a taste of the area’s famous export; Bundaberg Rum.

 

Upon arrival at the Great Barrier Reef, they issued a call-to-arms to position the Great Barrier Reef at the centre of the ‘blue economy’, before stopping in at the Daintree, where they were welcomed by a mass of fans. Hopefully your arrival will be a little calmer.

Great Barrier Reef underwater
Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is more important than ever.

The Great Beach Drive, QLD

Just a short drive from Noosa, you’ll come across not one, but two UNESCO biosphere and a World Heritage-listed area.

 

Taking you across 380 kilometres of some of the most pristine – and deserted – beaches in Australia, the Great Beach Drive is one of the longest drives on earth. What makes this one different, is that for almost its entirety, you’re driving on the beach.

 

Besides taking in two UNESCO biosphere reserves (this is the only place on Earth where two biospheres connect) the drive will also take you by the largest sand island in the world.

 

You may not see another human for hours on end, but what you will see is some of the most incredible bird and plant species Australia has to offer.

Great Beach Drive road trip
Drive the largest sand island in the world.
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You haven’t heard of this Qld outback town, but history buffs can’t miss it

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.