Unmissable Highlights on a Pacific Coast Way Road Trip

Tracing the Queensland coastline and taking in rich hinterland, idyllic islands and pretty farmscapes, the Pacific Coast Way’s kaleidoscopic charms have the power to transform.

White-knuckled, I grip the steering wheel, relinquishing control of the profanities that escape my mouth. The M1 motorway into Queensland’s Gold Coast from NSW is smacked with brawny gusts and I shriek as my rented motorhome sways. Then, a hint of salty air drifts in on the breeze.

My pulse steadies and my 40 kilometre-per-hour hurtle morphs into a valiant 45 kilometre-per-hour cruise. I’ve reached the Pacific Coast Way, of which I’ll navigate about a quarter of the full 1800-kilometre stretch that links the Gold Coast and Cairns, to boldly discover the undiscovered. Clearly, I’m made for the job.

Stop one: The Gold Coast

the surfing scene at Burleigh Heads — Burleigh Heads is popular for surfing. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Tourism Australia/Mark Fitz)

Accustomed to the city’s beachfront bars and eateries, I’m on a mission to dig beneath the Gold Coast’s glitter: a magnetism that lured 13 million tourists in 2024. My first stop is Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the base of Burleigh Head National Park, where I embark on a two-hour Walkabout Tour.

a man touching a woman's face, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre — Gain a new perspective at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Courtney Atkinson)

I’m instructed to take some ochre, a natural clay traditionally used to paint rocks and bodies, off a nearby rock wall. I dunk my fingers into Tallebudgera Creek to wet the ochre and then apply it to my arm. I draw contrasts between this ancient ceremonial practice that still pulses in the present and the pack of sun-baking teenagers nearby. The tour snakes around Burleigh headland, gripping me again when bushland dotted with middens paints a vivid picture of the Kombumerri People feasting on shellfish here more than 20,000 years ago.

the Tallebudgera Creek, Gold Coast, Pacific Coast Way — The sparkling waters of Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Kyle Hunter & Hayley Andersen)

While I’ve ridden its steam train and cooed at its koalas before, this is the first time I have explored the heart of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. A refuge for sick, injured and orphaned creatures, it treated more than 16,000 patients in 2024, breaking all previous records. Today, I see wounded birds and an injured kangaroo, underscoring the crucial work this team performs daily.

My admiration for the compassionate staff at the hospital stays with me as I move beyond the gates of the sanctuary in search of a change of pace: woodfired pizza at Palm Beach’s Balboa Italian . I then collapse into my queen bed at The Cheshire Cat Motel , a reimagined 1960s motel just a few minutes down the road.

the interior of Palm Beach motel — The reimagined Palm Beach motel was built in the 1960s. (Image: Andy Macpherson)

Stop two: North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah

a kangaroo sitting on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean — Enjoy expansive headland views overlooking the Pacific Ocean on one side and coastal bushland with unique Australian wildlife on the other. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Mark Fitz)

Leaping out of bed isn’t typically my style, but the thought of twice-baked almond croissants fresh out of Bam Bam Bakehouse’s oven in Mermaid Beach gets me moving. Flaky, oozy treat in tow, I drive one hour to Cleveland, the gateway to my next stop: North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah. Four-wheel-drives are crammed on SeaLink’s North Stradbroke Island vehicle ferry and released 45 minutes later onto the world’s second-largest sand island.

Experience the rich heritage of Minjerribah with Elisha Kissick of Yura Tours.

I ditch sandboarding for Yura Tours’ Ultimate Minjerribah Cultural Experience , a three-hour tour focused on the Quandamooka People, the Traditional Custodians who have nourished their land for more than 21,000 years.

Quandamooka woman and owner of Yura Tours Elisha Kissick connects me to her home through a Welcome to Country at Brown Lake/Bummiera, which resembles a lightly steeped brew thanks to the tea trees and melaleuca bushland on its fringes. We also visit the Old Mission Site and Myora Springs, where Elisha shares emotionally charged Creation stories, leaving me thirsty for more.

a couple eating breakfast outside their glamping tent at Minjerribah Camping — Minjerribah Camping is owned and operated by the Quandamooka People. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jesse Lindemann)

Aesthetically, Minjerribah is equally captivating. Blue-on-blue horizons and dramatic headlands pop out at every corner. My home for the night is an air-conditioned glamping tent inside Minjerribah Camping at Bradbury’s Beach, overlooking the water and perfectly positioned to absorb raspberry-swirl sunsets.

the South Gorge Beach, North Stradbroke Island, Pacific Coast Way — South Gorge is a sunny little spot protected from northerly winds. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Sean Scott)

Stop three: Pomona

Back on the mainland, the Pacific Coast Way sweeps me into a thoroughly under-explored hinterland township two-and-a-half hours north of Cleveland. Nestled on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Pomona instantly endears – and not just because there’s a caffeine fix within every few steps.

I grab a quality cuppa at SpillDEBeans, located in its central village, before aimlessly strolling boutiques filled with country-chic homewares, artisanal creations and books. My pace is uncharacteristically leisurely and I sip slowly, feeling like the star of a tourism campaign rather than a frazzled mother of two.

Enjoy pan-Asian fare and signature cocktails at Pomona Distilling Co. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jesse Lindemann)

I (only just) resist pilfering ruby-red capsicums and colossal mint sprigs from the roadside herb and veggie plantings I discover up on Reserve Street, where hipster havens Pomona Distilling Co and Pomona Providores reside, to locate Pomona Railway Station Gallery – arguably the jewel in this town’s crown.

Run by the local community, the gallery stages art exhibitions across five historical buildings and, while the works themselves impress, it’s the buildings that dazzle. The Blacksmith’s Shop, a replica of a settler’s slab hut built by local volunteer Jan Hubner, is particularly memorable.

The gallery, unveiled in 2001, flexes Pomona’s creative spirit in style and serves as a powerful example of how tight-knit this community is. I wish it were Saturday, when the Pomona Country Markets’ stalls and live music are said to ignite quite a buzz, but my road trip has set a global phenomenon in its sights. The show must roll on.

Stop four: Noosa

walking the Great Sandy National Park — Hike through diverse landscapes within the Great Sandy National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

I journey into a very unfamiliar Noosa after switching that notorious Hastings Street hum for the tranquillity of Great Sandy National Park. Located 30 minutes north of Noosa Heads, the park is a hidden mecca of spotless beaches, sand dunes, mangrove forests and my highly anticipated next destination, the Noosa Everglades.

driving the Pacific Coast Way — The Pacific Coast Way offers a myriad of scenic roads and winding detours. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jack Harlem)

I crawl along a 1.5-kilometre dirt track to uncover Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp , which runs guided tours of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of only two everglades in the world (the other is found in Florida’s Everglades National Park).

I learn while settling aboard the 36-person eco vessel for an Everglades Serenity Cruise that the biosphere stretches for 60 kilometres, encompassing narrow waterways and a staggeringly diverse ecosystem boasting more than 40 per cent of Australia’s total bird species.

Aptly nicknamed the River of Mirrors, the Everglades reflect overhanging tea trees, shrubs, the blue sky and even a tiny kingfisher on its infinite mirrored surface. Our vessel glides like it’s skating on black ice and chatter dissolves into a surprisingly comfortable silence as dropped jaws and wide eyes unite in awe. The Everglades’ remarkable stillness only enhances its vastness, and I scan endlessly for the quails, ground parrots and eagles that thrive within its branches. What feels like just a few moments ends up totalling 2.5 hours. I float back into Habitat’s Paperbark Glamping Tents, surrounded by kangaroos and hypnotised by Noosa’s lesser-spoken beauty.

Enjoy beachfront glamping at Habitat Noosa. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jesse Lindemann)

Stop five: Hervey Bay

a scenic flight over Hervey Bay and Great Sandy National Park, Pacific Coast Way — An aerial view of Hervey Bay and Great Sandy National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

High on an intensifying connection to the outdoors, I steer my motorhome to Hervey Bay, a two-hour drive north of the Everglades, and set up at Discovery Parks – Fraser Street, Hervey Bay . I’m focused on the endemic wildlife of this relaxed Fraser Coast beach town, desperate to notch up another close encounter.

the cabin interior of Discovery Parks –FraserStreet, Hervey Bay — Base yourself at Discovery Parks –Fraser Street, Hervey Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

I dial up my chances (and the luxe levels) onboard a Champagne Sunset Sail with Blue Dolphin Marine Tours , one of the most popular Hervey Bay cruise companies departing from Great Sandy Straits Marina. As another perfect Pacific Coast Way sunset blurs the sky above, two Australian humpback dolphins gently yo-yo the water.

a humpback whale swimming in the water, Hervey Bay — Hervey Bay is a great place for spotting humpback whales in season. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Darren Jew)

Minutes later, a green sea turtle bobs about 10 metres away. I sit back, a glass of bubbles in hand and a 360-degree rainbow falling over K’gari, now in sight. Without even hitting the quarter-way mark, the Pacific Coast Way has shocked my system into calm. How much more could possibly be found further on?

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

Fly direct to Gold Coast Airport from all major cities with Virgin, Jetstar, Qantas and Newcastle/Mulubinba’s FlyPelican.

Playing there

Wander around Astra Lumina, an immersive light experience at the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . Soar and sip on craft beer onboard Straddie Brewing Co’s Brewairy Tour , which takes guests over some of Queensland’s islands in a private plane.

Catch a silent flick at Pomona’s Majestic Theatre . Soak up the sunset on K’gari Salty Safaris’ FUNset Cruise from Hervey Bay.

Getting around

Elevate your camping expedition with Apollo’s extensive range of campervans and motorhomes like the Euro Tourer, designed for couples and featuring a toilet, shower, microwave, fridge, gas stove, double bed, TV, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and a reversing camera. Prices vary depending on travel dates, but you can expect a starting price of $375 per night.

The votes are in –there’s a new favourite town on top.

For Australian Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked you to vote for your Aussie favourites, from the country’s top road trip to our most-loved wine region. But one of the most contested categories? The best town in Australia. And this year, an exciting newcomer has stolen hearts nationwide, beating another oft-lauded coastal town for the title.

Australia’s best town is…

Noosa, Queensland — Noosa is officially the best town to visit in Australia, as voted by you. (Image: David Wilcock)

Aussies, you’ve made your choice loud and clear. Leaving perennial favourites like Byron Bay and Margaret River in its wake, the sun-soaked haven of Noosa has officially taken the crown for best town in Australia this year – and it’s not hard to see why. Situated on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, around a two-hour drive from Brisbane, Noosa has it all.

Keen for a seaside summer escape? Its golden stretch of coastline boasts some of the best beaches in the world. After something slower? Noosa’s hinterland offers lush forests, wild swimming holes and cosy off-grid stays for lazy, unhurried days. Whatever part you choose to explore, you’ll find endless ways to relax, reset and recharge.

Your guide to the best of Noosa

Whether you’re a long-time fan or its new title has finally convinced you to go, there’s no denying Noosa deserves a spot on your holiday list. The coastal town is practically brimming with things to see and do, but if you’re limited on time, there are a few experiences you won’t want to miss. Lucky for you, we’ve got the itinerary sorted.

Start with a trip to the Noosa Everglades, about 30 minutes north of town. Alongside the USA’s Florida Everglades, it’s one of just two everglade systems in the world and among the oldest waterways on the planet. It also spans two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the Noosa and Great Sandy.

Canoeing through the Noosa Everglades in Queensland — Join a canoe tour to see the Noosa Everglades up close. (Image: Tourism Australia)

A tour with Everglades Eco Safaris will take you deep into the heart of this natural wonder, where expert guides navigate the waterways and share fascinating insights into the flora and fauna that call it home.

Guests can choose between a tranquil river cruise and an immersive canoe adventure, both running for 4.5 hours. There are plenty of other outdoor nature experiences on offer, too – think whale-watching, hiking, surf lessons and even skydiving.

Noosaville Brewery in Noosa, Queensland — The coastal town is dotted with local breweries serving craft beer. (Image: Tourism Noosa/Amy Higg Photo)

Rather just sit back and relax? Noosa’s got you covered. Home to dreamy day spas designed to soothe even the most stressed-out souls, relaxation here is a non-negotiable. With the knots in your back a distant memory, you’re free to wander local markets touting handmade wares, dine at restaurants heroing fresh seafood and sip your way through Noosa’s hitlist of breweries and distilleries.

Seahaven Noosa in Noosa, Queensland — Soak up the sunshine during a stay at Seahaven Noosa.

You’ll find a range of accommodation options, too. Noosa welcomes everyone – families with little ones, couples on honeymoon and travellers going solo are all catered to.

If you’re travelling on a budget, book into one of Noosa’s comfy caravan parks. Nestled among the paperbarks, Habitat Noosa is a great option, offering both camping and glamping sites. Got holiday cash to splash? Seahaven Noosa is among the town’s hottest stays with its spacious suites, beachfront pool and proximity to Hastings Street.

The runners-up for Australia’s best town

While Noosa took out the top spot in 2025, it faced some fierce competition along the way. Consistent favourite, Byron Bay missed out on the top spot but still made it into the list as a runner-up, as well as claiming the title of best wellness destination in Australia.

Other contenders included Port Douglas in Queensland and WA’s Margaret River. Mudgee in NSW was also close behind, instead taking out best country escape thanks to its world-class wineries, destination diners and charming regional stays.

5 incredible stops to make on Queensland’s Pacific Coast Way