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)

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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)

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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.

From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

Catseye Pool Club

Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

Sails Restaurant

A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

Bommie

Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

Pebble Beach

Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

Beach Club Restaurant

A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

coca chu

Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

Marina Cafe

Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.