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Bruce Highway Road Trip – Brisbane to Cape Tribulation, QLD

by Sharyn McCullum | Last updated Apr 15, 2024 | Queensland , Road Trips | 8 comments

Snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef during A Bruce Highway road trip

This road trip of the Bruce Highway Brisbane to Cape Tribulation, and vice versa, is one of my favourite road trips. It is also one of the most popular road trips in Australia.

The Bruce Highway runs parallel to the Queensland coast making the trip very scenic. You pass through many seaside towns with plenty of beaches to enjoy. Along with lush rainforests to walk through, great food to eat and a world-heritage listed reef to explore. This road trip appeals to couples, singles and families of all ages with the warm weather being one of the biggest attractions. And now you can find out for yourself just what a great road trip this route, Brisbane to Cape Tribulation is. Read on.

TIP : Before any road trip do some quick vehicle checks

Table of Contents

How Long to Drive The Bruce Highway?

If you are wondering how long the Bruce Highway is and how long it would take to drive it? Well, the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cape Tribulation is 1,820 kms (1,130 miles) long. The drive time if you drove direct without stops would take around 21 hours. Unless you had somewhere to be in a hurry, my biggest tip for driving this road trip is to take your time. Because the Bruce Highway takes you to some of the most iconic beaches and islands in Australia. I would suggest, if you have the time to take at least 7, 14 or even 21 days, or longer to drive the Bruce Highway as there is so much to see, do and enjoy.

Transport Needed To Travel The Bruce Highway

This is a road trip so you will need a vehicle to undertake it. Having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility to stop wherever and whenever you want ensuring you have a great road trip. If you don’t have a vehicle then choose one that will suit your expectations, budget and number of people travelling. You could take your accommodation with you and do some car camping , drive a motorhome, van, campervan or tow a caravan. Maybe drive a 4×4 with a roof tent. A car will be just fine also as there is plenty of accommodation you can stay at and book along the way. More on accommodation coming up.

If you don’t have your own vehicle you can rent one. Get pricing and availability through DiscoverCars to rent one here .

Another option could be to travel by train as Queensland Rail has quite a good service. Check the map out here .

Accommodation Options along the Bruce Highway

There are many accommodation options along the Bruce Highway. Ranging from free camps, camp grounds to hostels, hotels, motels to luxury resorts. And you will find accommodation in the major cities, near beaches, in rainforests and on islands off the coast. Under each stop in this Bruce Highway road trip itinerary, there are accommodation options mentioned along with links to book your stay. In general, you can find accommodation through apps such as Wikicamps, Facebook Groups or through accommodation websites such as Booking.com .

Best Time to Drive Brisbane to Cairns on Bruce Highway?

Of course you can drive from Brisbane to Cape Tribulation and vice versa anytime however, you might want to consider the weather if you are driving this road for a holiday. Because the best time to drive along the Queensland coast can be influenced by the best weather conditions.

Most say Queensland weather is always beautiful with hot summers and mild warm winters. if you want to travel during the best weather, the Queensland winter months of May to October is when the weather is warm, pleasant and with plenty of sunshine. The summer months in Queensland does see lots of sunny hot days but there is high humidity, lots of rain and a cyclone or two. Christmas, New Year and January are busy times in Queensland. This is school holiday time and many people are visiting family plus, many go on their annual vacation at this time and accommodation prices can skyrocket. But hey, as I said, anytime is a good time to visit Queensland for a holiday.

Who is this Bruce Highway road trip for?

A road trip along the Bruce Highway is for anyone and everyone. No matter if you are a solo backpacker to Queensland, a couple looking for a romantic getaway, a group of friends ready for a good time or a family visiting Queensland with kids, there is plenty to see and do in Queensland. From spending time at the many beaches, exploring unique museums, seeing ‘big things’ like the Big Pineapple or Big Mango, enjoying the local produce or just chilling, a Bruce Highway road trip can be whatever you want it to be.

The Bruce Highway Road Trip

For the purposes of writing this post we are starting this journey driving the Bruce Highway from Brisbane heading north, but of course, you can start the journey in Cairns and travel south.

You may want to spend a few days in Brisbane. You can read my post on what to see and do in Brisbane that includes where to stay in Brisbane in my 2 day Brisbane itinerary. But of course, you can start in Cairns and drive south.

Brisbane to Sunshine Coast

Road Distance Brisbane to Sunshine Coast: 120km Time to Drive: 1-2 hours drive Days on Sunshine Coast: 2-4

Caloundra, Sunshine Coast

Leave the hustle and bustle of Brisbane behind and drive north up the Bruce Highway to the Sunshine Coast.

What to See and Do on The Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is made up of a number of pristine beaches and rocky outcrops. You can spend your days lazing on the golden sands, strolling along the coastal paths or relaxing with a good meal in one of the cafes. It stretches some 55km from Caloundra to north of Noose Heads or ‘Noosa’ as most call it. And you are spoilt for choice as to which beach to visit.

As well as spending your time at the beach, shop in one of the many boutiques or sit in a cafe or restaurant – there are a number of other places to discover. One of the most popular things to do is visit Australia Zoo , home of the Crocodile Hunter. Walk around the grounds, maybe cuddle a koala, watch crocodile feeding and other wildlife shows. You could spend all day here if you like and end the day with a dip in the ocean followed by a nice meal.

You can book your ticket to Australia Zoo online here .  

A visit to Sea Life Aquarium , the largest aquarium and oceanarium in Queensland is always a good time. The Big Pineapple is another top tourist attraction on the Sunshine Coast where you can have a tour of the pineapple farm and follow it up with a pineapple delicacy in the coffee shop. You can book your ticket to the Big Pineapple here. Continue from the Big Pineapple for a drive into the hinterland and through the Glass House Mountains National Park . Visit charming townships of Maleny, Montville and Mapleton and get fabulous views from the hinterland over the Sunshine Coast.

Definitely spend some time in Noosa Heads . Walk along Hastings Street and sit in an alfresco cafe and watch the world and people go by. There is plenty of shopping in the local boutiques. Maybe take a hike into the Noosa National Park or simply lie on the golden sands.  

If wondering where to stay on the Sunshine Coast, well, there are literally thousands of places to stay. Ranging from free camps, camp grounds, caravan parks, hostels, motels and inclusive resorts. Check out accommodation on the Sunshine Coast here .

Hervey Bay & Fraser Island

Road Distance Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay: 199km Time to Drive: 2.5 hours Days to spend here: 2-4

As well as whales, golden sands and clear blue water you may see a shipwreck on Fraser Island

Next stop on your Bruce Highway road trip is Hervey Bay.

What to See and Do in Hervey Bay & Fraser Island

Hervey Bay is a coastal city in southern Queensland on the Fraser Coast. It is protected by Fraser Island and is known as the stepping off point where people go whale watching in the calm Hervey Bay waters. Whale watching boats operate out of Urangan Harbour during July to November. So if you want to see the whales you should time you visit to coincide.

There are many boats able to take you out into the Great Sandy Strait to Platypus Bay near the tip of Fraser Island where the whales like to put on displays of breaching and tail and fin slapping. Hopefully they might be so interested in the boat they will come up for a closer look. Half day and full day tours are offered on various sized boats. I went on a full-day tour whale watching, you can read about it here  Whale Watching in Hervey Bay.

You can buy a ticket for a whale watching tour online here.

Many people pass through Hervey Bay on their way to visit Fraser Island or K’Gari as it is now known. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It is 123 km long and about 14 km wide. It is a World Heritage-listed area and is a nature lover’s paradise. Four-wheel drives are the only vehicles allowed on the island. These can be rented if you want to explore the island yourself, or you could take one of the available tours. These include day tours or camping tours of 2-3 days duration and are a great way to experience the island.

You can book a ticket for a full-day tour to Fraser Island from Hervey Bay here.

If wondering where to stay in Hervey Bay, well, there are many places to stay. Ranging from free camps, camp grounds, caravan parks, hostels, motels and inclusive resorts. Check out accommodation in Hervey Bay here .

Rockhampton via Bundaberg

Road Distance Hervey Bay to Bundaberg: 383 km Time to Drive: 4 hour 20 minutes Days to spend here: 2-3

Sugarcane Train somewhere near Bundaberg

Leave Hervey Bay and head to Bundaberg. You will be driving through sugarcane country and home of Bundaberg Rum (Bundy Rum). Why not visit the Bundaberg Rum Distillery during your stay in the area.   Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot Islands are accessed from Bundaberg and are good places to swim, fish and dive. So if you wanted to deviate from this road trip up the Bruce Highway, now is your chance.

After the morning spent in Bundaberg you have about a 3 hour and 20 minute drive to Rockhampton. Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia and has a number of cattle statues around the city. You might wish to visit the Capricorn Caverns with 16 caverns to explore, or the crocodile farm and the Spire which marks the Tropic of Capricorn. You could also head out to the resort town of Yeppoon, the step-off point for those wishing to visit Great Keppel Island . This is also where the Great Barrier Reef begins.

Check out accommodation options in Bundaberg here.

Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands via Mackay

Road Distance Rockhampton to Airlie Beach: 481km Time To Drive: 5 hours 20 minutes Days to spend here: 3-5 or longer if you have the time

Airlie Beach

This drive is quite long so break up the trip at Mackay. Mackay itself is known for its Harbour Beach, marina and Bluewater Lagoon, a city water park. It’s also the place to access Brampton Island, Lindeman and Hamilton Islands if you need an island holiday. A rest stop here will see you arriving in Airlie Beach and The Whitsundays not so ‘jet lagged’ after a long trip.

What to See and Do in the Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands . It is a popular resort town with fabulous views over Airlie Bay. There are over 70 islands in this group of islands with resorts located on Lindeman, Daydream, North Molle, South Molle, Hayman, Hook, Long and Hamilton Islands . The resorts offer standby rates if you feel like experiencing a little luxury. Stays can only be booked a couple of days in advance. Ask at one of the many tourist shops along the main strip.

Relaxing here for a few days is well worth your while. You might wish to learn to dive or take a sailing trip around the islands. There are many boats cruising the islands, from smaller party boats to larger, more luxurious and quieter boats. Most vessels will drop anchor for you to swim and snorkel. Some may even have barbecues on a deserted beach.

Book a sail around the Whitsunday Islands to Whitehaven Beach online here.

For accommodation in and around Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays check out these options.

Townsville via Bowen

Distance Airlie Beach to Bowen: 80kms Time to drive: about 1 hour Distance Bowen to Townsville: 200km Time to drive: 2 hours and 10 minutes Days to spend here: 2-4

Castle Hill overlooking Townsville

Leave The Whitsundays and Airlie Beach and continue heading up the Bruce Highway and take a stop in Bowen. Bowen is known for the numerous murals in the town centre. With a look before continuing on to   Townsville .

What to See and Do in Townsville

Townsville is the third largest city in Queensland and is home to an army base and James Cook University. It is also the financial capital of North Queensland. It is the step-off point for those going to Magnetic Island . This island is often referred to as the koala capital of Australia as there are thousands of koalas roaming the island. It is also the sunniest spot on the coast with an average of 320 fine days a year. So Magnetic Island makes a great day trip from Townsville or you could stay longer.

One thing you must do in Townsville is drive or walk to the top of Castle Hill providing panoramic views over Townsville.

Book a trip b ferry to Magnetic Island online here.

For places where to stay in Townsville check out accommodation options here .

Cairns via Cardwell and Mission Beach

Distance from Townsville to Cairns: 350km Time to Drive: Just over 4 hours Days to spend in Cairns: 3-5

Walk the Esplanade and take a dip in the lagoon

Many travellers stop at Cardwell and, or Mission Beach on the drive up the Bruce Highway to Cairns. Mostly to break up the four hour journey. But they are also the major hop off points for Hinchinbrook Island, Bedarra Island and Dunk Islands. Dunk Island is home to the Ulysses Butterfly.

Before reaching Cairns visit the Boulder National Park . You could walk the rainforest circuit and see the boulders. Be careful when you’re walking as there have been many deaths along this path.

What to See and Do in Cairns

Cairns is where the rainforest meets the reef. Like the Gold Coast, there is plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets. If you want that something extra a hostel can’t give you, you may wish to upgrade. Like Townsville, Cairns is a popular place to learn to dive. Once you’ve learnt to dive, or if you are already an experienced diver, you may wish to undertake other dives in the Great Barrier Reef including to the popular spot, the Cod Hole.

While in Cairns, walk the Esplanade, go shopping or take a sail in Cairns harbour and Everglades to spot estuarine crocodiles, or visit a crocodile farm. Maybe you would like to go game fishing. One of the things many do is learn to scuba dive. You can organise your course in Cairns or check out this 4 day learn to scuba dive open water course here .

Day Trips from Cairns

And go further afield around Cairns.

• You may wish to have a beach holiday at one of the beaches just north of Cairns, my favourite is Trinity Beach .
• Drive up the mountains to Kuranda taking in the Crater Lakes, the Barron Falls and the Curtain Fig Tree. Or take the scenic railway winding its way up the mountains offering some wonderful views. You could also take the Skyrail Cableway to Kuranda.
• Or maybe leave the tropical far north and head in to the Gulf Savannah for a trip to the Undarra Lave Caves , which are the longest in the world and stretch for some 16km. On the way you could have a drink at the highest pub in Queensland, in the town of Tully . Take note of the signs advising of various battalions which were stationed in the area during WWII.
• Catch a boat to Green Island for some snorkelling.
• Learn to scuba dive on a 4 day learn to dive open water course .

Book a trip on the Kuranda Railway here to Kuranda and return by Skyrail online here .

Book a full-day trip to Green Island online here .

Full day trip from Cairns to the Daintree with a cruise can be purchased online here .

Cairns has many accommodation options so if looking for a place to stay in Cairns, check out these options.

Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation

Distance from Cairns to Cape Tribulation: 142km Time to Drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation: 2.5 hours Days to spend here: 1-3

Tropical Rainforests to Explore

Some prefer to visit the Daintree and Cape Tribulation on a day trip from Cairns.

You can book a day trip here.

From Cairns head to the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation . Here is where the rainforest meets the beach, literally, you can step from the rainforest onto the beach. You can enjoy empty beaches, taste tropical fruits, eat locally made ice cream and soar through the rainforest canopy on a flying fox. The area is a bushwalking paradise with short and long hikes to undertake while taking in spectacular beach and rainforest scenery with diverse flora and fauna. You can easily disconnect from society here if you wish however, it is a popular region with backpackers who come to enjoy the party atmosphere of many of the rainforest set hostels. You can head further on from Cape Tribulation, say up to Cooktown however, the sealed road ends and you will need a 4WD to travel further.

For places to stay in Cape Tribulation check out these options.

End of the Road

And so ends a wonderful Bruce Highway road trip from Brisbane to Cape Tribulation. I hope you have or had a good time. If you can recommend any other things to do and see while on this road trip please leave a comment below.

Where to from here: perhaps a road trip of the Northern Territory or into New South Wales as part of a big lap of Australia .

You may also like:

Hoping to do this very road trip as soon as the borders open! Thanks for sharing

Excellent. I hope you have the best time on this road trip. It is a good one.

Wow, that’s quite the roadtrip! Looks amazing!

Yes, it is quite the road trip. It is a long one, not just the distance, but because there is so much to see and do you need to spend a long time enjoying the whole region.

I love that you included a shipwreck on this road trip! We love seeing things like this because it reminds us of pirates!!

Thank you. Fraser Island is more than just beaches and whale watching and I tried to show the things to see and do.

Thanks for sharing this article Sharyn! Now I am excited to hit the road again! It seems Bruce highway makes a perfect route on hitting the road again! Thanks!

The Bruce Highway is sealed and is a great way to travel between Brisbane and Cape Trip. Enjoy your trip.

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G’Day! Sharyn here, an Aussie loving discovering Australia. Let me show you around so you can discover Australia too.  Read my story here.

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Best Places to See on the Bruce Highway Drive

May 22, 2018 By Contributor Leave a Comment

Australia has some great long drives between its major cities. Sydney to Melbourne via the Australian Alps, and Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road, are amongst the most scenic.  But in the southern hemisphere winter months, one of the best drives on offer is the Bruce Highway from Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, to tropical Cairns.

The Bruce Highway is about 1,700 km long (a little over 1,000 miles). It’s a good road and can be easily driven in 2-3 days, but to see the major places of interest along the way, you’ll need a minimum of 5-7 days for the trip.

Most of the major car rental companies offer special one-way rates for Brisbane to Cairns trips

Before leaving Brisbane, if you need any new travel bags or accessories, check out one of the four superstores of Luggage Direct , because once you leave Brisbane and head north, your options will be much more limited.

Take an esky (the Aussie name for an icebox) too in which to store water and snacks in case of any vehicle breakdowns. Although all the car rental companies offer roadside assistance along the entire route, there are long stretches between towns and in some locations it could take several hours for an assistance vehicle to reach you.

To see the most interesting places along the Bruce Highway drive, you’ll need time to take some short diversions off the main highway. Heading north out of Brisbane, the first diversion will be either the inland route through the Glasshouse Mountains and up over the Blackall Range through Maleny, Montville and Mapleton, or the coastal route along the Sunshine Coast .

The Blackall Range tourist drive takes you through picturesque villages in the hills, with many small arts and crafts shops, and some spectacular views to the coast from several lookouts along the route.

The coastal route through Buderim, Mooloolaba, Coolum and Noosa Heads passes surf beaches and shopping malls, but is still a picturesque drive. Mooloolaba and Noosa Heads have some of the trendiest restaurants and coffee shops on the coast, and are popular tourist destinations with visitors from southern Australia in the winter months.

If you have more a week or more to do the Bruce Highway drive, it’s worth overnighting on the Sunshine Coast so you can do both the Blackall Range drive as well as the coastal drive.

Before leaving the Sunshine Coast, it’s worth visiting the Eumundi Markets, which are just 500 metres off the Bruce Highway at Eumundi. They are open seven days a week and are one of the best markets in Queensland for handicrafts, organic foods and quality Australian souvenirs.

Heading north from Eumundi, the next major diversion should be to Fraser Island .  This is the world’s largest sand island and one of Australia’s top ecotourism destinations.

Fraser Island has some of the best beaches in the world and many freshwater lakes for swimming as well. Wallabies can be frequently seen on the beaches, and sometimes the occasional dingo.  There is a 120 km beach highway on the island and it is widely regarded as one of the best spots in the world for beach fishing.

A visit to Fraser Island requires a 20 km diversion off the Bruce Highway at Maryborough to Hervey Bay.  From Hervey Bay there are ferries to the island, but only four-wheel drive vehicles can be taken on the car ferry. There is accommodation available on Fraser Island, but day tours from Hervey Bay are also available.

Hervey Bay is also the jumping off point for whale watching tours from July to November. The whale watching here is so reliable that most operators offer money-back guarantees if there are no encounters with whales.

After leaving Hervey Bay, it will be time to rejoin the Bruce Highway and head north again. This will be the longest non-stop stretch to drive on the trip. The Whitsunday Islands is where most travellers head to after the Fraser Coast, and the jumping off point for these islands is Airlie Beach.

From Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach it’s a 10 hour drive as it’s over 850 km. You’ll pass through the small cities of Rockhampton – a beef producing area – and Mackay – a sugar cane region. Rockhampton is about halfway, so if a 10 hour drive doesn’t appeal, an option is to overnight there in one of the 60 or so motels along the Bruce Highway or around the city.

Rockhampton has a large number of motels because it is usually the overnight stop for drivers who are attempting the Brisbane to Cairns trip in two days. An alternative is Yeppoon, a quiet coastal town about 20 km away, where there are motels and apartments available, albeit at a slightly higher price than Rockhampton.

Airlie Beach is about 15 km off the Bruce Highway, 480 km north of Rockhampton.  It is a popular tourist destination in itself, as well as being the town from which most of the ferry services and charter boats to the Whitsunday Islands depart.

The Whitsundays are one of the most beautiful island groups in the world and deserve as many days as you can afford to spend there. It rivals the Caribbean as a world-class yachting destination and there are many tropical resorts scattered across its 70 or so islands.

Whitsunday Island itself – the largest in the group – is where the world famous Whitehaven Beach is located. Whitehaven has been voted the best beach in the world by many travel publications because the sand is made of pure white silica which does not get hot in the heat of the day.

From Airlie Beach it’s a comfortable one day drive to Cairns – travel time is usually around 7 hours. The provincial city of Townsville is located halfway, so makes an ideal lunch stop. A short diversion off the Bruce Highway to Castle Hill overlooking the Strand provides some impressive views of Magnetic Island.

The final stretch from Townsville to Cairns is through green sugar cane country, and arriving in Cairns you will feel like you are in the heart of the tropics at any time of the year.

Cairns is a major tourist destination in itself with many international flights from Asia. Often overseas visitors to Queensland arrive in Brisbane and leave from Cairns, or vice-versa, after doing the Bruce Highway drive in one direction or the other.

There are also direct flights to Alice Springs and other Australian capitals, so it is easy to fit Cairns into a longer itinerary.

Cairns is the jumping off point for snorkeling and dive trips to the Great Barrier Reef, and there is a beautiful hinterland that rivals the Sunshine Coast’s Blackall Range.

A round trip to Kuranda on the green tablelands behind Cairns – one way by train and one way by cable car – is a must, and the Kuranda markets are the best in Queensland north of Eumundi.

Port Douglas and further north

Although the Bruce Highway finishes at Cairns, it’s worth holding onto the rental car for a day trip to Port Douglas further north. This is a one-hour drive and one of the most scenic in Australia.

Port Douglas itself, and Palm Cove on the way, are exceptionally pretty towns with excellent restaurants and coffee shops right on the beach.

For those with more time to spare, driving north of Port Douglas takes you into the beautiful World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the ecotourism destination of Cape Tribulation.

The Daintree Rainforest is reputed to be the oldest rainforest on earth. There are many species of plants and animals here that can be found nowhere else in the world, and was described by Sir David Attenborough as “the most extraordinary place on earth”.

Night tours in the jungle, zip-lining through the rainforest canopy and crocodile-spotting tours on the Daintree River are just some of the things you can do here that will bring you very close to nature.

North of Cape Tribulation, the road is driveable only by four-wheel drive vehicles, so for most visitors this is as far north on the east coast of Australia as they will ever get.

The Bruce Highway drive north from Brisbane to Cairns, and onto Cape Tribulation takes you from modern cityscapes to ancient mountainscapes. It’s a drive you’ll never forget and one that you’ll probably want to do again one day.

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Bruce Highway, Australia: Length, main towns & junctions

• David Whitley
• Practicalities

The Bruce Highway is 1,679km long, running up the Queensland coast from Brisbane to Cairns. Major towns on the Bruce Highway include Gympie, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.

The Bruce Highway is the spine of the Queensland coast, and one of the highways in Australia that visitors are most likely to encounter. Most east coast road trips will involve a considerable amount of time ploughing up or down the Bruce.

How long is the Bruce Highway?

The Bruce Highway is 1,679km long . Once upon a time, it connected all the major cities on the Queensland coast, but the route has been gradually altered over time with a series of bypasses. It is still the main route from Brisbane to Cairns , however.

Where does the Bruce Highway start?

The Bruce Highway begins at the Gateway Motorway in Bald Hills, to the north of central Brisbane . It continues north through the Moreton Bay region, with the d’Aguilar Highway branching off in Caboolture .

The next key Bruce Highway junction for visitors comes in Elimbah, where Steve Irwin Way connects to Australia Zoo and the Glass House Mountains.

Bruce Highway towns on the Sunshine Coast

Once into the Sunshine Coast region, the Sunshine Motorway peels off towards Buderim and Mooloolaba . The Maroochydore Road junction for Maroochydore is a little further along in Woombye.

Sunshine Coast towns on the Bruce Highway include Yandina , Eumundi and Cooroy. Take the Eumundi-Noosa Road from Eumundi to reach Noosa .

The next sizable town is Gympie . Turn off shortly afterwards in Tinana down State Route 57 for Maryborough and Hervey Bay .

Bruce Highway in Central Queensland

For Bundaberg and Bargara , take the Isis Highway junction just north of Childers .

Then, after Gin Gin , the highway enters the Gladstone region. The key intersection here is with the Dawson Highway at Calliope .

Rockhampton is the next big city on the route, and there are three key junctions here. The Burnett Highway runs to Dululu, the Capricorn Highway heads towards Emerald and Yeppoon Road connects to Yeppoon .

Bruce Highway in the Whitsundays region

The highway then goes through Clairview and Sarina and the Peak Downs Highway runs to the west just south of Mackay .

Most visitors will leave the highway in Hamilton Plains, just to the north of Proserpine . This is where Shute Harbour Road peels off towards Airlie Beach .

The Bruce Highway continues north through Bowen and Ayr before meeting the Flinders Highway just south of Townsville . The Flinders runs to Charters Towers and Cloncurry .

The Hervey Range Road also heads west from Townsville.

Bruce Highway in far north Queensland

The Bruce Highway, however, continues north through Ingham , Cardwell and Tully before meeting the Palmerston Highway just outside Innisfail .

It then goes through Babinda to Gordonvale, where the Gillies Highway from the Atherton Tableland joins. From here, it’s a short drive into Cairns , where the Bruce Highway terminates at the junction with the Captain Cook Highway.

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Bruce Highway – Best Places To Stop Between Cairns and Townsville

Driving between Cairns and Townsville along the Bruce Highway is a pretty common occurrence for those who live in the northern part of Queensland.

However, I’ve compiled this guide for those who have never been or looking to use Cairns as a starting off point for a much greater road trip down to Brisbane ( see my Townsville to Brisbane guide for the rest of the route along the Bruce Highway ) or even further down the rest east coast of Australia.

I’ve driven this Cairns to Townsville route a couple of times and used that experience to put together my tips and tricks to make sure you don’t miss the best of what this potentially once-in-a-lifetime road trip has to offer.

The route directly along the Bruce Highway is about 350kms. However, my suggested route is going to take you a bit further, 480kms, so you don’t miss the best sites along the way.

In theory, it should take you a little over 4.5 hours to get between Cairns and Townsville. But between the combination of road works and things to see and do along the way, I’d suggest that you give yourself at least a full day.

As with most highways around Australia, the Bruce Highway is pretty straight forward. While it’s not a full multi-lane highway the entire length, there is a good number of overtaking opportunities along the way.

There are a couple of major townships along the route, in particular Innisfail and Ingham that make for good places to stop for fuel, food or just to break up the trip.

Very easily. However, I do recommend that you try to give yourself a full day to take in the attractions along the way. There is plenty to see.

Moving right along, here are the best places to stop on the Bruce Highway route from Cairns to Townsville.

Cairns, Queensland

If it’s your first time to Cairns, or you are just using the tourist hub as a starting off point for a grand road trip around Australia, I’ve put together this blog post that will help you hit the ground running when you arrive in Cairns to get you started.

Babinda, Queensland

Babinda is quaint little town sugarcane town located about an hours drive south of Cairns. Directly off the Bruce Highway.

Now, while it is home to a couple of cool little cafes and boutique stores, the real reason to visit is the famous Babinda Boulders.

I’ve included more details about what makes the Babinda Boulders so interesting in my guide to Cairns , but if are doing this road trip down to Townsville (or beyond), it makes for an ideal first stop.

Then you can drop into one of the aforementioned cafes to grab a quick caffeine fix before jumping back on to the Bruce Highway to continue the trip.

Innisfail, Queensland

The first of only two major townships along this relatively short road trip, Innisfail makes a great spot to stop for fuel and other supplies if you haven’t already planned ahead in Cairns.

Depending on how you’ve planned your trip, it’s also worthwhile doing a quick little detour out of Innisfail to Etty Bay.

The tropical rainforests that this part of Far North Queensland is famous for, in particular the stunning waterfalls, are going to feature heavily in this guide, but Etty Bay is a good reminder that this is a coastal route the beaches shouldn’t be missed either.

Etty Bay combines both the rainforest and the beach, but what makes it special more so than the number of other beaches along the route is that it is also one of the few places where you might spot the Southern Cassowary in the wild.

The Southern Cassowary Australia’s largest flightless bird (by weight it’s heavier than the Emu which is marginally taller), but it’s very rare to spot them in the wild in the their native rainforest habitats. However, at Etty Bay they often wander out of trees and make appearances on the beach.

Pro Tip: Just make sure you give the Cassowaries plenty of space, they can be quite dangerous if approached.

Paronella Park, Queensland

How about a little bit of a detour to a Spanish castle? A short excursion off the Bruce Highway will take you to the Insta-famous Paronella Park .

If you’ve made the trip out to Etty Bay you are going need to backtrack a little bit, but the extra time is definitely worth it on both counts.

If you don’t know, Paronella Park is a property developed alongside the Mena Creek Falls in the tropical rainforest by Spanish immigrant José Paronella back in the 1930s in his native style.

This unique site was subsequently opened to the public back in 1935 and is now is a heritage-listed tourist attraction. While nowadays its best known for its Instagram fame due to its very unique nature, especially for Australia.

Don’t let the social media crowds deter you though, Paronella Park is actually truly impressive to witness first hand as well.

Should you be taking a very relaxed pace to your road trip down the Bruce Highway, hang around until nightfall to see Paronella Park lit up a night for something really different.

Cardwell, Queensland

Just to remind you that the Bruce Highway is indeed a coastal route, the small beachside town Cardwell makes for a very convenient stop.

No detour required for this one, the Bruce Highway runs right along the beachfront through the town making it a great spot to mix things up from the tropical rainforest excursions along the way.

However, if you aren’t sick of hidden away swimming holes just yet, the Cardwell Spa Pool is a worthwhile stop off as well.

This stunning blue mineral water pool only exists during the wet season but is a popular spot with both locals and tourist travelling through the area.

Ingham, Queensland

Ingham is the second major township along Bruce Highway between Cairns and Townsville. Again making it a good spot to stop for fuel and other supplies, particularly if you’ve not stocked up and are doing the trip in the other direction.

But what makes Ingham particularly interesting is Lee’s Hotel (formerly known as the Day Dawn hotel). While the name itself might not grab your attention, you might recognise the song made it famous – Slim Dusty’s “A Pub with No Beer”.

The story of the song is a long and convoluted one, so I’d recommend you check out the Wikipedia article for all the details , but rest assured the pub does have currently beer and does a decent feed as well, making it a good spot to stop for lunch (or dinner depending on how you are travelling).

And why not take in some unique Australian history while you are in the area.

Wallaman Falls, Queensland

I’m not going to lie to you, this one is a significant detour off the Bruce Highway, but an absolutely worthwhile one.

About an hour west drive out of Ingham, Wallaman Falls is the highest, permanent, single-drop waterfall in Australia and one of the key attractions of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area that makes this part of Australia such a popular tourist destination.

If you are tight for time, then you can take in the waterfall from the stunning lookout as pictured above. However to really appreciate the height of the falls, I would really recommend hiking down the Djyinda walk trail down to the bottom of the falls.

You are definitely going to need to plan ahead for this one, to fully complete this detour and the hike down to the bottom of the falls is going to take you at least 4 hours before you return back to Ingham to continue along the Bruce Highway.

So if you are planning on doing the trip between Cairns and Townsville in one day including Wallaman Falls keep that in mind and get an early start. But I do highly recommend it.

Crystal Creek Falls, Queensland

Just in case you haven’t had enough of the rainforests and waterfalls just yet, Crystal Creek Falls is another good little stop to break up the hour and a half drive between Ingham and Townsville.

This series of waterfalls and swimming holes are stunning to witness first hand and great spot to refresh if you have the time ahead of the final driving stint to get to Townsville.

All you really need to do is keep an eye out for the signs and follow them to find Crystal Creek Falls.

Townsville, Queensland

Let’s round this out with Townsville… To help you get ready I have already put together a comprehensive guide about the unofficial capital of Northern Queensland that you might also be interested in.

If you are planning on making the trip all the way down to Brisbane, make sure you check out my tips for the rest of Bruce Highway here.

If you’d like to get more information to help plan your trip to and around Australia…  Check out the rest of my blog posts.

Also, make sure you check out the travel tools that I use the most to help you save some money when booking your next trip.

Keep up to date with all the latest Here, There & Gone! adventures by following along on  Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Instagram .

And if you have a travel-related question, you would like me to answer, head on over to my  contact page  to get in touch and let me know.

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Rhys Vandersyde

Tasman Highway – Best Places To Stop Between Launceston and Hobart

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TRAVEL BUG WITHIN - Adventure, Road Trips, Travel Tips and Reviews

Travel writer Jennifer Johnston shares her travel experiences and tips inspiring midlife adventurers to explore further.

Hello Southern Great Barrier Reef

January 9, 2021 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Last updated 25 August 2021

Table of Contents

Brisbane to Yeppoon road trip: how to spend a perfect week exploring Queensland’s Capricorn Coast

With 300 kilometres of coastline, there are plenty of choices when it comes to exploring stretches of golden sand and coastal communities before arriving at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef

Almost half-way through 2020, with international and inter-state travel restrictions in place, exploring my ‘backyard’ was my only ‘travel’ option. In Queensland, with low transmission numbers, our initial 50-kilometre travel limit restriction was lifted in mid-May to 150 kilometres, and then from May 31, Queenslanders could travel unlimited throughout the State. In late June, I hatched a plan with a friend and great travel buddy, Catherine, to leave the river city behind and take a road trip from Brisbane to Yeppoon.

Despite me being a Queenslander born and bred, there is much of my fabulous state I am guilty of not having yet explored. And there are no valid excuses as to why, in my 55 years, I have not visited Yeppoon and Agnes Waters. It took a global pandemic to get me out on the road and exploring these Queensland coastal towns.

And I’m going to be honest here. As a travel writer, I haven’t been writing many travel stories. So, my lovely reader, yiou’ve been forewarned, this post is long.

If you prefer to skip to a particular place – use the table of contents (above) to ‘jump’ to your area of interest.

Highway road trips

A road trip via a major highway is the quickest route from A to B. But not always the most scenic. These highways bypass country towns you’d normally pass through on the older road networks. You can make a detour and drop in on these smaller regional hubs, but you need to weigh up your time frame and what you want to see along the way.

On our road trip via the Bruce Highway (A1) from Brisbane, we chose to:

• Stop overnight in Bundaberg
• Travel onto Yeppoon where we left the car to hop on a ferry for an island escape
• Great Keppel Island

Agnes Waters

• Back to Brisbane

Brisbane to Bundaberg – 382 km

Travel time from my southside suburb of Coorparoo to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery (382 km) took around five hours via the M1. You could stopover and stay a night in blissful Noosa (just over a two-hour drive from Brisbane.) Or linger longer in Noosa as I did in September, but our goal was to be in Bundaberg before they closed the Bundy Rum Distillery at 4 pm (priorities right?!)

Driving non-stop to Bundy can be done in four hours – but a re-fuel and lunch break just outside Gympie added 45 minutes onto our travel time.

Bundaberg is full of surprises. I mention a few of them here and one night was not enough time to experience what this town, with its interesting blend of rural and coastal offers. So I am heading back there in early January for five nights – taking my teens and Mr 22 to experience Bundy.  We’re booked into Bargara – and will hit the beach (either early or later in the day) to avoid the sting of the summer sun. I’m looking forward to a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island and fingers crossed, maybe see some turtle hatchlings at Mon Repos.

Social distancing at the Bundy Rum Distillery

Bundaberg to Yeppoon – 330 km

The next morning, after a look-see at the Bert Hinkler Museum and a quick pitstop back to the Bundy Rum Distillery (to grab ‘more’ supplies for Keppel) we headed for Yeppoon to catch a 3.30 pm ferry from the marina over to Great Keppel Island. You can choose to either stay at Yeppoon, then head over to Keppel – we did it the other way round.

Unfortunately, we were under the pump for time and roadworks on the outskirts of Rocky placed pressure on us getting to the Marina in time to catch the last ferry of the day to the island. So we had to wave to  Rockhampton as skirted the town centre. After interviewing Mary Li for a Two of Us article and reading her recently released book, Mary’s Last Dance , where she dedicated a few chapters to her childhood in Rockhampton, I’m intrigued by the town. (Rocky is on the list for another trip!)

We left Catherine’s car at a secure car park a few kms from the Marina and the owner dropped us with just minutes to spare!

Great Keppel Island – back in the day

We paused the road trip to visit the infamous Great Keppel Island

You may ask why infamous, especially if you are born after the 1980s. You young pups may not have heard of the “ Get wrecked on Keppel ” slogan adopted by travel brand Contiki tapping in on the reputation Keppel acquired as ‘the’ party island.

One of the images doing the rounds back in the “Get Wrecked on Keppel” days

“Young people flocked to the 300-room resort for alcohol and legendary parties where clothes were optional and over 35’s were banned,” writes Shayla Bulloch from a Queensland Times article

“It was best known for its steamy secrets but was a much-loved part of the region before its closure in 2008. Now The Hideaway remains behind barricaded fencing.”

My memory of Keppel in my early 20s does not involve partying with minimal clothes 🙂

Picture this:

Mid-January 1992, my friend, Brenda (who I originally met at the University of Massachusetts) had left Boston in the middle of a freezing cold winter, arriving in steamy, humid Brisbane in the middle of summer. We flew to Rocky (yes, there is a regional airport  in Rockhampton – if road trippin’ non-stop for 10 hours from Brissie isn’t desirable.)

We caught the flyer over to Keppel Island, 15 km off the coast of Yeppoon. Brenda had not seen the sun in hmmm, I don’t know how long and was enjoying the warm rays. She ignored my suggestion to cover up her milky-white legs.  That night, she had a nasty case of sunburn, her legs so badly sunburnt, they blistered for days!  No partying on Keppel for my sunburnt friend, who learned the hard way how harsh the sun in Aus can be. (Aussies also forget!)

Enough of my reminiscing.

Keppel Island – the once upon a time party island is now more of a family island

The pick-up point is at Rosslyn Bay where we board the Keppel Konnections Ferry Catherine and I are sun-sensible Queenslanders and it’s also winter – we sit inside.

Apart from those who choose to moor on a yacht, or camp there are roughly 300 tourist beds available on Keppel. We booked two nights in a beach cabin at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway the largest accommodation provider on the island. The other commercial accommodation properties include Great Keppel Island Holiday Village, Keppel Lodge, and Svendsen’s Beach Retreat.

The Keppel flyer lands at Fishermen’s beach. Passengers depart down the gangplank onto the white sand. We wander towards reception to check into our cabin. (Luggage is offloaded onto a truck to be collected at a designated pick up point later on.)

Orange sunset vibes on Great Keppel Island

What to do on Keppel Island

Keppel has 17 beaches to explore (not all of them are accessible on foot.) A day cruise is recommended – the Keppel Explorer – which takes you to many of the inaccessible beaches. But unfortunately, due to Covid and inclement weather, this tour was not operating on the days we were at Keppel.

There’s a number of hiking trails on the island if you enjoy walking, including Leeke’s Beach Circuit (3.8km return) The Lighthouse (15.4 km return) Butterfish Bay (13km return.)

The morning of our first full day, we decided to hike up Mount Wyndham for a view from the lookout (175 metres.) This circuit takes approximately three hours return.

View from the Lookout on top of Mt Wyndham Great Keppel Island (can you spot the Monarch butterflies?)

Friends who were staying in a boat moored in the bay at Svendsen’s Beach recommended we check out their side of the island. So after the lookout, we headed for Svendsen’s. Admittedly, we didn’t think this one through and were not wearing the best shoes for hiking 12km (18,880 steps) to and from this gorgeous little inlet. The bush track was rough in parts, but doable (despite our footwear!)

Svendesen’s Beach Great Keppel Island

On the path near to Svendsen’s, we walked through a section where hundreds of Monarch and Blue Tiger butterflies were resting. A kaleidoscope of fluttering wings circled in the air around us, saying hello, just before we arrived at the gorgeous cove. We flopped onto a couple of lounges under shade (set up for guests who stay in Svendsen’s Beach retreat? Maybe?) and I removed those offending shoes.

Not the best shoes for hiking.

We helped ourselves to some chilled water in an open kitchenette area. Rehydrated, we considered returning to our cabin via Leeke’s Beach. A couple of hikers wandered past (with better footwear than us) and Catherine asked them what they thought about walking back via Leeke’s Beach – a slightly shorter route. In a strong European accent, the guy suggested we could do it, demonstrating we would have to hold our daypack above our heads because the tide was coming in.

He gestured with his hands, pointing to chest height – where the water would come to.

“Ahh no thanks,” we said. And returned via the same route we came from.

Sunset drinks @greatkeppelislandhideaway on the squeaky white sands of Long Beach on the island’s southern side was our reward for the day’s exertion.

Sunset drinks Great Keppel Island

The sunset like the night before did not disappoint as it dipped below the mainland, casting shadows over Pumpkin Island This 6.1-hectare island (450 meters long and 150 metres wide) in Keppel Bay is a privately owned island where guests can stay in one of seven eco-friendly self-catering units. Something I’d be keen to experience when I can gather a group of friends (up to 34) who’d like the unique experience of being alone on an island!

We ate at the beachfront Bar and Bistro. (Menu offers basic pub-style meals – hearty and filling and is fully licensed – check out our happy cocktails from the first afternoon.)

Cocktails at the Beachfront Bar and Bistro on Great Keppel Island

I imagine the diving and snorkeling on the fringing reefs off Keppel Island is amazing. After all, Keppel is part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. But I didn’t experience any water activities this trip (after our long walk I tried a swim, but the tide was so far out I felt like I was going to walk back to the mainland before getting underwater!)

My boating friends confirm snorkeling around Keppel is fabulous (plenty of marine life including dolphins, turtles, manta rays.)

Keppel redevelopment challenges

While Keppel has lost its infamous reputation as the party island, there are ongoing issues on the State Government-owned island. One of them is the dilapidated and fenced-off 160-hectare resort (where most of the partying took place.)

A $600 million proposed redevelopment has been put on the table, to include a golf course, shops, casino, and marina. This was stalled because the State Government cannot agree on a casino license and on how much investment the Government needs to inject into the project.

Sadly, vandals are getting into the barricaded site and have set fire to sections, according to a Morning Bulletin October 2020 article .

No one is sure how long this stand-off will take for a resolution on Keppel and if the proposed redevelopment or something else will occur. In the meantime, families and couples enjoy one of the largest islands in the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef.

Keppel is fun for a few day’s escape and being so close to the mainland – it’s worth the small effort if you’re heading to Yeppoon to make a sideline trip to the island. The island is chockers with nature, pristine beaches and wildlife (curlews would gather near the bar every night and you’d hear their iconic call from your cabin.)

But don’t expect anything luxurious. The Hideaway cabins were clean, comfortable, air-conditioned (and include a small kitchenette) all you need on a budget island getaway. Appealing to holidaymakers looking for an island experience without costing a bomb. The staff at the Hideaway are very friendly (most that we met outside of the reception staff are foreigners, enjoying a safe place to stay during the weird Covid times.)

The Hideaway Beach cabins Great Keppel Island

The amenities around where we stayed are basic, and in some places, a little tired.  An investment in landscaping and some carpentry work and fresh paint wouldn’t go astray (in my humble opinion.)

On the flip side, we have a lot to be thankful for living in Queensland.

And having an easily accessible, affordable island like Great Keppel Island is one of those reasons to be grateful .

Yeppoon – yippee 

The hub of the Capricorn Coast – Yeppoon is a vibrant beachside town.

We farewelled Keppel and made our way from the marina to our Yeppoon accommodation – Oshen Apartments on the hill called the Bluff.

The main beach in Yeppoon stretches for 1.3 kilometres and we have one of the impressive vistas of it from our Oshen apartment balcony. (Take a look at the Oshen website, my photos do not do the panoramic views justice!)

View from Oshen Apartments Yeppoon Queensland

My plans of taking time out to just sit on the expansive balcony and enjoy that view had to wait because we had a few places to explore before relaxing.

We strolled down the steep hill and into Yeppoon’s main street (James) and stumbled upon a traditional French-style bakery, Baked on 44

The sweet treats and croissants are DELICIOUS and they have an interesting deli selection of assorted cheeses, condiments, oils and savoury meals to takeaway.

Find some yummy goodies inside Baked on 44 Yeppoon

The Lagoon at Yeppoon

We strolled down to the southern end of Yeppoon’s Main Beach to Keppel Kraken – the water park open to the public and where you can safely swim all year round.

Yeppoon has a diverse choice of eateries, ranging from restaurants, cafes and clubs. Sadly, we didn’t have enough time to try them all, but on our first night, after a couple of sunset cocktails with our sailing friends onboard their moored yacht, we enjoyed dinner at Beaches Restaurant an easy stroll from the Keppel Bay Marina.

Catching up with our boating mates in Yeppoon

Beaches menu is seasonal and incorporates naturally grown, chemical-free produce from a nearby organic permaculture farm (High Valley Dawn) – “grown with love” they declare.

The best Pad Thai at the Beaches Restaurant Yeppoon

Koorana Crocodile Farm

I’ve seen plenty of crocs in the NT , but for something different, we left Yepppoon and drove half an hour to Queensland’s first commercial crocodile farm , Koorana where we meet the energetic owner and founder of this family-run croc farm, John Lever.

John’s a friendly fellow, with a tanned face, sparkling blue eyes that match his blue polo shirt, and a crop of neatly-combed white hair. But I was distracted by what he was holding.

“Meet one of our baby crocs we call Harley,” John announces to the small group gathering outside Koorana’s entrance.

John Lever and Catherine holding Harley Koorana Croc Farm Capricorn Coast Queensland

We later learn from John all the crocs he brings out for the kids (and adults) to hold (jaws taped tightly shut) are called Harley! (easier to remember I suppose.)

After that introduction, we order a croc burger and a croc pie for lunch at the farm’s rustic cafe. I sit down at one of the tables and take in the ‘interesting’ decor. Pictures of crocs adorn the walls, glass cabinets are filled with croc ‘parts’ and treated croc skins curl around the poles supporting the pitched roof. Add in a couple of full-sized taxidermized crocs on shelves above our heads, massive jaws open, ready – there’s no chance of forgetting where we are.

When our meal eventually arrives (the kitchen seemed flat out with all the groups waiting for their tour) my feelings are mixed as I bite into the pie. I am about to go out and meet some of the resident crocs – hopefully not a relative of my pie filling!

During a chat with John over lunch, we learn the farm exports crocodile skins to Italy to be used in handbag and clothing manufacturing. Apparently, saltwater crocodile skin makes the best and most durable leather in the world. But because of COVID, exports were on hold. Our visit was in July and John told us they had a stockpile of 1,500 skins sitting in the shed, waiting for when they can export again!

Koorana is popular with families given the number of families waiting for the tour the day we arrived.

The pre-tour chat given by Adam, one of John and Lillian’s four sons (who all work on the farm) was laced with croc jokes.

Not surprisingly, a kid asks Adam how big their largest croc was.

“Five metres was our biggest, we lost him in 2002,” Adam replies.

Adam picks up a treated croc hide, and to show us how tough the hides are, he bangs it hard with a hammer. No marks – tough indeed!

John says the farm takes in relocated ‘cranky’ crocs from local rivers and there have been plenty of crocs removed from Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River (keep that in mind when you’re next in Rockhampton!)

Later, we meet John’s wife Lillian, who had been working in the kitchen (she is the one responsible for the catering and the recipe creator.) She reminds us that this is a farm, where not one part of the croc is wasted!

They’re also working with Queensland University, doing medical research on cures for cancer using crocodile blood – which John tells us is very pure.

Chatting with John, Lillian and Adam was enlightening, we leave Koorana with a better appreciation of these prehistoric creatures.

Capricorn Caves

The following afternoon we drove to the oldest tourist attraction in Queensland – the Capricorn Caves , at 30 Olsen Caves Road, a 40-minute drive from Yeppoon.

There are a number of tours to choose from, we selected the Cathedral Cave Tour (45 minutes) which has ramps, a suspension bridge and a narrow passage to squeeze through. The website says ‘wheelchair friendly’ (I’m not sure where, but there must be a special path for wheelchairs.)

In the learning centre, before our tour commenced, it was interesting reading about the caves being discovered by European settlers. Bats have made these limestone crevices home for some of the caves’ 390 million-year history. But John Olsen, a Norwegian migrant stumbled upon them in 1882, returning home through the ‘bush.’ I guess caves are not something you expect to find in the Tropic of Capricorn! He applied and was granted a title on the land and in 1884, he ‘turned’ the caves into a ‘tourist’ attraction.

Entrance to the Capricorn Caves

The acoustics inside one of the large caverns – the Cathedral Cave – is remarkable. Our tour guide played a recording of the gospel song Hallelujah to prove this point. We sat in pews – an interesting re-creation of a church until our guide turned the lights out and we were plunged into an eerie darkness.

Cathedral Cave inside the Capricorn Caves

Performances by the Underground Opera Company take place during the year.

The Caves have accommodation options – see their website – but we escaped like a bat out of hell (pun intended) returning to Oshen for sunset drinks.

Yet another highlight of this fab road trip was in the Gladstone Region’s seaside community of Agnes Waters and the tiny township of 1770.

Agnes Waters lays claim as the most northern surf beach. The open beach we accessed through the Agnes Waters Caravan Park took my breath away and I now understand why my camping friends have over the years, flocked to this pocket of paradise to pull up stumps for a week. Like Bundy, one night was not enough!

Before entering Agnes, we wandered through the Paperbark Forest Boardwalk. A ten-minute walk through an enchanting forest of paperbark trees.

A thicket of paperbark trees at the Boardwalk Paperbark Forest near Agnes Wate

We couldn’t find the butterflies the tourist website boasted about, but what a gorgeous discovery in the @visitcapricorn region. The only sounds were chirping birds and the rustle of paperbark as the gentle breeze brushed the multicoloured trunks. I was expecting fairies to appear at any moment.

A balancing fairy in the Paperbark Forest near Agnes Waters

The Town of 1770

Watching the sunset over the water munching on fish n chips from the local cafe in the town of 1770, where Captain Cook landed 250 years ago (celebrations planned were canned because of COVID) was the perfect way to end the last night on our road trip journey.

Sunsets over the waterfront at 1770

Yesterday we took a tour through the oldest tourist attraction in Queensland at the Capricorn Caves, this morning we were walking a long stretch of sand on Yeppoon’s main beach. Today we’re wandering through a paperbark sanctuary and will visit Captain Cook’s place of landing – 1770.

There are not many positives to say about COVID. The economic pain, the loss of work for many, and sadly, for some, the loss of life has been devastating. But it made me take a good, hard look at my home state of Queensland and plan an adventure that maybe I wouldn’t have otherwise tackled.

And look at all the places, people and creatures I discovered along the way.

Jen and Harley Koorana Croc Farm

Including Bundaberg – where I am heading next week with my lads!

A big thank you to my partner in crime, Catherine for joining me on this adventure, and for checking out all the weird and wonderful places along the way. Oh AND for doing all the driving (I’m not travelling in your VW Golf she told me!)

For six months, we backpacked around Europe in our early 20’s, shared a flat in London for two years, and can now add a road trip from Brisbane to Yeppoon and back to our repertoire!

June 19, 2021 at 10:19 am

Fabulous to read and get some great tips regarding road trip from Brissy to Yepoon most def be making a visit to bakery “baked in 44” ?? I am I intending to do a road trip with my 12yr old and 15yr old girls end of 2021. If Covid has taught me anything that is “don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today” some of us all too commonly say “we’ll do that next time/year”) what a delight to have come across your site! Thanks for the inspo and I’ll be returning to 1770 as well for a spot of “sunsetting” enroute back to Brisvegas I’m sure it’s up to the same standard it was when I was last there in 2018. Happy travels for the rest of 2021! Deborah (Cleveland, Qld)

March 21, 2022 at 12:51 pm

Hello Deborah,

My apologies – somehow I have missed your comment. I hope you and your girls made it on the road trip to Yeppoon and had as much fun as we did! I hope 1770 was as stunning as it was back in 2018. I can’t wait to make another trip up that way. Jennifer

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Free Camping in Queensland – Best Spots near Bruce Highway Australia

July 30, 2019 By Jan Robinson 28 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here .

Australia is a large country just begging for the freedom and adventure of an Aussie road trip. Australia is not considered a budget travel destination but free camping in Queensland and indeed in the whole of Australia is one of the best budget travel tips we know.

It’s a fun idea to purchase a hardy UV Outdoor map of Australia to stick on the outside of your trailer, camper or caravan and record your trip for everyone to see. There is also an easily removable indoor version, which can be stuck say on a table or fridge as a planning and conversation starter.

You will see Pacific Coast Way (PCW) signs on the Bruce Highway. It has not changed name but PCW is the tourism branding name for the collective highway from Cairns to the Gold Coast.

Commercial caravan parks provide excellent amenities and charge accordingly, but when travelling Australia on a budget you sometimes just need a place to park overnight. Free camping in Australia will save you mega bucks and allow you to travel for longer with less financial concerns.

Both our own Australia Travel Blog plus Queensland Uncovered have many east coast Australia road trip ideas, like Coffs Harbour to Brisbane and Townsville to the Gold Coast .

In this post you will find mainly free camping spots Queensland with a few low cost camping sites thrown in, plus where to eat suggestions.

As we stay at more free and low cost camps each time we travel, the size of this article is lengthy. If you are only interested in a particular area you can go straight to it from the collapsible Table of Contents.

Free Camping in Queensland

As with free camping in Australia , free camping in Queensland offers sites maintained by local councils as designated free camps. They can be used for 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours and sometimes even 7 days within the one month.

Not all Rest Areas allow camping so read signage and act accordingly. Some councils enforce these rules strictly and will arrive to move you on, possibly late at night. Bowen and Clairview are two I know of that strictly enforce the no free camping rule. Rockhampton recently removed one from their inner city area due to pressure from a caravan park association.

Other towns have proven that free camping brings money to their town by collecting receipts from travellers and tallying exactly how much money free campers spend in their towns. It’s really catching on in outback Queensland. Collinsville and Gayndah are two such towns.

Read signs to see whether water is for human consumption. Signs might say Potable Water instead of drinkable water.

Some larage sites are used by Truckies and although you can camp there in your caravan or campervan, be aware that they could run (noisy) compressors at night and the camps are roadside so expect traffic noise.

Another source of free camps is Country Pubs. Many offer free camping out the back and the use of their facilities in return for purchasing a drink or meal in the bar. This works if you were planning to drink or eat out anyway. It’s uncool to park at a pub and not patronise their premises.

We use and recommend the Wikicamps Australia App. It costs less than $10 and the separate state maps can be downloaded so that when your phone has no coverage, as often happens outside of major cities in Australia, you can still use it.

Low Cost Camping in Queensland

Low Cost Camping provides few amenities and costs understandably less than conventional caravan parks. These camps are operated by farms or country shops and offer the camper something and charge in the range $5 to $20.

That something might be security, farm life experience, scenic campsites, a private creek swimming area, pick your own fruit tree, or use of toilet and/or showers.

Sometimes you can purchase homemade produce or farm produce. They don’t usually have dump points, drinking water or power available.

Budget Eating Options

This post has been updated to include some great budget food options – places where we love to eat ourselves. We often eat from our own supplies, so don’t have a suggestion for every location. You will find our recommendations in red.

See Australian Animals and Experience the real Australia

Road trips are a great way to meet some real Aussie characters, and at free camping spots you could wake up to a kookaburra’s laugh, spot an early morning kangaroo in the wild or an echidna waddling across a track. These memories linger long after the trip is over.

This is our Coromal Caravan that we use free camping in Australia .

We’ve changed the car shown in the above photo for a new Mazda BT50 which has so much more pulling power – it’s a revelation. Even though our caravan is light, our old car was so sluggish when towing it that I remembered my Dad’s road trip joke, when he would slow down going uphill and tell us kids to get ready to hop out and push.

I don’t think he realised how horrified I was.

Our new BT50 towing our Coromal van.

Aussie Road Trip Pack

Before starting out on your Australian Road Trip think about how you wish to record it. As a travel blogger it’s imperative that I keep a travel journal. Although it seems impossible at the time, experiences do become sketchy over time and it’s difficult to remember quite where that beautiful river side free-camp was! Even if you are not a travel blogger it is vital to have a travel journal and log book to refer to.

Travel Journal

As well as jotting down notes for future reference the journal has space to attach photos. Personally, I like to draw little mud maps about where we’ve been. This 92 page travel journal comes with a reusable check list, address book, activity pages and kid friendly pages.

This two part book allows you to keep track of the places visited and distance travelled. The front half is dedicated to recording and rating overnight camps/accommodation and the back half to recording distance and fuel details.

Budget Travel Tip: It is handy to record the kilometres covered by your caravan/trailer for servicing and resale value.

Slide and Dry Pegless Clothes Line

Hang it inside, outside, between trees, on your back verandah. Hang it anywhere. No Pegs Required.

• For a short time a free first aid kit is included

Click Here to Purchase your Aussie Road Trip Pack.

Now that you have your travel journal sorted lets get down to business.

This post discusses Free Camping Queensland and is divided into sections. Camping in Queensland is at it’s best in Winter when the temperatures and humidity are less, but fellow travellers met on the road are a fun lot no matter the season.

Free Camping Brisbane to Gold Coast

Free camping sunshine coast, free camping gympie to rockhampton area, free camping central queensland (rockhampton to mackay), free camping mackay to townsville/ingham/halifax.

We’ve driven the 1200km from Townsville to the Sunshine Coast, on the Bruce Highway, so many times we’ve lost count and lately since shifting to the Sunny Coast, we’ve added driving south to the Gold Coast as well.

When our kids were small, the amount of stops depended on the level of squabbling from the rear seat. Back then we didn’t own a caravan and collapsed in a Self-Contained Cabin when we’d had enough.

Our latest caravan, with it’s solar panels/battery, shower and toilet enables us to enjoy free and low cost camping. Camper-vans/trailers are often purchased or hired by overseas travellers and sometimes the cheaper option of a Station Wagon also works because the rear seat converts to a flat sleeping area.

On-line Gumtree is a great place to source used campervans and camping trailers. Local on-line Buy Swap and Sell sites are also a source of second hand vans and vehicles.

Many free camps have flush toilets, BBQ’s and Picnic Tables, but keep in mind that the tap water may not always potable.

Small towns usually make their show-grounds available for overnight or longer stays for a small fee, which can rely on facilities used.

Wikicamps App

The smart phone App, Wikicamps, makes locating these parking/camping spots easy and the comments left by previous users give a good idea of what to expect.

Charges are quoted if applicable.

The App costs a very reasonable $7.49. Try the free 14 day trial, or be like us and just purchase it straight up.

Wikicamps App has revolutionised our road trips.

Below are some free camps Queensland we’ve used:

Camps on and near PCW Pacific Coast Way south from Brisbane to Gold Coast.

Camps on and near Bruce Highway (PCW Pacific Coast Way) from Brisbane to Townsville, listed South to North and recently extended to include Ingham and Halifax.

Free Camping Beenleigh Hugh Muntz Park

About half-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is this lovely grassed and treed park, wedged between highway, creek and shopping centre. House and a tree break between highway and camp which sits lower than the road. The shopping centre on the other side of the park and camp is screened by trees and creek, but is super easy to visit for supplies and cafes. Roof top tents are allowed.

This is a great little spot for free camping between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Covered Tables, BBQ’s with light, modern Toilets. By afternoon the toilets can be messy and no light at night. We used our own toilet at night, but take a torch and company if using the park toilets at night. Possibly a trouble maker resident here but we didn’t encounter him.

FREE. 72 hour limit or 3 nights in a 30 day period. Dump Point. TV and Mobile reception.

Where to eat near Beenleigh Hugh Muntz Park

Beenleigh marketplace.

There are eleven casual eateries in the Beenleigh Marketplace and it is just a short walk away from the free camp.

Belli Creek Park, Eumundi-Kennilworth Road, Belli Park

Just 10 minutes and 13km from the Bruce Highway (M1), Belli Creek is a great place to stay if you’re visiting Eumundi Markets or Noosa National Park .

Clean Toilets, No Showers, Grassed Area for pitching tents, Busy after 6pm, Clean Toilets (bring torch), the bridge makes noise when trucks drive over it so park as far away as possible, dogs allowed, no drinking water, bring own container to wash dishes in, suitable for wheelchairs, picnic table, campfires allowed, shared walking track.

This is an entrance point to the West Cooroy Forest Walking path.

Six Mile Creek Rest Area, Bruce Highway Glanmire, Gympie.

Just south of Gympie and 50 km north of the Sunshine Coast, this is a beautiful 20 hour stay camping spot. Although it is close to the highway it has grassed sites with good access, clean toilets, drinking water, open fire pits, dump points and at 4 pm in peak season (early Winter i.e. early June) it was filling fast but with about 4 good sites still left. It is a pretty spot surrounded by trees and overlooking 6 mile Oval now renamed as Ray Warren Oval.

Free Camping Gympie to Rockhampton Area.

Ross creek store and rest area, 1460 tin can bay road, goomboorian, 21km north-east of gympie..

When visiting Tin Can Bay or Rainbow Beach, Ross Creek Store offers a free camping stop en-route.

FREE>DONATION BOX. Amenities include Toilets, Power, Undercover Tables and Chairs, Sink for washing dishes, children’s playground. Suitable for small caravans, campervans, tents and camping trailers. Dogs Allowed. Fuel Available.

The paddock is not that wide and depending how people park, manoeuvring within can be difficult. There is a turn around before entering the paddock. Inspect entrance before entering.

Where to eat at Goomboorian via Gympie

Ross creek store.

Prawn and Crab Sandwiches and hot pies for sale. The lamb shank pies are popular and the chicken and camembert pies. We purchased cold lamb shank pies for an easy dinner that night.

Chatsworth Rest Area, 564 Bruce Hwy, Chatsworth, 8.1km north of Gympie.

This is the closest and best we’ve found for free camping Gympie on the northern side.

FREE. 20 hour parking limit. Clean toilets. No Showers. Well maintained area including a Children’s Playground. Fairly close to Highway so road noise can be expected. Dogs Allowed.

We used this as a toilet and lunch stop only, but were impressed by how well maintained it was. The toilets, situated beside the kids playground, are a fair walk from the overnight camp area and closer to the day parking area. I foresee problems with traffic noise and campers who overstay, restricting the amount of spots available.

We regularly pass this Rest Area and it always looks inviting.

Gunalda Rest Area, Bruce Highway Gunalda, Queensland

24 hour Free Camp 29.6 km north of Gympie, offering views some shade and clean toilets.

This rest area is up on a small broad hill with a flat area on top accessed by a bitumen road. I thought being on a hill might shield it from the noise of the nearby highway, but it is still quite loud.

Dog Friendly it is suitable for Tents, RV’s Caravans and Big Rigs. Although most campers lined up beside a row of trees near the exit, one was parked out the back with lovely views over the surrounding bush. There are large shade trees in the middle and grassed areas. A sometimes driver reviver coffee stop 7am to 7pm, but not during our visit.

Non-potable water, big shade trees, picnic tables, Mobile and TV Reception. No fires allowed.

Situated 2 minutes from Windsong Cabins and Tea Gardens on the opposite side of the highway and 7 minutes along Anderleigh Road to Gunalda Bush Camp (fires allowed) on the same side of the highway, both of which charge.

If you just want somewhere to stop overnight and can put up with traffic noise, I suggest the free Gunalda Rest Area.

NOW CLOSED TO CAMPING. Torbanlea Racecourse, Lot 32 Torbanlea-Pailba Road, Torbanlea. Qld. 109km north of Gympie.

CHARGE. Maximum stay 7 days. This camp is well-positioned on a quiet road away from the railway line. Charges are on a sliding scale of – $5 Toilet, $10 Toilet and Shower, $15 Toilet Shower Power. Dogs Allowed. This small town has some nicely restored old buildings and homes.

Walk from the racecourse, across road/railway crossing and down to the Miner’s Arms Hotel (cheap counter meals) and back home via railway overpass (Kookaburras).

Where to eat at Torbanlea

Miners arms hotel torbanlea.

$12 Miners Meals. Steaks, Rissoles, Roasts, Sausages, Crumbed Fish, Lasagna.

Apple Tree Creek, 149 km north of Gympie and 6.5km North of Childers. 1 km south of the Bundaberg turn off on the Bruce Highway.

FREE. 24 hour parking limit. Clean Toilets. No drinking water but close to the Apple Tree Creek Tavern. There is a Park with BBQ’s between the road where everyone camps and the highway. Tall Trees and a small billabong behind and on the southern side an well kept oval.

Apple Creek Tavern.

FREE. The owner of the Tavern has a long grey beard and is a friendly chap who loves telling the history of the Tavern. He offers free camping out the back for patrons only.

Gin Gin Rest Area, Bruce Highway, just North of Gin Gin, Qld. 184km north of Gympie. 268km south of Rockhampton.

FREE. 20 hour parking limit. Two Clean toilet blocks. No Showers. A sometimes driver/reviver site and a sometimes commercial coffee van site. Spacious grassed park with very tall trees and lots of natural shade. Access to river. Covered and uncovered picnic tables. Walking access from rear of park 1650m to Gin Gin’s town centre. The park is large with camping spots toward the back affording less road noise.

DOG FRIENDLY

This spacious camp also makes a lovely lunch/toilet break with loads of picnic tables and shade. We have camped overnight twice at the back beneath shade trees, which in the morning were full of King Parrots, Kookaburras and fig birds. A great park for tree and bird lovers.

Where to Eat in Gin Gin.

If you’re a pie lover look no further. We eat here every time we pass through town. I love the curry beef and Marty the steak and kidney (eek). Best pies ever.

Gin Gin Bakery, Bruce Highway, Main street of Gin Gin.

Best curry beef pie in queensland.

Boyne River, Marrawing Street, Free Camp. Beneraby, Queensland. 326 km north of Gympie. 129km south of Rockhampton.

FREE CAMP. 24 hours. 4WD. Dogs Allowed. No amenities. Tents Allowed.

Although this is the same mileage as the Boyne River Rest Area, they are two different destinations. Marrawing Street is on the left of the highway when approaching Boyne River from the south. If you reach the Boyne River Rest Area on the highway, you have come too far.

The dirt road begins reasonably well but quickly becomes hazardous for caravans, even in dry weather. I would steer clear of it in wet weather. Arrive in daylight to navigate potholes.

We have a 4WD vehicle and a semi-off road van but wouldn’t take our caravan down into the river bed, especially as we arrived after dark, instead camping on the high river bank. Lots of local traffic coming and going late into the night. Party central on the week-end.

I would only recommend this camp if the one on the Highway is full. Having said that, 4WD’s with tents or camping trailers or off-road vans might like it here during the week. You can fish in the river. The river is tidal so if the tide is out camp far away from the water so as not to get inundated at high tide. Far from the highway but with train noise.

Boyne River Rest Area, Free Camp 48746 Bruce Highway Benaraby, Queensland. 326 km north of Gympie. 128km south of Rockhampton.

FREE CAMP. 24 hours. Drinking Water. Toilets. Showers. Dump Point. Tents Allowed. Big Rigs can fit. Dogs Allowed. Traffic Noise. Good River Views. Right beside the Highway. There is a sign saying No Camping or Overnight Vans, but this just refers to the area past the sign near the house. It’s fine to park everywhere else. Super Busy. Arrive Early. Sometimes Coffee Van.

Boynedale Bushcamp, Free Camp on Gladstone-Monto Road, Boynedale. 340km north of Gympie. 145 km south of Rockhampton.

FREE CAMP. 7 Day in one month limit. No Drinking Water. Situated on the back side of Lake Awoonga. Best for those with boats. Great clean long drop toilets that don’t smell. No Showers. Fishing, Red-Clawing, Bird Watching and Photography. Plenty of space, Big trees, Brand New Dump Point at the lookout on the hill before the camp.

Calliope River South Rest Area, Old Bruce Hwy, River Ranch, Qld.

FREE. 48 Hour Limit.

DOG FRIENDLY.

We used this overnight in 2021. Calliope southern side is open to all travellers no need to be self-contained.

How to get to Calliope River South Free Camp from the Bruce Highway

• Turn left onto the Old Bruce Highway before the river when coming from the south.
• Turn right onto Old Bruce Highway after the Calliope River Bridge when coming from the north.

BYO Drinking Water.

Calliope River North Rest Area, Queensland. 346km north of Gympie. 103km south of Rockhampton.

FREE. 48 hour limit. We’ve used the North rest area as a rest stop many times.

DOGS ALLOWED.

Wikicamps says Self-Contained only, but in mid 2021 there were temporary toilets, including a pretty rough wheelchair friendly toilet.

Beautiful big grassed areas, trees and views over the river to the Southern rest area. No Drinking Water. The nearby Historical Village charges $5 per person entrance.

Boat Ramp. Crocodiles and Marine Stingers.

How to Get to Calliope River North Free Camp from the Bruce Highway (New)

Access is from behind the Historical Village on the Bruce Highway.

• When coming from the South cross the Calliope River bridge and turn left.
• When coming from the North turn left at the Historical Village before the bridge.

A foot bridge connects the two camping areas.

Calliope River is the most popular free camping Rockhampton Region. As such it is important to arrive as early as possible in the day, especially if you want river views. Having said that the area is huge so don’t panic. If staying for 48 hours and don’t get a great position on arrival, keep a look out the next morning and grab a prime spot as vans depart. We arrived at lunch time and did get a spot by the river with a view.

Wikicamps App says no tents. The only reason I can think of for this is Crocodiles.

There are some good free camping choices in the 364 km between Rockhampton and Mackay and some low cost. It seems we find new ones each time we drive this route.

Yaamba Rest Stop, Bruce Highway, Yaamba. Qld.

At 37 km north of Rockhampton this is the closest free camping Rockhampton Region site we’ve found.

FREE. 24 hour limit. A sometimes Driver/Reviver Stop. No drinking water. Plenty of room in this paved truckers stop beside a grassed park surrounding clean toilet block. In early 2021 we noticed that the big trucks seem to have deserted this Rest Stop. They must have shifted to another designated spot for truckers only. All the better for vanners.

No Showers. Tents can be pitched in the park. There is highway noise. It has a country pub next door for drinks and meals (closed during Covid and not open last I saw) and a servo across the highway. There were plenty of Trucks, Caravans, Camper Vans and Tents during our overnight stays but usually room for more.

Yaamba Rest Stop is the best free camping near Rockhampton for us when travelling north from the Sunshine Coast. If we leave home around 8.30 a.m. stopping for morning tea and lunch we arrive here late afternoon.

Waverley Creek Rest Area, Bruce Highway, 171km north of Rockhampton and 11km south of St. Lawrence.

FREE. 24 hour limit. No Drinking Water. Paved Site with separate areas for caravans and trucks. Toilets including disabled. Shade. Tables. Close to Highway. Tent Area. Mobile Reception. Dogs Allowed.

St. Lawrence Recreational Reserve, 624 St. Lawrence Connection Road, St. Lawrence, 185km north of Rockhampton and 159km south of Mackay.

CHARGE. LOW COST CAMP. 7 days Maximum. I’ve blogged about St. Lawrence previously. Since last here the charge has risen to $12.50 in the box OR $10.50 by phone. $1 for a 3 minutes hot shower. Dogs Allowed. Drinking Water. Generator area at southern end (turn right at entrance). No Water Refilling. Dump Point. Wetlands close by. Situated on a quiet country road in a small town. For more information click on link at the end of this post.

Flaggy Rock Cafe, 83978 Bruce Highway, Clairview. Qld. Phone 07 4950 2148. 109km south of Mackay.

At 11km north, this is the closest low cost camping near Clairview. Don’t try free camping at Clairview – it is not allowed and is policed.

CHARGE. LOW COST CAMPING. 24 Hour Limit. $10 per van.

DOGS ALLOWED. Self contained vehicles only. No amenities. If gate is closed after 3 or 4 pm, call 0456001682 to be admitted.

Where to Eat Flaggy Rock

Flaggy rock cafe.

We’ve eaten at this cafe three times. Coffee expensive but good. Lovely sausage rolls $5. We’ve not stayed overnight. Close to highway so there will be road noise.

Orkabie Downs Campground, Phone 0413749614

LOW COST CAMPING. $9 per person. Must ring first for directions as GPS will get you lost, but short notice is OK. It’s easy to find following the directions Lynda gives. Self Contained Camping. Fires allowed in designated areas. Creek swimming. Multiple camping areas. Excellent place for kids to meet farm animals. Shady trees. Generators allowed. Bushwalking. Good Optus reception. Bad Telstra reception. Excellent home made and grown produce available for purchase.

Lynda and Ricky are very friendly and accommodating. Great for those wanting to see Aussie farm life.

Yarrawonga Park Reserve, Notch Point Camping, Ilbilbie, Qld. 79km south of Mackay.

FREE.  7 Days Maximum. 4 WD only. No Facilities. Fires allowed. No Drinking Water. Sandflies, Mosquitoes and Crocodiles. We weren’t bitten by insects (or crocs lol) during daylight hours nor inside our van at night. Crocodiles are a fact of life in North Queensland. Beautiful Spot which I’ve blogged about  here.  Boat ramp. Australiana abounds. There are dog baits laid so leave fido at home. Cattle graze through the camp.

If you’re looking for extended free camping near Mackay, Notch Point is a good contender.

Notch Point Campground – have this view from your van.

Free Camping Mackay to Townsville.

Bowen to townsville..

Legitimate free camping Bowen is near on impossible to find. The day picnic and parking areas are strictly policed to stop overnight parking. Guthalungra at 63.5 km north of Bowen is the closest designated spot we’ve found.

Where to Eat in Bowen.

We were delighted with the budget prices and fresh fish and chips at Bird’s Fish Bar. Google Maps will take you straight there. This fish bar is very popular with locals at lunch time so if you’re in a hurry call ahead to order. There is a covered eating area at the back of the shop overlooking the Marina where you can eat your meal. They also do great fish burgers and prawn salads (with six peeled top quality local prawns $10). Yum!

Bird’s Fish Bar, Henry Darwen Drive, Bowen (07) 4786 1188.

Jochhiems Bakery, 49 George Street, Bowen, Qld.

Commenced in Bowen in 1963 and is still owned by the same family today. Hugely popular. Beautiful fresh sandwiches, rolls, sweet things and hot pies and sausage rolls. A round of sandwiches will set you back $6.30. A delicious mini roll with freshly cut ham off the bone and cheese $2.95. $17 for 2 coffees, mini-roll, currant bun, cream Lamington.

Guthalungra Rest Area, Lot 86 Coventry Road, Guthalungra, Qld. 250km north of Mackay. 63.5 km north of Bowen and 141 km south of Townsville.

FREE. 24 Hour Limit. Drinking Water. New Amenities. Central park with BBQ’s and eating areas with more around the outside of the circular road/parking area. The parks nearest the amenities block are further from the road hence quieter. Wood burning BBQ’s (bring your own wood) and Service Station sells food. Dogs Allowed.

Home Hill Comfort Stop Rest Area, 76 Eighth Avenue Home Hill, Qld.

FREE CAMP. Donation Box on site. 289 km north of Mackay and 98 km south of Townsville.

This has to be one of the best free camps in Australia, amenity-wise. The only down side is it’s location between the highway and train tracks. In sugar cane harvesting season there will be lots of smaller cane trains. Take Ear Plugs. Having said that other trains are infrequent and the speed of traffic on the highway is reduced as it is also the main street of Home Hill.

The council here has done a fantastic job of attracting road trippers to town. The camping area is actually a sealed service road running parallel with road and rail. This means level camping spots and plenty of them. There is no haphazard parking as it is all kerbside and on both sides of the street.

On the strip between highway and service road are amenities and what great amenities they are. Clean and bright toilets and hot showers (one shower per male/female block), camp kitchen and paid laundromat. Information Centre nearby.

Maximum 48 hours. Wheelchair friendly. No Tents allowed (but I noticed car topper tents were on our last visit). No Generators. No waste to be discharged. Dogs Allowed. Dump Point. Drinking Water. RV’s Caravans and Big Rigs allowed.

Free Camping in Townsville.

There is a free overnight camp at the BP Service Station, D’Arcy Drive Idalia, opposite the Townsville Turf Club as you come into town on the Bruce Highway from the south. We’ve not stayed there, but it is full of big trucks and by all accounts quite safe to stay.

No cooking allowed because of dangerous materials and no tent camping. Pay shower and toilets are free.

Fairfield Waters Shopping Centre on one side (now reopened after floods) and Bunnings the other. Dogs Allowed. 24 hours.

Read our tips on fun things to do in Townsville and Magnetic Island here.

Apart from the one mentioned above, the best and closest free camp we’ve found for free camping Townsville is Bluewater Park (below).

Where to eat in Townsville.

Rising sun hotel, hermit park serves good affordable counter meals..

Tempura Prawn Tacos, Crumbed Jalapeno, Steak Sandwich at Eden Cafe (now closed) Townsville. Great for the Budget Traveller.

Bluewater Park, 41790 Bruce Hwy, Bluewater, north of Townsville. Qld.

FREE. 48 Hour limit. Dogs Allowed. Bordered on one side by Bluewater Creek, another by the Mt. Spec water pipeline/highway and a third by a landscaped tree-scape complete with walking tracks, this camp is a mix of Aussie bush (think possums and kookaburras), manicured parkland, undercover eating areas and kids playground. Loads of space, which fills up quickly and reticulated town water to connect your van to.

The toilet block is basic with an open-air shower outside of the mens . The nearby community centre welcomes visitors to their Friday Social Night 6pm till late. Located on the left side of the Bruce Highway on the northern side of Bluewater Creek about half an hour north of Townsville.

Bring ear plugs to dull the Rooster wake-up call!

About the same amount of time north of Townsville is the final free-camp in this post.

Saunders Beach, 2 Reef Street, Saunders Beach. Qld.

FREE. 48 Hour Limit. Dogs Allowed. Situated beside the beach and close to a mangrove creek. A picturesque spot with views to Magnetic and Rattlesnake Islands. Free undercover electric BBQ’s and picnic tables, playground, basic toilet block. The camping area is not large so arrive early to grab a spot. Come prepared for mosquitoes and sandflies. Crocodile warning. This area is used as a parking lot for day trippers and as it’s proximity to Townsville makes it popular on week-ends.

Free Camping Ingham

Read about the trip from Townsville to Lucinda here.

Tyto Self Contained RV Parking

LOW COST CAMPING. $10 per van per night. 59 Townsville Road Ingham. 48 Hour Limit. Dogs Allowed. Drinking Water. Dump Point. Drinking Water. Must be self-contained. There are toilets in TYTO Information Centre but only when centre is open. Bird Wetlands.

Where to Eat in Ingham

Majestic cafe, oasis cafe and jk’s deli. all located in lannercost street ingham., halifax hotel campground, 26 macrossan street, halifax, queensland.

FREE. SPEND AT HALIFAX HOTEL. 24 Hours. Accessible for Fully Self Contained RV’s and Caravans.

Halifax is a one street town 15 km north of Ingham on the way to the fishing and Sugar Loading Facility at Lucinda. As such it is a restocking place for those caravanning and camping or fishing at Lucinda. The main street is wide with a central strip of huge trees and central parking as well as kerbside parking. There is a great country butcher opposite the pub, helpful BP Garage and a well stocked supermarket, free Museum and friendly locals.

Call in at the bar before driving down the side to the grassed camping area at the back. The area probably only holds four caravans but it is spacious enough to manoeuvre.

Halifax Pub has a reputation for good meals so make sure you pop in and have one before leaving. There is no free camping at Lucinda so if you want to fish at Lucinda and free camp, Halifax Pub is the place to do it.

Reopened in early July 2019 after floods.

Where to eat at Halifax

Halifax hotel for great pub meals..

They have everything from Oysters to Pizza. Due to popular demand from Saturday 26th August the $20 Chinese Smorgasbord is back.

Where to eat at Lucinda

Lucinda hotel – port of call – corner of yeast street and dungeness road, lucinda.

This pub has specials every day. We were there on $13 crumbed steak day. Wednesday is Rump Steak Chips and Salad for $10 from 6pm to 8 pm and from all accounts it is delicious.

Morleys Seafood Lucinda for the best fresh cooked prawns in the world.

Sweet and Juicy cooked prawns. Ate them two days in a row. So Good.

Budget Travel Talk’s Free Camping in Australia Tips

Townsville to Gold Coast using Wikicamps Free Camping App

Spend money in nearby shops, pubs and service stations . Even a small purchase helps keep these free camps operating.

Free camps are often cleaned by local Council workers. Clean your immediate area on departure to keep Locals on-side and the camp operating.

Turn taps off securely  when free camping in Australia as water is scarce.

Bring Washing Up bowl so precious water is not wasted washing dishes under a running tap. Also there is quite often only one tap for everyone to use.

Bring mosquito nets and insect repellent if sleeping with van or vehicle doors open. I have seen many backpackers covered in painful looking mosquito and sandfly bites. See the photos of Yaamba rest area above, to see how the nets can be used in vans and station wagons. Click the link below for Aussie Made Mosquito repellents and after bite care or make your own  Once bitten Twice Shy – DIY remedies here.

Bring torch or mobile phone for light.

Arrive early to get a spot at popular camps and to have dinner eaten and cleaned up before dark. Eating under lights in the Australian bush means your dinner will have the extra crunch of bugs that are attracted to light and end up in your food.

Bring Personal Water Bottles. Reticulated water is safe to drink in Australia so fill your water bottles and carry at least one litre of drinking water per person.

Peg-less Clothes Line.

Bamboo Eco Coffee Cup. Will save you money when buying take-away coffee (50 cents less in places) and save the planet too.

Note: If travelling on deserted outback roads increase this to up to 10 litres per person depending on conditions.

Many of the above items can be purchased by clicking the image link below.

Pin for Later.

Read more about Queensland.

and the Caravanning and Camping things I love.

Add a link to your travel post at the link up below.   I am co-hosting Na

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About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

Reader Interactions

May 5, 2016 at 6:16 am

Hi Jan. I know that caravaning (is that a word?) would be a in Australia. All of these parks sound grand. Your new home away from home sounds perfect. My former partner and I had 1969 Volkswagon van, and it was always fun to rough it in that for a night or two (no toilet of shower, so it was definitely on the rough side! Thanks for hosting this week. #TPThursday

May 5, 2016 at 7:26 am

Caravanning is most definitely a word in my book Nancie. The VW Van is an icon of the hippy era here in Australia and still very sought after. We used to have a van like it in size which we travelled from Perth in WA to Townsville in NQ. It didn’t have a pop top on it so you couldn’t stand up inside. That was fine when we were young but nowadays I think not lol.

May 5, 2016 at 11:47 am

Jan this is a fabulous free camping resource for people travelling up the Bruce Highway to North Queensland. When we came down the coast from Rockhampton a couple of years ago we stopped at the Calliope River free camp area and it was packed, even though it was only mid afternoon. We love our Wikicamps App and we used it all the way around Australia.

May 5, 2016 at 3:19 pm

Good to know that you had success with the App Kathy. Did you have one of the books as well?

May 6, 2016 at 2:39 am

That’s the only issue with most free overnight rest areas in Australia: they are always too close to the highway. Where we live, near Brunswick Heads in NSW, heavy truck traffic actually increases in the early evening and then goes almost through the night into the whee hours of the morning. A quiet night’s sleep – forget it if you’re a light sleeper like me!

May 6, 2016 at 11:46 am

This caravaning is new to me, sounds exciting and adventurous from what I read. The details of the parks are helpful to plan a trip. Very thoughtful tips… the post as good as a guide.

May 6, 2016 at 2:22 pm

This is great! I didn’t know there were free camps in this area of the country. In the States, in theory, you can free camp in some public lands but there are no facilities. Agree with your tips. Hope the community and visitors contribute to keep the camps functioning.

May 6, 2016 at 8:55 pm

I knew the camps existed Ruth, but since we purchased this caravan I’d not explored the possibilities. Now I’m hooked!

May 6, 2016 at 4:15 pm

I’d love to do a long slow trip along the whole coast Bruce Highway. Those campsites look so pretty but the bug and crocodile warnings aren’t particularly encouraging!

May 6, 2016 at 9:04 pm

I’m used to coping with bugs Rachel. You can use insect repellents, mosquito coils and staying inside your van in the witching hours of early morning and around sunset. I hesitate to say it on my blog because I don’t want visitors to under-estimate crocodiles, but these signs are a general warning. Locals don’t really worry about the chance of meeting a croc on a beach. I wouldn’t walk in a mangrove creek because that is more like their kind of territory. Sometimes the beaches in our hometown are closed because of crocodile sightings, but only for a couple of days. When crocs are seen on beaches they are usually transiting from one mangrove creek to another, they don’t hang out on beaches normally. I’ve not explored everything along the highway because we’re always on a mission to get to the Sunshine Coast, but over the years we’ve seen a bit. I look forward to exploring more side roads in the future with the Wikicamps app.

May 9, 2016 at 12:50 am

I’ve yet to try campervanning (not sure if that’s a verb…) – but it’s on the list. Must admit I’ve mostly thought of New Zealand, but I see Australia has some great possibilities waiting, too. Loads of useful tips here.

May 9, 2016 at 3:26 pm

N.Z. is a fantastic campervan holiday destination. It delivers such a lot in a small area. Australia is wonderful too, but you would need more time than you would for N.Z. All my friends are from the south island and in their opinion it is supposed to be more scenic than the north. Of course I’ve not been to the north island so have nothing first hand to relate, but the south island is fantastic.

May 9, 2016 at 3:13 pm

Hi Jan, what an absolutely fabulous resource. I’m bookmarking it for our trip when we take off and come over East (to visit and pester all my Qld blogging friends!) to road trip with a camper or caravan. Yes, we will do it. Posts like this are making it easier 🙂

May 9, 2016 at 3:25 pm

Can’t wait to see you over here Jo!

May 9, 2016 at 7:29 pm

We love camping ourselves although we are Grey World Nomads. You can be so close to nature! It’s not the same in a cottage. Here you see one of our camping stories which may be of interest to you https://travelbug.co/2015/04/20/why-camping-in-the-tent-is-great/

May 10, 2016 at 11:36 am

I’m impressed by all the free camps you’ve featured here, Jan. I haven’t been camping since high school but some of these sites look luxurious compared to what we had then. I really do have to make it to Australia one of these days. It’s such a beautiful and diverse country!

May 10, 2016 at 2:13 pm

There are plenty more that I’ve not featured so I will be doing another similar post some time in the future Marcia.

May 11, 2016 at 4:00 am

I would love to travel through Australia via campervan. The Wikicamps app sounds incredibly useful. I just checked, and it looks like there’s a USA version, too. Your tips at the end are really good. I would not have thought of some of them on my own. Anyways, I went tent camping this weekend for the first time in 17 years. I think campervan may be more my style.

May 11, 2016 at 4:08 pm

Hi Michele, Yes there is an American version of the App. We find the Aussie one super useful. I think you would love campervanning Michele.

May 12, 2016 at 12:25 am

Free is the best! Lovely mix of photos of the great outdoors.

June 15, 2016 at 11:01 pm

We always look out for free and low cost camping when we travel, actually preferring to be out in the bush where there is nobody. This is a fabulous run down of camping spots on the Bruce Highway Jan. I’ll have to bookmark for later use. I am considering writing something similar for WA. Happy travels and thank you for stopping by my blog last week. I am so slow in replying. Life is far too busy.

June 17, 2016 at 9:35 am

Jill, I would love it if you were to do a similar post for WA. I’d use it for reference when we were travel over there.

September 15, 2016 at 8:54 pm

This is a fantastic post and will really help us find good camp spots next time we head north.

September 19, 2016 at 7:59 pm

Great to hear Melissa!

July 20, 2017 at 5:46 pm

great post to come back to when we “eventually” get to Queensland. It’s on our list! Thanks!

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Getting Here

The Gladstone Region offers a seamless transportation experience, regardless of your preferred mode of travel. Situated on the Queensland Central Coast, the region is easily accessible by land, air, and sea.

If you choose to travel by road, the Bruce Highway, Queensland’s major coastal touring route, intersects the Gladstone Region, providing convenient access to both seaside and country locations. This highway connects to various points within the region, allowing for easy exploration of its diverse attractions.

For those who prefer to fly, flight services are available to and from Gladstone. Whether you’re arriving from other Australian cities or departing to nearby islands, the Gladstone Airport caters to your needs. Airlines such as QantasLink, Virgin Airlines, and Bonza Airlines offer regular flights to various destinations.

Additionally, the QR Travel Train, operated by Queensland Rail, provides reliable train services to the Gladstone Region. The Tilt Train is the main service that stops at Gladstone and Miriam Vale, offering an alternative transportation option for travelers.

To navigate within the Gladstone Region itself, a range of transport and hire options are available. Taxi and car hire services ensure convenient local transportation, allowing you to explore the region at your own pace. Boats and coach services also operate daily, providing additional choices for getting around.

No matter where you wish to go or what you want to explore within the Gladstone Region, there are transportation options readily available to suit your needs. With its well-connected transport network, getting around the region is a breeze, ensuring you can make the most of your visit and discover all the wonders it has to offer.

Travelling North

The Gladstone Region is conveniently located around 450 kilometers north of Brisbane, making it easily accessible via the Bruce Highway. There are several key access points along the highway that lead to different parts of the region.

If you’re looking to explore the picturesque Discovery Coast, you can turn off the Bruce Highway at Miriam Vale. This route will take you to the stunning coastal destinations along the Discovery Coast, including Agnes Water and Town of 1770, renowned for their pristine beaches, national parks, and outdoor recreational activities.

At the Boyne/Tannum intersection, you can take the exit to reach the seaside communities of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. These coastal towns offer beautiful beaches, fishing spots, and a relaxed coastal lifestyle.

For those heading directly to the city of Gladstone, the exit at Benaraby is the way to go. Gladstone is the main urban center of the region and offers a range of attractions, including the marina, museums, parks, and shopping precincts. From here, you can easily explore the surrounding areas and enjoy the region’s natural wonders.

Whichever access point you choose along the Bruce Highway, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the Gladstone Region, ready to embark on a memorable journey through its coastal and country landscapes.

Travelling South

If you’re coming from Mackay, it will take approximately five and a half hours to drive to the Gladstone Region. The route will take you southward along the Bruce Highway. As you approach Gladstone, you can turn off at Mt Larcom to venture into the city itself. Mt Larcom serves as a gateway to Gladstone and offers access to various attractions and amenities within the region.

On the other hand, if you’re traveling from Rockhampton, it will only take around one hour to reach the Gladstone Region. The Bruce Highway will lead you directly to Gladstone, and you can continue along the highway for additional exits that will take you to Boyne Island, Tannum Sands, and the Discovery Coast. These coastal areas are known for their pristine beaches, outdoor activities, and relaxed seaside atmosphere.

If you’re interested in exploring Gladstone’s hinterland and the Boyne Valley, you can turn right into Calliope. Calliope serves as an exit point for accessing the Boyne Valley, a picturesque region characterized by lush greenery, rural landscapes, and charming small towns. This area offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing.

Whether you’re driving from Mackay or Rockhampton, the Gladstone Region is easily reachable by road. By taking the appropriate exits along the Bruce Highway, you can access various parts of the region, from the city of Gladstone itself to the coastal communities, the beautiful Discovery Coast, and the scenic Boyne Valley.

Port Curtis Way

Highway 58 provides a convenient route through Gladstone, connecting the towns of Benaraby to the south and Mt Larcom to the north. This road diversion only adds approximately 6 kilometers to the coastal drive, making it a worthwhile option for those looking to explore the Gladstone Region.

By taking Highway 58, you can enjoy a scenic drive while still easily accessing the various attractions and destinations within Gladstone. Whether you’re heading south from Benaraby or north from Mt Larcom, this route allows you to experience the beauty of the coastal drive while efficiently reaching your desired destinations within the region.

As you travel along Highway 58, you’ll have opportunities to take in the natural surroundings, enjoy the coastal scenery, and potentially make stops at points of interest along the way. The slight detour via this route ensures that you can explore Gladstone and its surrounding areas while adding just a small additional distance to your coastal journey.

So, if you’re planning to drive through Gladstone along the coastal route, opting for Highway 58 will provide a seamless and picturesque route, ensuring you make the most of your visit to the Gladstone Region.

Inland Highways

If you’re traveling north along The Country Way, you’ll reach the town of Biloela, which serves as a hub in the Banana Shire. Upon arriving in Biloela, you have the opportunity to turn right and embark on the scenic Gorges Way. This route will lead you through breathtaking natural landscapes, allowing you to appreciate the region’s natural splendor and explore its stunning gorges and valleys.

On the other hand, if you’re journeying north along the Leichhardt Highway, you can enter the Gladstone Region through the Dawson Valley, located south of the township of Theodore. As you travel through this picturesque valley, you’ll be treated to awe-inspiring scenery and the tranquility of the hinterland. The Dawson Valley offers stunning vistas and the chance to immerse yourself in the region’s natural beauty.

Whether you choose to venture along Gorges Way or explore the Dawson Valley, both routes offer captivating landscapes and opportunities for outdoor activities. From gorges to valleys and hinterland vistas, these areas showcase the diverse natural wonders of the Gladstone Region.

By incorporating these routes into your journey, you’ll have the chance to appreciate the stunning scenery and experience the natural splendor that the Gladstone Region’s hinterland has to offer.

Click here  to view the Department of Transport and Main Roads traffic and road conditions. 

Click here  to view the Gladstone Regional Council Flood Webcams.

For travelers looking for the quickest way to reach Gladstone, air travel is the ideal option. QantasLink and Virgin Airlines offer multiple daily flights between Gladstone and Brisbane, providing a speedy journey of approximately 50 minutes. Bonza Airlines now offers weekly flights connecting Melbourne and Gladstone, opening up convenient travel options for those coming from Victoria. With these airlines and their comprehensive flight services, you can efficiently reach Gladstone and start enjoying all that the region has to offer. Gladstone Airport serves as the departure point for flights to scenic destinations like Heron and Wilson Islands, perfect for those seeking island getaways. To secure your bookings and gather more information, you can visit the specific airline websites for Bonz a , Qantas , and Virgin Airlines.

Queensland Rail provides convenient and reliable train services to the Gladstone Region, offering travelers an alternative mode of transportation to reach their destination. The Tilt Train is the primary service that operates regularly in the area, making stops at both Gladstone and Miriam Vale. Whether you’re looking to explore the bustling city of Gladstone or venture into the charming town of Miriam Vale, Queensland Rail Travel offers bookings and comprehensive information to help you plan your journey. With their expertise in rail travel, you can trust that your trip to the Gladstone Region will be comfortable, efficient, and filled with scenic views along the way. For schedules, ticket reservations, and additional details, visit the Queensland Rail Travel website or contact their customer service for personalized assistance.

Traveling by coach is another convenient option for exploring the Gladstone Region, and Greyhound Australia provides regular services that connect various coastal and country destinations in the area. Greyhound’s daily services to Gladstone make a stop at the Dawson Road Puma Service Station, allowing passengers to easily access the city and its surrounding attractions. Whether you’re planning to visit Gladstone for leisure or business purposes, Greyhound Australia’s coach services offer a comfortable and reliable means of transportation. To learn more about their schedules, routes, and ticketing options, you can visit the Greyhound Australia website or contact their customer service hotline at 1300 GREYHOUND. With Greyhound’s extensive network, you can efficiently explore the Gladstone Region and experience its diverse landscapes and attractions.

Cruise Ship

Cruising to Gladstone is a fantastic way to explore the stunning coastal beauty of Queensland, Australia. As your cruise ship docks in the Gladstone, you’ll be greeted by a thriving harbor city known for its industrial significance and natural wonders. Stepping ashore, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the region’s rich history and vibrant culture. Take a leisurely stroll through the Feast on East Markets and the Marina Parklands, where you can enjoy picturesque views of the marina and indulge in a delicious food and shop from our amazing stalls.

Caboolture BP Visitor Information Centre

Bruce Highway, Burpengary QLD, Australia

Visit Website

(07) 5428 7455

Trip Advisor

If you’re looking for things to do in Caboolture and surrounding areas then pop into the Caboolture Visitor Information Centre, located along the Bruce Highway at the Travel Centre within the BP Service Station in Burpengary. You’ll find it tucked out of the way, at the far end of the food court.

A Handy Location – Refuel & Discover What to do in Moreton Bay Region

The Burpengary BP is often the first fuel stop out of Brisbane for local travellers and Brisbane Airport arriving tourists heading north up the highway towards the Sunshine Coast and as such, is a popular rest, revive, and map collection and information gathering pit-stop.

The Visitor Information Centre sees over 22,000 visitors annually pass through it, and its operation depends on a 20 volunteer staff. It is central to the Moreton Bay Region and is a one stop shop for travel information stocked with numerous maps, brochures, and itineraries of many of our local attractions and places of interest throughout our region.

The tourist information hub offers FREE Wi-Fi and bus tour groups can book free guided tours of the Caboolture area through the Centre.

Staffed by skilled and knowledgeable locals, the Caboolture Visitor Information Centre can provide tips on sights to see, where to eat, and what to do in Moreton Bay Region, so come on in and discuss your travel plans with the friendly staff. You’ll find it tucked out of the way, at the end of the food court.

Things to do in Caboolture

The BP Caboolture Visitor Information Centre is a great place to branch out from and see the local attractions in and around Caboolture:

• Caboolture Historical Village ( ghost tours are operated within the Village on select dates throughout the year)
• Abbey Museum of Art and Architecture
• Caboolture Warplane Museum
• Caboolture Sunday Markets
• Caboolture Regional Art Gallery

Caboolture Visitor Information Centre Details

Address: BP North Travel Centre, Bruce Highway, Burpengary

Open Times: Open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm.

Closed: Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day and open from 1pm Anzac Day

Contact: Call 1800 659 500, or (07) 5428 7455, or email [email protected]

What's Around me:

Caboolture Regional Art Gallery is a modern exhibition space, featuring a diversity of exhibitions throughout the year.

Watch history come alive at the Abbey Museum Caboolture near Brisbane, you’ll step back in time through an anthropological porthole. DISCOVER TODAY!

Situated on 12 acres of land, north of Caboolture CBD, the Caboolture Historical Village is a wonderful collection of vintage objects and buildings that tell a riveting story about our past.

Located near the Caboolture train station in the Moreton Bay Region, Gather & Feast source local produce, whilst offering a wide variety of meal options including paleo and vegan. Cafe north Brisbane.

Every Sunday morning from 6am, Caboolture Markets north Brisbane are a thriving hub of bargain shoppers, collectable hunters and fresh food junkies.Every Sunday over 500 market stalls.

Driving the Bruce Highway to Cairns with a Dog

The most direct route from Brisbane to Cairns and Far North Queensland is along the Bruce Highway, which roughly follows the coastline. However, at around 1700km, it’s a very long drive, especially consider that much of it is still a single lane in each direction. Find out where to stop and pet-friendly accommodation when driving along the Bruce Highway with a dog.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer .

Brisbane to Childers (313km)

After driving north through the suburbs of Brisbane and past the Sunshine Coast , after 313km (roughly four hours in good traffic) you’ll eventually reach the historic town of Childers, also the turning off point for the small city of Bundaberg off the highway.

Where to Stop

If you’re wanting to stop for a morning coffee, pull up at Eumundi Coffee Roasters , under two hours north of the centre of Brisbane and just a short detour off the motorway. Their coffee is regularly praised, although it can be a wait when they get busy.

Alternatively, detour further off the highway to Alfresco’s Garden Cafe , also in Eumundi. Open daily from 6am, enjoy breakfast (if you hit the road early), lunch or just a coffee at this highly-rated dog-friendly cafe.

Just over 90 minutes further north is the historic town of Maryborough. If you’re wanting to stretch your legs, stop outside The Story Bank , the museum devoted to Mary Poppins and her creator, P.L. Travers, who was born in the town. While dogs are not allowed inside, there’s a great statue of Marry Poppins outside, along with Poppins-themed pedestrian light signals, colourful murals and bronze pavers along “Cherry Tree Lane”.

Maryborough is also home to multiple off-leash dog parks. The massive Rambo Dog Park is located on Neptune Street, opposite Boys Avenue. There’s separately fenced areas for small and big dogs. Dogs are also allowed off-leash in the signposted area at the intersection of Cheapside and Arbury Streets. North of Maryborough is the turn-off to Hervey Bay .

About 45 minutes north you’ll arrive in Childers , home to many beautiful, old masonry buildings dating back to the 18902. It’s possible to pick up a Historical Childers Street Walk brochure from the information centre at the Palace Building to find out more about them. Don’t miss the display in the window of the Old Pharmacy Museum.

A great dog-friendly place to enjoy a meal with your pup by your side is the historic Grand Hotel . As well as a convenient dog water bowl out the front, they have a cute sign welcoming pups to join you in the beer garden out the back.

Pet-Friendly Accommodation

In Maryborough, a dog-friendly option is the Wallace Motel & Caravan Park . As well as being allowed on sites, pets are also allowed in selected cabins and units for the small additional fee of $5 per pet. There’s also an off-leash exercise area. Make sure you book in advance and let them know you’re bringing a pet.

If you’re in a self-contained RV or caravan, you can camp for the night for free in Childers on Crescent Street , just one block back from the highway in the centre of town. There’s also toilets and BBQ facilities across the road in Millennium Park, and a 20 hour time limit applies.

Childers to Rockhampton (323km)

North of Childers, the coastline lies well off the highway, including the popular coastal spots of Agnes Waters and Tannum Sands, plus the port city of Gladstone. About a 630km drive north of Brisbane you’ll reach Rockhampton. Located inland on the banks of the Fitzroy River, its one of the largest cities in Central Queensland.

Note that north of Gladstone, both saltwater crocodiles and marine stingers during the warmer months are a risk.

It’s about a 10 minute detour off the highway to Tannum Sands , a little over 2 hours north of Childers. While dogs are prohibited from the main beach area and adjacent reserve at Tannum Sands, they are allowed off-leash on the beach from the Oaks Rd access point north, including Canoe Point.

In Rockhampton, almost a four hour drive north of Childers, I recommend going for a wander along the Riverbank Precinct alongside Quay Street. The precinct has been recently revitalised and Quay Street is home to some magnificent old buildings, including the beautiful Customs House and the Criterion Hotel.

Dogs are allowed at the verandah tables at the Riverston Tea Rooms on Quay Street, open from Tuesday to Sunday. Or take a seat at an outdoor table at the Criterion Hotel , open for lunch, dinner and sometimes even breakfast.

Another dog-friendly spot to go for stroll in Rockhampton are the Kershaw Gardens in North Rockhampton. Don’t miss the Waterfall area in the northern section of the gardens, near the High Street Car Park. There’s also a small fenced dog park at the Charles Street Car Park, plus an off-leash dog exercise area near the Dowling Street Car Park.

Find out more about visiting Rockhampton with a dog and nearby Yeppoon

A great dog-friendly caravan park to spend the night just off the Bruce Highway is the Mt Larcom Tourist Park , about an hour south of Rockhampton. We camped for the night in their large unpowered campsite area, but up to two pets are also allowed in cabins for no extra charge, as long as they are declared at the time of booking.

The park is home to two designated off-leash areas in the park, both unfenced. Details are provided in the “Pets in our Park” brochure that you’ll receive at check-in, along with local recommendations of where to dine with your pup. Don’t miss heading up to the “Big Picture Frame” at sunrise.

In Rockhampton, there are a number of motels that have pet-friendly rooms. In the centre of the city, check out the Archer Park Motel , which has pet-friendly Queen and Twin rooms. The rooms are located on the ground floor, with no carpet.

Alternatively, check out the True Blue Motor Inn on the northern edge of Rockhampton. This motor inn has two pet-friendly Standard Twin Rooms, each with a double bed and single bed. Both rooms also have a fenced and grassy private area right outside their door.

If you’re travelling in a fully self-contained vehicle, head to the northern end of Kershaw Gardens . You can stay parked for up to 48 hours, one of the many great free campsites in Queensland .

Rockhampton to Mackay (336km)

The stretch of the Bruce Highway north of Rockhampton is notorious as a long empty stretch, although if you’re travelled on outback highways elsewhere in Queensland and the rest of the country it should quickly pass by, in under four hours if you don’t stop.

Unfortunately, I don’t have many recommendations of where to stop along this stretch, until your arrive at the town of Sarina, about 30 minutes south of Mackay. There is an off-leash dog park at the Apex Park on Sichter Street.

Mackay itself is home to three off-leash dog parks. Close to the city centre, detour to Queens Park , a beautiful old park a few blocks to the east. There’s two large fenced areas, for small and large dogs, along with plenty of shade, water fountains and picnic benches. The closest parking is along East Gordon Street near Chain Street.

Alternatively, north of the river it’s a short detour to Gooseponds Dog Park , also known as Police Dog Tunza Dog Park, just behind the North Mackay State Primary School. This off-leash dog park is also fenced, although the fence is rather short. There’s a variety of agility equipment and picnic tables inside, plus a large carpark.

A great spot to head for an on-leash walk in Mackay are the Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens . Just off the highway on the southern side of the city, leashed dogs are welcome at the gardens, although not in the cafe area or in the shade garden.

On a short stroll through the garden, don’t miss the wildlife viewing platform alongside the lagoons and the colourful Malta Garden.

The Grazing Goat Cafe in the centre of Mackay is dog-friendly, with dogs welcome at its sidewalk tables and even bowls of water sometimes provided. The cafe is open daily every day for breakfast and lunch, although be warned it closes early on Sunday.

Find out more about visiting Mackay with a dog

During our visit to Mackay, we stayed at the Mycow Bakers Creek Caravan Park , on the southern side of the city. Dogs are welcome on sites at this park, which has its own fenced dog exercise area, as well as a great camp kitchen and riverside area.

If you need to stay in a motel, enquire at the Alara Motor Inn in West Mackay. This four-star rated motel allows both small and medium sized dogs in its pet-friendly rooms, plus other pets are considered by prior arrangement.

Alternatively, make a booking at the Coral Cay Resort , just south of the Mackay CBD. Some of their queen rooms have been designated as dog-friendly – select a “Pet Friendly Queen Room” when booking. Note that a 20kg weight limit and $100 deposit applies per stay.

Mackay to Townsville (386km)

North of Mackay, the highway passes through the towns of Prosperine, Bowen and Ayr, at times passing close to the coast. Once you reach Townsville, the largest city in northern Queensland, you can choose between visiting the city centre or bypassing it on the highway.

Heading north from Mackay, after a 90 minute drive you’ll reach Proserpine and the turn-off to Airlie Beach. If your dog needs to stretch their legs, pull up at Keith Johns Estate Park , on Renwick Road just west of Fuljames Street. Dogs are allowed off-leash in the southern part of the park away from the playground.

Alternatively, stop off at Whitsunday Gold Coffee for a cup of their coffee grown onsite. There are two outside areas that are pet-friendly, one under shelter, although you’ll have to skip visiting their menagerie.

About 45 minutes north is the fruit growing town of Bowen, famous for its mangos. Don’t miss stopping for a selfie at the Big Mango , located right next to the highway on the southern approach to town. I can also recommend their tubs of mango gelato!

Bowen is a more relaxed (and affordable) alternative to Airlie Beach, and home to some great dog-friendly beaches. Kings Beach is located between the town centre and Rose Bay, and was shallow and calm on the day we visited. Follow the signs to Flagstaff Hill and park in the carpark just past the hill, at the southern end of the beach.

Find out more about visiting the Whitsundays and Bowen with a dog

Over an hours drive north, a scenic spot to detour to is the Mt Inkerman Scenic Lookout . Just off the highway south of Home Hill, there are impressive views over the surrounding district, although be wary of the steep road up – skip this stop if you’re driving a caravan. If you’re needing to stretch your legs, there’s a 30-45 minute nature trail, with bags provided at the start of it.

When driving through Ayr, don’t miss stopping at the Ayr Dog Park . This fabulous dog park is located at the northern end of Plantation Park, near the Gudjuda Deck Cafe. It has a secure entrance and high fences, plenty of agility equipment, and a separate area for small dogs. You may even have it to yourself during the middle of the day!

From Ayr, it’s just over an hour north to the major city of Townsville. Even if you bypass the city by staying on the A1, it’s just a short detour off the highway to the Murray Paw Park . This off-leash dog park is located next to the Murray Sporting Complex. The dog park is fully fenced with plenty of facilities, including agility equipment. There’s a second section for small dogs.

Another fun spot for an on-leash walk that’s just off the highway is the Palmetum , one of the three botanic gardens in Townsville. This garden is home to a huge collection of palm trees and has a beautiful rainforest section. Our dog loved his walk through the rainforest area, stopping and sniffing constantly! The adjacent cafe, Absolute Cravings , is also dog-friendly and highly rated.

If you do head into the heart of Townsville, I recommend going for a stroll alongside the Strand , the main beach close to the city. While dogs are not allowed onto the actual beach, they’re welcome to walk with your through the park that runs behind the beach, as long as they stay on leash. There’s plenty of shady trees and picnic tables, plus dog-friendly cafes along its length.

Find out more about visiting Townsville with a dog

If you’re travelling in your own campervan or caravan, there’s some great free dog-friendly camping spots available around Townsville. For starters, consider pulling up at the Home Hill Comfort Stop . Free 48 hour parking is available in designated parking spots along Railway Avenue in the centre of town, with plenty of free facilities.

The Townsville council also offers a number of bookable free campsites next to many of the region’s beaches, mainly just for RVs. I recommend Saunders Beach , about a 35 minute drive north of the city. Dogs are allowed at each of the campsites except Lake Paluma. Just make sure you making a booking (ideally a few days in advance).

If you’re after motel-style accommodation, there’s a number of motels that have pet-friendly rooms in Townsville. One of the best options is the four-star City Oasis Inn , close to the city centre. Selected Standard Double Rooms on the ground floor are pet-friendly. Leashed dogs are also welcome to enjoy the inn’s beautiful lawn and gardens, on the far side of the pool.

Another pet-friendly option in Townsville close to the Strand is the Shoredrive Motel . They offer pet-friendly budget rooms for a reasonable price. 

Townsville to Cairns (347km)

It’s about a 4 1/2 hour drive from Townsville north to Cairns, the gateway to Far North Queensland. I found this stretch of the drive one of the most interesting, with lots of towns to stop at along the way, plus turn-offs to some great beachside towns.

About an hour north of Townsville, it’s hard to resist driving past Frosty Mango in Coolbie, home to the Big Mango Man. As well as a great selfie spot, head inside the cafe for mango-flavoured everything, from ice creams to shakes to pancakes. Sit with your dog at the outside tables.

About 30 minutes up the road is the sugar town of Ingham. A pretty spot to stop are the Tyto Wetlands , just south of the town centre. There’s an elevated boardwalk above the ponds, with signs about the local wildlife. Dogs are fine to join you, as long as they are leashed.

Another intriguing spot in Ingham are the Mercer Lane Mosaic Murals . Located in a laneway near the popular JK’s Delicatessen, the fabulous mosaic murals explore the history of the town and the surrounding area, including the multiple waves of immigration.

Not far north of Ingham lies Hinchinbrook Island. This largely undeveloped island just off the coast is one of Australia’s largest national park islands. While it’s off-limits to dogs, the same as the many beautiful rainforest national parks along this stretch of the coast, it’s possible to enjoy a wonderful view of the island from the Hinchinbrook Lookout , a dog-friendly lookout with information panels just off the highway.

A little further north is the small town of Cardwell, located on the shores of the Hinchinbrook Channel. It’s easy to park up at the foreshore area and go for a walk with your pup, including out onto the Cardwell Jetty . Just keep your dog on a leash, plus be wary about crocodiles along this stretch of coastline.

Another sugar town along this stretch of coastline is Tully. Tully is also renown as holding some of the highest rainfall records in Australia. In honour of their record rainfall in 1950, the Golden Gumboot was erected on the edge of town, just a touch taller than that year’s rainfall. It’s a great spot for a selfie, plus there’s a staircase that lets you ascend the inside. Turn-off at Tully to head to Mission Beach on the coast.

About 45 minutes north of Tully if you stay on the highway is Innisfail. This section of coastline is also regularly visited by tropical cyclones. After a devastating cyclone in 1918, this town was largely rebuilt in a local interpretation of Art Deco style, dubbed “Tropical Art Deco”.

Take a stroll past the art deco buildings of Innisfail , largely concentrated around Rankin Street and Edith Street. For further information, either download the Tropical Art Deco app or view the digital map through the same link.

From Innisfail, it’s just over an hour north to Cairns. While the coastline south of Cairns is not home to many off-leash dog parks, there’s plenty of options in Cairns. (Hopefully this will change soon, with multiple off-leash dog parks being trialled in the Cassowary Coast council area, including at Cardwell, Tully and Innisfail.)

One of the best off-leash dog parks in Cairns is Goomboora Park , just off the Western Arterial Road in Brinsmead. About half of the wide expanse of grassy lawns have been designated as an off-leash area, with the rest of the park (except the playground) allowing on-leash dogs. There’s also a dog swimming beach on the creek running through the forest.

A great on-leash dog walk in the centre of Cairns is a stroll alongside the Esplanade . A combination of boardwalks and cycle paths run along the waterfront, passing through tropical parklands, with on-leash dogs welcome. Just note that the lagoon area is off-limits to dogs.

Find out more about visiting Cairns with a dog

About a 50 minute drive north of Townsville is the Mystics Sands Golf & Country Club , near Balgal Beach. The club is also home to a popular and cheap RV campground. No advance bookings are possible, but try to arrive early to park close to the clubhouse and amenities. In the evening, enjoy a meal or at least a bar overlooking the dam next to the clubhouse, with your dog at your side.

About an hour south of Cairns is the small town of Babinda. A popular place for caravans and campervans to stop is the Babinda Rotary Park Rest Area . There’s plenty of camping spots to choose from, plus toilets and hot showers for a fee. Make sure you leave a donation!

In Cairns, one of the best dog-friendly caravan parks is Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters . Located close to magnificent Goomboora Park, this park has both pet-friendly sites and cabins, plus there’s a Rainforest Creek Walk on site.

Alternatively, consider camping at the award-winning BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort . With just about everything you could imagine to entertain kids, this park also has a dog agility park for four-legged kids. Pets are allowed on powered and ensuite suites.

For a more luxurious stay, make a booking at the Crystalbrook Bailey Residences . Centrally located, these luxury holiday apartments welcome dogs in first floor rooms, each with their own courtyard or balcony. Enquire directly about booking a Residential Paws package.

Dog-Friendly Guides Along the Way

I’ve put together dog-friendly guides to a number of destinations along the Bruce Highway, plus some popular destinations not far off the highway. Check out these guides from south to north, for more tips on what to do, off-leash dog parks and beaches, plus pet-friendly accommodation:

• Dog-Friendly Brisbane
• Dog-Friendly Sunshine Coast
• Dog-Friendly Hervey Bay
• Dog-Friendly Bundaberg
• Dog-Friendly Agnes Waters & 1770
• Dog-Friendly Rockhampton
• Dog-Friendly Yeppoon
• Dog-Friendly Mackay
• Dog-Friendly Whitsundays
• Dog-Friendly Townsville
• Dog-Friendly Mission Beach
• Dog-Friendly Cairns

You May Also Like

• Travelling in QLD with a Dog
• Best Dog-Friendly Campsites in QLD
• Best Fenced Dog Parks in QLD
• Driving the Pacific Highway with a Dog

About the Author

Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.

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Easing Bruce Highway congestion

A $662.5 million Bruce Highway expansion is complete thanks to the Queensland and Australian Governments.

More than 600 workers delivered a massive 11-kilometres of expanded highway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and now Queenslanders are experiencing the benefits.

Interchanges and exit ramps were also improved, and 10 new higher, wider and safer bridges were built to withstand a 1-in-100-year flood.

This was put to the test during heavy rainfall in February 2024, which could have closed the highway at King Johns Creek if the new structure at this location had not been built.

Queenslanders travelling on the Bruce Highway between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way at Elimbah are now saving time on their trips and travelling even safer on the state’s longest and busiest highway.

More than 65,000 vehicles (average) travel this section of the Bruce Highway each day.

The project is the 466 upgrade delivered on the Bruce Highway.

Sections of the upgraded 11-kilometre roadway have opened progressively to motorists since 2022.

The $662.5 million upgrade was jointly funded by Australian and Queensland Governments, to which the Australian Government committed $530 million.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier and Member for Murrumba Steven Miles:

“Our government said we would build a better Bruce for the people of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Queensland, and we are delivering.

“More than 600 tradies, apprentices and trainees worked hard to bring this 11-kilometre upgrade to life, which is already making a difference to the more than 65,000 drivers who drive it each day.

“It’s projects like this that are at the core of our Big Build – jobs, opportunity and legacy infrastructure for a generation.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“We’re focused on getting people to their destinations safer and sooner on the Bruce Highway.

“The Australian and Queensland governments are investing in major infrastructure to improve the capacity and efficiency of our road network.

“Local commuters, heavy vehicle operators and holidaymakers alike are enjoying the benefits as we continue to roll out significant works and plan for future upgrades in South East Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish:

“ The many projects we have underway in various stages, from early planning through to detailed design and construction, clearly demonstrate our commitment to investing in infrastructure for our communities.

“We’re supporting growth in our great state by delivering quality transport outcomes that improve safety, travel-time reliability and local connectivity for Queenslanders.

“We are also planning for vital upgrades to increase capacity, manage increasing traffic demands and help future-proof our road network as the region continues to expand."

Quotes attributable to State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan MP:

“My local area is growing fast and I understand perfectly why that is the case because it is a great place to live, bring up young families and aspire to a productive and meaningful working life within a community that is really connected.

“I speak to the people in my local area all the time and I know that improving transport infrastructure is a critical issue and the Miles Government and the Albanese Government understand that, and that is why investments like these are being made to support people as they go about their everyday lives.

“The best governments act in the interests of grassroots community concerns and that is what the Albanese Government and the Miles Government are doing.”

Quotes attributable to State Member for Pumicestone Ali King MP:

“This announcement will be welcome news for the thousands of motorists who use the Bruce every day.

“Extra lanes on this section of the Bruce will be a game changer for locals – this will help ease congestion and provide a quicker, safer journey for commuters and travellers now and well into the future.”  

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Queensland police say man stole three cars and pointed a loaded rifle at officers before he was fatally shot

The 36-year-old Cairns man was shot dead by police while stopped on the Bruce Highway near Colosseum on Monday morning

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Queensland police believe a man they shot and killed in a standoff outside Gladstone yesterday had stolen three vehicles before pointing a stolen loaded rifle at officers.

Det Insp Darrin Shadlow told media on Tuesday a police patrol came across the 36-year-old Cairns man at about 11.50am on Monday, while he was travelling in a stolen ute on the Bruce Highway near Colosseum, north of Brisbane.

“Police had not attempted to intercept that utility,” he said.

“The vehicle has pulled to the side of the road. A male person has got out of that vehicle armed with a rifle. The male person has pointed that rifle at police. Subsequently police have confronted him called upon him to drop the firearm. He didn’t do that and unfortunately police had to engage and subsequently shot that male person.”

The man was later declared deceased at the scene, despite the efforts of police and paramedics to revive him with CPR.

Shadlow said the man had stolen three cars that morning.

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He allegedly stole a car in Bororen at about 10.50am. The vehicle contained a rifle and ammunition, according to police.

At about 11.15am he allegedly stole a second car from a 61-year-old female at a house on Cawthrays Road, Colosseum. He stole a third vehicle, a four-wheel drive ute, from the same house, before driving through and smashing its front gate, police claim.

Police later detected him in the third vehicle on the highway.

A man fitting the same description had attempted to break into another address, shed and gun safe on Cawthrays Road, Shadlow said.

The incident is now being investigated by ethical standards command. Officers have already deployed to Gladstone.

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Shadlow said the number of shots fired by police and whether the man fired his weapon were a matter for the investigation. He said two of three police at the scene fired their weapons.

Shadlow said the officers were “shaken up” on Monday afternoon, but were given all the support available.

“Police don’t go to work expecting this to happen. However, they are trained and they are ready if something like this does happen. Unfortunately, this male person has given the police no option on this occasion,” he said.

Shadlow said the man had been known to be in the central Queensland area for about a week and police had had interactions with him before the shooting. The deceased man was known to police, he said.

He appealed for any member of the public who had seen a green Toyota Hilux or an older-style white Nissan Patrol utility in the area, or had driven past the incident to contact Crimestoppers.

The Bruce Highway was closed after the shooting, but reopened at about 8pm on Monday.

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3 killed in Highway 41 crash near Caruthers identified

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Three people have died, and four others, including a child, were injured after a crash on Highway 41 near Caruthers on Friday night.

The crash happened around 7 pm at the intersection of 41 Southbound and East Nebraska Avenue.

The California Highway Patrol says a Silverado pickup truck was crossing the intersection with the highway but did not stop.

They say it crashed into a Dodge pickup truck that was hauling a fifth-wheel travel trailer.

The man driving the Silverado who did not stop has been identified as 57-year-old Mark Bruce of Fresno. He was killed in the crash.

Two of the three female passengers in his truck were also killed. They have been identified as 18-year-old Blanca Villegas Martinez of Selma and 17-year-old Dezirae Perez of Fresno.

The CHP says they were not wearing seatbelts, and all three of them were ejected.

The fourth person in the truck was flown by helicopter to CRMC with major injuries.

As for the Dodge truck that was hauling the camper, there were three people inside.

Two men, one in their 30s and one in their 40s, and a 4-year-old who was in a car seat.

CHP says they all survived the initial crash and were taken to local hospitals.

Investigators say they are still working to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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