Bruce Highway: Brisbane to Cairns

The Bruce Highway is Queensland's main north-south road, 1,679 km from Brisbane to Cairns. Most of it is sealed and flat. The fun is in the detours: the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island and Mission Beach. Allow at least a week.

The stops

1. Start

   Brisbane

2. Town

   Noosa

   Surf beach and national park

3. Town

   Hervey Bay

   Gateway to K'gari (Fraser Island); whales Aug to Oct

4. Town · Overnight

   Agnes Water

   Surf beach on the Discovery Coast

5. City

   Rockhampton

   Beef capital with a free zoo

6. Town

   Airlie Beach

   Whitsunday boat trips

7. City

   Townsville

   Magnetic Island ferry

8. Town

   Mission Beach

   Rainforest meets the sea

9. City

   Cairns

   End of the road and gateway to the Reef

10. Finish

    Cairns

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Hervey Bay

  Holiday parks near the Esplanade

• Night 2

  Rockhampton

  Motels and caravan parks

• Night 3

  Airlie Beach

  Hostels and holiday parks

• Night 4

  Townsville

  Caravan parks near the Strand

When to go

May to Oct (dry season); Nov to Apr has stinger season and cyclone risk

On the road

Sealed all the way, but the wet season floods low sections such as the Goorganga Plains near Proserpine. Watch for road trains and tired drivers.