Brisbane To Noosa Round Trip

Get behind the wheel of your motorhome in Brisbane and feel the rush of excitement as you cover the first few kilometres of your Australian road trip. You can take this opportunity to explore the city a little before heading north and visiting a scenic reserve, a delectable cheese factory, and the gorgeous beachside town of Noosa. You could easily complete this first leg in a day, but you might want to give yourself a couple to make sure you get some time by the beach in Noosa.
 
Brisbane
 
Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, is a place of history, awesome scenery, and an unmatched food and bar scene. Even if you’ve lived in the city for years, picking up a motorhome in Brisbane is the perfect way to see a few more of the local attractions before you begin your road trip. Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (the world’s largest) to meet this adorable and cuddly native species, and then take a drive up Mount Coot-tha for views over the city. Or, if you’re keen just to get started on your trip, head for the M1 away from Brisbane northbound for a scenic 90-minute drive up past the Glass House Mountains and on to your first stop.
 
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
 
The Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a 55-hectare tropical rainforest in the Randall Range that looks out over the Glass House Mountains. The range, once covered with rainforest, offers a window into the plants and wildlife that once ruled the region. It’s free to visit - although a gold coin donation is appreciated - and you can stroll one of many hikes through the reserve to see more of this spectacular rainforest. You can also stop by the newly finished discovery centre for a little information on the area’s history, and just what makes it so special.
 
From here, it’s just a stone’s throw to a particularly delicious stop in the town of Maleny.
 
Maleny Cheese
 
The Queensland coast is a place of plenty, and Maleny Cheese is where you’ll be able to taste some of its best produce. This boutique cheese factory has been creating cheese and yoghurt for more than a decade and uses fresh milk from the surrounding area. When you stop by the store, you can try a few of the favourites, such as Greek-Gourmet-style cheeses, buffalo milk cheese, tub-set Swiss-style, and more. You’ll also enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains, and be able to spot the local herd of cows that produce the milk for the cheese. Before you go, pick up a few products to nibble on for the rest of your drive!
 
After Maleny, you have just over an hour’s drive to reach your first beachy destination: Noosa.
 
Noosa
 
Noosa is the perfect example of a laid-back beachside Aussie town. The entire area revolves around the beach, from its world-renowned surfing to its idyllic golden sands that are simply made for relaxing with a good book. The main beaches are backed by strings of cafes, ice cream shops, bars, funky stores, and restaurants, and there are walking trails around the town and along the coastline. You can hire kayaks for a leisurely afternoon out on the water, or take the opportunity to learn to surf with one of the local schools. You can also visit the Australia Zoo in Noosa, which became famous as the home of the Crocodile Hunter, and a place dedicated to conservation and the love of animals of all kinds.
 
Next, continue north for another 90 minutes to reach the charming and serene seaside village of Tin Can Bay.

On the second half of your road trip from Brisbane, you’ll turn around and slowly make your way back to the city. But first, you’ll spend a little time with the local dolphin population in Tin Can Bay, visit a surprising and fun ginger factory, and make the most of the golden shoreline with plenty of time at the beach on the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island. You’ll want two days for this leg to make the most of all the beach time, but take three if you can!
 
Tin Can Bay
 
Tin Can Bay is a quaint seaside village that’s mainly known for one thing - dolphins. The bay is the home to the rare Australian Humpback Dolphin, and there is a pod of nine of them living in the area. These dolphins live in shallow waters, and it’s common to see them sunbathing near the surface. For the best chance to view the dolphins, visit The Dolphin Centre when it opens bright and early at 7am. There is just one feeding session per day at around 8am, so be sure you’re there in time to see these amazing creatures. You can even feed the dolphins yourself for a small fee! Then, head to the Barnacles Cafe on site for a breakfast of your own. While you’re in the area, you can also stop by the Great Sandy National Park for a little more time enjoying that Queensland sunshine on the beach.
 
Next, it’s time to head back south. Take the M1 back towards Brisbane and prepare for a few new stops along the way.
 
The Ginger Factory
 
The Ginger Factory is the kind of quirky and fun attraction that make road trips so memorable. This iconic Sunshine Coast gem is a place of wonder, where taking a factory tour, tasting all sorts of different gingery treats, and browsing the ginger shop is just the beginning. You’ll learn how ginger is grown and harvested, take a ride on the 100-year-old cane train, experience a boat ride to follow a gingerbread man all over the world, play a game of life-sized checkers, and stroll through the surrounding rainforest. The site has also added a bee attraction so you can watch honey bees create honey, and then taste samples in the shop. The factory is open daily and is free to enter, although a few of the rides cost a small fee.
 
From here, it’s not far to the Sunshine Coast, so turn off the main route for a visit to this sun-soaked section of the Sunshine State.
 
The Sunshine Coast
 
The Sunshine Coast is all about beaches, great food, a laidback lifestyle, and of course, sunshine. All up, there is roughly 100 kilometres of sandy coastline where you can lay out a beach towel and claim your spot in the sun for the day, and countless stunning swimming spots to match. There are also markets, boutique shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants, so rather than visiting a certain attraction in this area, take the time to simply enjoy the beach and wander amongst the towns of the Sunshine Coast soaking up that relaxed atmosphere.
 
Next, continue south, and turn off east onto the 85 at Caboolture to reach the last stop on your road trip.
 
Bribie Island
 
Bribie Island is the only Moreton Island that you can drive to, making it the perfect final stop for your roadie. To get there, you’ll cross the bridge over the Pumicestone Passage, the body of water between the mainland and the island. This passage is known for being a birdwatcher’s paradise thanks to the plethora of species in the area, including more than 40 shorebirds and thousands of migratory species that visit in summer from places such as Mongolia and Siberia. Once you’re across, you can spend more time discovering the beaches, hire a BBQ boat for a day out fishing on the water, or try some of the hiking trails on the island.
 
This round-trip campervan road trip from Brisbane to Noosa and back is the kind of adventure that will leave you feeling like you’ve been away for a few weeks rather than just a few days. Bask in the memories of delicious cuisine, incredible beaches and wildlife experiences, and then when you’re ready to plan your next exciting getaway, take a look at our ever growing list of motorhome itineraries.
 
Note: to start your road trip in other Queensland locations, amazing options include securing motorhome rentals from Airlie Beach, or from Cairns. or picking up a Byron Bay campervan hire in NSW. Be reminded that Motorhome Republic is also home of unmatched RV rental deals from Darwin (NT), from Melbourne (VIC), and all other popular Australia destinations.