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Driving from Brisbane to Cairns sounds like the ultimate Aussie adventure with more than 1,700 km along the Queensland coast. But here’s the truth: it’s not the dreamy road trip most travellers imagine. Unless you’ve got plenty of time to make detours (at least 10 days), the Bruce Highway can be more of a drag than an adventure.
The reality of the Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is Queensland’s main north-south road. And let me be honest: it’s not scenic. Most of the route runs inland, away from the coast, so don’t expect beautiful ocean views. Instead, you’ll get long, straight stretches of bitumen surrounded by sugar cane fields or macadamia trees with the occasional roadside service station.
I already feel bored when I drive to the Sunshine Coast – and that’s less than two hours from Brisbane. Imagine that on repeat for days. If you’re short on time, you’ll spend most of your holiday behind the wheel, watching the same scenery roll past, rather than actually experiencing Queensland.
On top of that, the highway is notorious for being slow, with roadworks, trucks, and only two lanes in many parts. It’s a practical road, not a pretty one.
Who this drive is for
If you’ve got more than 10 days to travel and have time for long breaks, the Brisbane to Cairns road trip can work. The magic is not on the highway itself but in the detours: national parks, coastal towns, waterfalls, and beaches that need planning and time to reach.
Some of Queensland’s most famous spots are scattered along this route: K’gari (Fraser Island), the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, and Heron Island, to name a few. But here’s the catch: you won’t stumble across them from the highway. They require side trips, ferries, and extra planning. If you’ve got the time and flexibility to do that, this drive will be an unforgettable adventure.
Who should think twice
For most people, though, this drive isn’t worth it:
- Travellers on a tight schedule: You’ll burn days driving and see very little. Brisbane to Cairns by car is not like driving from Brisbane to Sydney (which is far more varied and rewarding for shorter trips, with plenty of places to stop without big detours).
- International visitors: One-way car hire can be expensive (and not always possible), petrol adds up, and you’ll have to choose the rental carefully (with unlimited km).
- Anyone expecting a scenic coastal road: You’ll be disappointed. This isn’t the Great Ocean Road.
Smarter alternatives?
If your goal is simply to get from one city to the other, flying is faster, often cheaper if you need to rent a car (especially the late flight arriving around midnight), and much less stressful.
If you’d prefer a road trip, you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of shorter loops where the highlights are closer together:
- Brisbane south loop (3–5 days): Drive south to Coffs Harbour (stop at Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Head, Springbrook National Park, Byron Bay), then come back inland on the Waterfall Way.
- Brisbane north road trip (3–5 days): Head to Noosa, Rainbow Beach and K’gari (Fraser Island) – you’ll need a 4WD (or book a tour) for this unforgettable adventure. If you’re travelling between mid-July to October, push to Hervey Bay to join a cruise to see humpback whales.
- Cairns south loop (3–5 days): Explore Mission Beach, then loop back through the Atherton Tablelands.
- Cairns north road trip (2–3 days): Head up to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Forest, with a stop at Port Douglas on the way.
And of course, you could also drive from Brisbane to Sydney. If I only had a week or two, I’d take the Brisbane to Sydney drive every single time compared to Brisbane to Cairns. The Pacific Highway is not as repetitive and practically hugs the coast, so it’s easy to dip in and out of places without big detours and planning – including checking out famous destinations like the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.
These trips give you more variety, better scenery, and far less time stuck on the Bruce Highway.
Have you driven from Brisbane to Cairns? Share your experience in the comments below!
