Brisbane to Cairns drive
The Bruce Highway is 1,671 km from Pine River, on Brisbane's northern edge, to Cairns, and the legs between the main stops run from 110 km to 509 km, so two days is not realistic and five days is a sensible minimum. The hire car detail that matters is one way: Hertz's terms, for example, say a One Way Fee may apply and that you are told at booking whether a different drop-off is allowed. Airlie Beach sits 1,152 km up the coast from Mooloolaba, which makes it the natural overnight rather than a place to squeeze in at the end of a day.
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Key facts
- Highway length
- The Bruce Highway is 1,671.3 km from Pine River to Cairns
- Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach
- About 1,152 km over four legs of 208, 110, 330 and 504 km, on the Pacific Coast Way
- Airlie Beach to Cairns
- About 648 km over two legs: 509 km to Mission Beach and 139 km on to Cairns
- Suggested time
- Tourism Australia describes its Gold Coast to Cairns route as 1,800 km and recommends a minimum of 10 to 14 days, particularly for families with younger children, so long days in the car do not wear them out
- Speed limit
- 100 km/h on rural roads and highways unless signed otherwise, and 50 km/h in built-up residential areas
- Breaks
- Queensland's drive guide advises at least 15 minutes every two hours, and says the state has 450 rest areas
- Wet and cyclone season
- The official tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April
- One way hire
- For example, Hertz says a One Way Fee may apply if you return the car to a different location, and you are advised at reservation whether that is permitted
Brisbane to Cairns
1,671 km on the Bruce Highway from Pine River to Cairns ยท Long days on the Bruce Highway, with legs of 110 to 509 km between the main stops
Hervey Bay
208 km from Mooloolaba
The leg after Noosa in Tourism and Events Queensland's route, on the doorstep of K'gari. Whale watching runs July to early November.
Bundaberg
110 km from Hervey Bay
Short leg. Mon Repos turtle nesting and hatching tours run November to March.
Yeppoon (Capricorn Coast)
330 km from Bundaberg
A long leg of 330 km. The route lists the Town of 1770 and Agnes Water and Gladstone as stops along it.
Airlie Beach
504 km from Yeppoon
The gateway to the Whitsundays and the natural overnight before the 509 km leg to Mission Beach.
Mission Beach
139 km from Cairns
Drivers are told to watch for cassowaries on the way.
- Cairns
How far is it from Brisbane to Cairns and how long does it take?
The Bruce Highway is 1,671.3 km from Pine River to Cairns. Pine River is on the north side of Brisbane, so add a little for a start in the city or at the airport. Queensland's touring route breaks the coast into legs of 208 km, 110 km, 330 km, 504 km, 509 km and 139 km from Mooloolaba to Cairns, which is a fair guide to how far a day can go.
At the 100 km/h limit that applies on rural highways unless signed otherwise, there is little room to make time up, and the state's own advice is a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours. Five days is a sensible minimum, with two or three of them being hard driving days, and longer if you want the reef or the islands.
How many days do you need for a Brisbane to Cairns road trip?
Two or three days means covering roughly 550 to 850 km a day and seeing little, so it works only as a transfer. Tourism Australia's Gold Coast to Cairns itinerary, which it describes as 1,800 km, recommends a minimum of 10 to 14 days for families with younger children.
Queensland's Gold Coast to Cairns touring route gives the leg lengths that make a sensible day split. They start from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, and the Brisbane to Mooloolaba stretch comes before that.
- Mooloolaba to Hervey Bay: 208 km
- Hervey Bay to Bundaberg: 110 km
- Bundaberg to Yeppoon: 330 km
- Yeppoon to Airlie Beach: 504 km
- Airlie Beach to Mission Beach: 509 km
- Mission Beach to Cairns: 139 km
Can you do a one way car hire from Brisbane to Cairns?
Sometimes, but it depends on the company, and the agreement decides. Hertz's terms, for example, say the One Way Fee may apply if you return the car to a location different from where you started, and that you are told at reservation whether a different return location is permitted and what fee applies. The terms give no amounts, so the fee is shown only in your booking.
Because the fee can move with dates and vehicle class, price the one way trip before you commit to a day count. Pick up at Brisbane Airport or a Brisbane city depot and return to Cairns Airport.
What does the hire car agreement need to allow on this drive?
The main route follows the Bruce Highway, so the agreement questions are mostly about side trips. Hertz's terms allow vehicles on certain ferries only with its prior permission, so the Magnetic Island car ferry from Townsville (a short ferry ride from the city) needs a check before you book. Its terms also treat beaches and unsealed roads as prohibited uses, with exceptions for roads under repair and access roads to recognised camping or accommodation grounds, and list K'gari (Fraser Island), Moreton Island and South Stradbroke Island as places where driving is prohibited. A side trip from Hervey Bay to the island in the hire car is not something to assume.
If a prohibited use causes damage, Hertz says its protection services are void and your liability is not limited. Check the excess and prohibited road list in your own agreement, and see the guide on excess insurance for how the products differ.
When are floods and cyclones a problem on the drive?
The official tropical cyclone season is 1 November to 30 April. The Queensland Government's QLDTraffic site is where road conditions, incidents, closures and flooding alerts are posted, so check it before each day's drive.
Hertz's terms treat driving through a flooded road or a body of water as a prohibited use, so a closure is a reason to wait, not to test the crossing.
Driving the Bruce Highway in two halves
If you do not have time for the whole run, the two halves work on their own. Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach is 1,152 km over four legs, so it is a multi-day drive. Airlie Beach to Cairns is 648 km over two legs, 509 km to Mission Beach and 139 km on to Cairns, which is a long single day or an easy two days.
You can also skip the middle by flying into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast), Mackay or Townsville and hiring there, so you drive only the stretch you want rather than the 504 km Yeppoon to Airlie Beach and 509 km Airlie Beach to Mission Beach legs.
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Questions people ask
How long does it take to drive from Brisbane to Cairns?
Allow at least five days. The Bruce Highway is 1,671 km from Pine River to Cairns, and the legs between the main stops run from 110 km to 509 km.
How far is Brisbane to Cairns by road?
The Bruce Highway is 1,671.3 km from Pine River, on Brisbane's northern edge, to Cairns.
How many days do you need for a Brisbane to Cairns road trip?
Five days is a minimum that keeps daily driving reasonable. Tourism Australia recommends 10 to 14 days for its Gold Coast to Cairns route with younger children.
Can I hire a car in Brisbane and drop it in Cairns?
Sometimes, but not with every company or every car. Hertz's terms, for example, say a One Way Fee may apply and that you are told at booking whether it is allowed.
How far is Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach by car?
About 1,152 km, over legs of 208, 110, 330 and 504 km through Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Yeppoon.
How far is Airlie Beach to Cairns by car?
About 648 km, made up of a 509 km leg to Mission Beach and 139 km on to Cairns.