Outback Queensland road trip in a hire car
Brisbane to Longreach is about 1,180 km on sealed highways, and Outback Queensland's tourism body says most outback roads are sealed and can be driven in a regular vehicle. The road into Carnarvon Gorge is also sealed. The Savannah Way is different: its Normanton to Borroloola section is unsealed and Hertz's rental terms prohibit it, so it is not a standard hire car trip.
Updated
Key facts
- Brisbane to Longreach
- About 1,180 km; the Longreach visitor site says 1,200 km via Roma, all on sealed roads
- Road standard
- The majority of outback roads are sealed and in good condition and can be travelled by a regular vehicle; a 4WD is generally unnecessary between towns
- Fuel spacing
- Fuel stops on major highways are rarely more than 200 km apart
- Best months
- March to October is the most popular time because of cooler temperatures; summer reaches 35 to 40 degrees
- Carnarvon Gorge access road
- The 45 km road into the park from the Carnarvon Highway is sealed and suitable for conventional vehicles; Carnarvon Creek can make access impassable after heavy rain
- Fuel for Carnarvon Gorge
- No fuel is available after leaving Rolleston or Injune
- Savannah Way unsealed section
- About 700 km between Normanton and Borroloola remains unsealed, and some sections are impassable in the wet season (November to April)
- Hertz Savannah Way clause
- Hertz lists the Savannah Way from Normanton to Borroloola as a road where no vehicle should be driven at any time
Brisbane to Longreach
About 1,180 km
Roma
The route to Longreach runs via Roma. For Carnarvon Gorge, Roma is 90 km short of Injune, one of two places for fuel before the park turn-off.
Longreach
About 1,180 km
Sealed roads reach the town from Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville.
Winton
179 km on from Longreach.
- Longreach
How far is Brisbane to Longreach and how long does it take?
Outback Queensland gives the distance from Brisbane as 1,180 km, and the Longreach visitor site says 1,200 km via Roma. Other sealed approaches are about 700 km from Rockhampton by the Capricorn Highway and about 700 km from Townsville by the Flinders Highway through Hughenden and Winton.
For road trains on single-lane bitumen, slow right down and move off the road to the left. Kangaroos are most active at sunrise, sunset and at night.
Can you do an outback Queensland road trip in a normal car?
Yes, on the main routes. Outback Queensland says most roads are sealed and in good condition and a regular vehicle is fine between towns, and that a 4WD is generally only needed for national parks or off-road exploration. It also says that on main routes it is rare to drive more than 2 to 3 hours without passing through a town.
The difference is attractions off the highway. Outback Queensland's Longreach itinerary describes Starlight's Lookout, a 55 km drive from town on unsealed and undulating roads, as a strictly 4x4 adventure. A hire car that bars unsealed roads is not the vehicle for it, and a guided tour is the alternative.
Do you need a 4WD for Carnarvon Gorge?
Not for the main gorge. Queensland Parks says the 45 km road from the Carnarvon Highway into the park is sealed and suitable for conventional vehicles and caravans, and its FAQ says the Carnarvon Gorge section is the only part of Carnarvon National Park with 2WD access; the rest is unsealed and a 4WD is advised. Carnarvon Creek rises rapidly after heavy rain and can cut access, and Queensland Parks tells visitors to call 13 19 40 for road conditions before setting out.
From Roma it is 90 km north to Injune then a further 111 km along the Carnarvon Highway to the turn-off. Fuel is available only at Rolleston or Injune, and the nearest vehicle and tyre repairs are at those towns. Mobile reception in the park is limited and unreliable.
Can you drive the Savannah Way in a hire car?
The Savannah Way runs from Cairns to Broome. The NRMA puts the full route at 4,493 km and says a 700 km stretch between Normanton and Borroloola is unsealed, with some sections impassable from November to April. The Northern Territory tourism body recommends a four-wheel drive for the route.
Rental terms line up with that. For example, the Hertz Australia terms name the Savannah Way from Normanton to Borroloola as a road where no vehicle should be driven at any time. The Avis terms, for example, require written authority to go west of Chillagoe on Highway 27, and stop Highway 1 south of Normanton and north of Karumba. They also need written authority to enter the Northern Territory or Western Australia. A Cairns to Broome trip needs a vehicle and permission arranged for it, not a standard booking.
What does a hire car agreement allow in the outback?
Rules vary by company and must be in your rental agreement. For example, the Hertz terms list driving on unsealed roads (except roads under repair and access roads to recognised camping or accommodation grounds) and driving through flooded roads or bodies of water among the situations they single out. That matters for creek crossings in summer. The Avis terms, for example, also bar driving on beaches or through streams, dams, rivers or flood waters without written authority.
Pick up in Brisbane for a road trip on the sealed inland highways, or fly to a regional town. Outback Queensland says Qantas flies from Brisbane to towns including Barcaldine, Blackall, Charleville, Longreach, Mount Isa and Roma, and that rental vehicles are available in larger towns. Confirm a one-way drop-off before you book.
Outback driving checklist for a rental
Queensland Government road safety advice is to plan the route and the time, take a 15 minute break every two hours, carry water, food, a first aid kit and spare wheels, and tell someone your route. Your mobile phone may not work in the outback, so download offline maps or carry paper ones.
- Check state road conditions on QLDTraffic or 13 19 40 before each leg.
- Summer rain from November to April can cause minor flooding, and wet verges are slippery.
- Check the tyre and spare before leaving the depot.
Compare cars at Brisbane Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How far is Brisbane to Longreach?
About 1,180 km by Outback Queensland's figure, or about 1,200 km via Roma by the Longreach visitor site. All roads to Longreach are sealed.
Can you do an outback Queensland road trip without a 4WD?
Yes on the main highways. Outback Queensland says most roads are sealed and a regular vehicle is fine between towns. A 4WD is generally needed only for national parks or off-road exploration.
Do you need a 4WD for Carnarvon Gorge?
Not for the gorge itself. The 45 km access road from the Carnarvon Highway is sealed and suits conventional vehicles, but creek flooding can close it and there is no fuel after Rolleston or Injune.
Is the road to Carnarvon Gorge sealed?
Yes, the 45 km road from the Carnarvon Highway is sealed. Other parts of Carnarvon National Park are unsealed.
Can you take a hire car on the Savannah Way?
Usually not in a standard rental. Hertz's terms prohibit the Normanton to Borroloola section, and Avis requires written authority to go west of Chillagoe on Highway 27 or into the Northern Territory. Check the rental agreement.
When is the best time for an outback Queensland road trip?
March to October is the most popular time because of cooler temperatures. Summer can reach 35 to 40 degrees.