The ultimate South East Queensland loop — Brisbane, Gold Coast hinterland, Byron Bay, Lamington National Park, Sunshine Coast, and Noosa. Every stop, every meal, every secret worth knowing.
🚗 Self-drive or guided📅 Updated 2026📍 Start/End: Brisbane💰 Full budget guide
South East Queensland is Australia's most action-packed road trip region — ocean beaches, volcanic hinterland, ancient rainforest, wine country, surf towns, and cultural cities all within a roughly 700km loop from Brisbane. This five-day itinerary is the definitive version, tested and refined by years of guiding visitors through the region. Get ready for an extraordinary week.
Day 1 — Brisbane to Tamborine Mountain & Gold Coast Hinterland
🚗 Drive: 1.5 hrs📍 Overnight: Gold Coast or Tamborine
9:00 AM
Depart Brisbane
Head south on the M1 Pacific Motorway. Exit at Tamborine Mountain via the Wongawallan Road — a spectacular drive up the escarpment with panoramic Gold Coast views on the ascent.
10:30 AM
Gallery Walk, Tamborine Mountain
The Gallery Walk is Tamborine Mountain's 2km main strip of art galleries, homewares boutiques, fudge shops, distilleries, and artisan food producers. Stop at the Cedar Creek Distillery for a gin tasting and Witches Falls Winery for your first cellar door of the trip. (Witches Falls closes 4pm weekdays, 5pm weekends — plan accordingly.)
12:30 PM
Lunch at a Winery Restaurant
Witches Falls Winery, Albert River Wines, or The Vineyard Kitchen — all offer excellent long lunches with estate wines and views across the hinterland to the coast. One of the finest rural lunches within reach of Brisbane.
3:00 PM
Skywalk Rainforest Walk or Curtis Falls
Tamborine Mountain is draped in subtropical rainforest. The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk (1.5km elevated boardwalk through the forest canopy, $22 adults) is excellent, or take the free 2km return walk to Curtis Falls — a beautiful tiered waterfall in the national park.
5:30 PM
Check in — Gold Coast or Canungra
Stay on the mountain for atmosphere (Mountain Marmalade Cottage B&B is wonderful), or head down to the Gold Coast for more accommodation options. The Marriott at Surfers Paradise and the Sheraton Mirage at Main Beach are excellent value mid-range options.
Day 2 — Gold Coast & Byron Bay, NSW
🚗 Drive: 1.5 hrs Gold Coast → Byron📍 Overnight: Byron Bay or Kingscliff
7:30 AM
Gold Coast Morning Surf — Burleigh Heads
An early morning surf or walk at Burleigh Heads — arguably the Gold Coast's most beautiful beach and a World Surfing Reserve. The Burleigh headland walk is 3km of Pacific clifftop views. Grab breakfast at one of the excellent cafés on James Street.
10:00 AM
Drive South to Byron Bay
Cross the NSW border at Coolangatta/Tweed Heads. Consider a quick detour through Kingscliff — a beautiful beachside village with Peppers Salt Resort and superb cafés. Continue south through Mullumbimby to Byron Bay, through lush Northern Rivers sugar cane fields and volcanic hills.
11:30 AM
Cape Byron Lighthouse & Coastal Walk
Walk the Cape Byron headland to the lighthouse — Australia's most easterly point. The coastal walk offers spectacular cliff views and regular dolphin and whale sightings (June–October is peak whale season). Allow 1.5–2 hours for the full 3.7km loop. The Pass surf break is visible below — one of Byron's most iconic breaks.
2:00 PM
Lunch in Byron Bay Town Centre
Byron Bay's Jonson Street and town centre offer exceptional dining. Try The Farm Byron Bay (paddock-to-plate dining in a working farm setting), Three Blue Ducks (famous sustainable Australian cooking), or for something casual, the Byron Bay Fish Supply Co. for legendary fish and chips on the grass.
4:30 PM
Wategos Beach Swim & Dolphin Kayaking
The secluded Wategos Cove on the north side of the headland is the most beautiful beach near Byron town — turquoise water, no dumping surf, and spectacular headland views. Alternatively, book a 2.5-hour sea turtle snorkelling tour to Julian Rocks, or join a guided kayaking with dolphins experience — both are world-class.
6:30 PM
Sunset at The Beach Hotel
Byron Bay's legendary sunset beer garden. Order a Queensland pale ale and watch the sky turn violet over the hinterland mountains. Live music most evenings. Stay overnight at Byron or Kingscliff (45 minutes back north) for excellent accommodation options.
Day 3 — Nimbin Hinterland & Lamington National Park
🚗 Drive: ~2.5 hrs total📍 Overnight: Canungra or O'Reilly's Retreat
8:30 AM
Byron Bay Farmers Market (Thursdays)
If Day 3 falls on a Thursday, start at the extraordinary Byron Bay Farmers Market — organic produce, artisan cheese, spice merchants, and the best flat white you'll have on the road trip.
10:00 AM
Detour to Nimbin (Optional)
Australia's most famous alternative community is 55km inland. The rainbow-painted main street, hemp culture, and the surrounding Nightcap National Park rainforest are fascinating. Allow 2 hours if you go.
1:00 PM
Cross into Queensland — Lamington National Park
Head north back into Queensland and up to the spectacular Lamington Plateau — the largest area of subtropical rainforest in SE Queensland, and part of the Gondwana World Heritage Area. O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat sits at the heart of the park at 900m altitude, amid ancient Antarctic beech trees and extraordinary birdlife.
3:00 PM
Treetop Walk & Rainforest Walks
O'Reilly's Treetop Walk is a series of suspension bridges connecting 30m-tall strangler fig trees. The view across the canopy to the McPherson Range is extraordinary. Multiple short rainforest walks from the retreat lead to magnificent lookouts and waterfalls — allow 2 hours minimum.
6:00 PM
Overnight at O'Reilly's or Canungra
Staying overnight at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat is one of the great Queensland experiences — the dawn bird chorus is staggering, and the night sky at 900m altitude is among the darkest in the region. Book well in advance — it fills quickly.
Day 4 — Gold Coast Hinterland to Sunshine Coast
🚗 Drive: ~2.5 hrs total📍 Overnight: Montville or Noosa
7:00 AM
Dawn Birdwatching at O'Reilly's
The morning bird feeding at O'Reilly's is a genuine spectacle — crimson rosellas, king parrots, and red-necked pademelons appear on the deck as if on schedule. One of the great wildlife moments of SE Queensland.
9:30 AM
Drive North Through the Scenic Rim
Head north via Beaudesert through the Scenic Rim — sweeping pastoral valleys framed by the Main Range. Stop at the Scenic Rim Brewery in Boonah for a mid-morning local ale. Road trip rules apply.
12:30 PM
Sunshine Coast Hinterland — Maleny
Arrive in the Blackall Range village of Maleny for lunch at Brouhaha Brewery or the Maleny Food Co (house-made gelato and remarkable local cheese). The sweeping views of the Glass House Mountains from Maleny's main street are among the most dramatic rural panoramas in Queensland.
2:30 PM
Montville Village & Kondalilla Falls
The neighbouring village of Montville is perhaps the most picturesque on the Blackall Range — heritage buildings, boutique galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, and day spas. Take the 2km rainforest walk to Kondalilla Falls for a spectacular 60m waterfall and swimming hole.
5:00 PM
Drive to Noosa — Check In
The drive from Montville to Noosa (45 minutes) descends through the Blackall Range to the coast. Check into Noosa — Netanya Noosa and the Racquet Hotel are excellent value for the location. Book ahead — Noosa fills quickly in school holiday periods.
7:30 PM
Dinner on Hastings Street, Noosa
Noosa's Hastings Street is one of the finest dining strips in Queensland. Book ahead at Wasabi for outstanding modern Japanese, or try Sum Yung Guys for inventive Southeast Asian flavours. Cocktails afterwards at Miss Moneypenny's — a Noosa institution. The Eumundi Markets (25 minutes away) run on Wednesdays and Saturdays if you want to grab provisions.
Day 5 — Noosa & Return to Brisbane
🚗 Drive: 1.5 hrs Noosa → Brisbane📍 End: Brisbane
6:30 AM
Sunrise at Noosa Main Beach
The east-facing beach at Noosa gets glorious sunrise light — walk down from your accommodation and watch the sky come alive. Then join the Noosa Coastal Walk (5.4km) through the national park — one of Australia's finest morning walks with koalas in the coastal eucalypts and dolphin views from the headland.
9:00 AM
Noosa Farmers Market (Saturday) or Breakfast
If Day 5 is a Saturday, the Noosa Farmers Market at Noosa Heads is unmissable. If not, breakfast at Café Le Monde on Hastings Street — a Noosa institution for 30+ years — is the perfect start.
11:00 AM
Glass House Mountains Stop en Route
On the drive back to Brisbane, detour slightly to the Glass House Mountains Lookout for incredible volcanic peak views. If time permits, tackle the Mt Ngungun walk (5km, 1.5 hours, no chains required) or the shorter Mt Tibrogargan base circuit for panoramic summit views.
2:30 PM
Arrive Brisbane — Road Trip Complete
Return to Brisbane with extraordinary memories of five distinctly different Queensland landscapes — hinterland wine country, sub-tropical rainforest, Byron Bay's iconic beaches, Sunshine Coast surf, and Noosa's perfect coastal village.
Essential Road Trip Tips
🚗 Hiring a Car: This route suits a small SUV or standard sedan. No 4WD required. Hire from Brisbane Airport — Europcar, Budget, and Avis all have good availability. Allow $80–$130/day. Total fuel cost approximately $120–$150 for the 700km loop. Use the FuelMap Australia or PetrolSpy apps to find the cheapest petrol along the route.
📅 Eumundi Markets: Running Wednesdays and Saturdays near Noosa, the Eumundi Markets are one of Queensland's great artisan markets — 600+ stalls of local produce, jewellery, pottery, art, and food. Build your itinerary around them if possible.
⚠️ Road Notes: The Tamborine Mountain and Lamington roads are narrow and winding — allow extra time and drive slowly, especially after rain. The O'Reilly's access road in wet conditions requires care but is passable in a standard vehicle. Always check road conditions before ascending mountain roads after heavy rain.
⚠️ Border Crossing — Time Zones: When crossing from Queensland into NSW (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads), remember that NSW observes Daylight Saving Time from October to April — Queensland does not. Adjust your clock when crossing during this period.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Tamborine Mountain and Lamington sections are essentially inaccessible without a car. However, Cooee Tours offers guided multi-day versions of this itinerary where all transport is included — ideal if you prefer not to drive or want an expert guide's local knowledge, restaurant bookings, and insider access throughout.
April–May and September–October offer the best conditions — mild temperatures (18–25°C), low humidity, and minimal rain. The rainforest at Lamington and Tamborine Mountain is particularly lush after the wet season (March–April). Summer (December–February) is hot and occasionally wet but works well if you stay near the coast and embrace the beach lifestyle. Avoid Queensland school holiday peak periods for easier bookings and roads.
Budget approximately $1,200 per person for 5 days covering accommodation ($100–200 per night shared), car hire ($80–130/day), fuel (approximately $120–150 total for 700km), meals ($50–80/day), and activities. Use the FuelMap Australia or PetrolSpy apps to find the cheapest petrol along the route. Sharing costs between 2–4 people significantly reduces the per-person budget.
