Drive Queensland

Ask anyone from Queensland and they’ll tell you their state is truly ‘the chosen one’. Its combination of climate and countless attractions certainly backup their claim and see people come from all over the globe to sample Queensland’s many sights, tastes and experiences.

For those with a mind to explore by car, there is certainly a seemingly endless array of roads to tackle in a state as vast as Queensland – each with its own unique characteristics to reward the driver and traveller alike.

Cairns to Atherton via the Gillies Range 

The Cairns region offers a stunning array of roads connecting the coast to the wonders of the lush and diverse Atherton Tableland. There are a wide variety of driving choices but one route which is guaranteed to satisfy your hankering for an enjoyable time behind the wheel is the Gillies Range. This is a wonderful trip of twists and turns which begins with a 23km drive south along the Bruce Highway from Cairns to Gordonvale.

Looking for State Route 52 you will link up with the Gillies Range Road, a twisting, winding driver’s road which never disappoints with its 263 corners and a climb of 800m, all within a 19km distance. 

Perhaps validation for Gillies Range is its stance as one of the stages for the popular TARGA Great Barrier Reef tarmac rally which has become Queensland’s version of TARGA Tasmania since it was first run in 2018.

The tarmac twists and climbs to the rooftop of Far North Queensland – a busy but immensely rewarding journey on smooth tarmac that is mostly wide with limited opportunities for overtaking.

This tangle of corners, bends, kinks, and sweepers is a grossly underestimated passage that rightly stands as one of the best pieces of roadway in Australia. It is delightfully enjoyable at signposted speeds that vary between 60-80km/h and advisory speeds of 40km/h around the tighter changes of direction.

The total trip from Gordonvale to Atherton is about 60km with breathtaking vistas that include Gillies and Heales Lookouts.

About 13km out from Atherton, the town of Yungaburra is worth stopping at for a refreshment and a look around its impressive range of heritage-listed buildings.

Heading into Atherton there is a decent selection of cafes for lunch before your return journey back down the fabulous Gillies Range. Our pick is petals and Pinecones which offer a range of locally sourced dishes.

Gillies Range is a delightful route that will leave lasting driving memories and best of all, you can tackle it in a few hours roundtrip or a bit longer if you decide to linger and relax in Yungaburra and Atherton.

Nerang to Queen Mary Falls 

A hidden gem west of the Gold Coast is the spectacular Queen Mary Falls. Situated in the Main Range National Park (the lower end of South-East Queensland’s celebrated Scenic Rim), 10km east of the town of Killarney, Queen Mary Falls is a stunning destination that offers hiking tracks and the magnificent view of the falls.

This 184km route starts from Nerang beside the M1 west of the Gold Coast, hooking up with the Beaudesert/Nerang Road which points you toward the quaint town of Canungra.

The winding road to Canungra features a tidy piece of bitumen before continuing on the western side of town on the Mundoolun Connection Road. This is a more open two-lane highway that passes by the popular Albert River Winery which could be penciled into your itinerary for lunch before you tackle the rest of the journey.

From here, follow the signs to Beaudesert (another lunch option) on a largely open but entertaining stretch of the Beenleigh-Beaudesert Road.

Once in Beaudesert, link up with the Mount Lindesay Highway and head just 30km west toward Rathdowney. The road is largely open with long straights and sweepers.

A further 12km on from Rathdowney is Palen Creek where the road on the western side becomes an exhilarating labyrinth of snaking twists and turns as the road passes through about 30km of heavily wooded forest.

This is a brilliant driver’s road where your craving for quick changes of direction will be satisfied along this always rewarding and massively underestimated stretch.

Your journey will dip for a period across the border into New South Wales at Collins Gap west of Palen Creek and then traverse through the towns of Woodenbong and Legume.

At Legume, the Mount Lindesay Highway turns into Killarney Road where you will travel back into Queensland just past Acacia Creek before making a right turn off Killarney Road onto Spring Creek Road about 6km on from Legume.

This leads you on a scenic route 7km to Queen Mary Falls, passing the popular Daggs Falls lookout on the way.

If you feel the need to delay your return trip and stay overnight, there is also a range of accommodation in the immediate area including nearby Killarney or a little further back around Mt Barney.

Brisbane CBD to Mapleton on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland 

If you want to eliminate a mundane and often congested journey to the Sunshine Coast on the M1, we have settled on the ideal option.

Although this route will add more time and distance to your journey, it will also add significantly to your driving enjoyment and turn it all into time well spent.

From the Brisbane CBD make your way to Enoggera Road and then follow State Route 22 all the way to Dayboro. Beyond Ferny Grove and through to Samford Village your journey transforms into a country drive on a well-manicured single lane each-way road.

Once in Dayboro follow State Route 22 to the right and in about 400m turn left to join State Route 58 through Mt Mee. This two-lane road features magnificent flowing corners and becomes tighter as you climb.

This is where your drive steps up in excitement, climbing up Mt Mee and then plunging down amid the D'Aguilar State Forest toward Woodford, the road is undulating and winding. A good spot at Mt Mee to refuel for the remainder of the trip is Birches Restaurant.

A couple of kilometres on from Delaneys Creek, turn left at a T-junction onto State Route 85 toward Woodford which will see you clock up 90km. Just through Woodford turn right on the Beerwah Road, joining State Route 6, a lovely touring road of long corners and straights.

At 111km turn left into Bald Knob Road, an engaging 10km run to reach the top where you make a left turn onto the Landsborough/Maleny Road.

This is a scenic flowing route across a section of the Blackall Range. The route features fast, flowing sweepers in parts that take you through the quaint towns of Montville, Flaxton and then onto to the destination of Mapleton. 

On the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, you are spoilt for choice for a vast selection of cafes and restaurants and delightful B&Bs for an overnight stay and a chance to relax before hitting the road again in the morning.

Enjoy some of the more rewarding roads Australia’s other states and territories have to offer. 

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Western Australia

Northern Territory

New South Wales