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Cairns to Brisbane by motorhome: a 14-day itinerary

Two weeks from the tropical north to the Sunshine Coast — the classic first motorhome holiday in Queensland, with 4 rest days and no drive over five and a half hours.

Duration
14 days
Distance
About 1,700 km
Rest days
4
Longest drive
About 5.5 h
  1. Cairns
  2. Mission Beach
  3. Townsville
  4. Airlie Beach
  5. Yeppoon
  6. Agnes Water
  7. Hervey Bay
  8. Noosa
  9. Brisbane
Check one-way Cairns to Brisbane prices Cost this trip

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Aerial view of the Noosa Heads headland and beaches
Noosa Heads, Sunshine CoastPhoto: Dillon Hunt / Unsplash

Why drive south?

Starting in Cairns puts the reef and rainforest at the beginning, when everyone has the most energy, and ends near Brisbane's international airport. It's the same coast as our Sydney to Cairns route, compressed into two weeks.

Northern summer is wet season. Tropical Queensland's cyclone and monsoon season runs from November to April. Many travellers prefer the drier months from May to October.

Day by day

  1. Cairns pick-up

    Short drive

    Collect the motorhome, shop for supplies and spend the first night close to Cairns or at Palm Cove.

  2. Cairns to Mission Beach

    About 2 hours

    Rainforest and long empty beaches. Watch for cassowaries.

  3. Mission Beach to Townsville

    About 3 hours

    Passenger ferry to Magnetic Island — the motorhome stays on the mainland.

  4. Townsville to Airlie Beach

    About 4 hours

    Gateway to the Whitsundays.

  5. Airlie Beach — Whitsundays

    Rest day

    Whitehaven Beach day cruise. Keep a spare day in case of strong wind.

  6. Airlie Beach to Yeppoon

    About 5.5 hours

    The longest drive of the trip. Start early.

  7. Yeppoon to Agnes Water

    About 3.5 hours

    Agnes Water and the Town of 1770.

  8. Agnes Water

    Rest day

    Surf lessons, or a boat trip to Lady Musgrave Island.

  9. Agnes Water to Hervey Bay

    About 3.5 hours

    Base for K'gari day tours.

  10. Hervey Bay — K'gari day tour

    Rest day for the motorhome

    4WD tour of K'gari's lakes and eastern beach.

  11. Hervey Bay to Noosa

    About 2.5 hours

    Sunshine Coast beaches and the river.

  12. Noosa

    Rest day

    Coastal walk in Noosa National Park.

  13. Noosa to the Brisbane area

    About 2 hours

    Detour through the Glass House Mountains on the way.

  14. Brisbane drop-off

    Short drive

    Return the motorhome. Check the depot closing time before booking your flight.

Couple or family?

Couples travel comfortably in a 2-berth with a shower and toilet. Families of four to six should look at 6-berth motorhomes — compare child-seat space and fuel use in our 6-berth guide.

Ready to see real prices for your dates?

Compare one-way Cairns to Brisbane motorhomes, then put the daily rate into the calculator for your full trip cost.

Compare Cairns to Brisbane motorhomes

Company links open in a new tab. None of them earns us a commission yet; when one does, it will be labelled “Affiliate link”. How we're paid.

Sources

  1. Wet season timing: Road Genius Australia guide.
  2. Ferries: VroomVroomVroom campervan tips.
  3. Distance: our estimate of the main coastal route, about 1,700 km. Driving times are our own estimates.

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.