Great Beach Drive
Great Beach Drive, Rainbow Beach, Gympie Region
If you’re looking for a road trip on the longer end of the scale, then the Great Beach Drive is for you—a 380km off-the-beaten-track adventure that starts from Noosa north shore. The clincher here is that you’ll need a 4WD for the ride, but trust us, it’s worth the wrangling. The journey will take you through not one but two UNESCO Biospheres alongside the sparkling Pacific Ocean, where on any given day you'll be in the prime position to spot turtles, dolphins or even humpback whales during migration season.
Couple at Rainbow Beach, Gympie Region, Sunshine Coast
Kick it off in Noosa, before hitting the great sandy highway north to Rainbow Beach. Along the way, stop off at Teewah Beach—the entry point to the UNESCO Great Sandy biosphere—for the night for some of the best beachside camping you’ll ever experience, before continuing on to Double Island Point, perfect for surfing.
Next you’ll drive along the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach (which were stained over thousands of years by iron-rich minerals) to Inskip Point, which is the gateway to K'gari, home of the Butchulla people. If you’d rather leave the driving up to someone else, you can jump on a tour with Epic Ocean Adventures and Great Beach Drive 4wd Tours for a road trip you will never forget.
Blackall Range Tourist Drive
Blackall Range Scenic Drive, Driving by the Glass House Mountains, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
For one of the most scenic and stunning road trips on the Sunshine Coast, put Blackall Range Tourist Drive at the top of your list. This trip will see you take in quaint country towns, wind through the mountains, and score jaw-dropping views of the valleys and coast below. Kicking off in Mooloolaba, turn your car towards the Glass House Mountains and stop in at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Comprising 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest, take a moment to zen out and take in the deep forest in all her glory. Pro tip: pack a picnic for this special spot.
Make your way to Maleny, an adorable dairy town home to some epic eats like Maleny Food Co., Brouhaha Brewery and Maleny Cheese. Post food coma, it is time to move on to Montville. Founded in 1887, this historic town is perched on the edge of the Blackall Range and is home to a range of boutique stores, dining spots, and spectacular views.
Walking in Kondalilla National Park, Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Next up, head to Kondalilla Falls Lookout. Stretch your legs with the Kondalilla Falls Circuit (a 4.8km return walk) and cool off with a dip in the rockpools. Now it’s time for your final destination—Mapleton Falls National Park. Keen walkers will want to try the Wompoo Circuit, a 1.3km walk that boasts views of Mapleton Falls and Obi Obi Valley.
Coastal Drive
Walking along the Coastal Pathway, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast
Boasting so much pristine coastline, it would be remiss not to load up your caravan and check out one of Queensland's most beautiful road trips—the coastal drive. Start at the base of the Sunshine Coast in the gorgeous Caloundra and take the Nicklin Way north. Cruise through Kawana Waters and stop at the surf club for a parmy and a stroll along the coastline. Next, it’s time to head to Mooloolaba, where you’ll park the caravan at Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park. Cool off with a dip at the beach (the holiday park has direct access), then enjoy one of the best meals of your life at Riceboi at the Wharf Mooloolaba. The next morning, grab a pastry from Kenilworth Country Bakery’s Mooloolaba digs and hit the road.
Family at Mooloolaba Beach, Sunshine Coast
Stop off at Alexandra Headland for a swim and stroll to stretch your legs before following the banks of the South Maroochy River. The views are breathtaking here, so make sure your phone is charged for pics. Continue on the Sunshine Motorway north and take the Marcoola exit to discover one of the Sunshine Coast’s most stunning slices of beachside paradise. From there, you can cruise to Coolum Beach and set up camp (or your caravan) at Coolum Beach Holiday Park, which you'll find located conveniently near the surf club.
Walk up Mount Coolum, Sunshine Coast
Get your body moving (and work off those pastries) by climbing Mt Coolum, an impressive ancient laccolith. From there, you’ll cruise through the seaside towns of Peregian and Castaways Beach before finishing up at Sunshine Beach. Spanning only 55km in total, you can enjoy this road trip in as little as a few hours or really make the most of it over a few days.
Yandina To Eumundi
Mt Ninderry and Yandina, Sunshine Coast
Keen to fire up the playlists and explore some of the Sunshine Coast's lesser-known back roads? This beautiful road trip from Yandina to Eumundi has your name written all over it.
Starting in Yandina, wander the Saturday morning markets, fuelling up on a cup of the good stuff from Lawn Espresso. Once you’ve given your credit card a run, it’s time to get behind the wheel and head down Old Gympie Road, which will soon turn into Cooloolabin Road. You’ll eventually turn onto Buckby Road, which is unsealed (so you’ll need to ensure your car can handle it). Follow this along and head to Point Glorious Lookout. Much like the name suggests, this lookout is straight-up gorgeous and boasts views of Mt Eewah. The 3km return walk is absolutely worth it.
The Original Eumundi Markets, Eumundi
From there, you’ll want to cruise back along Buckby Road and travel north until you get to Eumundi-Kenilworth Road. Then, it’s all about rolling the windows down and soaking up the scenery until you arrive at Eumundi. Must-do activities here include checking out the iconic Eumundi Markets and stopping in at Matso's Sunshine Coast. If you want to extend your stay (and trust us, you will), head to Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation.
Looking for more driving adventures? Check out our guide to the Sunshine Coast leg of the Pacific Coast Way.
By Visit Sunshine Coast
Published 9 days ago
