The Great Sunshine Way is a famous Australian coastal drive perfect for road trips! The route begins in Queensland on the beaches of the Gold Coast and travels north along the east coast to the historic town of Bundaberg.
The beauty of a road trip is being able to travel at your own pace, leaving room for spontaneous adventures – and there are many cool places to stop on the way. Whether you’re hiring a car or taking your own make sure your car is serviced and ready to roll before you set off. The roads in Australia can be hard to handle in rural areas, so check up on your road safety to avoid getting caught out.
Read on to check out the must-see places to stop off at along the Great Sunshine Way drive and get inspired for your trip today.
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is the most iconic beach on the Gold Coast. A popular holiday destination with Australians and international travellers, this beach is not to be missed. As the name suggests Surfers Paradise is a great spot for surfing and hosts prestigious surfing competitions throughout the year. An entertainment hub with world-class bars, clubs and restaurants there’s always something happening on the beach from arts and community events to the eclectic beachfront markets.
Moreton Island
The metropolitan city of Brisbane is the next stop along the Great Sunshine Way. Travel another 58 kilometres outside the city and catch a ferry to Moreton Island for an amazing day trip. One of Queensland’s best kept secrets, the island is the world’s third largest sand island. In sharp contrast to Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s futuristic skyscrapers, Moreton Island has had very little development with 98 percent of the island a protected National Park.
Noosa Heads
Noosa is the next stop on the route. Noosa is a historic surfing town around 130 kilometres from Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast. A haven for surfers, Noosa Heads is famous on world surfing circuits for its waves and holds many surfing competitions including the Noosa Festival of Surfing. Take a walk along the strikingly beautiful headlands and enjoy the ocean vistas or visit Noosa National Park to check out the local koalas in their natural habitat.
Fraser Island
Take a ferry over to Fraser Island and enjoy unspoilt, natural paradise. There are no paved roads, so four wheel drives are encouraged! Take yours out for a spin on the amazing 75 Mile Beach and explore the inland on the Great Beach Drive. On foot, discover the sparkling inland lakes and take a refreshing dip in the Champagne Pools.
Mon Repos Beach
The last stop on the journey is the city of Bundaberg, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Head down to Mon Repos beach to witness thousands of baby turtle hatchlings race to the ocean. Book yourself a spot on the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter for a ranger guided encounter with the hatchlings and discover the magic of the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region.