Are you planning a visit to south-east Queensland soon? Renowned for its relaxed approach to life, southeast Queensland is famous for its breathtaking green scenery and glorious white sand beaches. In this article, we explore the best day trips from Brisbane and offer ideas to help you make the most out of your time in this beautiful little corner of the world with great places to explore, relax and unwind.
Brisbane Day Trip #1 – Explore The Sunshine Coast Hinterland & Glasshouse Mountains
Enjoy an excursion to the serene Sunshine Coast Hinterland, just a little over an hour’s drive north of Brisbane City. The region offers plenty of unforgettable experiences for nature lovers, foodies and families alike. Here, you can escape to the crisp fresh air of the Glasshouse Mountains and enjoy the lush green rainforest valleys, stunning mountain scenery and scenic lookouts. At Wild Horse Mountain Lookout in the Glass House Mountains, revel in gorgeous panoramic views across Pumicestone Passage and Bribie and Moreton Islands. The stunning Glass House Mountains National Park should not be missed, with thirteen ancient mountain peaks, verdant rainforests and many exciting adventure activities on offer. Take a stroll through the subtropical rainforest at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve for beautiful views overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains.
Explore the quaint, beautiful towns of Montville, Maleny, Mapleton and Flaxton, each filled with unique boutiques, cosy cafes, fantastic local art galleries, and offering superb local produce. Wine lovers can head to the Flame Hill Vineyard to enjoy ethically and sustainably produced wine and cuisine from one of Australia’s world-class, award-winning estate vineyards.
Families will enjoy getting up close and personal with Australia’s unique, diverse animals at Australia Zoo, made famous by the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, or a day out at The Big Pineapple, where you can climb the iconic Big Pineapple, visit the Wildlife HQ zoo, and complete the TreeTop Challenge, the highest ropes course in Australia.
Brisbane Day Trip #2 – Travel The Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive
Are you looking for a delightful day trip by car where you can discover new things around each corner? Offering a relaxing journey from Wynnum and Manly through the beautiful hinterland of Mount Cotton to the Bayside peninsula’s Victoria Point, Cleveland and Wellington Point, the Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive is marked with distinctive brown and white dugong signs. This journey will appeal to lovers of history, nature, arts and culture, fresh food and wine alike, with ample opportunities to learn, dine and unwind amid some of the best scenery southeast Queensland has to offer.
Discover the rich local history by uncovering the region’s heritage trails and visit iconic locations such as the Old Cleveland Lighthouse (1864). Go sailing on Moreton Bay or swim, snorkel, camp, surf, fish or feed wild dolphins at Moreton Island. Tour the Sirromet Winery, a family-owned winery at the scenic Mount Cotton which has collected more than 900 esteemed national and international awards for its exquisite wines. Explore markets overflowing with local produce and crafts from local artisans. Relax on Queen Beach, Margate Beach or Suttons Beach, and enjoy Wellington Point’s iconic Moreton Bay fig trees. Enjoy alfresco dining at Cleveland Point for exceptional views of the beautiful Moreton Bay and its spectacular islands.
Brisbane Day Trip #3 – Beach Hop On The Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is renowned for its beautiful pristine coastline, which stretches for more than 50 kilometres. You will be spoilt for choice with world-class beaches to enjoy the surf, from Caloundra Beach, Moffat Beach, Kings Beach and Bulcock Beach in the south to Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland on the central coast, and Noosa Heads, Coolum, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach and Mudjimba in the north. Bask in a gorgeous sunrise or sunset, breathe in the fresh, crisp air of the Pacific Ocean, and feel the pure white sand between your toes.
If you’re keen on casting a line, Coolum and Noosa are home to many quality fishing destinations due to their beaches, rocky headlands and waterways. Noosa River is abundant with bream, tailor, flathead, ocean fish, mangrove jack and sand whiting, while Noosa Heads is popular with anglers seeking to catch bream and jewfish. For dart, whiting, bream and flathead, check out Stumers Creek.
For natural beauty, you can’t beat Noosa National Park, a wedge of rugged coastline jutting into the Pacific Ocean and a wildlife sanctuary protecting beautiful stretches of eucalypt forest, melaleuca wetland, heathland and dense rainforest. Whale enthusiasts will love Coolum’s Point Perry, which provides one of the best lookouts on the Sunshine Coast to watch humpback whales arrive during their migration season. If you love eating and shopping, we recommend exploring Noosa Heads and the glamorous Mooloolaba Esplanade, where you can dine at stylish alfresco and fresh seafood restaurants and trendy cafes, and shop at designer fashion boutiques.
Brisbane Day Trip #4 – Girraween National Park and the Granite Belt
Just three hours’ drive north of Brisbane City, Girraween National Park in the heart of Queensland’s Granite Belt is a place like no other. Renowned for its dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife, Girraween offers countless opportunities for bushwalking and rock climbing adventures. Over 17 kilometres of tracks entice nature lovers of every hiking skill level to this gorgeous national park.
Here, huge granite outcrops and angular tors soar above beautiful spring wildflowers and open forests. Explore the breathtaking scenery on foot with almost 30 kilometres of walking tracks, including the 280 metre Wyberba Walk alongside Bald Rock Creek and the famous Granite Arch. Climb the Pyramid for a spectacular view over the park, explore the Junction, Castle Rock, Sphinx and Turtle Rock trails, or relax with a picnic in the shady Bald Rock Creek camping area. This idyllic wilderness is the perfect place to unwind, watch birds or look out for bearded dragons sunbathing on the granite rocks. Visiting at night offers up the perfect opportunity to look for ringtail possums as they dart high above in the eucalypt trees.
Brisbane Day Trip #5 – Roam the Gold Coast Hinterland
If you’re keen for some of the best scenery that south-east Queensland has to offer, the Gold Coast Hinterland is full of wonderful (even breathtaking) surprises. Just over one hour’s drive from Brisbane city, the region is brimming with unspoilt World Heritage landscapes, charming mountain villages with antique shops, award-winning wineries, and stunning coastal views. Spend the day like an active local, bushwalking and hunting for waterfalls at the stunning Lamington National Park. Explore the ancient Gondwana rainforest and keep your eyes peeled for unique Australian wildlife at Springbrook National Park, one of the world’s oldest national parks.
Looking for an eco-adventure or maybe an adrenaline rush? Experience the thrill of ziplining between mountains at Tamborine Mountain’s Treetop Challenge, where you’ll achieve stunning heights and fast speeds in the gorgeous rainforest. Explore the stunning Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and walk 1.5 kilometres along the rainforest floor, across high-tech steel bridges to the highest points of the upper canopy, and cross a bridge that soars a breathtaking 30 metres above the creek and rainforest below.
Seize the opportunity to explore the gorgeous landscapes and places in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Contact Hughes on 1300 615 165 to explore our luxury chauffeured tour packages today.
