The ultimate Pacific Coast Way road trip itinerary 

Soak up one of just two of the world’s Everglades, wildlife encounters and culinary excellence along a Pacific Coast Way road trip.  

Linking the Gold Coast to Cairns, the Pacific Coast Way is Queensland’s most spectacular tourist stretch. Rolling over almost 1800 kilometres, it’s a journey that darts from coastline to farmland, sweeping hinterland townships and even a slice of idyllic island life before popping out in the dewy rainforests of Tropical North Queensland. 

While an all-encompassing Pacific Coast Way road trip demands at least a week behind the wheel, one action-packed portion of it runs from the Glitter Strip to Hervey Bay, which you can easily cover in three to four days (your next long weekend, perhaps?). You’ll need to divert from the M1 slightly to unearth the real gems – think dining drenched in local flavours, Indigenous cultural experiences, a drift through one of only two everglade systems on the planet – but I was recently up for the challenge, touring the state’s lesser-known highlights for an utterly unforgettable experience. Here are the best bits.           

Gold Coast to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) 

Distance: 1-hour drive, plus a 45-minute ferry 

Get up close with animals at the famed wildlife park. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

It wouldn’t be a trip to the Gold Coast without kicking off at one of its famed parks – but let’s swap coasters for crusaders. Our favourite of the lot, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, is wholeheartedly committed to protecting the critters the attraction is renowned for, throwing its efforts into varied conservation projects that fight to enhance Australia’s flora and fauna.  

While stepping into the park’s koala enclosure (just one of several up-close animal encounters) proves instantly endearing, it’s the tireless work happening inside the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, found within the park’s grounds, that truly inspires. From wounded ‘roos and fractured wings to pelicans with devoured fishing hooks, patient numbers clocked in at over 16,000 in 2024 and given the region’s wild weather in early March 2025, numbers are bound to soar again. 

Explore the cultural heritage of Burleigh Heads National Park. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Once you’ve wrapped your head around that heroism, brace yourself for a mind-blowing cultural awakening. Just 10 minutes up the Gold Coast Highway lies Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, right at the base of Burleigh Head National Park. Fully owned and run by the local First Nations community, the centre runs various tours that take you through the headland’s eucalypt forest and mangroves. Get your hands dirty in a wall of ochre, a natural pigment adopted for art and body painting and soak up the creation stories of the Kombumerri people. The team also runs a Cruise with Culture tour on the Gold Coast Broadwater up north, but today, we’re pushing along the Pacific Coast Way. 

Punch Cleveland’s SeaLink North Stradbroke Island Vehicle Ferry terminal into your Maps if you think you can make it there before 4.30pm when the last vessel departs. It’s your gateway to island life, just a 45-minute trip off the coast of Brisbane, and a big blue line painted over the road and up to a check-in booth makes getting there a total breeze.  

Having too much fun on the coast? Stay the night so you can catch a ferry the following morning – daily services swing into gear at 7am (and 6am from Monday to Saturday). 

Where to eat 

Grab a sweet treat at Bam Bam Bakehouse. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

On the Gold Coast, breakfast is best spent gazing over serene Currumbin Creek from Tarte Beach House. The house-baked strawberry muffin top is legendary while loaded sandwiches and bagels also hit the spot. Bam Bam Bakehouse’s twice-baked almond croissant is also worth grabbing on the way to the Minjerribah ferry, while Balboa Italian Restaurant dishes up mouth-watering Italian fare, international wines and endlessly warm hospitality, making it a superb dinner choice.   

Where to stay 

Cheshire Cat has an Instagram-worthy pool. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Cheshire Cat in Palm Beach is just a stroll down the highway from Balboa and provides super-comfortable digs in an Instagram-perfected retro motel fit-out. Think Slim Aarons-inspired prints and a terracotta plunge pool brought into now with contactless check-in, Evo bath products and flat-screen TVs.     

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) to Pomona 

Distance: 2-hour drive, plus a 45-minute ferry 

Drive along the popular surfing beach on the eastern side of the island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The second-largest sand island in the world, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), encourages you to drop those shoulders and connect to your surroundings from the moment that ferry sails in. The Quandamooka people, its Traditional Custodians, have been sustained by the land for more than 21,000 years and fascinating relics tracking their original daily life and ceremonies can still be absorbed today.  

Book Yura Tours for a guided cultural experience.

Our hot tip is to sign up for Yura Tours’ Ultimate Minjerribah Cultural Experience, led by a Quandamooka guide like Elisha, who shows you precisely what to look for while exploring the island in her air-conditioned 4WD. The three-hour experience starts with a visit to Brown Lake where a Welcome to Country is performed as tea tree and melaleuca bushland paint the water a vivid burnt caramel.  

You’re also driven to the island’s Old Mission Site, filled with native ginger bushes, an enormous mango tree and other bush tucker that reveal profound cultural significance, and Myora Springs where remaining shell middens are seen from an observation deck. Point Lookout headland is another standout as Elisha’s creation stories provide enthralling commentary while ripples of turquoise and blue crash against the rocks below.  

Avoid heading back to the mainland this evening (we’ve included some accommodation tips below) as rushing time spent in paradise would be such a shame. When it is time to soldier on, however, jump back on that Vehicle Ferry to make tracks to Pomona, a Sunshine Coast hinterland town with bucketloads of artisanal charm and a solid cafe at every corner. 

Where to eat 

Straddie Brewing Co. offers behind-the-scenes tours and tastings. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The place to be seen on the island right now is Straddie Brewing Co., whipping up stellar cold ones from the exceptional sand-filtered water that streams throughout the island. Pair your pick from the core range or limited-edition series with something off their food menu which spans sharing plates, hand-stretched pizza and other pub classics done with flair.  

The Blue Room Cafe is a hotspot known for its dreamy views and chill vibes. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

When it’s caffeine o’clock the following morning, journey to The Blue Room Cafe at Point Lookout, a buzzing shack overlooking the waves that pumps out homemade treats, killer smoothies and wholesome plates to relaxed crowds. It’s right across the road from an awesome, very Hawaiian-feeling long lunch favourite: Six Beaches Fish Grill & Bar.    

Where to stay 

Minjerribah Camping offers beachfront camping grounds. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Minjerribah Camping is an organisation that operates all of the beautiful camping sites on the island, so check out our comprehensive guide to Minjerribah camping to help you make an informed overnight choice. Australian Traveller was impressed by the air-conditioned glamping tents at Bradbury’s Beach, located around the corner from the ferry terminal and overlooking the water. 

Pomona to Noosa Everglades 

Distance: 25-minute drive 

The Noosa Everglades is one of only two Everglades systems on Earth. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jesse Lindemann)

While Sunshine Coast headliners like Noosa and Mooloolaba dial up the glitz, Pomona winds things down, encouraging leisurely exploration around an itty bitty town centre. Grab a cuppa from SpillDEBeans, home to a cosy courtyard ideal for lazing into, before the wonderful Pomona Railway Station Gallery lures you over the road. A community-run initiative sprawled across five historically significant buildings (the Banana Shed and the Blacksmith’s Shop are extremely dear), it’s a portal into Pomona’s beating heart and constantly filled with artistic showcases. 

Time to hit the road – a natural phenomenon is calling. Go slow along the unsealed driveway into Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp, your exclusive pass to the Noosa Everglades. To venture into one of only two Everglade systems in the world (the other is Florida’s Everglades National Park), you’ll need to sign up for one of two Everglades Eco Safaris, which run out of the camp. One is via a canoe and the other takes you on a purpose-built eco-vessel, but both are guided and cover the famed River of Mirrors, the tour’s undisputed money shot.  

A narrow waterway dotted with 44 per cent of Australia’s native birdlife species, its stillness is so remarkable that plant life reflection over the water looks entirely like a mirrored image. Snap readily as photos capture just how motionless the river is – you’ll struggle to distinguish where a tree ends and the water begins, and it’s even more wonderous in person.    

Where to eat 

Pomona Distilling Co. whips up delicious al-fresco meals. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Pomona Distilling Co. is a fabulous spot for lunch. A courtyard strung with festoon and fairy lights creates the ultimate al fresco diner as farm-fresh meals and delicious handcrafted spirits keep locals happily hydrated. 

Once you’ve settled into Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp, the CootharaBAR & Bistro is your only option but, thankfully, it’s home to a micro-brewery that produces 11 top-notch beers and a food menu stacked with local produce.     

Where to stay 

Habitat Noosa caters to families looking for comfortable accommodation. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp offers unpowered and powered campsites, family-friendly safari tents and the glamorous Paperbark Glamping tents amid mobs of kangaroos. Paperbark also includes your own private ensuite, comfy king bed, a bunk bed, bar fridge, ceiling fan, timber deck and fire pit.   

Noosa Everglades to Hervey Bay 

Distance: 2-hour and 10-minute drive 

Catch sight of whales and dolphins in Hervey Bay. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Rise and shine early to navigate dirt roading as you make your way to Hervey Bay via Tin Can Bay Rd. Drivers be warned: If you’re road-tripping in anything smaller than a 4WD, go back through Pomona rather than taking Tin Can Bay as the unsealed nature of this trail is pretty gnarly. Once you hit Maryborough Cooloola Rd, though, it’s back to smooth sailing.  

It pleased me to no end to learn that Hervey Bay is still as chilled out as it always has been, sleepy along The Esplanade despite a string of boutiques and excellent Hervey Bay restaurants popping up in recent years.  

Don’t leave without a dose of dolphin spotting, expertly executed by the crew at Blue Dolphin Marine Tours led by Peter Lynch and his divine other half Jodie. Pete’s been driving vessels for more than 40 years so it should serve as no surprise (though it’s always a thrill) when he points out a family of Australian humpback dolphins or a sea turtle during your endeavours. If you opt for Blue Dolphin’s Champagne Sunset Sail, expect free-flowing beer, wine and bubbles alongside light snacks.  

Given this is your final Pacific Coast Way pit-stop before returning to reality, we say it’s one heck of a breathtaking finale – so just do it.        

Where to eat 

The beachside area gives you access to good food and good views. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Salt Cafe Urangan, down the end of The Esplanade, is a lovely morning pick for strong coffee and generously plated breakfast and lunch – just watch out for the cheeky lorikeets who will likely stalk anything sweet.  

Where to stay 

Discovery Parks gets our seal of approval for an enjoyable stay. (Image: John Montesi)

Our guide to the best Hervey Bay accommodation provides plenty of options for every budget, but Australian Traveller had a ball at Discovery Parks – Fraser Street, Hervey Bay. Facilities include two pools, a spacious amenities block, laundry facilities, tennis courts, a bouncing pillow, a games room, camp kitchen, go-kart hire and more.