7 Day Brisbane to Byron Bay Itinerary

Just one hours drive South will take you to your first stop, Surfers Paradise. This is Australia’s number 1 party and holiday destination for Australians. Tonnes of restaurants, entertainment and a beach that stretches over 3km awaits. Travelers come from all around to experience the famous theme parks Dreamworld, Movie World, SeaWorld and numerous water parks all a short drive from each other. Why not spend a few days exploring the area, there are plenty of beach side towns just waiting for you! Grab an ice cream on the beach in Broadbeach, climb the Q1 tower which was the world’s tallest residential tower from 2005-2011, or our personal favourite, head to Draculas’ in the Gold Coast for a night full of laughs and quality food.

From Surfers Paradise, take a detour inland and head to Tamborine Mountain. Watch as the scenery changes from the beach side to the essence of the ‘Green behind the Gold’ as you travel further from the coast. Tamborine Mountain is a perfect travel location all year round and offers a smorgasbord of landscapes and environments to explore across its diverse range of forest vegetation. Local produce markets are on every Sunday morning as well as country markets every other weekend. Stop in for lunch at one of the eateries in Tamborine Mountain, which caters for all tastes. Passionate local producers, rich volcanic soils and unique weather conditions bear foods and produce of the finest quality. Make sure to stretch your legs by taking one of the many bush walks, many of which will take you to rock pools or waterfalls!

Springbrook National Park dominates much of the skyline west of the Gold Coast and offers the perfect escape for nature lovers. The land here is so old, even the trees remember a time when Australia was connected to Antarctica! Springbrook can be described as the Noahs Ark of rainforests, with plenty of animals who find refuge here which cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Springbrook is magic all year round and offers Indigenous experiences, adventure as well as the opportunity to be engulfed in nature at its finest. Make sure you take some time to do the Natural Bridge Circuit walk. The walk is only about 1km and explores the natural rock bridge, plunging waterfall and arched cave surrounded by subtropical rainforest – for the perfect insta-worthy shot!

Once you have explored Springbrook, its time to head back towards the coast to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. This heritage-listed zoological garden has been around for decades and provides informative shows on the native animals to Australia, including close and personal encounters with the wildlife! What better way to get the Australian wildlife experience than the iconic photo holding a Koala bear? There is an entry fee of roughly $40AUD and we recommend bringing a packed lunch when you spend your day with the local animals.

Once you have seen Australia’s wildlife, head back on the road slightly inland to Murwillumbah. Sitting on the South Eastern foothills of the McPherson Range in the Tweed Volcano valley, it offers a picturesque landscape and many farms. The main attraction to this historic township is the original diner and bakery, complete with retro fittings. The Austral Café and Bakery does the best milkshake around!

You know when you have reached Byron Bay when you feel the hippie vibes, see the markets along the beach front and hip cafes all throughout the town. Tourists flock to Byron Bay all year round, it’s a perfect location to get out of the city, but not too far that it takes a long time to get there. We recommend pulling together a picnic and heading to Wategos beach where you can escape the crowds and swim in the sheltered waters of Wategos beach. Byron Bay is famous for the lighthouse, which is the Eastern most point in Australia, if you’re lucky enough you may spot some dolphins or whales as they migrate. You can explore the full view from Cape Byron by taking the walking track which is a 3.7km loops, taking around 2 hours. We recommend heading over to The Farm for a meal before leaving Byron Bay. This is a working farm, plant nursery and sustainable market garden offering tours of its massive location, including a bakery!

It can be easy to escape the responsibilities of life by heading to Byron Bay for a while, not too far you end up spending most the time on the road, but far enough away to get away from the city for a while.

To turn this itinerary into an experience, check out our latest deals & specials on campervan hire in Brisbane.

If you want to read more of our Brisbane adventures, come and explore the dedicated Brisbane Road Trips. Happy Exploring!