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Whether you’re looking for beaches, tropical islands, mountains or wineries, there are many incredible weekend getaways from Brisbane that offer relaxation or adventure – or both!
Brisbane is a city on the move, and it can be chaotic at times and overwhelming, which is why we all need to get out of the hustle and bustle for a while and find respite somewhere different.
Fortunately, Brisbane’s position on the East Coast puts it in close proximity to some of my favourite places in Australia.
Within a short drive, you could be surfing the iconic shores of Byron Bay or hiking up Mount Tamborine or driving a 4×4 along some of the largest sand islands in the world!
So if you’re not sure what the best weekend getaways from Brisbane are, be sure to check out one of these top destinations!
1. The Gold Coast
- Distance: 77.7 km via M1
- Driving time: 1 hour drive
One of the most popular weekend getaways from Brisbane would be to the Gold Coast, a region famous for fun and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Australia.
The Gold Coast region has over 30 kilometres of stunning golden beaches stretching from Coolangatta in the south to Main Beach at Surfers Paradise, with some of the best surfing breaks in the country.
The Goldy attracts visitors all-year-round who come for its great climate and vibrant outdoor lifestyle.
Throw in theme parks, an evolving cafe and craft beer scene, nightlife, the stunning hinterland with rainforest walks and waterfalls, parks, and playgrounds, farmers markets, and every watersport imaginable – it truly has something for everyone.
Whilst most people equate the Gold Coast with Surfers Paradise, Surfers has always felt too touristy and tacky for me with a 24/7 party scene and not a lot of community vibe.
Personally, I prefer the beach towns from Burleigh Heads and south towards Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay.
2. The Sunshine Coast
- Distance: 113 km via M1
- Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes drive
Drive 90 minutes north of Brisbane and you’ll find yourself on the Sunshine Coast, another region with some of the best beaches in Australia, and like the Gold Coast, a stunning hinterland.
Mooloolaba is our personal favourite. It’s teaming with chic cafes and restaurants and Mooloolaba Beach, patrolled seven days a week, is a popular spot for swimming and the place to meet with friends and family for coffee, picnics or BBQ’s. And the Mooloolaba Surf Club sits right on the beach.
Noosa, surrounded by river, beach, hinterland, and Noosa national park, is one of the most well-known holiday destinations in Queensland.
Main Beach is stunning, and there’s plenty of boutique shopping on Hastings Street, but what I love about Noosa is the coastal walk through Noosa Heads National Park, situated right on the edge of town.
As for the Sunny Coast hinterland, The Glass House Mountains (16 volcanic crags that rise up dramatically from the landscape) are stunning, and the towns of Maleny and Montville are popular for a reason.
3. Fraser Island
- Distance: 360.6 km via M1 and Bruce Hwy/A1
- Driving time: 6 hour drive
Who doesn’t love an island getaway? Of course, Australia is one big island in itself, so I guess we’re permanently on an island here, but Fraser Island is something special and one of my favourite getaways from Brisbane.
As the world’s largest sand island – stretching 123 km long and 23 km wide – Fraser is a mecca for 4wdriving enthusiasts, in particular, 75 Mile Beach on the eastern side of the island offers coastal four-wheel-driving at its best.
But it offers so much more. Besides 75 Mile beach, drive along the sand tracks through towering rainforest, swim in one of the many freshwater lakes like Lake Mackenzie, or take a dip at Champagne Pools or float down Eli Creek.
Visit the shipwreck, spot whales migrating north and wake up to sunrise at Eurong Beach. If you want an epic place to stay on Fraser Island, look no further than Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Read more: things to do on Fraser Island and how to visit Fraser Island in a day (but we recommend longer!)
4. Moreton Island
- Distance: 57 km
- Ferry time: 75-minutes
- Depart from: Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba, Brisbane to Tangalooma Jetty, see ferry times here
Moreton Island is like a mini Fraser Island, another sand island that’s excellent for 4×4 adventure driving, yet it’s easily accessible just off the coast of Brisbane.
Take your own vehicle or do a tour with the folks from Sunset Safaris like we did.
You’ve got the four-wheel driving action, camping, fishing, freshwater lakes, a lighthouse, wild dolphin feeding at Tangalooma Island Resort and snorkelling or kayaking around the Tangalooma Wrecks in a unique transparent kayak, a great way to see the vibrant marine life without getting in the ocean.
Be sure to get amongst the sand dunes and zoom down on a sandboard reaching speeds of up to 40km per hour!
Moreton Island is adventure or relaxation. Either way, you’re surrounded by nature at its best.
5. The Bunya Mountains
- Distance: 234.2 km via D’Aguilar Hwy
- Driving time: 3 hour drive
Queensland is full of surprises. Bunya Mountain National Park is situated between Kingaroy and Dalby, and is a spectacular wilderness range overlooking the South Burnett region.
The Bunya Mountains are home to the largest stand of ancient bunya pines in the world, there’s lovely walks here, and it’s one of the only places in the Sunshine State to experience a real winter.
6. Hervey Bay
- Distance: 294.8 km via M1 and Bruce Hwy/A1
- Driving time: 3 hour 30 minutes drive
Hervey Bay is a 3.5 hour drive north of Brisbane and is renowned for being the whale watching capital of Australia.
Every year between June and October thousands of humpback whales migrate up and down the east coast of Australia and the protected calm waters of Hervey Bay is a favourite transit stop for them as they rest and play. It’s a spectacular sight!
Besides whales, Hervey Bay is a chilled out place. Enjoy sunset at Enzo’s on the Beach, take a walk along the Esplanade (the 14km long shared pathway stretches from the Urangan Harbour at the eastern end of the city to Gatakers Bay in the west).
7. Australia Zoo
- Distance: 83.3 km via M1
- Driving time: 1 hour 10 minutes drive
Just over an hours drive north of Brisbane, at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, you can spend half a day or a whole day at the home to the late, great Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo, the ultimate wildlife adventure.
Built around the live croc show in the Crocoseum, this show was Steve’s dream, a way to show and educate people about crocs and how they behave in the wild. We’ve seen a few croc shows around the country and this one is still the best.
You can also meet and learn about the who’s who of Aussie and African wildlife, and a visit to the Koala Hospital next door is something I highly recommend.
8. Rainbow Beach
- Distance: 246.0 km via M1
- Driving time: 2 hours 50 minutes drive
Rainbow Beach is a small beachside town and is special in more ways than one, being one of the only places in Queensland where you can go horse riding on a beach.
This was a unique family experience for us. We’d ridden horses before along trails, but never along the edge of the surf on a pristine stretch of beach.
Rainbow Beach has many accolades – it has been featured on the front cover of the 2012 publication of “101 best beaches of Australia,” and Rough Guides ranked it at number 3 in their article of “Best Beaches in the World.”
To get to Rainbow Beach you can drive for three hours up the M1 motorway via Gympie, or, a more adventurous route for those with a 4×4 vehicle you can take on what I call “Australia’s best shortcut,” the Great Beach Drive starting from Noosa’s North Shore.
Driving along the beach between Teewah and Double Island Point, on one side you have miles of sparkling Pacific Ocean, and on the other the Great Sandy National Park.
Why take the busy and boring M1 when you can take nature’s expressway?!
Read more on our post on the Great Beach Drive on the Sunshine Coast!
9. North Stradbroke Island
- Distance: 56 km via State Route 22
- Drive time: 1 hour 55 minutes drive
A weekend getaway to North Stradbroke Island is a refreshing escape into nature without having to venture too far away!
Just a 2 hour drive away, North Stradbroke Island is the place to go for stunning beaches and 4×4 beach driving adventures. Like Fraser Island, Straddie is a sand island known for its wildlife and laid-back vibes.
From glistening lakes to dense mangrove forests, with wild kangaroos and wallabies hopping about and whales frolicking in the ocean, this is a natural escape calling.
Some of our favorite attractions on Straddie are Cylinder Beach and Main Beach, and we also love the scenic North Gorge Walk, which provides breathtaking views of the coastline!
If you want a lovely place to stay on Strabroke try Couron Cove Island Resort on South Stradbroke Island (the more developed side, but stil not really!)
10. Stanthorpe
- Distance: 217.8 km via National Highway 15 and National Highway 15
- Drive time: 2 hours 40 minutes drive
Stanthorpe in Queensland’s picturesque Granite Belt region is famous for its cool climate and lush vineyards.
Explore the local wineries, such as the Ridgemill Estate, and enjoy wine tastings and gourmet food experiences – this region is known for its apples and stone fruits, so be sure to sample them on your visit.
The main attractions in the Granite Belt are the stunning Girraween National Park, where granite outcrops and wildflower displays showcase why this region has its name, as well as the Granite Belt Brewery, showing that it’s not just wine that this land is known for.
Stanthorpe’s charm lies in its friendly small-town atmosphere. There’s little more than 5,000 residents, and only a handful of things to do, which is exactly why it’s the best place to escape to.
When it all becomes a bit chaotic in Brizzie, the slow-pace of life in Stanthorpe will recharge your battery.
11. Toowoomba
- Distance: 127.3 km via Warrego Hwy/A2
- Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes drive
Toowoomba is a wonderful blend of natural beauty and cultural experiences, all set against the backdrop of Queensland’s picturesque Darling Downs.
Known as the “Garden City,” Toowoomba boasts stunning parks and gardens, including the famous Queens Park and the vibrant Toowoomba Botanic Gardens, which are perfect for leisurely strolls and picnics.
One of the biggest attractions in Toowoomba is the Cobb+Co Museum which is known for its horse-drawn carriages, as well as Ravensbourne National Park, known for its towering red cedars and rainforest and Crows Nest National Park, famous for its eucalypt forest and granite boulders.
Toowoomba is also known for Cobb & Co Museum, with its horse-drawn carriages.
One of our favorite things to do here though is take a scenic drive through the breathtaking countryside and just take in the beautiful scenery.
12. Bribie Island
- Distance: 95.0 km via M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 35 minutes drive
Another island in Moreton Bay, and perhaps more of a hidden gem compared to the other islands mentioned in this guide, is Bribie Island.
Known for its blissful beaches and calm waters of Pumicestone Passage where dugongs, turtles, dolphins, pelicans, and many other bird species call home – this is the place to go if you want to escape tourists and go where the locals go.
It’s a small island, and has lots of quiet walking trails and opportunities for birdwatching.
What makes Bribie Island special is its laid-back atmosphere. Since it’s only an hour and a half from Brisbane, you could easily visit for a day, or a weekend getaway, when you need calmer vibes to re-energize you.
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Which of these getaways would you take from Brisbane? Let us know in the comments!
