Now that we are all ‘’Holidaying Here This Year”, road trips are more popular than ever. Australia is huge, but that doesn’t mean your road trip has to be. Here are three of the best road trips less than four hours from Brisbane that will allow you to get there quickly, giving you plenty of time to take it slow when you arrive.
1. Murwillumbah
Just 1 hour and 40 minutes from Brisbane, Murwillumbah is one of NSW’s best-kept secrets. In the shade of the North Coast’s tallest mountain, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wollumbin (aka Mt Warning) and set on the Tweed River, Murwillumbah is the perfect place to take it slow.
Road trippers will be pleased to discover that Murwillumbah is a green oasis, situated in the vast crater of the eroded Tweed Volcano, which last erupted 20 million years ago and is now covered in rainforest and farmland.
What to see and do
Murwillumbah is described as the creative heart of the wonderful Tweed Region and is home to the Tweed Regional Gallery. This is no ordinary small-town gallery. Surrounded by lush gardens with stunning rolling hills, the gallery is also home to the Margaret Olley Art Centre, an area that pays tribute to Australia’s most celebrated still life and interior painter.
Nature lovers will find Murwillumbah is the perfect picturesque base for exploring the region’s national parks, including the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park. If you prefer the beaches to the mountains, a short 30-minute drive will bring you to the fabulous Kingscliff Beach. Here you can enjoy the relaxed vibe and splash around where Cudgen Creek meets the ocean, or if the conditions are right head out for a surf. The waves are usually bigger on the southern side of the creek.
Head to Clarrie Hall Dam for fishing and boating or tee off at the Murwillumbah Golf Club. Don’t miss the Makers and Finders Markets to get your hands on locally grown, fresh seasonal produce and artisan products.
Where to eat and drink
Located at the Tweed River Gallery, Gallery by Bacaro is a Venetian-inspired cafe offering a laid-back breakfast and lunch with Instagram-worthy views over the rolling green hills of Murwillumbah.
Ventura Brewing Co is Australia’s first artisanal alcoholic kombucha brewery. This unique hard kombucha is made in limited small batches with all-natural ingredients just outside of Murwillumbah.
Where to stay
La Rocher Eco Retreat is the place to stay to treat yourself. There are only four villas with views overlooking Mount Warning and each villa has close access to the infinity pool. You’ll love the freestanding bath with endless views over the rolling hills and the double-sided log fireplace for those chilly winter nights.
2. Marburg
Despite being only 45 minutes from Brisbane, Marburg feels a world away from the hustle of the city. This small town in the locality off Ipswich is just that, small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in charm and awesome things to see and do in the surrounding areas.
What to see and do
In the town off Marburg itself, don’t miss The Soul Nook Collective where you can experience a picnic in a boho-styled bell tent, set within the ground of the beautifully restored Old Marburg Church. Inside the former church, you will find a range of boutique fashion and unique giftware personally curated by owner Taryn Ryan.
Marburg is an antique lover’s dream, home to both Scotland Yard Antiques and The Black Museum. Born in Scotland, Les Birnie has been at the helm of Scotland Yard Antiques for around 3 decades and inside his store, you will find a large selection of … well, everything. From furniture to books through to old telephones and dainty teacups, this shop is fascinating. Les’s son Athol shares his father’s skill of seeking out antiques and you will find his unique collection of contemporary design pieces right next door at The Black Museum.
Pay a visit to Summerland Camels for a great tour of the facilities, feed the adorable camels and learn why Camel Milk is the next big thing. Before you leave, make sure to try out their camel milk skin products and indulge in a ‘camelcino’, both of which are divine.
Head to Watercress Creek Olives and Limes to meet Bernie and Lorraine Mahon for a tour of their lovely olive and lime farm. Picnics can be pre-ordered for your arrival and you can spread out a rug in the lime orchard or within the strangely satisfying rows of olive trees to enjoy the local produce.
Where to eat and drink
If picnics are your style, book into either (or both) the Soul Nook Collective or Watercress Creek Olives and limes mentioned above. Alternatively, Spicers Hidden Vale offers fantastic farm-to-plate food at their restaurant Homage, with lovely views over the surrounding countryside.
Where to stay
Set of 47 acres, Tallavalley Farm B&B is the perfect place to stay to experience Marburg. You’ll have the entire modern cottage farm to yourself, which is packed full of enjoyable features such as a deck with expansive views of the countryside and a fireplace for those cooler nights. You can even bring your furry friends to stay here, both dog and horse varieties.
3. Hervey Bay
At 3.5 hours drive north of Brisbane, Hervey Bay is perfect for laid-back seaside getaways. Here you will find a golden beach that stretches for around 14km, some of the best whale watching in the world, and access to World Heritage-listed K’Gari (Fraser Island).
What to see and do
Hervey Bay is known for its sheltered beaches and most visitors take advantage of this with a lovely stroll or push-bike ride alongside it down the well-maintained esplanade footpath. With beaches on one side and a multitude of cafes and accommodation options on the other, you will find plenty of grassy areas to stop as you please. Those of you with kids will want to head to the Pialba end of the esplanade for Wetside Waterpark, which is free to visit.
From July to November, the whale watching opportunities here are epic. Whale watching is extra-special here as the inquisitive whales stop and play for a while in the calm bay before continuing their migration.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience World Heritage-listed K’Gari. From the stunningly clear water that fades into the deep blue of Lake McKenzie to the rainforests that grow in the sand at Central Station, through to floating down Eli Creek on oversized novelty kids’ floaties, Fraser Island is an experience not to be missed. A 4WD is required to get around however if you don’t have one, either hire one or jump on a tour.
Visitors to Hervey Bay can also try their hand at fishing off the iconic Urangan Pier or enjoy a visit to the Urangan Pier Park Community Markets, which are held every Saturday from 7 am – 1 pm directly oppositive the entrance to the pier.
Where to eat and drink
Fish and chips on the beach are divine in Hervey Bay as the sun goes down however when you want to hit up a restaurant, don’t miss Eat at Dan and Steph’s.
After winning season 4 of My Kitchen Rules in 2013, Dan and Steph Mulheron created an urban-style eatery designed for people to leave happy and satisfied with friends and families. There is a children’s menu, and they even cater to those who have had weight loss surgery.
Where to stay
Offering one, two, and three-bedroom suites, Oaks Hervey Bay Resort and Spa is in a prime location within close walking distance to the Urangan Pier and is just a stone’s throw from beaches and laid back eateries. If you make your way over to Fraser Island, Kingfisher Bay is a popular choice.
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