This road trip joins up with the Cunnamulla to Townsville road trip, taking you through the Queensland outback and up to the tropical north coast of Queensland. Camperman has a campervan hire depot in Townsville so you can pick up and drop off at Brisbane and Townsville.
The drive between Cunnamulla and Brisbane changes as you leave the coast and head inland. First you pass through vegetable farmland and climb the Great Dividing Range. Toowoomba and Goondiwindi are stately old cities and worth exploring. From here you drive through cotton fields and wheat fields before arriving in outback country.
Brisbane to Cunnamulla (itinerary below)
Day 1: Brisbane | Toowoomba | Goondiwindi: 350 km | 4 h 15 min
Day 2: Goondiwindi | St George | Cunnamulla : 495 km | 5 hr 45 min
Cunnamulla to Townsville
Day 3: Cunnamulla | Charleville | Tambo: 400 km | 4 hr
Day 4: Tambo | Blackhall | Bacaldine | Longreach: 315 km | 3 hr 20 min
Optional: Idalia, Welford and Lochern National Parks: 8 hr 40 min
Day 6: Longreach | Winton | Hughendon: 390 km | 4 hr
Day 7: Hughendon to Townsville: 385km | 4 hr
Sunflower fields
Toowoomba is perched on the edge of the Great Dividing Range and is a great spot to stop for lunch. Known as the ‘Garden City’ Toowoomba is Queensland’s largest and oldest inland city – home of the lamington and birth place of Oscar winning actor Geoffrey Rush. Cruise around to admire the stately old homes and wide tree-lined streets. The Visitor Information Centre will have a map. Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park are perfect for a stroll or a picnic lunch.
Indigenous Boy mural.
Things to do
Goondiwindi sits on the border of New South Wales and Queensland, on the banks of the MacIntyre River. Its name was derived from an Aboriginal word Goonawinna meaning "the resting place of the birds", but it is a perfect resting place for weary travellers, too. It has all the amenities you could need, along with beautiful historic buildings, tree-lined streets and parklands. Marshall and Herbert Streets have quality stores and are a good place to grab an Akubra hat and moleskin (Drizabone) overcoat.
St George is a service centre for the surrounding farming community and isn't as pretty as Toowoomba but it has a pleasant river running through it and a couple of good caravan parks in which to spend the night.
Things to do
Pelican Rest Tourist
Park
A quiet caravan park within walking distance of the town of St George.
Facilities include a heated therapeutic mineral pool, free WiFi, camp kitchen,
wood fire, BBQs, Gas cookers, TV, laundry, dump point.
RATES; $28 for 2
adults (unpowered). Additional adults $8
St George Caravan
Park
Positioned on the river and in town. It has no website but
receives good reviews.
Rates are not available.
Kamarooka Tourist
Park
In the town of St George with powered grassy sites, camp kitchen, laundry and
BBQ area. It receives good reviews.
Rates are not available.
Soaking in the artesian waters of Charlotte Plains.
Charlotte Plains
Between Cunnamulla and St George is a station where you can bathe in artesian waters. You can spend the night here in your campervan. Facilities are basic but you get to soak in the warm spring waters outdoors!
RATES: $28 per night.
The Cunnamulla to Townsville Drive is the other leg of your journey. It takes in the Matilda Way and showcases some of Queensland's most interesting outback towns and national parks. If you're hiring a campervan from Camperman, you can pick it up from Brisbane or the Gold Coast where your journey begins and drop it off at Townsville, or vice versa.
Heart of Reef Shuttles, 48-50 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, Queensland 4802 Phone: 1800 216 223
20 Noble Avenue, North Gate, Queensland 4013
Phone: 1800 216 223
440 Sheridan Street, Cairns,
Queensland 4870 Phone: 1800 216 223
273 Elizabeth Street, Coburg,
Victoria 3058 Phone: 1800 216 223
23-25 Erskine Rd, Caringbah,
Sydney, NSW 2229 Phone: 1800 216 223
