Multi Day Trips Around Brisbane

October 30, 2026

Multi-day trips from Brisbane

Brisbane works well as a base for two or three nights in the city, followed by a regional circuit. Keep the loop inside roughly 200 km, because the long drives north to Cairns or south to the Snowy Mountains do not fit a Brisbane-based itinerary. Prices are in Australian dollars and are hedged where the sources disagree.

Island stay: North Stradbroke (Minjerribah)

Point Lookout is the main base for a night or two. It has the North Gorge Walk, a free clifftop path with ocean views, plus Cylinder Beach and Brown Lake. Island accommodation is book-ahead. The SeaLink passenger ferry runs from Toondah Harbour, Cleveland, to Dunwich, with island buses carrying on to Point Lookout, and fares were $13.50 one way for adults from 1 July 2026. Main Beach at Point Lookout is open-ocean surf, so swim at the patrolled Cylinder Beach. Planning pages are on stradbrokeisland.com .

For a stay search, compare North Stradbroke accommodation on Booking.com .

Island stay: Tangalooma, Moreton Island

Overnight guests at Tangalooma Island Resort get access to the evening dolphin feeding, which is a regulated activity and not guaranteed. The resort launch leaves Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, about 75 minutes each way, so a night on the island gives you a full day without the evening rush back. A strong current runs between the Tangalooma Wrecks and the beach, which is unpatrolled, so use a guided snorkel tour. Resort information is on the Tangalooma site .

Hinterland: Tamborine Mountain and Lamington

A car is required. Tamborine Mountain is about 70 km from Brisbane and works as a wine, cheese and rainforest overnight, with Witches Falls Winery on Main Western Road and Cedar Creek Estate nearby. If you taste wine, hire a driver or join a tour. Lamington National Park is about 2 hours by car, and O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk is free with donations welcome. Rock pools on Cedar Creek Falls close in wet weather, so check the Queensland Parks alerts before planning a swim.

Sunshine Coast: Noosa and Australia Zoo

Noosa is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours north of Brisbane, and its national park has a coastal walk. Australia Zoo at Beerwah is a Sunshine Coast attraction, not a Brisbane one, and opens about 9:00 to 17:00. Reseller prices vary widely, so use the zoo’s own site for current tickets.

A simple five-day shape

Spend two or three nights in the city for South Bank, Mt Coot-tha and the river, then add one island night or one hinterland night. Add the Sunshine Coast only if you have a fifth day. Summer brings severe afternoon thunderstorms, so leave slack in the plan between December and February.

For first-time planning, read the city itineraries linked below.