Are you seeking a fun, short and easy Brisbane roadtrip to do with the kids? Then you need to check out the Brisbane to Agnes Water QLD drive.
This Brisbane roadtrip has to be one of the best and most underrated roadtrips in Australia and can be completed in a half a day. Otherwise, if you’re not in a rush you can spread it out over a couple of days to explore the stop-off destinations.
What makes this roadtrip great for families, is it’s a short drive from Brisbane and will have you and the kids stumbling upon some amazing towns, sights and experiences in regional Queensland.
And to top it off, you will be arriving at one of the most stunning coastal towns in Australia, which has been voted the best small tourism town for 2021.
This of course is Agnes Water, a hidden gem that’s fast becoming a popular destination for families in Queensland.
Agnes Water Queensland.
So, let us show you why the roadtrip Brisbane to Agnes Water should be on your family’s travel bucket list and where you can stop-off in a day or over a couple of days.
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Brisbane Roadtrip Itinerary: Brisbane to Agnes Water
What’s great about the Brisbane to Agnes Water roadtrip is it offers two distinct drive options to take. One route offers a coastal drive and the other offers a rural country town experience.
Both routes leave Brisbane via the Bruce Hwy and M1 before taking their own paths.
Below we’ll cover both options starting with the coastal drive from Brisbane to Agnes Water and then the return journey will be the country drive from Agnes Water to Brisbane.
Brisbane CBD.
Brisbane to Tin Can Bay
- Travel Distance: 217km
- Travel Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
As you leave the city of Brisbane behind, our first stop in the Brisbane to Agnes Water roadtrip is the secluded and picturesque coastal town of Tin Can Bay.
Being less than a three hour drive from Brisbane, this relaxed seaside destination located close to Fraser Island offers plenty of wonderful natural and recreational activities for families.
Things to do in Tin Can Bay
From beach horse riding, ocean kayaking, surfing, fishing, golf and trips out to Fraser Island, it’s not only a stunning stop-off destination but it’s also a great spot to extend your family’s travels as there are so many things to do in Tin Can Bay with kids.
What we love most about Tin Can Bay is it offers one of the rarest and special animal encounters on mainland Australia. This is viewing and hand feeding wild dolphins held at Barnacles Dolphin Centre – a must do experience!
Tin Can Bay dolphins feeding experience.
So, to incorporate this experience into your roadtrip Brisbane to Agnes Water adventure we recommend leaving Brisbane early in the morning around 4am to arrive by 7am, which is when the viewing and feeding commence each day.
If you prefer to take your time and leave later in the day, why not stay in Tin Can Bay overnight or for a few days so you can comfortably arrive and do the Tin Can Bay dolphins feeding experience.
Where to stay in Tin Can Bay?
There are a variety of Tin Can Bay accommodation options available for families including:
- Tin Can Bay Motels
- Tin Can Bay’s Sleepy Lagoon Motel
- Rainbow Sands Resort
- BI4 Breeze Holiday Park – Rainbow Beach
Tin Can Bay to Bargara Beach
- Travel Distance: 193km
- Travel Time: 2 hours 14 minutes
After visiting Tin Can Bay for a couple of hours to do the dolphin feeding Tin Can Bay experience and eat breakfast, or over a few days to explore the Fraser Coast region – it’s off to our next stop being Bargara Beach in Bundaberg.
Just over two hours drive from Tin Can Bay, Bargara Beach is a relaxing and refreshing destination to visit, stretch the legs and refuel on your Brisbane to Agnes Water roadtrip.
This is another cool coastal destination in regional Queensland where you can visit for a few hours or stay a few days. It’s a stunning spot overlooking the ocean and has a variety of shops, restaurants/ bars and cafes to enjoy.
Things to do in Bargara Beach
Similar to Tin Can Bay, there are plenty of things to do in Bagara for kids. Some of our top picks include taking a dip at the Basin, learning to surf at Kelly Beach and Bargara Beach or if you really want to splurge and have the time, charter a small plane over to Lady Elliot Island for the day.
Another great attraction while visiting Bagara with kids is to visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre to learn about the loggerhead turtle.
Here you can walk the 4.5km coastal track serving up stellar scenery, and in November to March you can also see the turtles nesting and hatching on the Mon Repos beaches.
But, if you only want to spend a couple of hours in Bagara then we recommend stopping at Turtle Park, which overlooks the ocean and has a large playground and plenty of space to sit and enjoy a picnic.
There are also BBQs, toilets plus showers and change rooms available. This is handy if the kids want to play and swim at the beach.
There are also a bunch of restaurants and cafes nearby with some favourites being Rick’s at Bargara, Rocklatino Caffe, Bargara Surf Club and Bargara Beach Takeaway.
Where to stay in Bargara Bundaberg?
As Bagara and the Bundaberg region offers plenty of attractions and activities, a couple days stay is a popular choice by families.
So, if that’s something you and the kids are up for during your roadtrip here are some top Bagara Beach accommodation options:
- Bargara Caravan Park
- Mantra Bargara Resort
- The Point Resort Bargara
- Sandcastles Bargara
- Coral Sands Bargara
- Grand Mercure Apartments Bargara Bundaberg (C Bargara Resort)
- Kellys Beach Resort Bargara
Bundaberg to Agnes Water
- Travel Distance: 121km
- Travel Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
Now that you’ve travelled from Brisbane to Bundaberg, you only have 1.5 hours left till you arrive at Agnes Water.
This last stretch of the roadtrip features mostly quiet single lane roads and country bushland scenery. We recommend this stretch of the roadtrip drive is travelled during the day so you have plenty of sunlight.
If you stopped for lunch at Bargara, you should arrive at Agnes Water in the afternoon ready for check-in. And, this is where the fun really begins on your roadtrip as there are heaps of fun things to do in Agnes Water for families.
Fishing at Chinamans Beach, Agnes Water QLD.
This includes fishing, swimming, surfing, hiking, lookouts, watching ocean sunsets and glamping (more on this below!).
Another great thing about this coastal town is there are plenty of affordable Agnes Water accommodation options. And, one place we highly recommend to stay, giving you an affordable beachfront glamping experience is at Agnes Water Beach Holidays.
Here you’ll be spoiled with beachfront views, surreal sunrises and falling asleep to the soothing sounds of the ocean. It’s simply incredible and you can see what it’s like in this Agnes Water Beach Holidays Review.
Glamping QLD experience at Agnes Water Beach Holidays.
Return Brisbane Roadtrip Itinerary
As mentioned the Brisbane to Agnes Water roadtrip offers two route options – the above coastal drive and the other route being a rural country drive where you can stop at Childers.
We’ll cover this below and why we think it’s a good option to do on your return journey back to Brisbane.
Agnes Water to Childers
- Travel Distance: 182km
- Travel Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
As you make your way from Agnes Water to Childers, you’ll know when you start to get close as this charming rural town will welcome you with rich dirt farms, rolling hills and sweeping tee-line streets.
Childers is a town that will take you down memory lane with its masonry buildings, unique streets and past history.
Formerly a service town for the surrounding sugar cane fields, today the town is a tourist and roadtrip hotspot as it offers visitors the chance to step back in time and enjoy it’s multicultural heritage.
Things to do in Childers?
As a result of its strong historic roots there are plenty of memorable things to do in Childers for families and roadtrip travellers driving from Agnes Water to Brisbane.
Some of our top things to do in Childers include the Heritage Walk, visiting the Palace Backpacker Memorial, Childers Historical Complex, Old Pharmacy Museum, Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo and Flying High Bird Pak.
There are also a bunch of picturesque Childers wineries to sample delicious local and traditional Sicialian-made vino. You can do this at the Hill of Promise Estate Winery, Brierley Wines, Vintner’s Secret Vineyard and Ohana Cider House and Tropical Winery.
Childers also has a bunch of family-friendly spots to grab coffee/snacks, lunch and dinner.
A few top picks when deciding on where to eat in Childers include The Drunk Bean, Insane Caffeine, Mollydooker’s Cafe and Bar, Orchid Floral Thai Cuisine, The Isis Club, Federal Hotel and Behan’s Bar and Grill
Where to stay in Childers?
As Childers offers plenty of things to do and see, staying a couple of days is a popular choice for families.
So, if you’re after a rural country town stay here are a few family-friendly Childers accommodation options:
TIP: Take the Bruce Hwy/ A1 route over the Rosedale Rd option when travelling from Agnes Water to Childers.
Childers to Gympie
- Travel Distance: 142km
- Travel Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Only 1.5 hours from Childers and 3.5 hours from Agnes Water, is the charming and beloved country city of Gympie, which is also known as “The Town That Saved Queensland” from bankruptcy in the 1800’s (due to its gold rush opportunities).
Today, Gympie is a city full of historic and cultural attractions and activities and is a place where people enjoy stopping off during their Anges Water to Brisbane drive, as well as, on the classic Cairns to Brisbane road trip.
Many roadtrippers usually enjoy visiting Childers longer and then do a rest and refuel stop in Gympie, before getting back on the road for Brisbane.
However, if you and the family want to experience what this historic gold rush mining city has to offer over a day or so, a few fun things to do in Gympie are the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum, Mary Valley Rattler Train Ride, Woodworks Museum & Interpretive Centre and Lake Alford Park.
Where to stay in Gympie?
Here are some of the top Gympie accommodation options for families during your roadtrip visit:
- Mary River Motor Inn
- Room Motels Gympie
- Royal Hotel
- Shady Rest Motel
- Gympie Muster Inn
- Nationwide Motel
Gympie to Brisbane
- Travel Distance: 169km
- Travel Time: 2 hours
Now, this is the last leg of the Agnes Water to Brisbane drive, and it’s a pretty scenic and easy one to do.
You’ll be treated to rolling green fields, lush Sunshine Coast hinterland rainforests and views of the Glass House Mountains, before coming into Brisbane’s outskirt suburbs and then the bustling centre of the ‘River City’.
Also on this journey, you’ll pass the iconic Aussie World Theme Park and Banana Bender Pub. A fun attraction to experience and the pub serves up delicious food for the whole family.
When you arrive in Brisbane, you will be spoiled with plenty of accommodation options, shopping outlets, places to eat and activities for the whole family.
MORE: For some ideas on things to do in Brisbane and places to stay in Brisbane check out our Brisbane holiday articles.
So there you have it! That’s our roadtrip Brisbane to Anges Water travel guide and tips to help you experience this wonderfully memorable, short and easy roadtrip.
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