Whitsunday Coast to Townsville

Dawn wallabies, platypus, the white sand of Whitehaven and Hill Inlet, then the Bruce Highway north to Townsville, Magnetic Island and the Yongala wreck.

Distance: 748 km (465 mi)
Driving: 8 h 10 min
Suggested days: 4
Stops: 12
States: Queensland
Updated: May 1, 2026

At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 748 km (465 mi) with 12 stops, from Cape Hillsborough National Park to SS Yongala Wreck. About 8 h 10 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Queensland

Route description

Start from Mackay, about 50 km north to Cape Hillsborough, where wallabies and kangaroos feed on the beach around sunrise; be there before dawn. Then drive 80 km inland to Eungella National Park for Broken River’s platypus platform, best at dawn and dusk. The range road is steep and winding, so allow time and avoid towing large trailers. Fuel up in Mackay.

Drive about 125 km along the Bruce Highway from Mackay to Proserpine, then 26 km to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. The islands are reached only by boat, seaplane or helicopter, so book a licensed operator. Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet lookout are the classic day, with tide and light shaping the view. Stinger suits are advisable from about November to May.

A flight over Heart Reef on the outer reef is the other signature experience, departing from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, and you can spend a second day snorkelling. Then head north on the Bruce Highway, about 280 km to Townsville, a drive of roughly three and a half hours on a mostly flat sealed road with sugar cane and long straight stretches. Take breaks, as driver fatigue is a real hazard.

In Townsville, drive up Castle Hill for the view across Cleveland Bay, then take the ferry to Magnetic Island and walk the Forts Walk, where wild koalas are often seen. Dive operators run trips to the SS Yongala wreck, about 90 km offshore, which sank with all aboard in 1911; book ahead. Swim only in netted or patrolled areas, as stingers and crocodiles are possible.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Cape Hillsborough National Park
NatureCape Hillsborough, Queensland
A volcanic headland where kangaroos and wallabies come onto the beach around sunrise, a sight few places offer. There are also rainforest and mangrove boardwalks. Obey crocodile and stinger warning signs along this coast.
Start
2

Broken River Platypus Viewing, Eungella
NatureEungella, Queensland
A viewing platform and picnic area on Broken River in Eungella National Park, among the more reliable places in Australia to see wild platypus, usually at dawn and dusk. Keep quiet and still; the park’s rainforest is isolated from similar forest elsewhere.
74 km
3

Proserpine
Queensland
105 km
4

Airlie Beach
Queensland
24 km
5

Hill Inlet Lookout
ViewsAirlie Beach, Queensland
Lookout above Hill Inlet at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach, where the tide swirls white sand and turquoise water into marbled patterns. The pattern changes with the tide, so plan around the tide table.
41 km
6

Whitehaven Beach
NatureAirlie Beach, Queensland
Seven kilometres of brilliant white silica sand on Whitsunday Island, reached only by boat, seaplane or helicopter from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island. Stinger suits are sensible from about November to May.
2 km
7

Heart Reef
ViewsAirlie Beach, Queensland
A small heart-shaped coral formation within Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef. It is best appreciated from the air on scenic flights from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island; it is protected and not a place for casual landings.
73 km
8

Townsville
Queensland
312 km
9

Castle Hill Lookout
ViewsTownsville, Queensland
A granite monolith rising 286 m in the middle of Townsville, with a lookout over the city, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. Walking tracks climb from the base; the road to the top is steep and winding.
2 km
10

Magnetic Island
Queensland
13 km
11

Magnetic Island Forts Walk
NatureMagnetic Island, Queensland
Track through eucalypt bush to the Second World War fort ruins on Magnetic Island, with sweeping sea views and a fair chance of seeing wild koalas near the path. Walk early, carry water; the ferry leaves from Townsville.
4 km
12

SS Yongala Wreck
HistoryTownsville, Queensland
Passenger steamer lost with all aboard in a cyclone in March 1911, now a protected wreck and one of Australia’s best dive sites, about 90 km south-east of Townsville. Dive only with licensed operators; no penetration or souvenirs.
98 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Cape Hillsborough National Park → Proserpine · 179 km · 1 h 57 minOn the way: Broken River Platypus Viewing, Eungella.
Day 2: Proserpine → Heart Reef · 140 km · 1 h 32 minOn the way: Airlie Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, Whitehaven Beach.
Day 3: Heart Reef → Townsville · 312 km · 3 h 24 min
Day 4: Townsville → SS Yongala Wreck · 117 km · 1 h 17 minOn the way: Castle Hill Lookout, Magnetic Island, Magnetic Island Forts Walk.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–April and October–November. Hot in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Whitsunday Coast to Townsville?

4-day road trip of about 748 km (465 mi) with 12 stops, from Cape Hillsborough National Park to SS Yongala Wreck. About 8 h 10 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Whitsunday Coast to Townsville?

We suggest 4 days: about 8 h 10 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Whitsunday Coast to Townsville start and end?

It starts in Cape Hillsborough National Park and ends in SS Yongala Wreck.

Which states does Whitsunday Coast to Townsville pass through?

Queensland.

When is the best time for Whitsunday Coast to Townsville?

The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–April and October–November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)