One of the best things about Brisbane is how much there is to explore nearby. Rainforest one way and a sand island another. You only have to drive an hour to reach Hinterland villages and rolling Scenic Rim farmland.
Gary and I have spent the past 3 years slowly ticking these off our bucketlist, and we’re nowhere near done. A spare Saturday, an early alarm, and we’re off.
While we’ve visited a few as weekend getaways, they all work as day trips from Brisbane if you leave early and don’t mind a long day.
I’ve stuck to places within about a 90 minute drive of the city (plus a couple of ferry and flight options that are worth the extra effort). Traffic on the weekends can be rough and anything further is better saved for a proper overnighter.
The best day trips from Brisbane
Mount Tamborine
Distance | 1 hour 15 minutes
Mt Tamborine is my go-to when I want a bit of everything in a single day. Rainforest walks, a cute village, and a glass of wine. I love how much the little town has packed in.
We spent a weekend up here and also did it as a day trip with my parents when they visited from South Africa. If you don’t have a car, it’s easiest to book this day tour from Brisbane which will allow you to see most of the attractions.
The highlight for me is Curtis Falls walk. Witches Falls is also a great alternative and both can easily be done on a day trip from Brisbane.
Don’t skip the Gallery Walk which is the main shopping and hospitality strip in town. We always pop into the boutique shops and grab cinnamon scrolls from Cinnamon Bun Cafe (a big hit with our toddlar, Koa).
And yes, Mount Tamborine also has fabulous wineries! You can find out more here.
Moreton Island
Travel time | 75 minute ferry plus 1 hour drive to the wharf
Moreton is a sand island sitting just off the coast of Brisbane and is one of the most unique day trips you can do from the city.
No sealed roads and no public transport. Just sand tracks, dunes, and shipwrecks. We did a 4WD camping trip here but you can do it as a day trip too.
The biggest draw is the Tangalooma Wrecks which sits just off the island. We snorkelled around them in crystal clear water and were lucky enough to see a whale swimming between the wrecks. You can kayak around them too.
If you want to see more than just the wrecks, join an organised day tour like this one. You could do it yourself but without your own 4WD you won’t get past Tangalooma because there’s no public transport on the island.
It’s a long day. You’ll be exhausted by the end. But it’s 100% worth it. Check availability for a day tour here.
D’Aguilar National Park
Distance | 45 minutes
D’Aguilar National Park is one of my favourite nature day trips from Brisbane, and by far the easiest on this list. Only 45 minutes from the city and you’re in dense rainforest.
The drive itself is stunning.
There are heaps of scenic stops along the way so you can make a morning of it. We’ve done the Maiala Walking Track, a 45-minute loop through thick rainforest, and then continue on to Greens Falls if we’ve got the time.
We always stop at Mount Glorious Cafe on the way back for coffee and cake – include in in your itinerary.
Sunshine Coast
Distance | 1 hour 15 minutes
The Sunshine Coast is my favourite coastal day trip from Brisbane. The vibe is relaxed and there’s none of the crowded energy you get further south on the Gold Coast.
Caloundra is the closest beach to Brisbane and it’s perfect for families. We also love Dickys Beach which is nearby.
Expect quite a bit of traffic on the weekends. We’ve actually turned around halfway once when it got that bad.
Boonah (Scenic Rim)
Distance | 1 hour 15 minutes
Boonah sits south of Brisbane in the Scenic Rim, and the landscape here is completely different to the rest of the hinterland. No rainforest. Just rolling hills and farmland stretching out in every direction.
We spent a weekend out this way and I could happily go back every month.
Visit Summerland Camels (the largest camel farm in Australia), have lunch at the Scenic Rim Farm Stall, and finish with flower picking at Elderflower Farm.
I wrote a whole separate post on things to do in Boonah if you want the full rundown.
North Stradbroke Island
Travel time | 45 minute ferry from Cleveland
North Stradbroke Island (Straddie) is bigger, more developed, and easier to do as a day trip than Moreton Island. The ferry ride is quicker too.
Bringing your own car over can get pricey, so I suggest leaving yours at the ferry terminal in Cleveland, hopping on the passenger ferry and taking the bus to one of the beaches on the island.
The biggest attraction on Straddie is Point Lookout and the gorge walk. The views over the Pacific are as good as anywhere on the east coast.
We camped at Flinders Beach last time we were there. It’s more sheltered than Main Beach.
But honestly, if you only have a day, the snorkelling and overall experience of Moreton Island is better than North Stradbroke Island.
Springbrook National Park
Distance | 1 hour 30 minutes
If you’re after a proper nature fix, Springbrook is worth the extra drive. It’s located in the Gold Coast Hinterland and boasts some of the most scenic waterfalls in Queensland.
We did the Twin Falls Circuit from Canyon Lookout which I highly recommend. It’s a 4km loop that takes you from panoramic views down to the canyon floor and back.
Allow a few hours if you want to do it properly and have a swim at the bottom of the falls.
Gold Coast
Distance | 1 hour 15 minutes
The Gold Coast is the most popular day trip from Brisbane, and for good reason. We used to live down here and still miss the beaches.
Broadbeach is the closest beach if you want to save time. But if you can, drive another 15 minutes south to Burleigh. It’s a much nicer place to spend the day. Quieter, prettier, better cafes. Tallebudgera Creek is brilliant if you’ve got kids and want calm water.
Don’t have your own transport? You can easily take the train from Brisbane to Gold Coast which we’ve done a few times too.
READ MORE: PROS AND CONS OF LIVING ON GOLD COAST
Montville
Distance | 1 hour 30 minutes
Montville is a village in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and a gem of a spot. It’s tiny, but there’s plenty to do. Nature walks, waterfalls, and a cute main street to wander.
We hiked to Kondalilla Falls when we were last there. It’s a beautiful walk through the forest and you can swim in the upper waterfall.
Pair it with a lunch in town and you’ve got a perfect day.
Maleny
Distance | 1 hour 30 minutes
Maleny sits right next to Montville but has a slighlty different feel. It’s a country town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with a more local vibe than the tourist village (Montville) up the road.
Our favourite thing to do here is the rainforest walk through Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. There’s also Gardners Falls which is a short walk from the carpark and you can have a swim here too.
If you’re with kids, the tour at Maleny Dairies is a big hit.
Glasshouse Mountains
Distance | 1 hour
The Glasshouse Mountains are a cluster of 13 volcanic peaks rising out of flat farmland in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. They look incredible from every angle.
The easy way to experience them is to stop at a lookout on the drive through.
If you’re up for a walk, the Mount Ngungun summit climb is the pick. It’s 30 minutes to the top, not too challenging, and the views from the summit are spectacular.
If 4WD is your thing, there are popular tracks through the area too.
Lamington National Park
Travel time | 2 hours
Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland is one I haven’t made it to yet but it’s top of my list for this year.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is the classic spot to head to. The treetop walk, the birdlife, and the ancient Gondwana rainforest all get rave reviews.
Theme parks
Distance | 1 hour
If you’re travelling with kids, the Gold Coast theme parks are a full day out from Brisbane.
Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World, and the waterparks White Water World and Wet ‘N’ Wild are all clustered together. Pick one per day because you won’t get through more.
They get extremely busy during school holidays. If you can go outside those weeks, do.
Lady Elliot Island
Travel time | 90 minute scenic flight from Redcliffe
This one is a splurge. But it’s on the list because it’s the most accessible part of the Great Barrier Reef from Brisbane. Lady Elliot sits on the southern end of the reef and the snorkelling and diving here are incredible. Manta rays, leopard sharks, turtles and more.
Honestly though? In my opinion it’s too expensive to do as a day trip. If you can, stay overnight so you can get in a couple of dives. But if you’re short on time and have the budget, it’s the quickest way to get onto the reef.
My best day trips from Brisbane
It’s hard to choose which of these is the best day trip from Brisbane. But if I had to pick my top three it would be Sunshine Coast for a beach day, D’Aguilar National Park for a quick nature fix (or Springbrook National Park if you have a full day), and Moreton Island for an epic adventure.
If you’re visiting Brisbane and looking for the most central area to stay so that you can easily do a few of these day trips, here’s my guide to the best Brisbane accommodation.
If you’ve done any day trips from Brisbane I haven’t included here, please let me know in the comments section below.
Planning an adventure around Brisbane? Check out my other posts!
- The Best Weekend Getaways From Gold Coast
- The Best Wineries In Stanthorpe
- Moreton Island Vs Fraser Island: Which Is Better?
- My Sheraton Gold Coast Review
- The Best Things To Do In Stanthorpe
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