This new Queensland road trip uncovers the best hidden parts of the state
Updated . First published
There’s nothing like a great Aussie road trip. From pit stops for meat pies to photo ops at all the best “big things” you drive past, a road trip is always a fun time.
Itching to hit the open road? A brand new route in Queensland just opened, and is a great way to see a whole new side of the state.
Queensland has a brand new road trip. Supplied
The Big Sky Drive is a 380-kilometre journey linking Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Camooweal, through the Queensland Outback.
The trip is so named because of just how big the skies are out there, with wide open landscapes, ancient rock formations, and endless red dirt.
It’s designed as a four-night outback adventure, but can be done over more days if you like to take it slow.
The Big Sky Drive shines a light on parts of Outback Queensland that are lesser-known and often passed by, from free camping areas to local cafés and pubs.
The sealed highway makes it easy for all vehicles to navigate, and optional detours mean 4WD enthusiasts can explore further off-road if they so desire.
The route also seamlessly connects with two other iconic Aussie drives. Those coming east from the NT can join via the Barkly Highway, while those exploring Queensland’s Overlanders Way can begin in Cloncurry and head west.
Explore parts of Queensland that are often missed Supplied
Keen to see more of Queensland by road? New research from LifeFlight Lotteries has revealed the state’s most popular road trips.
It comes as no surprise that the iconic Great Barrier Reef Drive attracts more than four times the search interest of any other route.
The route, which connects Cairns and Port Douglas, attracts an average of 2,900 Google searches every month. The 140-kilometre route can be completed in around three hours and features 65 restaurants and 12 petrol stations along the way, making it one of the state’s most accessible and traveller-friendly drives.
The rainforest meets the sea along the Great Barrier Reef Drive. Tourism and Events Queensland
Second place goes to Capricorn Way, a scenic 597-kilometre route that links the Southern Great Barrier Reef to Queensland’s Outback. The fully sealed route offers geological discoveries, sapphire fossicking, and historic outback towns.
Black Mountain Road is the third most popular route in Queensland, and also one of the shortest, at just 43 kilometres between Kuranda and Julatten.
It packs a punch, though, with spectacular rainforest scenery, winding mountain roads and easy access to some of Tropical North Queensland’s best natural attractions.
The Capricorn Way is another popular inland route. Tourism and Events Queensland
Most popular road trips in Queensland
- Great Barrier Reef Drive - 140km
- Capricorn Way - 579 km
- Black Mountain Road - 43km
- Highest Road in Queensland - 20km
- Matilda Way - 1808km
- The Savannah Way - 5282km
- Great Inland Way - 2968km
