From Brisbane, you can reach coastal towns, rainforest valleys, granite peaks or even reef and island adventures.

Whether you’re planning a long weekend or a multi-week summer break, the right route and the right car turns your escape into something you’ll still be talking about when work emails creep back in.

That’s where Karmo comes in. Instead of buying or locking into a long lease, you can subscribe to a vehicle that suits your trip, an SUV for beach and island runs, a practical hatch for coastal hops, or something comfortable for big days behind the wheel and keep it for exactly as long as you need.

Use this guide to choose your Queensland summer road trip, then sort the wheels to match.

All of these adventures start from Brisbane, where you can pick up your Karmo and hit the road.

1. Sunshine Coast & Noosa: Beaches and hinterland loop

Drive time from Brisbane: 1.5–2 hours to Noosa

Ideal trip length: 3–5 days

Best for: Families, couples, foodies, beach lovers

Head north from Brisbane and you hit the Sunshine Coast – a run of surf beaches, calm bays and relaxed towns that feels like summer on repeat. Base yourself around Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Coolum or Noosa, then add a day or two exploring the hinterland in places like Maleny and Montville.

You get the best of both worlds: busy summer energy on the coast and cooler air plus views in the hills.

Trip highlights:

• Morning swims at beaches like Mooloolaba, Coolum or Noosa Main Beach
• Coastal walks around Noosa National Park with chances to spot turtles and dolphins
• Hinterland drives to Maleny, Montville and Mapleton for views, cafés and galleries
• Discovering swimming holes and short walks in nearby national parks and forests

Best time to go: Late spring through early autumn (roughly October – March). Summer is warm and alive, go early or late in the day for walks and swims, and use the middle of the day for long lunches or air-conditioned café time.

Car tip: A small SUV or hatch is ideal here, easy to park at busy beaches and viewpoints, but with enough room for bags, beach gear and an esky.

2. Fraser Coast & K’gari (Fraser Island) Gateway

Drive time from Brisbane: ~3 hours to Inskip

Ideal trip length: 4-6 days

Best for: Families, adventure-curious travellers, island lovers

Head further north and you hit the Fraser Coast, with Hervey Bay as a calm, family-friendly base and K’gari (Fraser Island) just across the water. Hervey Bay offers long, sheltered beaches and a relaxed pace, while K’gari delivers towering sand dunes, lakes and 4WD-only tracks.

You can explore K’gari via guided 4WD tours or organised trips if you don’t want to take your own vehicle across.

Trip highlights:

• Swimming and beach walks along the calm waters of Hervey Bay
• Day trips or overnight tours to K’gari, taking in spots like Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek and the Maheno shipwreck
• Boardwalks, piers and sunset views along the Hervey Bay foreshore
• Side detours to Maryborough for heritage streets and museums

Best time to go: Warm year-round. For a classic summer holiday (December–March), expect hot days and warm water which is great for swimming, but factor in sun protection and heat. If you prefer slightly milder weather, late spring or early autumn can work well too. Double check the water for jellyfish and consider stinger suits before getting in the water during these warmer months. 

Car tip: A comfortable family-friendly SUV is ideal for the drive from Brisbane and general exploring. For K’gari, either book a proper 4WD-ready subscription (if you’re confident off-road and permitted) or join a local tour that provides the vehicles.

3. Southern Great Barrier Reef: Bundaberg, Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy

Drive time from Brisbane: 4.5- 5 hours to Bundaberg; 5.5 – 6 hours to Agnes Water / 1770

Ideal trip length: 5 – 7 days

Best for: Reef-curious travellers, families, couples, people wanting “Great Barrier Reef” without going all the way to Cairns

If you want reef without flying to far north Queensland, the Southern Great Barrier Reef is your play. From Brisbane, head up to Bundaberg, Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (1770) for warm-water beaches, turtles, and reef trips to islands like Lady Musgrave or Lady Elliot.

You get that classic reef-and-islands experience but with a very doable drive from Brisbane.

Trip highlights:

• Staying in or near Bundaberg and visiting nearby beaches like Bargara
• Seasonal turtle nesting and hatching at Mon Repos (around November–March)
• Day trips to Lady Musgrave Island or Lady Elliot Island for snorkelling on the reef
• Sunset views and calm beaches around Agnes Water and 1770

Best time to go: Late spring to early autumn, especially if you want warm water and turtle season (roughly November–March). Summer can be hot and humid, and storms are possible, so keep an eye on forecasts – but this is prime time for warm-water swimming.

Car tip: A touring SUV for your family or comfortable hatch will handle the highway and coastal stretches easily. You’ll mostly be on sealed roads; the main consideration is comfort over distance.

4. Gold Coast & Scenic Rim: Beaches, rainforest and mountain air

Drive time from Brisbane: 1-1.5 hours to the Gold Coast; 1.5-2 hours to Scenic Rim hubs

Ideal trip length: 3-5  days

Best for: Couples, groups of friends, beach-and-hinterland combo seekers

To the South of Brisbane, you’ve got the Gold Coast, surf beaches, dining, nightlife and just inland, the Scenic Rim, where rainforest, waterfalls and mountain views replace high-rises.

You can split your time between Burleigh, Coolangatta or Broadbeach on the coast and Tamborine Mountain, Lamington National Park or Springbrook in the hinterland to get the best of both worlds.

Trip highlights:

• Mornings at the beach, afternoons in the surf clubs or cafés of Burleigh or Coolangatta
• Hinterland drives to Tamborine Mountain for wineries, breweries and lookouts
• Rainforest walks and waterfalls in Springbrook or Lamington National Park
• Sunrise at Elephant Rock at Currumbin Beach overlooking the ocean

Best time to go: Summer suits this combo perfectly, sea breezes on the coast and slightly cooler air in the hinterland. Storms are common in the late afternoon, so plan longer walks earlier in the day.

Car tip: A flexible small SUV works well, it’s comfortable on the motorway, happy on winding mountain roads, and roomy enough for beach bags, picnic gear and shopping.

5. Granite Belt & Southern Downs: High country cool-change

Drive time from Brisbane: 2.5–3 hours to Stanthorpe

Ideal trip length: 3-4 days

Best for: Couples, food and wine lovers, anyone wanting to escape the coastal heat

When the coastal humidity gets too much, head inland and up (in elevation). The Granite Belt and Southern Downs region around Stanthorpe, Girraween National Park and the surrounding wineries offers big granite boulders, cool nights and a very different summer feel.

Instead of beaches, you get vineyards, farm gates, boulder-strewn walking tracks and small country towns built for slow days.

Trip highlights:

• Wine tasting and local produce at Granite Belt cellar doors and farm gates
• Bushwalks and boulder scrambling in Girraween National Park
• Exploring Stanthorpe and nearby towns, with cafés, bakeries and local shops
• Cooler summer evenings thanks to the higher elevation

Best time to go: Good year-round, but especially refreshing in summer when the coast is steamy. Expect warm days and cooler nights, with fewer crowds than coastal hotspots in peak holiday season.

Car tip: A small SUV or hatch is perfect, the distances from Brisbane are manageable, the roads are sealed and you’ll appreciate a comfortable, nimble car for weaving between wineries and national parks.

Choosing the right car for your Queensland road trip

In Queensland, summer road trips are all about balancing distance, heat and the type of adventure you want – from beaches and reef days to rainforest walks and high-country escapes. A great route is only half the story; the other half is driving a car that actually matches how you want to travel.

With a Karmo car subscription, you can:

• Choose a vehicle that fits your route – SUV or 4WD for island and longer coastal runs, hatch or EV for shorter coastal and hinterland trips
• Keep it for exactly as long as you need – the summer or longer 
• Avoid the long-term commitment and upfront costs of buying or traditional leasing
• Swap into a different style of vehicle later if your plans or lifestyle change

Whether you’re chasing sunrise swims on the Sunshine Coast, sunsets over 1770, rainforest air in the Scenic Rim or cool nights in the Granite Belt, there’s a Queensland summer road trip to match your energy and a Karmo that fits the journey.

Book the time off, choose your route, and then browse cars available in Brisbane to lock in a subscription that makes the drive just as memorable as the destination.

Note: Queensland summers can be hot, humid and stormy, especially in the late afternoon. Always check weather and road conditions before you go, carry plenty of water, and give yourself more time than the GPS suggests particularly on long weekends and school holidays.