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Photo: Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4,0

Campervan road trip · 10–21 days

Cairns → BrisbaneOne-way campervan hire

The tropical half of the East Coast, Reef first and finishing in the city.

Gran Barrera de CoralIsland sailingBeachesCascadasFauna
Duración del viaje
10–21 días
Distancia
≈ 2.000 km
Pick up
Cairns
Drop off
Brisbane
Mejor época
May–October: warm, dry days and no stingers
See live prices for this route

Live prices from the big campervan companies · book online in minutes · one-way fee included in the price.

Precios reales

What Cairns to Brisbane campervan hire costs

All-in totals for two (van, compulsory fees and basic cover) on the companies' own websites, checked 22 October 2026. Prices move with dates; see today's live price below.

DatesNightsCheapest campervanHi-top más barato
10–17 nov 2026 7 A$1.276 (JUCY Coaster, A$182/night) A$1.424 (MightyLITE HiLITE)
10–24 nov 2026 14 A$1.830 (JUCY Crib Plus, A$131/night) A$2.485 (MightyLITE HiLITE)

Checked 25 Oct 2026; the cheapest budget vans were on request only out of Cairns · Southbound cost more than northbound; the cheapest Spaceships and Awesome vans were on request only

See today's live prices

Prices by season and van type, with the reverse direction: Cairns to Brisbane campervan hire prices. For every route side by side, see today's campervan hire prices.

The route

14 days, 9 stops

Start where the rainforest meets the Reef and drive south through the most tropical part of the coast: island sailing in the Whitsundays, rainforest swimming holes, K'gari's dunes and the surf of the Sunshine Coast, ending with city lights in Brisbane. It's ideal if you've only got a couple of weeks, or if you've flown into Cairns and want the sun behind you the whole way.

Vans that suit this trip

Hi-top campervan2-seater, 2-sleeperMotorhome (casa rodante)
1 Cairns 2 Mission Beach 3 Townsville 4 Airlie Beach 5 Yeppoon 6 Agnes Water 7 Rainbow Beach 8 Noosa 9 Brisbane
Día a día

The plan, stop by stop

Paced for 14 days. Got less time? Merge two stops. Got more? Stay longer wherever you like it; it's your van. Drive times and distances are approximate, from road-routing data, without stops.

  1. 1

    Day 1–3

    Cairns & the Daintree

    Rainforest meets the sea at Cape Tribulation, Daintree
    Photo: rheins · CC BY 3,0

    Spend a full day on the Outer Reef before you start driving, then head north for the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, or take the train up to Kuranda.

    +Outer Reef Pontoon Snorkel Day from Cairns· desde A$319 +Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail Day Trip with Cairns Transfers· desde A$209
  2. 2

    Day 4

    Mission Beach

    2 hrs · 140 km

    Palm-lined sand at Mission Beach
    Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4,0

    Cassowary country, with a quiet beach and the Tully rapids just inland.

    +Rafting en el río Tully (traslados de ida y vuelta desde Cairns)· desde A$239
  3. 3

    Day 5–6

    Townsville & Magnetic Island

    3 hrs · 240 km

    Bay and beach on Magnetic Island
    Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir · CC BY-SA 4,0

    Wild koalas on the Forts Walk, rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay, and the best granite-boulder beaches in Queensland.

  4. 4

    Day 7–8

    Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays

    3.5 hrs · 280 km

    Swirling white sand at Hill Inlet, Whitehaven Beach
    Photo: rheins · CC BY 3,0

    Sail to Whitehaven and Hill Inlet, ideally overnight so you wake up anchored in a quiet bay.

    +Camira Sailing Adventure departing Port of Airlie· desde A$279 +Habibi: navegación a vela por los Whitsundays de 2 días y 1 noches· desde A$449
  5. 5

    Day 9

    Yeppoon

    6.5 hrs · 500 km (the long one)

    Aerial view of Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast
    Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir · CC BY-SA 4,0

    Break up the drive on the Capricorn Coast with a swim and an easy night.

  6. 6

    Day 10

    Agnes Water y 1770

    3.5 hrs · 270 km

    Coastline at Agnes Water and the Town of 1770
    Photo: Николай Максимович · CC BY 3,0

    Learn to surf on Queensland's most northerly surf beach, then watch the sun set over the water at 1770.

  7. 7

    Day 11–12

    Rainbow Beach & K'gari

    4 hrs · 320 km

    Lake McKenzie from above, K'gari (Fraser Island)
    Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir · CC BY-SA 4,0

    Leave the van and go 4WD on K'gari: freshwater lakes, Eli Creek and the Maheno wreck.

    +K'gari: excursión de un día desde Rainbow Beach o Noosa· desde A$279 +K'gari: tag-along en 4x4 de 3 días desde Rainbow Beach· desde A$579
  8. 8

    Day 13

    Noosa

    2 hrs · 130 km

    Beach and headland at Noosa National Park
    Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4,0

    Walk the headland to Hell's Gates, then a sunset paddle on the river.

    +Noosa Everglades Guided Kayak Day Trip· desde A$189
  9. 9

    Day 14

    Brisbane

    2 hrs · 140 km

    Brisbane City Hall clock tower
    Photo: David Edwards · CC BY 3,0

    A last swim at the Streets Beach lagoon, then return the van in Brisbane. If you've got a spare day, take a trip out to the wrecks off Moreton Island.

    +Tour 'Get Wrecked' en Moreton Island desde Brisbane· desde A$189
Before you go

Bueno saber

Where to sleep
Caravan and holiday parks with powered sites and showers, national park campgrounds, and low-cost sites listed in WikiCamps. Book ahead in school holidays.
One-way fee
Cairns → Brisbane is one-way, so operators add a fee that varies by season. We build it into your quote upfront.
Driver age
Most operators need drivers aged 21+. A few take 18–20 year olds with a young-driver surcharge; tell us the youngest driver's age and we'll quote what fits.
Recommended vans
Best fits: the hi-top campervan; the 2-seater, 2-sleeper and the motorhome. Tell us how many of you are travelling and we'll match the size.

Free and low-cost places to park up on this route, with the local rules: free camping in Queensland.

Where the van can't go

Tours worth adding

Boats, reefs, islands and 4WD tracks. Add them to your quote and we'll fit them around your drive.

Questions

Cairns to Brisbane campervan FAQs

How many days do you need for Cairns to Brisbane in a campervan? +

Allow 10–21 days. This plan is paced for 14 days with 9 overnight bases. Short on time? Merge two stops. Got longer? Stay on wherever you like it.

Is there a one-way fee for Cairns to Brisbane? +

Yes. Cairns to Brisbane is a one-way hire, and operators add a one-way fee that varies by season. We include it in your quote upfront.

How old do I need to be to hire a campervan? +

Most operators require drivers to be 21 or older. A few accept 18 to 20 year olds with a young-driver surcharge. Tell us the youngest driver's age in the quote form and we'll only quote vans you can drive.

Which campervan suits Cairns to Brisbane? +

The best fits are the hi-top campervan; the 2-seater, 2-sleeper and the motorhome. Tell us how many of you are travelling and we'll quote the right size.

Can you plan the whole Cairns to Brisbane trip for me, van and tours? +

Yes, for free. Tell us your dates, group and must-dos at /plan-my-trip and choose Campervan: we compare vans for your dates across the rental companies we book, add the tours worth doing along the way, and send it back as one all-in price. No planning fees.

Ready to drive Cairns to Brisbane?

Pop in your dates and see live prices from the big campervan companies for this route, then book online in minutes.

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