It’s official! Queensland has some the most beautiful beaches in Australia. Do you know the best 4WD beach trips in Queensland? They are so good that Nudey Beach, in Far North Queensland, was crowned the Best Beach in Australia in 2018. Currumbin beach came in second for the 2020 edition. Other renowned beaches in Queensland are Cape Tribulation and Lake McKenzie.
Brad Farmer, an Australian ‘beachologist’ and Tourism Australia ambassador rated Australian beaches according to an AAA ranking:
At FleetCrew, when we are not busy hiring 4WDs, we’re heading off on adventures to some of our favourite Queensland beaches including Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), or K’gari (Fraser Island). Cylinder Beach on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) , Agnes Waters and The Town of 1770 (close to Deepwater National Park) are unbeatable. View our list of the best 4WD beach trips in Queensland and plan your family 4WD roadtrip.
Quick Links To The Top Five Beaches in Queensland
Voted Australia’s #1 beach
Location: 21km from Cairns, 1,700km from Brisbane
How to get there: Take a ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island
Although Nudey Beach only has a small stretch of sand on Fitzroy Island it’s the most beautiful tropical island beach in North Queensland – and even Australia.
Lush, natural rainforest meets the colourful reef. When you arrive, you walk for 15-minutes through lush rainforest and coastal woodlands to the southwest side of the island. Featuring golden granite boulders, pristine white sand beaches, it has a backdrop of views of Cairns hinterland.
The island is 95% protected National Park and surrounded by abundant marine and coral life.
Activities:
4×4 driving in Far North Queensland:
Cairns and Tropical North Queensland are a 4×4 paradise. Renowned for untouched rainforest and rugged mountains, this region provides adventurers with the perfect spot for camping, fishing and exploring. Discover ancient gorges and canyons, meander through tropical rainforests and see the breathtaking coastline.
For the ultimate Far North Queensland adventure, travel further! Drive from Cairns to Cape York and visit Australia’s most northerly point.
If you do not want to travel from Cairns to Cape York (you would be adding another 1000kms) then why not take the scenic 4WD drive from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown instead? Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the sea.
Location: Gold Coast
How to get there: One hour drive from Brisbane
Burleigh Heads is a surfer’s paradise and a famous surf break for locals and tourists. Visit for a day or make it a holiday. With the excitement and accessibility of the Gold Coast, while retaining a sense of nature, it offers the best of authentic Australian beach culture within a tourist setting. Burleigh Heads has it all.
Walk around the picturesque headland and enjoy extensive trails through the sub-tropical national park. Relax with a romantic sunset picnic as you watch the white waves roll by. Burleigh Heads features all year round patrolled beaches and is close to Tallebudgera Creek.
Activities:
4×4 driving around Gold Coast:
Behind the endless skyscrapers of the Gold Coast, there’s a world to be explored by 4WD. Lamington National Park, Springbrook or Border Ranges are some of the best tracks in the region. If you would like to find out more about tracks around this area, read this article.
Location: Located 70km north of Bundaberg
How to get there: Approximately five hours drive north of Brisbane
As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Agnes Water and The Town of 1770 is a stone’s throw from tropical islands and pristine coral reefs. The appeal of this region is that it also offers the most northern surf beach on the Queensland coast. You can see the sunset over the waters at The Town of 1770.
Activities:
4×4 driving around Bundaberg:
Hire a 4WD in Brisbane and head to Cooloola National Park, north of Noosa Heads. Spend a few days discovering K’gari (Fraser Island) before you head up to the Bundaberg region.
Deepwater National Park, at Agnes Waters, features an easy 4WD track, with great ocean views. Head north towards Lillies beach, in the greater Gladstone region, is a favourite spot for beach 4WDing and one of the only remaining sand options in the area.
Location: Far North Queensland close to Bowen
How to get there: Drive 200km south of Townsville
This well-kept secret is a serene and ‘untouristy’ beach close to Bowen. It’s also one of the best 4WD beach trips that we can recommend you. Featuring a cluster of granite outcrops, pristine white sand and coral reefs, it has unforgettable views of Gloucester Island.
Activities:
Horseshoe Bay at Bowen Beach
Location: Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
How to get there: A short ferry ride from Brisbane
Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) is the world’s second largest sand island. Cylinder Beach has the best surf on the island. Beach camping is available at Flinders Beach or Main Beach. You will need a 4×4 to access both camping areas.
Activities:
To find out the official list of the best beaches of Australia, visit the complete overview here.
Straddie has an abundance of 4×4 bush tracks and kilometres of sandy beaches you can drive on. Give this article a read if you want to find out more about 4WDriving on Straddie. The guide shows you how to get there, the permits you need, where to stay, what to bring and a detailed list of activities.
For the ultimate Queensland beach adventure, hire a 4WD from FleetCrew if you don’t own your one! Our reliable and late model Toyota vehicles come with unlimited kilometres and you can drive our vehicles on the beach (conditions apply). FleetCrew has five locations including Brisbane, Dysart, Mount Isa, Mackay and Cloncurry, we hope to see you there!
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