Blog Long Weekend Road Trip Ideas – Brisbane to Bunya Mountains 

In desperate need of a break and some soul-nourishing green therapy? Even when life is too busy for an extended trip around Australia, there’s plenty to discover closer to home when you own an off-road camper. If you’re looking for long weekend road trip ideas to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, we highly recommend packing your camper for a trip from Brisbane to Bunya Mountains.

Discover Bunya Mountains

Located three hours north-west of Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains offer visitors a pristine and peaceful wilderness range with panoramic views and breathtaking scenery. Thought to be the remains of an ancient shield volcano formed around 30 million years ago, the Bunya Mountains boast a diverse range of plants and animals and are home to the world’s largest forest of bunya pines.

When To Go

If you’re hoping to gather fallen bunya nuts, you should plan your trip between December and March. Just bear in mind that this period can be very humid and occasionally stormy – but the trade-off is it’s usually less crowded.

If you plan on hiking and making the most of the walking trails and spectacular scenery, March through to October is the best time to visit, when the temperatures are cooler and more comfortable.

The great thing about travelling in an off-road camper is that you don’t have to rush from point A to B. You can take the time to explore hidden gems along the way, even if it means taking a little detour to do so. It’s about the journey as much as the destination after all!

3-Day Itinerary – Brisbane to Bunya Mountains and Back

So, how much can you fit into 3 days? We’ve put together a fun itinerary for you.

Day One: Brisbane to Toowoomba

Depart from Brisbane early and take the Warrego Highway to Toowoomba. This will be the shortest leg of the journey at just 127km, so you’ll have plenty of time to stop off along the way.

Up for a detour? Don’t miss a visit to Lockyer National Park. Popular for a variety of activities like remote bushwalking, and 4WD and motorbike touring, the area is home to some vulnerable and near-threatened species. Keep your eyes peeled for the Helidon ironbark, mountain guinea flower, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, and black-breasted button quail!

Arrive in Toowoomba for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring some of Toowoomba’s places of interest such as the heritage-listed Bull’s Head Hotel that was first established by an ex-convict in 1859. Now a National Trust of Queensland museum, the nineteenth-century inn also has the spooky reputation for being Toowoomba’s ‘most haunted’ building – it even hosts monthly paranormal evenings. The Japanese Gardens and Picnic Point Lookout are also well worth visiting.

Camp at Crow’s Nest National Park, approximately 40km north of Toowoomba. There are no powered sites at this location and no showers, but it does have basic amenities such as toilets, picnic tables and BBQs. Don’t forget to reserve your camping spot and obtain your vehicle access permit through the Queensland National Parks website before you go.

The quiet bushland setting is perfect after a busy day of exploring. If you have time before nightfall, the Crow’s Nest Falls Circuit is a 2.1km hiking trail with stunning lookout views and a waterfall.

Day Two: Toowoomba to Bunya Mountains

From Toowoomba, the Bunya Mountains are approximately a 2 ½ hour drive via Dalby, where a visit to the heritage-listed Jimbour House is highly recommended.

Travelling with kids? A visit to the Jack Thomas Adventure Park behind the Visitors Centre in Dalby is a great place to have a picnic and allow the kids to let off some steam before commencing the onward journey.

We recommend filling your tank with fuel at Dalby or Kingaroy before heading on to the Bunya Mountains as the nearest service station is around 30 minutes from the park.

Arrive at the Bunya Mountains National Park in the afternoon and get set up either at the Dandabah Campground or Burtons Well Campground on the northern side of the Bunya Mountains. You will need to book your camping spot and vehicle access permit with Queensland National Parks.

Dandabah Campground at a glance:

• centrally located
• easy access to hiking trails
• offers both powered and unpowered sites
• has toilets, hot showers, BBQs, picnic areas and
• cafes and shops nearby.

TIP: Book early to secure a powered site.

Burtons Well Campground at a glance:

• unpowered sites only
• has toilets, picnic tables and fire pits
• no showers
• less crowded with stunning sunrise views over the valley.

TIP: BYO firewood. Collecting wood in the park is strictly prohibited, as it provides habitat for local wildlife and nutrients for the ecosystem.

Spend the afternoon exploring the many walking tracks available in the Bunya Mountains National Park, with easy, moderate and advanced trails to choose from. Trail maps can be found at the Visitor Centre, or online at the Queensland National Parks website.

The Bunya Mountains are renowned for their dark night skies, perfect for stargazing. Don’t forget to pack your telescope!

Day Three: Explore Bunya Mountains Before Returning To Brisbane

After a spot of breakfast, we recommend embarking on the Mt Kiangarow Summit Walk. Consisting of a 2.3 km round trip, the trail offers panoramic views that are not to be missed.

A visit to Bunya Mountains would not be complete without sampling the iconic bunya nuts! Poppies on the Hill Café offers a range of bunya nut delicacies such as bunya nut burgers, bunya nut and carrot cake, and even bunya nut ice cream, to name just a few!

If time allows, consider taking in more breathtaking views on the Barker Creek Lookout trail, before packing up and returning home to Brisbane rested and relaxed!

More Road Trip Ideas For Happy Campers

• The Secret Gems on the Sydney to Brisbane Drive
• Noosa To Broome Roadtrip
• Best Camping Spots To See Australia
• Short Camping Trips Near Brisbane
• Best Off-Road Camping Sites Near Brisbane
• 3 Must Do 4WD Tracks in Outback Queensland