Brisbane is a brilliant starting point for a family road trip. You have a beautiful coastline to the North and South, hinterland to the West, and some of the best family-friendly stops in the country in any direction. The good news is that hitting the road with kids does not have to cost a fortune. With a bit of planning, you can have a genuinely memorable trip without blowing your budget.
Why a campervan makes sense for families
Before getting into the route, it is worth discussing how you travel, as it makes a big difference to the overall cost. Booking accommodation at every stop adds up quickly, and with kids, you often need more space than a standard hotel room provides anyway. Travelling by campervan solves both problems in one go. You have your accommodation with you, a kitchen to cook meals rather than eating out every night, and the flexibility to change plans without scrambling to find somewhere to stay.
Campervan hire in Brisbane is a straightforward process with several operators offering vehicles suited to families of different sizes, from compact two-berth vans for couples to larger four and six-berth options that give everyone some breathing room. Booking ahead, particularly around school holidays, gets you better rates and more choice.
The route: Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast
For families with younger kids, the Brisbane-to-Sunshine Coast run is a fantastic option. It is short enough to do in a weekend, but packed with enough activities to fill several days if you want to take it slowly.
From Brisbane, a stop at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a winner with kids of any age. After that, head north toward the Sunshine Coast, stopping at the Australia Zoo near Beerwah, one of the country’s great wildlife experiences that’s easy to spend a full day at.
Kings Beach at Caloundra has a saltwater pool right on the waterfront and is perfect for younger children. Noosa, at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, is worth the drive for the national park, the main beach, and the excellent food options.
Keeping costs down on the road
Food is one of the bigger expenses on a family road trip, but a campervan kitchen changes that completely. Stocking up at a supermarket before you leave and cooking most meals yourself makes a significant difference over several days. Keep snacks readily accessible to avoid the impulse stops, and pack a few favourite treats from home to keep everyone happy on longer stretches of driving.
Free and low-cost camping is plentiful along the Queensland coast. Apps like WikiCamps and CamperMate are genuinely useful for finding spots, and many holiday parks offer excellent facilities, including playgrounds and swimming pools that keep kids entertained without any extra cost.
Fuel is the other main expense. Planning your route in advance and using apps like FuelMap to find cheaper petrol stations along the way helps. Driving steadily rather than pushing hard miles in a single day is better for fuel consumption and much better for everyone’s mood.
Activities that do not break the bank
Queensland is generous with free and low-cost activities for families. National parks and beaches cost nothing to access, and kids tend to get as much out of an afternoon at a good beach as they do from any paid attraction. The Glasshouse Mountains near Beerwah are worth a stop for a short walk with views that genuinely impress. Noosa National Park has easy walking trails right along the coast that are manageable with younger children.
If the budget allows for a paid experience, Australia Zoo is worth every cent for families. For something more affordable, the Sunshine Coast hinterland towns are great for a wander and a coffee stop without needing to spend much at all.
Booking your campervan
We always recommend booking your campervan as early as you can because you can then grab hold of better deals. A campervan hire in Brisbane is the best way to go. Simply go straight from the airport and collect your van ready for you upon arrival at the Autobarns depot.
Final thoughts
A family road trip from Brisbane doesn’t need a big budget to be great. The combination of a well-planned route, a campervan that covers your accommodation and cooking, and Queensland’s abundance of free natural attractions means the main investment is time spent together. That tends to be what the kids remember anyway.
