Qld road trip guide: Where to stop if you are heading to NRL Magic Round 2025
From country pubs to cafes, if you are hitting the road from North Qld or Western Qld to head to Brisbane for NRL Magic Round, these are the must-stop locations along the way.
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If you are hitting the road from North Qld or Western Qld to head to Brisbane for NRL Magic Round, these are the must-stop locations along the way.
NRL Magic Round 2025 will take place at Suncorp Stadium from Thursday, May 1 to Sunday, May 4, 2025, kicking off with Women’s State of Origin Game I on Thursday before eight-fixtures for Round 9 of the NRL Premiership will take place from Friday to Sunday.
The four-day festival of rugby league is expected to draw a record 200,000 fans to take in all the action.
In previous years, Queenslanders from across the state have made the trip to the River City for the rugby league extravaganza.
If you are making the trip to Brisbane by road for Magic Round, these are the must-stop destinations.
NORTH QUEENSLAND – Townsville to Brisbane (1,354km – 14 hr 39 mins – Bruce Highway)
If you are making the trip to Magic Round from the rugby league stronghold of North Queensland, these are some of the towns worth stopping at along the way.
While the approximately 1350km journey between Townsville and Brisbane takes just over 14 hours if you are driving non-stop, it is recommended that you take at least three days if sightseeing is on the agenda.
Bowen
Just over two hours south of Townsville, Bowen would be the ideal location to make the first stop of the journey.
A coastal town in the Whitsunday Region, the town of Bowen is located a short drive away from the Bruce Highway.
Its most well-known attraction, the Big Mango, is just off to the side of the highway and makes for the perfect stop to pull over for a quick photo.
If you are feeling peckish, Jochheim Pies is known for its quality meat pies, while the Grand View Hotel offers classic pub meals and picturesque ocean views.
Mackay
Two hours down the road from Bowen you will find Mackay, which has plenty of attractions to check out and everything you need to keep your road trip going.
Just north of Mackay, you will find Cape Hillsborough National Park, which is well known for its beach-residing kangaroos, although you will be best placed to find them on the sand at sunrise.
The national park also offers rainforest walks and secluded beaches.
In the town itself, you will find Bluewater Lagoon, which is a family-friendly water park, while Mackay Marina Village features waterfront dining and shopping.
If you are after a bite to eat, the Grazing Goat Cafe is known for its artisan pastries, while The Dispensary has you covered for pub feeds.
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is approximately halfway between Townsville and Brisbane, making it the perfect spot for an overnight stop, with several attractions worth visiting in the town.
About 30 minutes north of Rockhampton you will find the Capricorn Caves, a limestone cave system which formed millions of years ago.
Shortly arriving in the Beef Capital of Australia, you will quickly find the Rockhampton Bull statues, which depict the dominant breeds that can be found in the region.
If you are driving through at lunch or staying overnight, it would definitely be worth dropping by the iconic Criterion Hotel for a meal.
The pub has a well-known reputation and is widely known for its quality steak house.
Bundaberg
Three hours south of Rockhampton, Bundaberg is a major centre, with several attractions worth visiting.
Bundaberg or Bundy is most-well known for being the home of turtles and rum.
The Mon Repos Turtle Centre offers an insight into the life of marine turtles, with Mon Repos hosting the largest population of nesting turtles in eastern Australia.
While in town, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is definitely worth a visit to learn about the distillation process and to sample its well-known rum.
For those that are driving, you can blend your own rum to take to Brisbane or save for when you return home.
In terms of dining options, Bundaberg has several quality eateries including Oodies Cafe, the Metro Hotel, while Grunske’s by the River is known for its seafood.
Sunshine Coast
Just over an hour north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast has plenty of attractions and dining options to fuel you up ahead of the final leg of the journey.
While there are plenty of attractions on the Sunshine Coast – notably the world-famous Australia Zoo – if you are after a quick stopover the iconic Big Pineapple at Woombye, which has recently reopened after being restored, is worth visiting.
The Glass House Mountains are another key attraction on the Sunshine Coast, with all the peaks able to be visible from the Wild Horse Mountain lookout, which is just off the Bruce Highway at Coochin Creek
If you are after a quick bite, the award-winning Beefy’s Pies, which is located minutes away from Wild Horse Mountain on the Bruce Highway, is a stopover that offers quality and convenience.
An award-winning pie manufacturer and retailer, Beefy’s has gained a reputation for great pies, winning well-known meat pie competitions, Australia-wide.
It is also located nearby a service station, where you can fuel up on the final run to Brisbane if needed.
WESTERN QUEENSLAND – Longreach to Brisbane (1,177km – 12 hr 48 mins – Landsborough Highway/Warrego Highway)
If you are making the trip to Magic Round from Western Queensland, these are some of the major towns you can find on the major highways from Longreach to Brisbane.
In terms of travel time by road, it is worth allowing yourself two days if you would like to take the 1,177km journey comfortably.
Barcaldine
Just over an hour away from Longreach, you will find Barcaldine, an outback town with a rich history particularly in relation to Australia’s working industry and political landscape.
On the way to the town from Longreach, you will find the Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe, which is renowned for big pub meals and the “coldest beer in the west”.
After a short drive from Ilfracombe, you will arrive at Barcaldine, which is notably the home of the Tree of Knowledge, which is known for its role in the 1891 shearers strike that played a key role in the formation of the Australian Labor Party.
The Australian Workers Heritage Centre also provides an insight into the history of working men and women in Australia.
If you would prefer a quick bite to eat after arriving at Barcaldine, the Ridgee Didge Cafe is a great spot.
Blackall
About an hour south of Barcaldine, you will arrive at Blackall, a town with a storied grazing history.
The major tourist attraction in the town is the Blackall Woolscour which gives visitors an insight into the wool processing industry in Australia.
The wool scouring mill operated from 1908 until 1978, before being opened as a tourism facility in 2002.
If you are feeling peckish, the Blackall Bakery offers a perfect stop for a snack or lunch.
Roma
Roma is approximately halfway between Longreach and Brisbane, with the town an ideal location to stop for the night, with plenty of attractions worth visiting.
A major town in the Maranoa region, Roma is well-known for its bottle tree-lined streets.
The town is also home to the Roma Saleyards, which is Australia’s largest cattle selling centre and the largest saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Big Rig at Roma also provides a look back into the pioneering days of Australia’s gas and oil industries.
The town has plenty of quality dining options including the Club Hotel for a pub feed and the Roma Bakery for pastries and snacks.
Dalby
About four hours away from Roma, Dalby is a well-placed town to stop at on the journey to Brisbane, with the Western Downs town packing plenty of culture and history.
About 200km from Brisbane, Dalby has all the facilities of a major town, while retaining its country feel.
One of the key tourist attractions in the town is the Dalby Pioneer Park Museum, which showcases Queensland’s largest collection of working tractors and farming machinery.
The Dalby Heritage Trail also provides a look back in time, highlighting the town’s historic buildings, homes, and churches.
If you are after a more scenic experience, the Lake Broadwater Conservation Park contains the only naturally-occurring freshwater later in the region.
Dalby is not short of dining options with the Criterion Hotel a good choice for a pub feed, while the Urban Paddock Cafe is perfect for breakfast and lunch.
Toowoomba
Australia’s largest in-land non-capital city, Toowoomba has many attractions worth visiting and all the necessities to get you to Brisbane.
Also known as the Garden City, Toowoomba is well-known for its parks and gardens, with Queens Park and Botanical Gardens, Laurel Bank Park, and the Japanese gardens worth checking out.
Another major attraction is Picnic Point, which offers stunning views of the Lockyer Valley, with the cafe nearby making it the perfect place to stop for a break before heading to Brisbane.
Toowoomba has plenty of quality dining options including the Park House Cafe, The Spotted Cow, but if you are after a unique takeaway option, Toowoomba’s Super Rooster is worth visiting.
Alternatively, if you are in a hurry to get to Brisbane, you can bypass Toowoomba on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, and stop at one of several service stations on the Warrego Highway on the final run to Brisbane.
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