You’ve just picked up your brand-new Mazda 3 Touring Sedan, it’s got that fresh smell of new car and it’s just begging for a weekend tour. There are many day trip options available straight out of Brisbane CBD which take you on picturesque drives through the beautiful state of Queensland. Here are some of our favourites that’ll leave you planning another for next weekend.
Springbrook Mountain, Gold Coast
Two hours south of Brisbane nestled on the NSW/QLD border you’ll find this little gem. The site of a 23 million year old volcano which formed this beautiful mountainous forest. The road up is exciting and a great place to stretch the legs of your new ride…. and standing on this elevation means you can tell your friends and family that you’ve stood on a volcano, just leave out the part that it’s extinct.
Springbrook Mountain is full of beautiful lookouts, amazing waterfalls and huge canyons. Bring the swimmers or pack a picnic for lunch and enjoy the lovely views, wildlife, plants and the caves filled with glow in the dark worms before winding your way back down the mountain and heading home.
Noosaville, Sunshine Coast
Two hours north of Brisbane is the dreamy little seaside village of Noosaville, located on the foreshore, a 5-minute drive from Noosa Heads. Test out your new car’s cruise control and dial in the tunes for a nice leisurely drive up the Highway. A must visit is Hells Gates for an incredible view, and, you might just spot some playful dolphins and if you’re lucky, some turtles.
Thomas Street and Gympie Terrace are littered with cafes and restaurants. Try and get to Red Emperor for amazing fish and chips. In terms of activities, the world really is your oyster, if you can manage to rip yourself from your car for an hour you can catch the Noosa Ferry, hire a jet-ski, kayak or even a tinny….. or better yet organise some surfing lessons if you’re keen to go a step above.
Somerset Dam, Somerset
One hour and thirty minutes north-west of Brisbane up the twisty Highway 31 is Somerset Dam. A Boating, Camping and Recreation heaven. It is a fantastic place to really see what your ride can do followed by a break at the dam to stretch your own legs. Soak up the sun and enjoy the surrounding mountains in the family BBQ and picnic areas or head out on the water for some enjoyment out of the car!
This dam is one of Brisbane’s most important water catchments and stores over 900,000 megalitres. The dam wall itself is stunning at a length of over 300 metres long. Somerset Dam really is a hidden gem.
