We recently needed to make our way from Gympie to Rockhampton for a housesitting gig. Because my hubby had an ongoing back injury, we stowed the van and travelled without it.
We decided to take a slow trip over 3 days to accommodate his injury. Yes, you heard right … we turned a 5-hour drive into a 3-day holiday.
But who doesn’t mind taking it slow along the Bruce Highway if you have the time to do so? After all, in this stretch of the Bruce alone, you pass right through (or very near to) 23 towns!
* 10 things you might not know about the Bruce Highway
At 1,679 km, the Bruce Highway begins just north of Brisbane and ends in Cairns, after crossing 26 rivers, one of them twice.
Previously known as The Great North Coast Road, the Bruce Highway was gazetted and named in 1934, after the then minister for public works, Henry Bruce (L).
Some interesting data:
💥 A 2014 news article highlighted the fact that the Bruce Highway was voted 14th among the top 25 most dangerous roads in the world by a UK-based organisation, ‘Driving Experiences’.
💥 A 2022 survey put Australia 14th on the list of 31 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development) countries for the number of road deaths at 4.54 per 100,000 people. (UPDATE: In September 2024, a popular Australian insurance company, AAMI, published data – collected over the last decade – that proved the Bruce was still one of Australia's top ten most dangerous roads. This came shortly after a tragic crash at the end of August, involving multiple vehicles and an explosion that shut the Bruce for seven days.)
💥Currently, Queensland (Qld) alone has a rate of 5.25 per 100,000 fatalities. Thus far, 2024 figures show 188 road deaths from Jan to 24 August.
It has an average fatal and serious injury (FSI) crash rate of 3 to 5 times higher than major national highways in New South Wales and Victoria.
1,398km of the Bruce Highway (from Gympie to Cairns) remains single-lane and undivided.
According to the Australian Road Assessment Program, nearly half of the road is rated 2 stars or less. None of it rated a full five stars, and 4% is rated at 1 star, which is the most unsafe possible.
In 2023 the federal government changed its funding split from 80-20 with the Qld government, to 50-50. This has put many projects under strain.
The Bruce is state-controlled, subdivided into fourteen sections for administrative and funding purposes. All sections are part of the National Highway (a system of roads connecting all mainland states and territories of Australia).
In a 2022 RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland) poll, the Bruce Highway was named as Queensland’s most unroadworthy road. From talking to folks we meet, it seems nothing has changed. (Update September 2024: Queensland Trucking Association has issued an urgent plea for federal funding to upgrade the Bruce.)
Flooding during rain events cuts off communities and supplies, with the Bruce potentially shut for more than 48 hours at nine different spots each year. The Northern Bruce Action Group issued a report claiming that the Bruce "would need $20 billion to bring it up to par" with other highways in Australia. (Graham, Big Rigs News, 19/09/2024)
Mmm … the (in)famous Bruce! But now, onto our road trip …
* 1st Stop – Tiaro
The section of the highway between Gympie and Tiaro (pronounced TIE-roh ☺) is a pleasant drive. Tiaro is a great stop for travellers. There is quite a bit of parking along the main road, as well as a rest stop that allows free camping close to all amenities. The Retro Espresso coffee shop on the corner is popular, and no wonder – their coffee deserves a mention.
The Royal Hotel opposite offers delicious meals. Over the road is the Bush ‘n Bay café, with a generous offering of delicious takeaways. Their fish and chips with salad are delicious!
Take a walk through the Memorial Park which celebrates the wonders of the Mary River with interesting info boards; and while you’re there, visit the info office for an interesting chat about the village.
The amenities block has always been neat and clean when we have stopped there. We spent a night at the free camp in our van about a year ago. It was a pleasant experience, even though the camp was full.
While in Tiaro, don’t forget to also pop in at the historic Hideaway Station Hotel. Navigate your way there with Google Maps or Wayz. Their meals have mixed reviews, but sadly we arrived between opening times. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a drink on the veranda.
They also allow caravans a ‘free’ stop for a night or two, over the road from the hotel, with the expectation that you would support them by purchasing a meal or a few drinks. Some sections are not very level, but if you are there first, you could bag a great spot.
We love these old Queenslander hotels, but we also love to support local businesses. I always ask if I can look around. This one has kept its charm.
* 2nd Stop (overnight) - Apple Tree Creek
We passed through Childers, as we had explored this town a couple of years ago. Hubby was ready for a stop by the time we arrived at Montrose B&B in Apple Tree Creek. This was booked a week beforehand. At the time of booking, I was in a hurry, so I picked the venue based on the Google Maps rating without looking at any images. We were surprised to find the most charming, self-catering B & B cottage! This stop is highly recommended by us. In fact, if you could, spend a few days exploring the surrounding attractions that are within an hour’s drive from Montrose.
Montrose’s hosts are welcoming and ensure that all your needs are met. Upon arrival, there was fresh homemade cake for our tea. (Please note: this is not a sponsored post.) In my opinion, nothing has been overlooked to make your stay as comfortable as possible. True value for money. Surrounded by beautiful items in a peaceful environment, one can only rest and unwind. The bed transports you effortlessly into dreamland! The continental breakfast was fully catered for in the cottage and was delicious.
Here are some views of this venue.
* 3rd Stop – Gin Gin
We had a slow morning and left at 10 am. Thirty minutes later, we drove into Gin Gin. Before you approach the town, the Gin Gin Rest Area (24-hour free camp) is on your left. Although only mid-morning, it seemed to be quite full with mobile homes and caravans. A large space, clearly popular, with sites well away from the road, and with good reviews on Google Maps.
In Gin Gin the traffic police were eyeballing everyone driving into the town and were stopping every 2nd or 3rd car. Fortunately, we were waved on and we managed to find parking right outside the Gin Gin Bakery where we hopped in for morning tea. (Well, there was no ‘hopping’ involved, rather a slow painful walk for hubby. 😖)
He felt like a savoury snack and ordered a sausage roll, whereas something sweet always makes its way onto my plate … 🤭. This bakery has won awards for Best Bakery and they sure deserve it. According to hubs, the best sausage roll ever eaten! Their pies were flying off the oven shelf. No wonder the queue was out the door!
4th Stop – Miriam Vale
After tea, we took the Bruce to Miriam Vale. This stretch of road was rough and bumpy at times, and somewhat potholed. But we had an uneventful drive. Arriving at Miriam Vale at lunchtime and due for a stop to relieve hubby’s back, we picked BLD Tuckerbox. That turned out to be a great choice! The country-kitchen-style eatery is adorned with antiques from homesteads and cattle stations of yesteryear. (None for sale, mind you, as they are family heirlooms and collectables.)
As you wait for your food your eye can’t help falling on item for item, and you are transported to days gone by as you picture your mother and grandmother using these things. There are tables on the sidewalk outside as well.
Our food arrived. We were gobsmacked by the portion sizes – just huge! Definite value for money if you can eat large amounts.
And the coffee! A true reviver in a mug. Great service with a smile.
* 5th Stop (Overnight) – Benaraby
The stretch of the Bruce Highway from Miriam Vale to Benaraby (pronounced BEN-arab-ee) is also quite potholed, narrow in places, with the shoulder worn away. (This was before the rain event in August)😣. There are overtaking lanes and one has to drive to conditions. Again, our drive was an uneventful one. I was thankful, as I have a particular fear of the Bruce after our horrendous experience in October 2022. A B-Double caused a multi-vehicle wipeout and we were the (sandwiched) middle vehicle in a stationary traffic jam.
Before you cross the Boyne River there is another free camp, the Benaraby Public Campground. It has mixed reviews on Google Maps – it appears it’s advantageous to be in a self-contained van. 😅 But a fun stop if you meet the cows from the adjoining property. 😊
Crossing the Turich Mann Bridge over the Boyne River, you arrive in Benaraby. The Boyne River Tourist Park is on your right as you enter. Looks like a great place to stay, right on the river. We opted for Benaraby Hilltop Motor Inn. It was clean, the room was comfortable, and the administration staff were friendly and efficient. The next morning, we catered for ourselves for breakfast, as I had made oat-berry-yoghurt jars that were stashed in the fridge in our 4x4.
We brewed our favourite morning coffee too. Living in a van has taught us to manage on the go, so these items travel with us. Therefore, we cannot comment on the quality of the motel’s food service, which appears to have very good reviews.
Further down the highway, on the left, is Greenacres Motel Van Park. This looks like another enchanting venue to pull into, whether you have a van or not.
Tannum Sands
Instead of spending the afternoon in the sterile odour of the motel room, we took a drive to view Tannum Sands. Oh my … this must be a tourist hotspot! It was a gloomy, cloudy afternoon, and quite chilly. With hubby not able to walk more than 20 steps, we did not go walkabout, but we did stop and view the beach next to the lagoon. I could picture it on a hot summer’s day.
The parkland is well-equipped with amenities and playgrounds and is mostly under shade. The walkway was neat, and the gardens were well-kept. We hope to return one day, under more pleasant conditions.
Back at the Motel in Benaraby, I took a walk around the peaceful gardens, discovered their pool area, and admired the cloudy sunset.
* Final stretch (Day 3)
Once again we took to the highway, and this stretch to Rockhampton was far busier and not in good condition at all. 😖 “Classic Bruce”, some say. Others retort, “Just put up and shut up.” (The Facebook group ‘Bruce Highway and Traffic News’ can be entertaining if you have time to read some of the comments. 😄)
The Truckies that are a challenge to many enjoy ‘right of way’. A couple of times, when it was safe to do so, I pulled aside to let traffic pass as I was not happy driving at 90 km/hr on those road conditions, let alone 100 km/hr. And you don’t want a B-Double sitting on your tail.
An hour and 20 minutes later, just before lunchtime, we drove into Rockhampton. The city was abuzz. Instead of looking around, I was intent on listening to the directions from Google Maps to our destination. We arrived to much relief from homeowners who were holding thumbs for an uneventful Bruce Highway trip so that they could embark on the holiday of their dreams in Italy.
Rockhampton, the Beef Capital of Queensland!
Someone once mentioned that Rockhampton is the most popular tourist city (in Queensland?). Mmmm, I’ll have to find that stat so that I can prove it. Certainly, the few times that we drove along the main road through the city, even on a Sunday, there was a steady stream of traffic! Keep an eye out for the following blog post as Rockhampton and its many nearby attractions are my next topic. (You can subscribe to our website to get notifications of each new blog post.)
Thanks for road-tripping north with us. Here’s to slow journeys and navigating the Bruce with a hop, skip, and jump.
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Until next time, thanks for stopping by. 🌼
Sandy
Sources
https://bigrigs.com.au/2024/08/08/fix-the-bruce-highway-campaign-kicks-off-ahead-of-state-election/
https://cars.tmr.qld.gov.au/Static/documents/RoadCrashReport/Weekly/WeeklyReport_Latest.pdf
1st image: Kerry Raymond, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
2nd image: RACQ 18/04/2024 News: https://www.racq.com.au/latest-news/news/2024/04/ns190424-bruce-highway-funding-shortage-could-prove-deadly
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