Brisbane to South Burnett Road Trip

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The notion of a day trip around the South Burnett region is popular for its country charm and proximity to Brisbane. During the Easter long weekend in 2025, I took a Brisbane to South Burnett road trip with the main aim to see the Wondai Autumn Garden Expo and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I really appreciated how there was a new town every few kilometres. Each town had something unique to it, even if it was just a unique design for a town hall or pub. What I have documented in the following is likely useful for trip planning, especially when considered with some of the links at the conclusion of the review. Attempting to get to Wondai prior to midday for the garden expo limited my time to stop off at the smaller towns. It can be guaranteed that there are plenty of opportunities to stop off, however, which makes the journey quite spontaneous and fun. For further trip-related details, definitely see official channels at visitsouthburnett.com.au , which can assist with tours, accommodation, and all other aspects of a holiday to the region.







The first stop on the road trip was Kilcoy, which was a quick stopover to get a proper leg stretch after exiting the Bruce Highway near Caboolture through Wamuran and Woodford. Near its visitor information centre is a coffee van and a park that shows some of its historic buildings and a mountainous backdrop. While not necessarily part of the South Burnett region, for any Brisbane-to-South Burnett road trip, Kilcoy is useful for getting a proper break after travelling from inner-city Brisbane past Caboolture.







Moore was the next quick stopover. It can easily be described as the gateway to the South Burnett region, with large, attractive trees surrounded by mountains. Moore also had a few shops and cafes, so it was suitable for a coffee break. Moore is also near Linville, which is an important part of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - which starts west of Ipswich and concludes at Yarraman - a small town on the junction of the New England and D'Aguilar highways.





My next stop was at the Lavender Farm outside Kingaroy. After progressing through Blackbutt, Yarraman, and Nanango, just prior to Kingaroy is the Pottique Lavender Farm. While not open on public holidays, it has a few car parks to get a quick leg stretch and observe its beautiful gardens. It presented a peaceful vantage point to see the surrounding countryside.





Next was a traversal of central Kingaroy, using the fact it was a public holiday to get a proper look at the town. It was at a very quiet time, but I got to see Kingaroy's huge peanut silos. Then it was on to the main destination, Wondai. But on the way were several small towns, one of which had a nice place for stopping the vehicle. That small town was Wooroolin - a significant part of the South Burnett Rail Trail which starts at Kingaroy and concludes at Kilkivan.





After leaving inner Brisbane at 07:30, I had reached Wondai by 11:00 . Seen below is the garden expo venue. But the trip didn't end there. Murgon was the next town, with a very wide main street split by parks along the highway. Then to Goomeri with its nice antique store and cafes/bakeries. Finally to Kilkivan, passing the wine trail , which is after the Cherbourg exit prior to Goomeri. At Kilkivan I got a proper leg stretch and tried some roadside paddock-to-plate foods, as seen below in the collage dedicated to the quick stop in the tiny historic town.









The road trip overall combined food and drink, wine production, gardening, history, and scenery. It was a journey that showed me a totally different but welcome aspect of Queensland tourism. I should state that from Kilkivan I followed the Wide Bay Highway over to Gympie and just drove a more uneventful course home. That suited me, because the morning is ideal for a coffee and some sightseeing. I was keen to see my photos in the afternoon, so I didn't mind seeing the Bruce Highway for yet another time. For those interested in the route taken, it was the Bruce Highway from Brisbane, turning off for Kilcoy near Caboolture, through to Nanango, turning off to Kingaroy, through Kingaroy, Wondai, Murgon, to Goomeri, and onto the Wide Bay Highway back onto the Bruce Highway via Kilkivan. Aside from visiting the Wondai Garden Expo, the trip achieved a subtle blend of sightseeing. This road trip idea is thus highly recommended for those wanting to escape the city and see new towns and gain new experiences in a Queensland rural setting.

LINKS
A foodie's road trip from Moore to Goomeri departing Brisbane linked here at Queensland.com .
The towns of the South Burnett from official tourist online sources found linked here , including Murgon, Wondai, Kingaroy, Nanango, and Blackbutt.
Further information about visiting the South Burnett Region from the official site of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
Discover Blackbutt by WeekendNotes , with information about the Roy Emerson museum.

Note that all photos in this review were taken by the article author in 2025.

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