Community & Business
8 July, 2026
Region features State’s top road trips
BLACK Mountain Road between Kuranda and Julatten has scored third place in the state’s most popular road trips, according to a new study.
LifeFlight Lotteries has revealed the state’s most popular road trips by analysing average monthly Google search volumes alongside route length, estimated driving times, and the number of restaurants and petrol stations available along each journey.
The results show that the 43km trip from Kuranda to Julatten via Black Mountain Road attracts around 480 monthly Google searches.
The route can be completed in around two hours and features 24 restaurants and six petrol stations.
“Its popularity is driven by spectacular rainforest scenery, winding mountain roads and easy access to some of Tropical North Queensland’s most celebrated natural attractions,” a spokesperson from LifeFlight Lotteries said.
Ranking fourth overall, the highest road in Queensland, between Herberton and Ravenshoe, generates an average of 390 Google searches every month.
Although the route spans only 20.3km, it offers a unique journey through Queensland’s highest sealed road and can be explored in around two hours.
“Along the way, travellers will find six restaurants and two petrol stations, as well as sweeping views across the Atherton Tablelands,” the spokesperson said.
Must sees along the way was the Herberton Historic Village, Millstream Falls, Windy Hill Wind Farm, Ravenshoe and Tully Falls National Park.
The iconic Great Barrier Reef Drive took out the top spot, attracting more than four times the search interest of any other route.
With many of the state’s popular road trips taking travellers through regional, rural and remote areas, help may take longer to arrive, says LifeFlight.
In those moments, simple actions taken by bystanders, friends or family members can make a real difference while emergency services are on the way.
LifeFlight First Minutes Matter regional medical educator Tim said preparation should include knowing how to respond in a medical or roadside emergency.
“Road trips are a great way to explore Queensland, but emergencies can happen anywhere – on the roadside, at a rest stop, at a campsite, or in an area with limited phone reception,” he said.
“The first few minutes after an incident can feel overwhelming, but simple actions matter. Knowing how to call Triple Zero (000), give your exact location, identifying and controlling serious bleeding, and supporting a person’s airway who is unwell can make a real difference until help arrives.”
