In short
- Queensland's advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours and never drive more than 10 hours in a day.[1]
- Driver Reviver is a national volunteer program. Its stops hand out free tea, coffee and biscuits, and their dates and hours vary, so check the Driver Reviver site before you go.[5]
- Queensland has just over 450 rest areas, open all year, and cars may stay up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise. They aren't campsites.[4]
- Yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting in the lane and forgetting the last few minutes of driving all mean stop now. A short sleep at the wheel can last up to 10 seconds.[1]
- On a long trip in a Rentzy car, check the oil, water and tyre pressures, stop and call us if a warning light comes on, and get written consent before leaving Queensland.
What are the warning signs of driver fatigue?
Fatigue isn't only falling asleep. Brief lapses in concentration are dangerous too, and a tired brain can slip into microsleeps lasting from a fraction of a second up to 10 seconds, which you can't control.[1] The Queensland Government lists these signs:[1]
- yawning, blinking more than usual, or eyes closing for a moment or going out of focus[1]
- trouble keeping your head up, and forgetting the previous few minutes of driving[1]
- daydreaming, starting to "see" things, or droning and humming in the ears[1]
- slower reactions, changing speed for no reason, and drifting in the lane or over lane lines[1]
- stiffness, cramps, aches and general tiredness.[1]
Being awake for more than 17 hours affects performance about as much as a blood alcohol concentration over 0.05.[1] Between 2015 and 2019, about 12% of lives lost on Queensland roads were in fatigue-related crashes, and the government says the real share is likely higher.[1] Once you notice any of them, the advice is to stop and rest straight away.[1]
How often should you stop on a long drive?
Take a break of at least 15 minutes every 2 hours.[1][3] For the day as a whole, the fatigue page says never drive more than 10 hours, and the long-trip page suggests 8 to 10.[1][2] The fatigue page also advises:[1]
Where are Driver Reviver stops in Queensland?
Driver Reviver is run nationally by Driver Reviver Australia, a volunteer-led program with more than 180 sites around the country. Volunteers serve free coffee or tea and a biscuit, and they update opening dates and times through the year, so use the map on the Driver Reviver site (it can be filtered to QLD) to see what's open on your route.[5]
Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads no longer manages Driver Reviver sites itself. Some of its former sites moved to visitor information centres or community groups, and some closed as Driver Reviver stops but stay open as rest areas; Driver Reviver Australia continues to run its other Queensland sites.[3] Complimentary refreshments are no longer offered at those former sites, so a shop, café or service station is the alternative there.[3]
On the road, a blue and white service sign showing a coffee cup tells you a Driver Reviver site is ahead.[6]
What are Queensland's rest areas like?
There are just over 450 rest areas on Queensland roads, open all year.[4] They come in three kinds, and only two are for cars:[4]
| Type | Who may use it |
|---|---|
| Motorist rest area[4] | Cars and recreational vehicles, including caravans and motorhomes |
| Combined rest area (around 50)[4] | Cars, caravans and trucks, in separate designated areas |
| Heavy vehicle rest area (around 115)[4] | Trucks only. Fines may apply if you stop in one in a car. |
Facilities vary but can include picnic tables, barbecues, water, toilets, bins, shelter and tourist information; some have playgrounds.[4] Look for the blue guide sign with a white tree and picnic table, and the "rest area ahead" sign that gives the distance.[4] Cars may stay up to 20 hours unless signs say otherwise, but rest areas are not camping or accommodation.[4]
How do you plan stops and check the road?
QLDTraffic, from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, gives statewide information on incidents and hazards, closures, roadworks, special events and rest areas, on its website and app. You can also call 13 19 40 for updates.[4] The department's road region maps mark its rest areas, and a downloadable dataset lists roadside amenities with GPS locations.[6][3]
Drive to the conditions: sunrise and sunset can limit your view, and wildlife is most active around dawn and dusk.[2] Pack food and water, plus a little extra in case the trip takes longer than planned.[2] For particular routes, see Brisbane to Toowoomba and Noosa by car from Brisbane.
What should you check on a rental car before a long trip?
The government's long-trip checklist covers tyres (condition and pressure, including the spare), fluid levels such as oil, coolant and brake fluid, lights, wipers and enough fuel for the journey.[2] We maintain Rentzy cars, but the quick checks before a long drive are still yours.
Heading over the border? Ask us for written consent before you book the trip; Byron Bay from Brisbane covers that drive.
Sources
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Driving tired (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Road safety and vehicle maintenance for long trips (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Driver reviver and rest areas (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Rest areas (read 23 October 2026)
- Driver Reviver Australia: Find a Driver Reviver rest stop (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Journey planning—maps (read 23 October 2026)
Written by the Rentzy team at Rentzy Car Rentals. Rentzy prices, fees and rules in this guide come from our published terms and update with them; rules set by others (roads, tolls, licences, transport) are from the official pages above, as read on the dates shown. Something out of date? Tell us.
