Brisbane to Cairns Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Coming from the extreme south of Brisbane, my journey takes me across the Brisbane River. Which of these bridges provides one of the easiest routes, avoiding the CBD?

Answer: Gateway Bridge

The Gateway Bridge bypasses the CBD and was opened in 1986. A second bridge is being constructed parallel to it.
The Story Bridge is a cantilever bridge connecting Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley in the city area.
The Captain Cook Bridge offers a direct route to the CBD along the M1.
The Goodwill Bridge is a pedestrian bridge connecting South Bank and Garden Point Campus.

2. What tourist attraction is located at Beerwah, about 70 km north of Brisbane?

Answer: Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo, home of 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin (sadly killed by a stingray barb) is at Beerwah. The Big Pineapple is further north, at Woombye. Alma Park Zoo was a little south of Australia Zoo, and Dreamworld is south of Brisbane, at Coomera.

3. Continuing north, we arrive at which one of Queensland's first gold discovery towns?

Answer: Gympie

Originally called Nashville, gold was discovered here in 1867. The name changed to Gympie (from the Aboriginal meaning 'stinging tree'), in 1868. Maryborough is further north, and Caloundra requires a detour to the coast further south. Nambour is also further south.

4. Onward, and we take a detour to the coast to see some turtles. I might have a rum or three as well. Near which town are we now?

Answer: Bundaberg

Mon Repos turtle hatchery can be reached from the sugar town of Bundaberg, home of the famous rum and of aviator, Bert Hinkler, the first person to fly solo from England to Australia.
We've passed through Maryborough on the way. Gayndah is inland, and noted for its oranges. Childers is a sugar town on the highway, noted for the infamous 'Backpacker's Fire' in 2000 where 15 people were killed.

5. Our next stop is at the location of a large alumina refinery with a large natural harbour.

Answer: Gladstone

Gladstone, named after British statesman William Gladstone, is noted for its excellent natural harbour, making it an ideal site for industry.
Biloela is a smaller town, inland from Gladstone.
Moura is the site of large open-cut coal mines, again inland from Gladstone, transporting coal there for export.
Mt Morgan is further north and was a gold mining centre in the 19th century.

6. We have now reached the self-proclaimed 'Beef Capital of Queensland'. Where are we?

Answer: Rockhampton

Rockhampton is indeed noted for its cattle sales and meatworks. Situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, it is also the gateway to Great Keppel Island.
To reach Emerald, we would need to travel over 200 km west of Rockhampton. It is the centre of a coal-mining area and also of several gemfields.
Mackay is another few hundred kilometres north, a sugar city.
Winton is further west again, and noted as the birthplace of the Flying Doctor Service, where Banjo Paterson penned 'Waltzing Matilda', and the site of several dinosaur fossil finds.

7. We find ourselves at the 'Gateway to the Whitsundays'. Which of the following places are we in now?

Answer: Proserpine

Proserpine (named for the Greek Goddess Persephone) is a sugar town from which we leave the highway to access the Whitsundays, a centre for tourism. Hamilton Island, among others, is here.
Mackay, (The Sugar Capital of Australia) is south of Proserpine.
Town of 1770 is a holiday resort between Gladstone and Bundaberg. It was Cook's second landing place in Australia, and has the most northerly surf, sand beach in eastern Australia.
Dysart is a Central Queensland coal-mining town.

8. We are now at the site where part of the film 'Australia' was filmed.

Answer: Bowen

Bowen is located between Mackay and Townsville, and apart from the delicious mango named for it, is remembered for the filming of 'Australia', starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.
Mt Isa is a mining town in outback Queensland.
Longreach, also in outback Queensland, is home to the 'Stockman's Hall of Fame' tourist attraction.
Ayr, named after Ayr in Scotland, is a small town north of Bowen.

9. We have arrived at a city from which Magnetic Island can be accessed. Where are we now?

Answer: Townsville

Townsville, the unofficial 'Capital of North Queensland' is situated on the Ross River, and a short boat trip gets us to Magnetic Island.
Innisfail is a sugar town north of Townsville. It is best remembered for the destruction caused there by Cyclone Larry in March 2006.
Charters Towers is an old gold-mining town west of Townsville.
Cooktown, the site of Captain Cook's landing to effect repairs to the 'HMS Endeavour' is a long way further north, even of our destination.

10. Finally, according to Tom-Tom, we have 'reached our destination'. If you read the quiz title, you will know that we are now at which location?

Answer: Cairns

Cairns, about 1700 km north of Brisbane, was named for former Governor William Cairns. It is a centre of access to the Great Barrier Reef, particularly Green Island, and the Daintree National Park.
Kuranda is a mountain town reached by a train or the 'Skyrail', a cable car. Magnificent scenery is the reward for this journey.
Port Douglas is further north, a tourist resort offering access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rain forest.
Weipa is a bauxite mining town on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Source: Author barrywlj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Having tried 'Sydney to Brisbane', and liked it, I thought we might continue the journey north. Here are some questions about my state. Although there is an inland route, we will stick to the national highway. Enjoy.

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