Driver reviver and rest areas
Rest areas are always available for you to stop and recover at any time. You should plan ahead which rest areas and driver sites you will stop at on your journey.
If you are driving a long distance on Queensland roads, we encourage you to take a break every 2 hours for at least 15 minutes. You can stop at a driver reviver site or any rest area located throughout the state.
Driver reviver transition
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has worked closely with council and community representatives across the state to transition our managed driver reviver sites to be led at a local level. Some driver reviver sites will:
- move to another location and be led by a community group or council
- move and continue to operate at a nearby Visitor Information Centre
- close but continue to operate as a rest area for motorists.
Although complimentary refreshments will no longer be offered at rest areas as part of the national driver reviver program, the sites will remain open as a rest area for all motorists to manage fatigue. Alternatively, you can stop at a local shop, cafe, or service station for a break.
Driver Reviver Australia is a national volunteer-led program which operates at more than 180 sites across Australia. While Transport and Main Roads will no longer manage driver reviver sites, Driver Reviver Australia will continue to operate all other sites across Queensland.
We would like to thank the volunteers for their dedication and commitment for more than 30 years.
We encourage drivers to take regular breaks at rest areas while driving, to reduce fatigue-related deaths on our roads and in our communities.
Changes to driver reviver sites
Unfortunately, much of our owned driver reviver infrastructure across the state is not safe, and the cost of repairs and ongoing maintenance is not feasible. The safety of our volunteers, staff and the travelling public is always our first priority.
Following stakeholder consultation, the driver reviver program will no longer operate at these sites listed in the following table.
| Location | Rest area | Driver reviver | Alternative option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Creek | Open | Moved to Tyto Wetlands Visitor Information Centre | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 7-minute drive |
| Gladfield (Warwick) | Open | No longer operating at this site | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 16-minute drive |
| Gin Gin | Open | No longer operating at this site | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. 2 service stations and diner open 24 hours, around a 2-minute drive |
| Granite Creek | Open | No longer operating at this site | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 1-hour drive |
| Gunalda (Gympie) | Open | Local council considering moving to a Visitor Information Centre | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station across the road |
| Hughenden (Apex Park) | Open | Council and community groups to manage the driver reviver program | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 2-minute drive |
| Innisfail (Fred Drew Park) | Open | Moved to Cardwell and Tully Visitor Information Centres | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 3-minute drive |
| Julia Creek (George Sills Park) | Open | Council and community groups to manage the driver reviver program locally | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 2-minute drive |
| Mount Gordon (Bowen) | Open | Local council considering reopening a driver reviver at a nearby Visitor Information Centre. | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Visitor Information Centre across the road. |
| Waverley Creek | Open | No longer operating at this site | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station around a 22-minute drive |
| Yaamba | Open | Local council considering reopening a driver reviver at a nearby Visitor Information Centre | The rest area will remain open to motorists to pull over and take a break. Service station across the road |
Visit the national Driver Reviver site for national locations and information about their operating dates and times.