Every interstate move from the Sunshine Coast starts with a long drive. Sydney, the closest of our routes, is 988 km from Caloundra. If you're happy to do the lifting, one-way truck hire keeps the rest simple: collect a truck or van in Caloundra, drive it to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, and hand the keys back at our depot there. Nobody has to drive it home.
What is one-way truck hire from Caloundra?
One-way truck hire from Caloundra means collecting a car-licence truck or van at our Bowman Road pickup point and returning it at our depot in another city. You pay one flat, GST-inclusive package that includes the hire days, the kilometres and damage cover with a $6,500 excess, instead of paying for a return trip.
Where do you collect the truck?
Our Caloundra pickup point is Sparkles Car Wash at Caloundra Shopping Centre, 47 Bowman Road: the centre with Kmart and Coles, three minutes from Bulcock Street. Bowman Road becomes Caloundra Road, which meets the Bruce Highway about 9 km west, so the M1 south is close by. So is most of the southern Sunshine Coast. Google Maps puts Bowman Road 8 minutes from Currimundi, 13 from Kawana Waters and 22 from Buderim, without traffic. The Bowman Road pickup guide has directions, opening hours and the drive from 19 areas.
How far is it from Caloundra?
- Sydney: 988 km, about 10 hours non-stop down the M1 and the Pacific Highway.
- Melbourne: 1,838 km, about 18½ hours by the coast, or 1,738 km inland on the Newell Highway.
- Adelaide: 2,123 km, about 23½ hours on sealed highways through Hay and Mildura.
Those are Google Maps' non-stop figures, without traffic. A loaded truck sits below the speed limit on the hills, and you'll stop for fuel, food and sleep, so build in a buffer. Sydney is one very long day or two easy ones. Melbourne takes two or three days, and Adelaide takes three.
Where should you stop overnight?
Measured from the pickup, these towns split each drive into sensible days:
- Sydney: Coffs Harbour, 476 km in, is close to halfway.
- Melbourne by the coast: Port Macquarie (631 km) and Goulburn (1,188 km).
- Melbourne inland: Moree (583 km) and West Wyalong (1,203 km).
- Adelaide: Narrabri (683 km) and Hay (1,458 km).
Book the beds before you leave, rather than hunting for a motel with room for a truck at 9 PM. And for Adelaide, stay on the highways even if a map app offers a shorter line through the outback: the rental agreement doesn't allow unsealed roads.
Which day should you pick up?
Pickups and drop-offs run by appointment, Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 AM to the last appointment at 4:45 PM. We're closed on Sundays and on Queensland public holidays, including Labour Day (the first Monday in May) and the King's Birthday (the first Monday in October). Over Christmas 2026 we're closed from 25 to 28 December, and on New Year's Day 2027.
The booking calendar won't offer a closed day, which helps. It can't fix a lease that ends on a Sunday, though. If yours does, pick up on the Saturday. One spare hire day costs less than a weekend on a mattress in an empty house.
Mind the clocks
Queensland doesn't use daylight saving. From the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, Sydney and Melbourne are an hour ahead of Caloundra, and Adelaide is half an hour ahead. Your drop-off appointment is in local time at the other end, so count that hour when you plan the last day's drive.
Truck or van?
Everything in the one-way fleet drives on a standard car licence, so the question is size, not paperwork. A van handles a studio or a one-bedroom flat. Anything bigger wants the truck, and the moving trucks seat up to three people, so the household can ride along with the load. We go through the trade-offs in truck or van for an interstate move.
What does the package include?
Each route is one flat price, GST included. It covers a set number of hire days and kilometres, plus damage cover with a $6,500 excess. A refundable security bond applies, and we explain it before you pay. If the move needs longer, add days or kilometres when you book rather than finding out on the road.
A Sunshine Coast moving checklist
- Measure the fridge, the couch and anything else that might not fit before you choose a vehicle.
- Book a weekday or Saturday pickup, not the Sunday your lease ends.
- Read the confirmation email: it has the exact meeting spot at Bowman Road, a Google Maps pin and the name and number of the person meeting you.
- Bring your driver's licence and the payment card in the main driver's name. We check the physical card.
- Book your overnight stops before you go.
- Set the drop-off time in the other city's local time, and leave room to unload in daylight.
For the full list, see the interstate moving checklist.
Ready to price it? Every Caloundra route is on the Caloundra one-way hire page. Call 03 8560 7038 if you'd rather talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pick up a one-way truck in Caloundra on a Sunday?
No. Bowman Road pickups run Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM, and we're closed on Sundays and Queensland public holidays.
How long does it take to drive a truck from Caloundra to Sydney?
About ten hours non-stop for the 988 km, down the M1 and the Pacific Highway. With a loaded truck and breaks, most people stop overnight around Coffs Harbour, close to halfway.
Do I need a special licence for a moving truck?
No. Every truck and van in the one-way fleet drives on a standard Australian car licence.
Is there a one-way route from Caloundra to Brisbane?
No. The Caloundra routes run to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Need a truck or van for your own move?
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