Atherton Herberton Road

QLDPrimary road16.2 km51 segments52

7.3Sports

16.2 kmTotal length

51Segments

104Recorded crashes

21Grey spot segments

Atherton Herberton Road is a 16 km sealed primary route in Queensland, Australia. It scores 7.4/10 for EVs with gently winding corners and excellent surface. It also rates well for sports cars and caravans.

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Vehicle scores

7.3/10

SPTSportsSealed roads, curviness, mountain passes

7.0/10

MOTMotoTight bends, switchbacks, technical roads

7.4/10

EVEVSmooth surface, sealed roads, range-friendly

5.9/10

4WD4WDGravel access, off-road suitability

7.1/10

VANCaravanSmooth sealed, gentle grades, no steep passes

Segment quality distribution

Sports score - 51 segments

Excellent (8+)31%Good (6-8)37%Fair (4-6)33%

Sports score IQR: 5.5 - 8.1

Surface

Surface coverage

Sealed100%

Score breakdown

Median component scores across all segments

Surface

10.0

Median surface quality. Smooth sealed asphalt scores 10. Chipseal 8. Gravel 5.

Curviness

5.5

Median curviness. Higher scores mean more bends per kilometre.

Speed

10.0

Speed limit suitability. Sweet spot is 60-110 km/h.

Road classPrimary road

5.0

Road classification. Motorways score zero. Tertiary roads score 9.

Traffic

5.0

Estimated traffic density. Lower traffic = higher score.

Elevation

7.0

Elevation change per kilometre. More climbing = higher score.

Crash history

Aggregated across all 51 segments· 24 years of data

104

Total crashes

Fatalities

Serious injuries

Grey spots

Source: State crash data linked to road geometry. Grey spots are segments where curvature geometry mismatches the posted speed limit.

When is this road risky?

Crash conditions - share of recorded crashes by circumstance

Wet road crashes

Crashes that occurred in wet conditions

20%

Night crashes

Crashes that occurred after dark

34%

Based on 24 years of crash records linked to road geometry. Crash breakdown (night, wet, weekends): VIC data 2012-2024. Other states show aggregate counts only.

Road environment

Geometry and climate-derived risk indicators

7.3/10 safety score - higher is safer

Wet road exposure47%

Night driving risk45%

Wind exposure52%

Sun glare risk67%

Wildlife strike risk12%

Risk values derived from road geometry, orientation, weather station data, and satellite canopy cover. 0 = minimal risk, 1 = maximum risk.

Road roughness

NAASRA roughness index - median across segments

2.26IRI m/km

Coverage: 100% of segments surveyed. Source: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Segments

Top 52 segments by sports score

IDSurfaceLengthSportsMotoEV

#96390524Asphalt0.50 km8.98.88.9 #96390526Asphalt0.50 km8.98.88.9 #96390523Asphalt0.50 km8.98.88.9 #96390525Asphalt0.50 km8.98.88.9 #96390522Asphalt0.50 km8.88.78.8 #96390527Asphalt0.50 km8.88.78.8 #96390516Asphalt0.50 km8.78.58.7 #97448220Asphalt0.50 km8.58.48.6 #96390520Asphalt0.50 km8.48.38.3 #96340369Asphalt0.50 km8.48.38.3 #97448230Asphalt0.50 km8.38.18.1 #96390519Asphalt0.50 km8.28.18.2 #96390518Asphalt0.50 km8.17.97.9 #97448218Asphalt0.50 km8.17.88.1 #97448228Asphalt0.50 km8.07.87.8 #97406826Asphalt0.50 km7.97.78.0 #96390517Asphalt0.50 km7.77.47.6 #96390521Asphalt0.50 km7.77.47.8 #97448217Asphalt0.30 km7.67.37.8 #97448221Asphalt0.41 km7.57.27.8 #97448214Asphalt0.50 km7.37.07.5 #97406827Asphalt0.50 km7.37.27.4 #97448219Asphalt0.50 km7.37.07.4 #97448231Asphalt0.50 km7.36.97.4 #97448233Asphalt0.26 km7.26.97.4 #96472469Asphalt0.36 km7.27.07.3 #96340371Asphalt0.22 km7.26.87.3 #97406825Asphalt0.19 km7.06.77.3 #97448216Asphalt0.50 km6.76.46.8 #97448215Asphalt0.50 km6.36.16.7 #97448229Asphalt0.11 km6.35.96.6 #97406829Asphalt0.01 km6.15.76.7 #96340372Asphalt0.25 km6.05.66.2 #97448213Asphalt0.50 km5.95.56.0 #96472470Asphalt0.11 km5.75.46.1 #97448211Asphalt0.16 km5.75.46.1 #97448210Asphalt0.38 km5.65.36.1 #97448222Asphalt0.17 km5.65.36.1 #96472472Asphalt0.02 km5.55.26.2 #96472464Asphalt0.02 km5.45.16.1 #97448232Asphalt0.03 km5.44.95.6 #96340370Asphalt0.00 km5.44.95.6 #96472471Asphalt0.09 km5.45.15.7 #96472473Asphalt0.06 km5.45.05.8 #96472465Asphalt0.07 km5.34.95.8 #96472466Asphalt0.06 km5.34.95.8 #96472468Asphalt0.03 km5.34.95.8 #96472474Asphalt0.06 km5.34.95.8 #96472467Asphalt0.02 km5.04.65.4 #97448223Asphalt0.03 km4.94.65.6 #97448212Asphalt0.06 km4.74.45.3 #97406828Asphalt0.18 km4.64.35.0

API reference

Road aggregate data via the Contour API

GET/api/v1/roads/atherton-herberton-road-qldRoad aggregate - scores, stats, risk profile, activity, segment list

GET/api/v1/roads/search?q=Atherton%20Herberton%20Road&state=QLDSearch roads by name

Councils & Government

This road is part of QLD's road network. Contour scores every road in Australia for surface condition, curviness, grey spot classification, and 4WD track passability. If your organisation manages this road or promotes tourism in the region, this data is available via API.

Enquire about council data access →

Frequently asked questions

How long is Atherton Herberton Road?+

Atherton Herberton Road is approximately 16 km long. At typical touring speeds, expect around 1 hour of driving end to end, excluding stops.

Is Atherton Herberton Road sealed?+

Yes. Atherton Herberton Road is fully sealed for its entire length.

Is Atherton Herberton Road good for motorcycles?+

It rates well. Atherton Herberton Road scores 7.0/10 for motorcycles, with enough character to be worth the trip for most riders.

Can I drive Atherton Herberton Road in a caravan?+

Yes. Atherton Herberton Road scores 7.1/10 for caravans, making it a reasonable choice for towing. Watch for changes in surface and any steep gradients.

Is Atherton Herberton Road good for an EV?+

Yes. Atherton Herberton Road scores 7.4/10 for EVs. Regenerative braking on any elevation changes and smooth throttle control on the corners will both feel at home here.

Are there any dangerous sections on Atherton Herberton Road?+

Contour has identified 21 grey spots on Atherton Herberton Road - sections where the road geometry does not match the posted speed limit. Take extra care in wet or low-visibility conditions.

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Road data last updated: 16 April 2026. Scores are based on road geometry, surface, and traffic data. Always drive to conditions and follow local road rules.

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