Whelan Road

QLDTertiary road5.1 km13 segments

4.8Sports

5.1 kmTotal length

13Segments

17Grey spot segments

Whelan Road is a 5 km sealed tertiary route in Queensland, Australia. It scores 8.2/10 for EVs with highly technical corners and excellent surface. It also rates well for 4WDs and motorcycles.

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Vehicle scores

4.8/10

SPTSportsSealed roads, curviness, mountain passes

7.3/10

MOTMotoTight bends, switchbacks, technical roads

8.2/10

EVEVSmooth surface, sealed roads, range-friendly

7.4/10

4WD4WDGravel access, off-road suitability

5.4/10

VANCaravanSmooth sealed, gentle grades, no steep passes

Segment quality distribution

Sports score - 13 segments

Fair (4-6)93%Poor (<4)7%

Sports score IQR: 4.5 - 5.0

Surface

Surface coverage

Sealed68%Unsealed32%

Score breakdown

Median component scores across all segments

Surface

10.0

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

Curviness

8.3

Median curviness. Higher scores mean more bends per kilometre.

Speed

7.0

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

Road classTertiary road

9.0

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

Traffic

9.0

Estimated traffic density. Lower traffic = higher score.

Elevation

7.0

Elevation change per kilometre. More climbing = higher score.

Crash history

Aggregated across all 13 segments

Grey spots

Crash record linkage not yet available for QLD. Grey spots are segments where curvature geometry mismatches the posted speed limit - these are flagged regardless of crash history.

Road environment

Geometry and climate-derived risk indicators

6.9/10 safety score - higher is safer

Wet road exposure50%

Night driving risk61%

Wind exposure56%

Sun glare risk86%

Wildlife strike risk11%

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

1.98IRI m/km

Coverage: 7% of segments surveyed. Source: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Segments

Top 17 segments by sports score

IDSurfaceLengthSportsMotoEV

#96130171Asphalt0.50 km5.48.28.9 #96130175Asphalt0.21 km5.38.19.0 #96130174Asphalt0.50 km5.28.08.8 #96130172Asphalt0.50 km5.07.88.5 #96130170Asphalt0.50 km5.07.68.4 #97432349Asphalt0.50 km4.97.58.3 #97432350Asphalt0.26 km4.87.38.1 #96130176Asphalt0.09 km4.77.18.2 #96130173Asphalt0.50 km4.77.18.0 #97432348Asphalt0.50 km4.67.07.9 #97432347Asphalt0.21 km4.26.37.2 #97078123Unpaved0.50 km4.06.54.0 #97078124Unpaved0.33 km4.06.54.0 #97432351Asphalt0.02 km3.85.66.9 #97107037Unpaved0.50 km2.44.44.0 #97107039Unpaved0.22 km2.45.74.0 #97107038Unpaved0.50 km2.43.84.0

API reference

Road aggregate data via the Contour API

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

GET/api/v1/roads/search?q=Whelan%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 Whelan Road?+

Whelan Road is approximately 5 km long. At typical touring speeds, expect around 1 hour of driving end to end, excluding stops.

Is Whelan Road sealed?+

Yes. Whelan Road is fully sealed for its entire length.

Is Whelan Road good for motorcycles?+

It rates well. Whelan Road scores 7.3/10 for motorcycles, with enough character to be worth the trip for most riders.

Can I drive Whelan Road in a caravan?+

With care. Whelan Road scores 5.4/10 for caravans. Some sections may be tight or rough for a heavy tow.

Is Whelan Road good for an EV?+

Yes. Whelan Road scores 8.2/10 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 Whelan Road?+

Contour has identified 17 grey spots on Whelan 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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