Best of Australia’s East Coast

Itinerary

3 Nights – Sydney
3 Nights – Brisbane
2 Nights – Noosa
2 Nights – Hervey Bay/Fraser Island
1 Night – Rockhampton
1 Night – Mackay
2 Nights – Airlee Beach/Whitsundays
1 Night – Townsville
1 Night – Mission Beach
3 Nights –Cairns/Port Douglas

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✈ Fly UK – Sydney (3 Nights) Starting off in Sydney, you can take your time to get accustomed to the time difference as you have 3 nights in this vibrant multi-cultural city. See the iconic sights of the Opera House and Harbour bridge, hit the surf at Bondi Beach and visit the historical Rocks District with its narrow lanes, old pubs and markets. There’s also the Botanic Gardens, the seaside town of Manly, Sydney Tower and the famous Queen Victoria Building to visit too. If you’re an adrenaline junkie why not see Sydney from a different angle – take the Climb of Your Life and walk over the top of the harbour bridge by day or night!

✈ Sydney – Brisbane (3 Nights) After your initial 4 days you will fly from Sydney onto Brisbane where you will pick up your hire car. The State Capital of Queensland is home to an edgy arts scene, great nightlife and excellent restaurants and there is loads to do to keep you busy whilst you enjoy 3 days here. Head to the Brisbane City Hall and climb its clock tower for wonderful views over the surrounding area. Visit the Lone Pine Koala Park where you can come face-to-face with Australia’s cuddliest inhabitant, also check out the South Bank Parklands with its markets, bars, restaurants and inner city beach. You could also head south for a daytrip to the Gold Coast to experience the Aussie theme parks with rides, shows and attractions.

🚗 Brisbane – Noosa (2 Nights) Now it’s time to Noosa, your first stop on your road trip north, where you’ll find Aussie beach-culture in spades. With warm water, perfect white sand and far less crowded than Bondi Beach, Noosa Main Beach is the place to learn to surf. Lessons are available for beginners and with the gentle waves you’ll have nailed it in your 2 days stay here!

🚗  Noosa – Hervey Bay / Fraser Island (2 Nights) Heading up the coast to Hervey Bay you’ll find calm waters ideal for loads more water sports that will keep you entertained for your 2 nights here. If you’re travelling between July and November, then you’re in for a treat as the humpback whales stop in Hervey Bay to breed and nurse their young during their migration north. You might also be lucky enough to see dolphins, dugongs and turtles too. Hervey Bay is also the place to explore nearby Fraser Island with its wonderful wildlife and beaches. The World Heritage listed island is the world’s largest sand island and home to windswept beaches, crystal clear lakes, dense forests and sacred Aboriginal sites. Take a 4×4 along Seventy-Five Mile beach to see the rusted Maheno shipwreck, also admire the sandstone cliffs of The Cathedrals and the bubbling Champagne Pools!

🚗 Hervey Bay/Fraser Island – Rockhampton (1 Night): Continuing your Australian adventure, your next stop north is Rockhampton, also known as ‘Beef Capital ’, due to its 3 million cattle that graze throughout the region.  Head down to the Riverside Precinct for a great view of the Fitzroy River and to enjoy the bustling café and restaurant scene. If you are a meat-lover, don’t forget to sample the succulent local beef or take a selfie with one of the six bull statues that represent the main cattle breeds of the area!

🚗 Rockhampton – Mackay (1 Night): Further up the coast, your next stop is Mackay where you’ll spend 1 night.  On leaving Rockhampton, why not take a quick pitstop at the stunning Capricorn Caves complex, just 30 minutes north of the town. These incredible caves were etched out of limestone formed from deposits made by a coral reef 390 million years ago and are also home to a variety of wildlife including a blossoming bat population. Mackay itself is a lively coastal town with plenty of amenities and attractions, you may choose to take a boat trip up the Pioneer River, splash about at the Bluewater Lagoon waterpark, or simply recharge your batteries on the beach.

🚗 Mackay / Whitsundays (2 Nights) Next stop along your road trip brings you to Airlie Beach, a wonderfully relaxed and pretty town with a man-made lagoon offering safe stinger-free swimming. The town is also the main departure point for visiting the Whitsundays, the archipelago of picture-perfect islands covered in lush rainforest and fringed with unspoilt white sands. With 2 nights here you’ve got time to take a day cruise around the islands and experience some of the finest sailing in the world. Diving here is also said to rival that of the Maldives with its huge array of tropical fish. Don’t miss Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island with its 4 mile-long white silica sandy beach and at Hill Inlet, at the northern end of the beach, the clear waters swirl with the sand to create incredible patterns.

🚗 Airlie Beach – Townsville (1 Night) Your next stop is Townsville for a night, Queensland’s second largest city. If you’ve got the energy you could visit a waterpark or if you’d rather relax, simply wander along the fantastic beachfront promenade and enjoy the town’s famous sunset.

🚗 Townsville – Misson Beach (1 Night) Midway between Townsville and Cairns you’ll come to the laid-back resort town of Mission Beach with its nine miles of sandy beaches backed by rainforests. Spend a night here on your way north and you can be as relaxed or adventurous as you wish. There’s white water rafting on the Tully River, crocodile spotting along the estuary and only 4km out to sea is Dunk Island on the Great Barrier Reef itself.

🚗 Mission Beach – Cairns / Port Douglas (3 Nights) Cairns, at the far north of the Queensland coast is the main gateway to the stunning natural phenomenon that is the Great Barrier Reef. Stay here for 3 nights to explore this incredible region. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the World which stretches for over 1800 miles and is a scuba divers and snorkeler’s paradise. With its 2000 types of fish, reef sharks and whales, it is truly breath-taking. Cairns itself has a vibrant restaurant and café culture along its esplanade and a lively lagoon-side market every Saturday.

Alternatively, you could stay in Port Douglas. The former fishing village still has a village feel to it but is now an activity hub with diving, snorkelling, bush walking, fishing and mountain biking all on hand. Also close by, and well worth visiting before you leave this incredible country, is the undisturbed sanctuary of Cape Tribulation with its’ World Heritage rainforest and coral reef – a wonderful way to end a truly memorable holiday.

✈  Fly Cairns – UK On your final day, we will take you back to the airport in Cairns for your flight home to the UK.