13-Nights Pacific Coast Explorer Self Drive: Sydney to Cairns

Cairns

Cairns is the sunny garden city where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics Rainforest, mountains and the gulf savannah not too far away. The city's water front boasts a world class marina and wharf used by visiting cruise liners, yachts and tour vessels. Cairns is situated in the Northern end of Tropical Queensland Australia. It's a modern city with a good location to explore some of Australia's vast array of flora and fauna. With a magnificent Casino, Cairns is alive with more activities than a visitor will ever have time for. The principal attraction is the over 60 national parks from the wet tropical rain forests and lush tablelands to the truly wild Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is made up of four beach villages linked by a beautiful golden beach, the perfect area to relax and explore this unspoilt natural environment. Mission beach offers visitors a mix of sophisticated dining options, boutiques and art galleries nestled against a lush tropical rainforest. Mission Beach is the perfect example of how beautiful little beachside towns can offer vibrant art and culture with unique tourist attractions.

Townsville

Townsville - one of Australia’s tropical centers - is a port city for agricultural and mining production of northern Queensland, and starting point of the main road to Northern Territory. Take a trip to Outback and Barrier Reef. Parts of the city are being redeveloped around many 19th-century buildings. The showpiece is the Great Barrier Reef Wonderland, with an aquarium, Omnimax Theater, shops and Queensland Museum - where ferries depart for Magnetic Island, a popular destination with fine beaches, bird life, bush-walking tracks and a koala sanctuary. Close by town are several museums, parks, gardens, and wildlife sanctuaries. The lookout point at Castle Hill, which dominates the city, offers fine views of the town and coast. Trips to various offshore islands, outer reef cruises and fishing boat trips are available. Other sights include Townsville Environmental Park - a major bird sanctuary; Flinders Mall - an award-winning pedestrian mall centrally located; R.A.A.F. Museum - a Garbutt museum recalling contributions of the Royal Australian Air Force during the two World Wars.

Whitsunday Island

The largest of the Whitsunday Islands, Whitsunday Island sits off the coast of central Queensland, Australia. Enjoy the famous white-sand beaches, the azure blue waters and the diverse marine life of this paradise island.

Rockhampton

Rockhampton's history is seen through picturesque architecture, which you can see along the Heritage Route and by visiting the Historical Society in the Old Borough Chambers. The Fitzroy River is a favorite destination of water skiiers, fishing, and boating. Rockhampton also has a vibrant history and current art scene; visit the Rockhampton City Art Gallery or the Walter Reid Art Centre, both highlighting national and international artists, musicians, craftsmen and more. Galleries and theatres line the streets, indicating the importance the arts have in this town. Explore botanic gardens or the zoo, or trek up to Mount Archer Lookout, with trails ranging from easy to difficult, to view Rockhampton from above.
 

Fraser Island

Located 125 mi/200 km north of Brisbane and named for shipwrecked Englishwoman Eliza Fraser, this island north of Noosa Heads is the largest coastal dune system in the world. A paradise of beaches, coves and wildlife (such as the Australian dingo), Fraser Island also has lush forests and clear lakes that contrast dramatically with its wind-sculpted sand. https://www.fraserisland.net.

Fraser Island is best negotiated by four-wheel-drive vehicles driven onto barges at Inskip Point. Tour operators will rent the vehicles as well as pick you up at Hervey Bay airport or from accommodations on the mainland and on the island. Joining a tour makes good sense for international tourists who do not have access to a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Tours take in the attractions including Lake McKenzie and Indian Head.

There are two main ferry crossings from the mainland with Hervey Bay the departure point in the north and Rainbow Beach in the south.

Accommodation options on the island include camping or a stay at the ecofriendly Kingfisher Bay Resort or budget Eurong Beach Resort.

One of the attractions is driving along 75-Mile Beach, which is an official highway where road rules apply. It is also a landing strip for small sightseeing planes. Beach fishing is popular and good as is whale-watching for humpback whales, especially August-October.

Brisbane

Brisbane
Laze in the lush riverside gardens of South Bank, then browse the markets and swim in its lagoon. Bike ride in the City Botanic Gardens and abseil the cliffs of Kangaroo Point. Glide down the river on a majestic paddle steamer or take a high-speed ferry to vibrant inner-city villages like Bulimba and New Farm. When culture cravings hit, wander the art galleries and museums, watch a performance by the Queensland Ballet, Opera or Orchestra perform or see cutting-edge theatre in the Powerhouse. In the boating hub of nearby Moreton Bay and Islands, you can swim, sea kayak, snorkel coral reefs, toboggan down the world's tallest sand dune, hire a sail boat or tussle with a marlin.

Five things you should do in Brisbane:

1. Glide down the river and relax in the gardens

Bike ride beneath macadamia trees and mangroves in the City Botanic Gardens or roller blade over a floating walkway. Then cruise down the river in a wooden paddle steamer, spotting pelicans and eastern water dragons. Laze or picnic under the palms on South Bank's 17 hectares of riverside gardens. Here you can swim from the lagoon and pools of Paul Breka Beach, browse the markets, visit a summer open-air cinema and dine alfresco in the sun. Follow an Aboriginal art trail through the bushland in Mount Coot-Tha Reserve, also the place to spot native wildlife and take in panoramic city views. At the foot of the mountain you can wander the tropical zone, rainforests and Japanese gardens of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Cuddle up to koalas and meet possums, kangaroos, wombats, emus and lyrebirds in the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, just a short bus drive from the city centre.

2. Soak up culture and architecture
See the skeleton of a Queensland dinosaur in the Queensland Museum and the work of famous Australian artists in the Queensland Art Gallery. Both sit in the sprawling Queensland Cultural Centre on South Bank. At night, visit the dress circle of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre or catch a show by the Queensland Ballet, Opera or Orchestra. Watch plays, browse art galleries and dine out in the transformed industrial space of the Powerhouse, which towers over the wide, brown river like a post-apocalyptic vision. Brisbane also houses many cultural institutions in fine old civic buildings, such as Customs House, the Treasury Building, Brisbane City Hall, the Commissariat Store and the Old Mill. In Brisbane, sandstone cathedrals and classic Queenslander houses on stilts blend seamlessly with steel and glass skyscrapers.

3. Hit the water and islands of Moreton Bay
Sea kayak from North Stradboke Island or Moreton Island or go deep-sea fishing from Scarborough, Bribie Island, Manly or Raby Bay. Jet ski and windsurf on the Redcliffe Peninsula or kite-surf on Wellington Point. Slide down the world's tallest sand dunes on a toboggan or sand buggy on Moreton Island. Scuba dive with colourful fish, crustaceans, corals and turtles at Cowan's Artificial Reef, Flinders Reef and in the Tangalooma shipwrecks. Watch out for humpback whales between July and October and dolphins and dugongs all year round. Meet colonies of koalas in Victoria Point and hundreds of wading birds in the Egret Colony and Boondall Wetlands. Aqua-bike from Coochiemudlo Island then mountain bike the BMX tracks at Cleveland and Deception Bay. Four wheel drive Moreton, North Stradbroke and Bribie Islands. See Queensland's oldest banyan tree in Cleveland Point, Aboriginal scar trees and middens in the Redlands and Myora Springs and a notorious old convict settlement on St Helena Island.

4. Eat, drink and enjoy in the urban villages
Listen to live music, shop along the lively outdoor mall and feast on Chinatown dumplings in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane's cultural core. Next door in New Farm, you can people watch from trendy cafes, buy gourmet delights from the famous deli and picnic in the riverside parklands. Dine in warehouse converted restaurants and explore the transformed industrial space of the Powerhouse, now a buzzing centre for the live arts. Take the citycat to Bulimba on the river. Then visit pretty Paddington and hop between the popular bars, cafes and restaurants of Latrobe and Given Terraces. Then take in the traditional Queenslander homes which dot the hills and wide-lined streets. Cross the river for the funky restaurants and art house theatres of the West End, the shops of Stones Corner and the brewery of Queensland's most famous beer.

5. Embrace adventure
Abseil or rock climb the Kangaroo Point Cliffs at sunrise or at night when the city is dancing with lights. Climb the Story Bridge for spectacular 360 degree views. Free fall on a tandem sky dive or float over the city in a hot air balloon. You can even glide like a bird over the Sunshine Coast on a motor glider. Travel down the Brisbane River on a golden gondola, historic paddle steamer or wildlife cruise. Or take a luxury whale watching cruise from the Redcliffe Peninsula, just 30 minutes north of Brisbane. Do an eco cruise past Bribie Island and the Glasshouse Mountains to Pumicestone Passage Marine Park. Bushwalk, swim, four wheel drive, spot wildlife and explore glow worm caves on an eco-tour to Springbrook and Lamington National Parks. See the city sights on the back of a Harley Davidson or go horseriding in the sprawling bush on the edge of the city.

Coolangatta

At the end of Queensland's Gold Coast lies the surfers' paradise coastal town called Coolangatta. Discovered in the mid 1800's, the town was named after a topsail schooner.This beach side holiday spot is filled with diverse culinary delights, theme parks, shopping venues, and renowned surf beaches. 

Coffs Harbour

Stretching from Scotts Head in the south to Red Rock in the north and inland beyond the coastal slopes of the Great Dividing Range to the New England National Park, Coffs Coast is a region of green, pristine rainforests; relaxed, friendly towns; a rich history and heritage; a superb string of golden beaches washed by surf; and a spectacular underwater landscape beneath blue Pacific Ocean waters.

This major coastal resort town is also famous for its bananas and fishing. Its located on Australia's holiday coast, where the mountains meet the sea some 570kms north of Sydney and about 350kms south of Brisbane.

Port Stephens

Located in New South Wales, Port Stephens is a place of beauty and is only two hour and a half hours north of Sydney,

Port Stephens has an endless range of activities and attractions to suit all ages. Whether you're after thrills and excitement, want to enjoy yourself at your own pace, perhaps to do nothing more than sink a line and watch the sunset while the family exhausts themselves. Activities range from fishing, swimming, hiking, boat excursions, kayaking

Sydney

Sydney
Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks
Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour
Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry
Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington
Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee
Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.