Queensland at its Best - Coast

Days 1 - 2 Brisbane – Fraser Island (300 km) From Brisbane, drive north along the Sunshine Coast to River Heads. There you park your hire car and board the ferry to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world.

Day 3 Fraser Island Today you join a guided excursion by off-road vehicle to discover the island and its sights, such as Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek and the wreck of the Maheno. You have time for a swim in the freshwater lake, and with a bit of luck you may even spot dingoes.

Day 4 Fraser Island – Bundaberg (150 km) Back on the mainland, you continue to Bundaberg, the centre of sugar cane growing and home of the famous Bundaberg Rum. If you have enough time, a visit to a rum distillery is well worthwhile. Close by is Mon Repos beach, where a colony of turtles lives from November to February.

Day 5 Bundaberg – Yeppoon (340 km) The journey continues via Gladstone to the small coastal town of Yeppoon, known for its beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming.

Days 6 - 7 Yeppoon – Mackay (360 km) Drive north on the Bruce Highway to Mackay. The Mackay region is home to numerous cattle farms, and the town itself is characterised by Victorian architecture.

Day 8 Mackay – Airlie Beach (160 km) On the way to Airlie Beach, you can visit Cape Hillsborough National Park, a rocky peninsula of volcanic origin. Then continue to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the glorious Whitsunday Islands.

Day 9 Airlie Beach / Whitsunday Use this day to explore the beauty of the Whitsunday Islands. You have the option of taking a boat trip to Whitehaven Beach (at extra cost), one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the world.

Days 10 - 11 Airlie Beach – Townsville (290 km) Today’s route takes you via Bowen and Ayr through vast farming areas, past sugar cane and pineapple plantations, with glorious beaches in the background.

Day 12 Townsville – Mission Beach (240 km) From Townsville, the journey continues along the coast on the Bruce Highway to Mission Beach. With a bit of luck, you may spot the rare cassowary, an endangered, flightless bird that is regarded as the emblem of the region.

Day 13 Mission Beach – Port Douglas (210 km) You spend two nights in the pretty little town of Port Douglas, giving you time to relax or to explore the surroundings on an excursion to Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge or the Great Barrier Reef.