Inclusive are car rental for the entire duration of the self-drive and all hotel accommodation along the route.
You will enjoy the day to day driving program, as we have measured the driving distances per day for optimal sightseeing. This way you are sure to see all the highlights along the route and use your time in the most optimal way.
- Via Bruce Hwy (coastal route)
- Distance: 1708 km,
- Non-stop Travelling time: 20 hrs
- Most direct route.
- Optimal from June to Dec.
Day 1: Brisbane - Sunshine Coast (70km) You can pick up your rental car in the morning, either on the airport or in the city. Leave Brisbane on the Bruce Highway, northbound. The first half hour you will drive through the northern suburbs of Brisbane, but as soon as you have left the city, the scenery will become beautiful. Make some photo stops along the way and perhaps take even a swim at one of the many beaches. You might turn of at Landsborough and visit the Glasshouse Mountains. Climbing up Mount Ngungun is a nice walk of two hours. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and vegetation. After that it is only a short drive to your hotel at the coast. Take a late afternoon swim in the ocean before heading for diner. Overnight: 1 night at Sheraton Noosa Resort (DL) or Novotel Twinwaters Resort or Beach Retreat Coolum (MC)
Day 2: Sunshine Coast - Fraser Island (200km) Drive to Hervey Bay, where you'll park your car en take the boat to Fraser Island. Overnight: 1 night at each Kingfisher Bay Resort (FC) (on Fraser) and Kondari Resort (MC) (in Hervey Bay).
Day 3: Fraser Island. Today you will explore the world's largest sand island, only possible by 4WD. You can take a tour (not included) to get to know the great fauna and flora.
Day 4: Fraser Island - Rockhampton (ca. 383 km) Return by ferry back to the mainland in the morning. After picking up your car, travel north to the sugar town of Childers and its interesting Pharmaceutical Museum. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn at Rockhampton, renowned as the "beef capital" of Australia. Overnight: 1 night at Centrepoint Motor Inn
Day 5: Rockhampton - Eungella NP (ca. 420 km) Visit Rockhampton's famous Botanical Gardens, then travel north via Mackay, Australia's sugar capital. You might take lunch on the beach and have a look around in the historic centre of Mackay. In the afternoon you make the nice drive through the valley to Eungella National Park. You overnight in the park. Overnight: 2 nights at Broken River Mountain Retreat
Day 6: Eungella NP. Full day to explore this great National Park in the Dividing Range. Discover the beauty and innocence of Australia's flora and fauna as you walk through the seemingly untouched rainforests. See one of Australia's shyest animals - the platypus. Canoe down a fresh water stream or swim in a natural swimming hole.
Day 7: Eungella NP - Whitsunday Islands (210 km + boat) Drive back to the coast (ca. 85km) and continue northbound on the Bruce Highway. Turnoff at Prosperpine, as your destination for the coming days is Airlie Beach. This small holiday town forms the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Overnight: 3 nights at Laguna Quays Resort Hotel (DL) or Club Crocodile Resort Airlie Beach (MC)
Day 8 & 9 Airlie Beach. Today and tomorrow you may enjoy the facilities of the resort or take a day trip to one of the Whitsunday Passage Islands. Visit Whitehaven Beach and walk on 6 km of sweeping, pure white silica sands - voted the world's best beach.
Day 10. Airlie Beach to Townsville (310 km) Day 10. Airlie Beach to Townsville (310 km). Cross the sugarcane fields and along Bundaberg. Overnight: 2 nights at Southbank Motor Inn (MC), Jupiter's Townsville Hotel & Casino (FC)
Day 11: Townsville. Today another day just to relax or visit Magnetic Island. You can reach this tropical island by fast and comfortable catamaran service of only 20 minutes. Rent a mountain-bike or scooter and explore this eucalypt forest grown island at your own pace. There are plenty of deserted beaches, so don't forget your swimmers. Three quarters of the island are National Park, territory of the many Koala's on the island. You see them best on a bushwalk at dusk. Finish your day with a dinner in one of the restaurants on the island before returning to Townsville. Good chance it will be a gentle cruise under the stars.
Day 12: Townsville - Mission Beach / Innisfail (250 km) Continuing up north, but stop half way at Tully River crossing. Arrange by yourself in Townsville or have us arranged a spectacular Rafting trip with Raging Thunder. This is not only a adrenalising experience for young and old, it is also the best way to see the narrow Tully Gorge with its spectacular waterfall. The trip takes a few hours. In the afternoon continue to Mission Beach (The Horizon Resort) or the next beachtown Innisvail (BW Barrier Reef Motel). Overnight: 2 nights at BW Barrier Reef Motel or The Horizon Resort (FC)
Day 13: Mission Beach / Innisvail. Today you might take a stroll on the beach or make a daytour to Dunk Island. Dunk Island can be reached by watertaxi (fixed cruising times, see Dunk Island Resort). Enjoy the entire day the amenities of this tropical paradise.
Day 14: Mission Beach - Port Douglas (ca. 300 km) We suggest you take the inland route up the Atherton Tablelands to Kuranda, a small town in the rainforest. On route you might want to stop at the Milla Milla Falls and at the Cathedral Fig, a truly gigantic fig tree. On Lake Barrine you can take a short cruise (not included) and along Lake Echam you'll find nice pick-nick spots. Continue in the afternoon the winding road along the Barron Gorge to Cairns and Port Douglas. Overnight: 2 nights at Sheraton Mirage Resort (DL) or Radisson Treetops Resort (FC) or Pelican Inn (MC)
Day 15: Port Douglas. Depending on what you have decided to do today you'll be picked up for your day excursion to Daintree NP and Cape Tribulation (not included). Or maybe you just wanted to take a leisurely stroll along the famous four-mile-beach?
Day 16: Port Douglas - Cairns (ca. 60 km). Short drive back to Cairns where you'll drop your car at the airport or in town, according to your arrangements.
- For a continued description of the self-drive along the Australian eastcoast (Sydney - Brisbane or vv), go to: Eastcoast Popular
- For current rates on this and other self-drives, go to: Australian Selfdrive Rates