14 day Self Drive Brisbane - Cairns

Ask our expert Steph McLeish about the 14 day Self Drive Brisbane - Cairns

DAY 1 – BRISBANE - SUNSHINE COAST APPROX. 139km (87 miles)

Depart Brisbane and head north towards the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast is the perfect mix of coast and country and the ideal place to relax and unwind. Pristine coastline and lush hinterland, superb cuisine, action and adventure or just the perfect piece of sand on which to sit and ponder.

ACCOMMODATION: SUNSHINE COAST – 1 NIGHT

DAY 2 – SUNSHINE COAST – FRASER ISLAND APPROX. 188km (117 miles)

Drive to Hervey Bay and leave the car before catching the catamaran to Fraser Island. The island offers walking tracks, fresh water lakes, long surf beaches, sand dunes, coloured cliffs, rainforest and around 230 species of birds and 25 species of mammals.

ACCOMMODATION: FRASER ISLAND – 2 NIGHTS

DAY 3 – FRASER ISLAND

Full day at leisure to explore Fraser Island. You can enjoy a half-day tour of Fraser Island by 4WD “bus” specially designed to traverse the sand dunes (OPTIONAL TOUR).

DAY 4 – FRASER ISLAND – RAGLAN APPROX. 400km (248 miles)

Transfer back to Hervey Bay by catamaran, collect your rental vehicle and head north to your towards Rockhampton. Stay at a farmstay for a real Aussie experience.

ACCOMMODATION: RAGLAN – 1 NIGHT

DAY 5 – RAGLAN TO EUNGELLA APPROX. 480km (300 miles)

Depart Raglan and head North to Eungella. Eungella National Park is set within the spectacular Clarke Range which reaches a height of 1280 at the summit of Mt Damrymple. In the Aboriginal language Eungella is pronounced 'Doon-gell-a, which is actually known as 'Land where cloud lies over mountains'.

ACCOMMODATION: EUNGELLA – 1 NIGHT

DAY 6 – EUNGELLA - AIRLIE BEACH APPROX 160kms (100 miles)

Leaving Eungella continue heading north to Airlie Beach, the centre of the Whitsunday Coast and departure point for many of the Whitsunday Islands.

ACCOMMODATION: AIRLIE BEACH – 2 NIGHTS

DAY 7 – AIRLIE BEACH / THE WHITSUNDAYS

Today is at leisure to enjoy the Whitsunday region.

DAY 8 - AIRLIE BEACH TO TOWNSVILLE APPROX. 328kms (204 miles)

Continue north to Townsville. Set between rugged coastal hills and the Coral Sea, Townsville is a thriving and progressive city.

ACCOMMODATION: TOWNSVILLE – 1 NIGHT

DAY 9 - TOWNSVILLE TO MISSION BEACH APPROX. 237km (147 miles)

Leaving Townsville, continue north to Mission Beach. Mission Beach is a "village" scene, which more than trebles its population in season.

ACCOMMODATION: MISSION BEACH – 1 NIGHT

DAY 10 – MISSION BEACH – ATHERTON TABLELANDS APPROX. 137km (85 miles)

Departing Mission Beach head North towards the Atherton Tablelands. Atherton Tablelands has World Heritage Rainforests, Waterfalls, National Parks, Crater Lakes and Volcanic formations with a backdrop of rolling green hills.

ACCOMMODATION: ATHERTON TABLELANDS – 2 NIGHTS

DAY 11 – ATHERTON TABLELANDS

Full day at leisure to enjoy this region.

DAY 12 – ATHERTON TABLELANDS – PORT DOUGLAS APPROX. 130km (81 miles)

Continue on to Port Douglas, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef & Daintree Rainforest Port Douglas is an ideal base for Scuba diving, snorkelling or fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the Daintree Rainforest and River, or sailing away over the Coral Sea.

ACCOMMODATION: PORT DOUGLAS – 2 NIGHTS//

DAY 13 – PORT DOUGLAS

Full day at leisure.

DAY 14 – PORT DOUGLAS – CAIRNS APPROX. 65km (41 miles)

Departing Port Douglas, head South to Cairns. The hub of the tropical north. This bustling tropical city is located between the sea and the rainforest mountains.

Return rental vehicle and depart Cairns.

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