Sydney - Hunter Valley

1 Day

216 km

Depart Sydney and travel north over the Harbour Bridge and onto the Pacific Highway. Detour through the towns of Gosford and Newcastle. Newcastle is Australia’s sixth largest city - enjoy a scenic walk along the foreshore. From Newcastle, travel via Maitland and into the Hunter Valley. With wineries in abundance, take the opportunity to taste and purchase some of the finest wines Australia has to offer.

Hunter Valley

1 Day

A full day to explore the wineries, art and gourmet delights that is the Hunter Valley. We suggest planning ahead which wineries yoU may like to visit – you will see they are in close proximity. Discover local artisans and beautiful gardens. Tonight dine in one of the many gourmet restaurants in the area.

Hunter Valley - Port Stephens

1 Day

101 km

Leave the Hunter Valley and travel northeast to Port Stephens. Known as the Blue Water Wonderland, Port Stephens is a natural bay 2½ times the size of Sydney Harbour and almost enclosed by two dormant volcanic headlands. There is fabulous seafood and over 26 golden sandy beaches to explore.

Port Stephens

1 Day

We suggest taking a cruise to see the Bottlenose dolphins that frequent Nelson Bay. Cruises depart morning and afternoon. There are some great nature trails to explore in Tomaree National Park, as well as other wildlife in the region, including koalas in their natural habitat. There is great scuba diving from the beach at Nelson Bay.

Port Stepehens - Coffs Harbour

1 Day

440 km

Continue north to Bulahdelah, the entrance to the Myall Lakes National Park. Travel north along the Lakes Way, a scenic route through rainforest with spectacular views of the inland lakes and ocean beaches. Travel through Forster and re-join the Pacific Highway. Travel on through the Manning Valley and Taree to Port Macquarie. Continue on to Coffs Harbour, which is the start of the subtropical northern coast of New South Wales. The iconic ‘Big Banana’ is open daily with a comprehensive display on the banana industry.

Coffs Harbour

1 Day

Today is free to spend at your leisure exploring the coastal town of Coffs Harbour and its surrounding beauty. Perhaps relax and discover nearby Boambee Beach at Sawtell or travel inland and discover the “Waterfall Way” on your way to the Dorrigo National Park.

Coffs Harbour - Byron Bay

1 Day

251 km

This northern stretch of New South Wales contains some of the most beautiful landscapes in Australia. From Coffs Harbour, the highway follows the coast to Woolgoolga and then turns inland towards Grafton, a graceful old country town on the banks of the mighty Clarence River. From Grafton travel to Woodburn and on to Ballina, and then a further 38 kilometres to Byron Bay, which attracts surfers from near and far to Wategos Beach, on Cape Byron – its northerly aspect makes it one of the best beaches for surfing on the East Coast of Australia. Cape Byron is the most easterly point on the Australian coast.

Byron Bay

1 Day

Today is free to spend at your leisure. Enjoy the restaurants and cafes, take a surfing lesson or simply relax on the beach. Other beaches to explore include Lennox Head to the south and Brunswick Heads to the north, both of which offer quieter beach options. Hike to Cape Bryon Lighthouse.

Byron Bay - Lamington National Park

1 Day

165 km

Depart beautiful Byron and join the Pacific Motorway heading north. YoU can detour and travel along the coastal road past Hastings Point, Cabarita Beach and Kingscliff, before re-joining the Motorway and travelling past Tweed Heads and Coolangatta. Take the Nerang exit and then continue further along to the rich pastures of Canungra, before reaching Lamington National Park.

Lamington National Park

1 Day

Today is a day at leisure to explore this beautiful National Park, with over 20,000 hectares of sub tropical rainforest. Hear the calls of native birds as yoU walk through the tree tops, 16 metres above the rainforest floor. Take a hike or bush walk along the many trails which wind through the ancient Antarctic Beech forest.

LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK - HERVEY BAY

1 Day

447 km

Upon leaving Lamington National Park yoU will travel back to Nerang then north on the Pacific Motorway. Travel on the Gateway Motorway to take yoU north, bypassing the Brisbane city traffic. Take a detour to stop at the Sunshine Coast beaches at Coolum and Noosa Heads, before travelling through Gympie and Maryborough to Hervey Bay.

Hervey Bay - Fraser Island

1 Day

Today enjoy a full day guided Fraser Island Safari Tour. Learn about the natural and cultural history of the island, swim in clear freshwater lakes, walk through towering rainforest and drive along the amazing Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Other highlights include Lake Garawongera, Eli Creek and the Maheno Shipwreck.

Hervey Bay - Yeppoon

1 Day

439 km

Depart Hervey Bay and continue north on the Bruce Highway to Yeppoon via Rockhampton where there is a large spire at Curtis Park. This marks the exact line of the Tropic of Capricorn. 40 kilometres from Rockhampton is Yeppoon a seaside resort located on the coast overlooking Great Keppel Island.

Yeppoon - Airlie Beach

1 Day

439 km

Continue your Queensland odyssey as yoU return to the Bruce Highway and travel north towards Marlborough (120 kilometres) and onto Mackay. Continue north to Proserpine and then to Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Airlie Beach is one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations and gateway to the seventy-two islands of the Whitsundays.

Airlie Beach

1 Day

A day at leisure to enjoy what the beautiful Whitsundays has to offer. We suggest yoU take a sailing trip and spend the day on one of the many beautiful Whitsunday Islands. There are many operators offering different cruise and island combinations for yoU to choose from.

Airlie Beach - Magnetic Island

1 Day

280 km

Travel north passing through Bowen and the twin towns of Home Hill and Ayr. Townsville is a modern, tropical city and the administrative capital of North Queensland. Depending on your arrival time and which ferry crossing yoU would like to board to Magnetic Island, if time permits enjoy a walk along the waterfront esplanade, known as “The Strand” before making your way to the ferry terminal.

Magnetic Island

1 Day

A day at leisure to explore the natural beauty that Magnetic Island’s beaches

Magnetic Island - Atherton Tablelands

1 Day

377 km

Depart Magnetic Island and return to Townsville by ferry. Continue north on the Bruce Highway via Ingham and Tully. Detour to explore the coastal village of Mission Beach before continuing on the highway to Innisfail. Travel from Innisfail along the Palmerston Highway through the rich wet tropics rainforest of Johnstone River Valley to the cool climate highlands of the Atherton Tablelands.

Atherton Tablelands

1 Day

Highlights of the Atherton Tablelands include the deep blue waters of extinct volcano crater lakes - Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham and the amazing Curtain Fig Tree. Travel to Millaa Millaa, where yoU can start your rainforest drive of the Waterfall Circuit, an essential part of any visit to the Atherton Tablelands. Short walks lead to viewing areas and swimming holes at Millaa Millaa Falls, Elinjaa Falls and Zillie Falls.

Atherton Tablelands - Port Douglas

1 Day

118 km

Today’s drive takes yoU north on the Kennedy Highway to Mareeba, where you can savour the region’s aromatic coffee. Continue on to Port Douglas, famous for its “Four Mile Beach” and boasting a marina resplendently lined with boutiques and harbour side cafés.

Port Douglas

1 Day

Spend a day at leisure in Port Douglas, take a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef or explore the nearby Mossman Gorge.

Port Douglas - Cairns

1 Day

67 km

Heading south the drive along the coast is one of the most scenic drives in Australia. Be sure to stop at “Rex Lookout” for spectacular views along the coast. It is worth taking a short detour to stop and look around the delightful resort of Palm Cove before continuing along the Captain Cook Highway into Cairns. It is also possible to detour to Kuranda – the “Village in the Rainforest”.

Cairns

1 Day

Spend sometime today exploring Cairns, the Marlin Marina and the Cairns Foreshore Promenade. Your journey has now come to an end. Drop your car off at the airport or city today by the same time as it was picked up on Day 1 to avoid any additional charges.