Popular Campervan Hire Itineraries

Day 1 and 2 - Brisbane to Noosa (Hastings Street) - 132km

After collecting your campervan rental in Brisbane, take the Southern Cross Highway (M1) heading north and follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast. The M1 turns into the Bruce Highway along the way. This will take you to the popular holiday destination of Noosa. The seaside town offers an array of boutique shops, white beaches with crystal-clear waters, scenic walking tracks through National Parks and world class restaurants. And best of all, these attractions are within walking distance of each other.

On your drive up to Noosa, the Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area offers lots of activities for everyone from family fun days to couples retreats. You can visit Alma Park Zoo (30 mins south of the Sunshine Coast � take the Narrangba exit off the Bruce highway), Aussie World (directly off the Bruce Highway in Palmview, 1km north of the Caloundra exit) or the more famous Australia Zoo, home of the legendary crocodile hunter Steve Irwin (located near Beerwah on the Steve Irwin Way/Glasshouse Mountains exit).

If you're after a bit of fun and are travelling through Palmview (Aussie World) on Australia Day (26 January), the Ettamogah Pub holds their annual Dunny Races on this day. This event is a uniquely Australian experience that is hard to pass up and unlike any other you will witness.

Once you have reached the Sunshine Coast, there are some great towns to visit on a day trip from Noosa. For couples or families who want to experience somewhere a little different, the small town of Montville is a must-see on your campervan travels. Approximately one hour south-west of Noosa, Montville is home to the best fudge in Queensland and offers quaint markets on weekends, amazing walking tracks, a cheese factory and a number of wineries.

The small town of Eumundi, located just 30 minutes drive north-west of Noosa, hosts one of the largest markets on the Coast. The Eumundi markets are held every Wednesday and Saturday (excluding Christmas Day).

Overnight accommodation is available along the Sunshine Coast and in Noosa. Click for a range of campervan hire campgrounds and caravan parks.

Day 3 and 4 - Noosa to Hervey Bay - 210km

If you every wanted to go whale watching and see the magnificent humpback whales come out to play, then  Hervey Bay is the place for you. Hervey Bay whale watching season runs from mid July to early November every year.

Or if you're looking for a little adventure then you may wish to visit Fraser Island, located just off the coast from Hervey Bay. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and is home to long white beaches, freshwater lakes, lush rainforests and an abundance of native animals, including the infamous dingos. You can explore this natural island while driving along the sandy beaches and hiking in the forest, but be warned, this island is strictly 4WD only. Don't have a 4WD? Not to worry, you can organise a safari group tour from Hervey Bay if need be.

Day 5 - Hervey Bay to Gladstone - 312km

As you continue your drive up the coast to Gladstone, an interesting town to visit is Bundaberg, home to the ever popular Bundaberg Rum Distillery. You can take a tour through the distillery to see, smell and taste your way through the rum production progress. Children are welcome but there are no on-site children's activities outside of the tour.

After spending some time in Bundaberg, make your way up to Gladstone to set up camp for the night. Campervan hire travellers can choose from a range of campgrounds, including two Big 4 caravan parks in town. Gladstone is perfect for snorkelling with the world-famous Great Barrier Reef just off the coast. Or if you are into fishing, Gladstone offers a variety of fishing experiences from beach fishing for the novice to ocean fishing for the more experienced fisher.

Day 6 and 7 - Gladstone to Airlie Beach (Whitsunday) - 592km

Prepare for an adventure when you arrive at Airlie Beach, a small town full of life from the locals to the tourists. There is something here for everyone. A must-do is a day cruise to visit the spectacular Whitsunday Islands. You can cruise to the popular Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Hook Island and Hayman Island. A definite favourite is Whitehaven Beach, which is a stretch of brilliant white silica sand that is great for getting your jewellery sparkling clean! You can sit back, relax and swim in the clear, pristine ocean. If island-hopping is not for you, you can spend the day discovering the many walking tracks throughout the town of Airlie Beach and surrounding areas. Or just pull up a chair at a local pub or cafe and relax.

Day 8 - Airlie Beach (Whitsunday) to Townsville - 276km

On your way to Townsville, stop off at Bowen and check out the view from the local lookout at Flagstaff Hill. From this vantage point, you will see the amazing landscape below made up of rural farms which give the impression of a patchwork quilt. You can also visit the Big Mango, which represents the delicious fruit which carries the namesake of the town �Bowen Mango�. The Big Mango is located at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, 4 km south of Bowen on the Bruce Highway.

Then it's just a short drive the rest of the way to Townsville. From Townsville you can take a ferry to the family-friendly Magnetic Island, which sits just off the coast. You can play in the water or walk some of the historic war treks to see the forts built during World War 1 and 2. If history is your thing then 1.5 hours west of Townsville you can visit the old gold mining towns of Ravenswood and Charters Towers and walk in the footsteps of the old miners.

Charters Towers is also home to the largest country music festival in North Queensland. The festival is held every year over the May Day long weekend. If you want to experience an old-fashioned country rodeo, the small outlying towns around Townsville host regular rodeos throughout the year. Just pop into the local information centres and they will be able to direct you to the nearest rodeo at that time.

Day 9 - Townsville to Tully - 209km

Tully lies north of Townsville in an area of beautiful beaches and charming towns and is the hub of the local sugar industry. Here you can visit the big gumboot or continue north to Paronella Park, a must-see on your trip. Paronella Park is a magical world built from the local rainforest, with castles, bamboo gardens (where movies have been filmed), a secret garden and a tunnel of love. You can easily spend a day at Paronella Park.

If you have a few extra days to spare, then you may want to stop off at Cardwell (just south of Tully) and visit Hinchinbrook Island. Just a short ferry ride off the coast, Hinchinbrook Island is the largest National Park island in the world. You can take day cruises around the area and you may even spot the rare dugong (large grey ocean mammals). For the more adventurous, you can also do the 4-day trek from one end of Hinchinbrook Island to the other. There is even an old fighter jet wreck that went down during the war to see on the inland trek. Please note these hikes are not for the faint-hearted. However, if you're not into this then the small town of Cardwell offers a beach with a difference. The beach is lined with mangroves and instead of seeing the more common ocean creatures, you are more likely to see crocodiles sunbaking on the beachfront or in the water.

Day 10 - Tully to Cairns - 142km

Spend a leisurely day driving up the coast from Tully to Cairns, taking in the views of the towns as you pass them by. Cairns has a lot to offer for every traveller. One of the more popular attractions is the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which is an old stream train that takes you up the escarpment to the village of Kuranda. You can spend the day exploring the village and then come down via the Skyrail cable car across the tree tops. The views out to the ocean are magnificent.

Of course, a visit to Cairns is not complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day tours or extended tours to let you experience the best of the Reef. Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort is a popular campground in the area and is perfect for campervan travellers with children.

For a scenic drive north of Cairns, head up to Port Douglas, which is a beautiful sleepy beachside town. Tours to the Great Barrier Reef also depart regularly from Port Douglas.

Brisbane to Cairns Itinerary Summary:

For more information please visit:

www.queenslandholidays.com.au
www.tropicalnorthqueensland.com.au

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