Great Journeys: Australia: Queensland Coast

This journey concentrates on the Great Barrier Reef and three of Queensland's most beautiful trekking islands.

Click on the links below to find out more about individual destinations.

Journey Summary

The sights of Queensland need little introduction, and our journey takes in some of the best sights for exploring on foot... or fin. Starting in Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef provides some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world, and a multiple-day trip north from Cairns is highly recommended for scuba divers. Following the coast south, we come to Cardwell, from where a three-day walk on beautiful Hinchinbrook Island is well worth booking. Townsville is our next stop south, but it's worth hopping over to laid-back Magnetic Island as soon as possible. Continuing our drive south down the coast we come to Airlie Beach, where the Whitsunday Islands provide wonderful sailing opportunities and a good excuse to relax, in preparation for the long drive south to Hervey Bay, the access town for Fraser Island. Most people rent four-wheel-drives and spend a few days getting drunk on Fraser's beaches, but for the more adventurous there is plenty of world-class trekking, if you can handle the dingoes. Heading south again, Noosa provides us with plenty of pretty beaches, before the road takes us to the capital of Queensland, Brisbane.

Suggested Itinerary

The following is only a suggested itinerary, and is based round a journey by car, with overnight stops at camping grounds. All roads are suitable for normal two-wheel-drive cars. Important Note: Before setting off on any journey into the outback, it's important to ensure that the car is in good condition, and that you have a week's worth of water and food, in case of breakdown in the outback. It's also worth making sure that you have breakdown cover from a reliable national breakdown company, like the AAA or the RAC. Hopefully you won't find out why it's such a good idea...