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Queensland Pacific Coast Way Self-Drive

This is the Sunshine State in focus; across three weeks, you’ll self-drive the Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Port Douglas.

This one’s an epic. One state, one way, a couple of climates, 1200 miles and plenty of behind-the-wheel adventures. You’ll tick off Queensland’s big-ticket destinations like the Whitsundays, K’gari and the Great Barrier Reef and stop in lesser visited but authentically Aussie towns to break up the longest journeys.

Tour type Self-drive

Interest Self-Drive

Recommended itinerary

Who is this holiday for?

The adventurers

If you have the gift of time and want to dedicate it to just one of Australia’s states (particularly one that’s full of Australian icons), this is the holiday of dreams. It’s for the adventurers who want to explore independently, are up for some long drives that link incredible places, and are seeking that sense of achievement that comes from taking on such an incredible journey. If time is limited, or you only want to do shorter drives with flights across the longest distance, our Queensland Highlights Multi-Centre may be more your vibe.

How to do this holiday

Behind the wheel

We’ve built this as a self-drive holiday from Brisbane in south Queensland all the way up to the Daintree Rainforest in the Tropical North, with car hire included throughout and a handful of hotels, resorts and lodges to choose from. There are couple of nights set aside in each of the main stops so you’ll have one full day to explore, with one night splitting the longer drives in a couple of towns along the way. You can up the number of nights wherever you want to take a slightly deeper dive, or slow down the journey by upping the time you spend in the ‘pit stop’ destinations.

Days 1-2

Brisbane

How better to start your holiday than touching down in the capital of Queensland? It’s got those riverside city vibes with a sub-tropical twist. Yes, it’s got the obligatory waterfront bars and restaurants as well as plenty of galleries and museums, but there’s nowhere else in Aus that has an inner-city beach and lagoon where you can while away a sunny day.

Days 3-4

Sunshine Coast

It’s time to pick up your car and begin your Queensland quest. First up en route is the Sunshine Coast, the go-to choice of Aussie holiday makers seeking some of the best beaches; if it’s good enough for the locals, it’s more than good enough for us. You’ve got a trio of choices of where to base yourself: upmarket Noosa, chilled out Mooloolaba or the up in the script-flipping rural Hinterlands.

Days 5-6

Hervey Bay/K’Gari

It’ll take you about two hours to drive up to Hervey Bay, gateway to K’Gari, the world’s largest sand island. As it’s just a short drive (by Aussie standards), a detour to Rainbow Beach to check out the wonders of the mainland section of Great Sandy National Park wouldn’t go amiss. Once you’ve reached Hervey Bay, the focus shifts to K’Gari. Leave the car on the mainland and let a guide get behind the wheel for a day and show you the almost indescribable beauty of the island, be it lakes, beaches, tidal pools, creeks or shipwrecks. Alternatively, you could swap a Hervey Bay stay for a couple of nights at the on-island Kingfisher Bay resort. Either way, if you’re travelling between July and November, we suggest stretching out your stay so you can add on a whale-watching trip.

Day 7

Rockhampton

Tonight’s stop is a journey breaker and a chance to take a breather as you cover some serious miles on the journey north. On the way up, hop out the car for a photo stop as you cross the Tropic of Capricorn; from here, the journey is totally tropical.

Days 8-9

Airlie Beach/Whitsundays

Next up is Airlie Beach, another five or so hours’ drive to the north of Rockhampton, the launch point for the Whitsundays and southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef. As you’ll be closer to the reef a little later in the trip, we suggest dedicating your stay here to island explorations. There’s a handful of optional boat trips from Airlie Beach (or Hamilton Island if you choose it over a mainland stay) that meander around the islands and take in the immaculate Whitehaven Beach.

Day 10

Townsville

Roll on the journey north with a three-hour drive and an overnight stay in Townsville. We recommend making it here in good time so you can take the 20-minute ferry over to Magnetic Island (Yunbenun). Alternatively, hike up to the top of Castle Hill for fab views over the city and coast, or just stay at sea level and soak up the town’s coffee and café culture.

Day 11

Mission Beach

Today’s journey up to Mission Beach is just under three hours so a side quest to the incredible Wallaman Falls is a no-brainer. At 286 metres, it’s the tallest single drop fall in the country and it’s hidden in the stunning Girringun National Park; you’ll need to hike in, and it is relatively steep so only for the fit and shore of foot. Once you’ve reached your destination, take some time to chill, sun soak and feel the sea breeze.

Days 12-13

Port Douglas/Mossman/Daintree

The final push north ends in Tropical North Queensland and the stunning reef-meets-rainforest Port Douglas area. You’ve got at least a full day here to get to the old-as-time Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation so make the most of it on a guided tour. There’s a cluster of incredible eco lodges in this corner of Australia and we think they make the best base for your Tropical North Queensland adventure – they really elevate your experience and give you a real sense of place.

Days 14-15

Cairns

It’s the last drive, and the final leg of your next-level road trip. Thankfully, it’s just a short hop down to Cairns, one of the main gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. If you want to make the most of the reef, there are full day boat trips that’ll take you to the Outer Reef where you can dip below the waves. If you’d rather keep your feet on dry land, hop aboard the Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway for seriously spectacular rainforest, gorge and river views just a stone’s throw from the city.

Days 16-18

Singapore

Break up the journey home with a pit stop in the glorious garden city of Singapore. It’s the perfect place to dwell for a couple of nights to start the body clock shift but also to fit in a bit more sightseeing. See Hindu and Buddhist temples, explore contrasting neighbourhoods, marvel at the botanic gardens, nurse a Singapore sling at Raffles, and check out the light show at the Supertree Grove of Gardens by the Bay.

Extend your holiday

Sydney

If you’re not ready to go home, or you want to switch up where you start your holiday, head Sydney-bound for some more Aussie adventures. This is a city bursting with icons, whether it’s the bridge, the beaches or the cultural landmarks, and you can set aside a few full days to pack in as many as possible. Perhaps tack on a backstage tour of the Opera House, a bridge climb, a seaplane flight or a dinner cruise on the harbour; and if you fancy getting out of the city for a day, we can arrange a trip that takes you inland to the jaw-dropping Blue Mountains.

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