One of the most popular routes in Australia and with good reason. Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney, some of Australias best known cities will be visited during this trip. These cities have their own characteristics which will make your self-drive holiday adventurous, varied and just amazing! Visit the Hidden Valley and watch the beautiful waterfalls. In Airlie Beach book a sailing tour or go sea kayaking, you will be amazed how good the visibility underwater is and how many sea creatures you can see. Once you get to Hamilton Island go for an organised bush walk and see some of the greatest Australian wildlife. Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, is one of the big highlights during this route. Driving in a 4WD on the beach, and in the meanwhile whale spotting, or swim in the Champagne pools or/and Lake McKenzie! Take your board and catch a wave in Byron Bay and go for a picnic on the beach in Coffs Harbour. Spot the most amazing animals in the Hunter Valley Zoo and go on a cruise in Sydney. Pack your bags and enjoy your holiday!
Cairns to Sydney
Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Cairns
Just 45 minutes from Cairns aboard a fast catamaran, you will find yourself a world away on Green Island – a beautiful coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 2: Cairns - Mission Beach
Day 3: Mission Beach
Day 4: Mission Beach - Hidden Valley
Day 5: Hidden Valley - Townsville
Day 6: Townsville - Airlie Beach
Day 7: Airlie Beach - Hamilton Island
Day 8: Hamilton Island - Airlie Beach
Day 9: Airlie Beach - Eungella
Set in mist-shrouded mountains west of Mackay, Eungella National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse parks. The 860 different plant species are divided in to subcategories subtropical and rainforests. It is home to the Eungella honeyeater, one of five new Australian bird species discovered during the past 50 years.
Day 10: Eungella - Rockhampton
Day 11: Rockhampton - Fraser Island
Want to see a rainforest which grows on sand? Fraser Island has it. It’s the largest sand Island in the world and also the only one with a rainforest on top of it. 120 kilometres long and 30 kilometres at its widest point, this Island has developed over 800,000 years and has a unique natural environment.
Day 12: Fraser Island
Day 14: Noosa - Brisbane
Day 15: Brisbane
Day 16: Brisbane - Byron Bay
Day 17: Byron Bay – Coffs Harbour
Day 18: Coffs Harbour – Port Macquarie
Located within the Hunter’s scenic and popular Wine Country, Hunter Valley Zoo has acres of both Australian and exotic animals. Feed the animals… hand feed kangaroos, wallabies, farmyard animals and some bird species as often as you like!
Day 19: Port Macquarie – Hunter Valley
Day 20: Hunter Valley –Sydney
Day 21: Sydney
Captain Cook Cruises is a family-owned, Australian ‘small ship’ cruise operator and the recipient of numerous awards.
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Day 1: Cairns
Just 45 minutes from Cairns aboard a fast catamaran, you will find yourself a world away on Green Island – a beautiful coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef.
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Day 2: Cairns - Mission Beach
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Day 3: Mission Beach
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Day 4: Mission Beach - Hidden Valley
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Day 5: Hidden Valley - Townsville
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Day 6: Townsville - Airlie Beach
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Day 7: Airlie Beach - Hamilton Island
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Day 8: Hamilton Island - Airlie Beach
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Day 9: Airlie Beach - Eungella
Set in mist-shrouded mountains west of Mackay, Eungella National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse parks. The 860 different plant species are divided in to subcategories subtropical and rainforests. It is home to the Eungella honeyeater, one of five new Australian bird species discovered during the past 50 years.
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Day 10: Eungella - Rockhampton
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Day 11: Rockhampton - Fraser Island
Want to see a rainforest which grows on sand? Fraser Island has it. It’s the largest sand Island in the world and also the only one with a rainforest on top of it. 120 kilometres long and 30 kilometres at its widest point, this Island has developed over 800,000 years and has a unique natural environment.
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Day 12: Fraser Island
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Day 13: Fraser Island - Noosa
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Day 14: Noosa - Brisbane
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Day 15: Brisbane
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Day 16: Brisbane - Byron Bay
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Day 17: Byron Bay – Coffs Harbour
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Day 18: Coffs Harbour – Port Macquarie
Located within the Hunter’s scenic and popular Wine Country, Hunter Valley Zoo has acres of both Australian and exotic animals. Feed the animals… hand feed kangaroos, wallabies, farmyard animals and some bird species as often as you like!
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Day 19: Port Macquarie – Hunter Valley
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Day 20: Hunter Valley –Sydney
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Day 21: Sydney
Captain Cook Cruises is a family-owned, Australian ‘small ship’ cruise operator and the recipient of numerous awards.
Backpacking Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, a town that is very popular with backpackers. This video shows us an Irish backpacker who initially just wanted to stay for 2 or 3 days. She has now been in Airlie Beach for 2 months and she’ll explain why.