Our Australia east coast road trip itineraries

Chapter 3 of 5

With 14 days to spare, you can cover a lot more of the east coast. Follow the 7-day itinerary for your first week, before heading further into QLD for your second week.

Day 8: Brisbane

Today is a free day to explore more of the city of Brisbane or its surrounding areas. Here are some ideas for day trips from Brisbane:

• Meet native Australian wildlife at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary or the Australia Zoo.
• Hike through the hinterland in Glass House Mountains National Park.
• Take a tour of The Ginger Factory to learn how Buderim Ginger is made.
• Visit the world’s second-largest sand island, North Stradbroke Island.

Day 9: Sunshine Coast

Travel just over an hour north to the picture-perfect Sunshine Coast. The coastal pathway, which you can walk, jog or cycle along, spans 73 km and connects many of the Sunshine Coast’s best beaches. We recommend Coolum Beach for surfing, Mooloolaba Beach for sheltered swimming, or Alexandra Headlands for snorkelling. You can rent kayaks in multiple locations, such as Caloundra, Golden Beach and Mooloolaba.

Day 10: Noosa

Good news, you only have about a 30-minute drive today to reach Noosa! Noosa offers a mix of pristine beaches and rugged wilderness in Noosa National Park. Noosa Main Beach is perfect for beginners learning to surf. You can also ride horses along the beach, search for bottlenose dolphins in the nearby Great Sandy Marine Park or native birds in the Noosa Everglades.

Days 11 and 12: K’gari

Set off early on day 11, as it will take 4.5 hours from Noosa to reach your next stop, K’gari (this time includes the ferry ride from River Heads). K’gari is one of the best islands in Australia, and you’ll want to stay on the island overnight to make the most of your time there. For more ideas on things to do, read our guide to the 5 most beautiful islands in Australia.

Day 13: Bundaberg

From River Heads, where the K’gari ferry docks, it’s a 1.5-hour drive to your final location of the 14-day itinerary, Bundaberg. Bundaberg is best known for its Distillery and Rum Museum, which you can tour. It’s also one of the southernmost gateways to the Great Barrier Reef; if you don’t have time to go further up the coast, this is your best chance of experiencing the world’s largest coral reef. If you’re visiting Bundaberg in the summer months, don’t miss an encounter with the Mon Repos turtles as they come to shore to lay their eggs.

Day 14: Return to Brisbane

If you need to end your travels after 14 days, today is the time to retrace your steps with a 4-hour drive back to Brisbane. If you’re free to keep exploring the east coast, head to the next chapter for a third itinerary, which will take you from Bundaberg all the way to far north QLD and the Daintree.