After following the 7- and 14-day itineraries, it’s time to tackle the most remote part of the east coast drive, as you head to the far north of QLD. Expect some long driving days but jawdropping scenery and wildlife encounters along the way!
Day 14: Rockhampton
Swap the beaches for mountains and gold mines in Rockhampton, a 3-hour drive from Bundaberg. Known for its beef farming and barramundi fishing along the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton gives you a glimpse into what life in rural Australia is like.
Spend the morning learning about Rockhampton’s history at the Heritage Village or Aboriginal culture at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre. In the afternoon, venture out into the mountains to catch the sunset in Mount Archer National Park or learn more about the historic gold mines in Mount Morgan.
Rockhampton is also close to Great Keppel Island if you prefer to stick to sun, sea and sand—learn more about day trips to Great Keppel Island in the next chapter.
Days 15 and 16: The Whitsundays
On day 15, you’ll have just over a 5-hour drive to Airlie Beach, the jumping off point for the Whitsundays, a group of islands at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays are best explored by boat hopping, so either stay overnight in Airlie Beach and book a day tour for day 16, or board an overnight sailing. Learn more about things to do in the Whitsundays here.
Days 17 and 18: Magnetic Island
From one magical island experience to another! You’ll have a 3-hour drive to Townsville, where you can catch the 40-minute ferry to Magnetic Island. The highlight of this island is the Forts Walk, where you can see the island’s colony of koalas. It’s also another great spot for snorkelling—arguably better snorkelling than the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef, as this central section has sustained less damage than the northern part of the reef.
Day 19: Cairns
Your final big journey (4 hours) up the coast will take you to Cairns, the famous gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Most tourists visit Cairns with the sole purpose of snorkelling or scuba diving in the reef. Because this itinerary already offers (better!) snorkelling elsewhere, you might prefer a different activity:
- See the Great Barrier Reef from above with a scenic flight or skydive.
- Take a guided Indigenous tour to discover how Tropical North Queensland is the only region with two Indigenous cultures (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people).
- Float down the Mossman River on river sleds with the River Drift experience.
- Bungy jump at the Cairns Skypark.
Day 20: Kuranda
Kuranda is a picturesque mountain village only a 35-minute drive from Cairns, but you’re not taking the car today. The real point of the day trip to Kuranda is to travel by scenic railway and cable car—it doesn’t matter whether you take the train up and the cable car down or vice versa, but you should try both methods of transportation for the full experience and best views!
Your ticket will include stops along the way, such as a photo stop at Barron Falls, and plenty of time for walking through the Rainforest Discovery Zone. When exploring the town itself, don’t miss the Kuranda Rainforest and Heritage Markets.
Day 21: The Daintree
There’s no better way to end your east coast tour than with a trip to the world’s oldest rainforest. Cape Tribulation, which sits within the Daintree Rainforest, is unique because it’s where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef) meet.
It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Cape Tribulation from Cairns, including the short 15-minute ferry across the Daintree River. Don’t miss:
- Searching for wild crocodiles with a guided crocodile cruise.
- Alexandra Lookout: where the reef meets the rainforest.
- The skywalk at the Daintree Discovery Centre.
- Dreamtime Walks (Indigenous led) at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.
- Sample local flavours at the Daintree Ice Cream Company.
- Wild swimming at Mason’s swimming hole.
Most travellers will leave Cairns via the airport. If you have more time, keep the car and retrace your steps along the coast with some additional stops that we cover in the next chapter.
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