The ultimate east coast drive. All the best parts with 4 rest days in idyllic areas to dive on the reef, relax on the beach and explore the rainforest. Heaven!
17 day tour - 4,200km (inc. 3 'rest' days)
AU$ 2,917 BOOK NOW
Includes: 16 nights accommodation plus:
This tour allows for a
full day trip to Fraser Island, a cruise in the Whitsunday Islands and an optional excursion to the Great Barrier Reef.
This
has to be the ultimate Australian tour. Where else can you
pass the Sydney Opera House, the most famous Australian vineyards,
superb high country (the hinterland), the best beaches on earth,
the Great Barrier Reef and the oldest rainforest on the planet.
Simply put, this 4,200km tour is spectacular...
Sydney - The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, ferry boats to Manly... it's one of the most scenic and interesting cities in the world. A great place to start any tour with so much to see and great public transport.
Blue Mountains - incredible scenery with huge waterfalls, the second largest canyon on earth, cable car rides and lovely walks. See the Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls and a host of other scenic lookouts before driving a circular route back around the mountains. Stay at a lovely B&B with friendly hosts and incredible views over the Hawkesbury River.
Hunter Valley - The heart of Australia's wine production. Drive along a stunning, winding back road past the views and gorges of the Wollemi National Park to the vineyards, restaurants and wineries of the Hunter Valley. The overnight stay is a short taxi ride from the most famous restaurants and wineries of the region. Arrive early and go on a wine tasting tour or save it for a relaxed evening out amongst the vines!
New England - Another incredibly scenic and winding back road takes you through New England to Armidale. Famous for its deciduous trees in Autumn and unusually seasonal due to its height it has some of the most scenic roads in Australia nearby. A good choice of restaurants and country town feel mean it's a nice town in which to spend the evening before driving along the Waterfall Way the following day.
Waterfall
Way - The Waterfall Way is simply breathtaking with dense
rainforest, countless waterfalls, huge views over New England
National Park and one of the best roads in the country
down to a lovely country own at the base of the Great Dividing
Range . This is where you'll stay the night. It's not a long day
on the road but there's so much to see on the way it takes all
day. If you arrive earlier than expected there's the 'Promised
Land' circuit to drive which takes you through a beautiful single
track country lane past crystal clear streams where you can stop
for a refreshing swim on a hot afternoon!
Byron Bay - Yet another spectacular back road winds through northern NSW to Australia's most easterly point at Byron Bay. There are beautiful beaches, a lively and friendly small town and a lovely hinterland. Once a centre for 'alternative lifestylers' it has a unique atmosphere. You can relax on the beach, visit the famous lighthouse and enjoy the atmosphere in town at one of the many good restaurants.
Gold Coast - Australia's most visited holiday destination. Great beaches, all the top theme parks, busy nightlife and a surprisingly beautiful hinterland. If you want it busy you've got it, if you prefer the views then you can have them too!
Brisbane - the bustling capital of Queensland with a great river, shops, nightlife and beautiful botanical gardens. It's an ideal place to explore for the evening before heading north.
Sunshine Coast - this area as one of the most spectacular hinterlands in the country with rainforests, waterfalls, pineapple plantations and the beautiful Glass House Mountains. Add a lovely coastline and upmarket coastal resorts and it makes for a great day's drive.
Fraser Island - stay at Rainbow Beach for two nights and take a 4WD tour on the spare day (+AU$169 p.p.) to the largest sand island in the world. Many people consider this one of the highlights of their trip as you take the eastern beach (the 'main road'!) north to rainforests, crystal clear freshwater lakes, shipwrecks on the beach and huge sand dunes. Take a flight over the island as an option for about AU$70. You'll take off and land on the beach and it's a great experience for the relatively low cost.
Eungella NP - walk the rainforest in search of the famous Platypus. There are some lovely walking trails through this area and the Rangers are on hand to help you discover more about the original aboriginal inhabitants, bush tucker and the flora and fauna of the forest.
Whitsunday
Islands - this is a beautiful series of paradise islands
just off of the small coastal town of Airlie Beach where you'll
stay for two nights.
With the spare day take a cruise (+AU$135 p.p.) around some of
the most perfect coral islands in the world. Visit the stunning
Whitehaven Beach and snorkel in protected bays over teaming coral
gardens. In the evenings enjoy the lively pubs and restaurants
of the town centre.
Atherton Tablelands - superb
rolling green scenery with some of the most beautiful waterfalls
in Australia on the Waterfall Circuit. Visit the 500 year old
Curtain Fig Tree and enjoy the roads in this undulating region
of rainforest and farming.
Daintree Rainforest - the oldest rainforest on earth an Information Centre that takes you on a tour of the densely tangled forest via boardwalks and a tower that allows you to get deep into the canopy and find out all about the birds, plant, animal and insect life at each level of the jungle. The small, tightly twisting roads are good fun on a too but take your time and enjoy the views.
Cape Tribulation - the coconut
lined beach here backs straight on to the rainforest. There aren't
many places on earth you can sit and listen to bird and insect
sounds of the rainforest whilst taking a picnic on the beach!
Captain Cook beached his damaged ship The Endeavour here to make
repairs and hence the name 'Cape Tribulation'.
Port
Douglas - a beautiful small tropical town with great restaurants
and bars. It's the nearest port to the Great Barrier Reef and
so ideal for taking a fast catamaran cruise out to the reef to
snorkel for the day (+AU$155 p.p.). An unforgettable experience.
Cairns - the holiday capital of northern Queensland. This
is where you'll finish the trip and celebrate a wonderful experience
at one of the many bars and restaurants in town!
