The Ultimate Australia Road Trip

Sydney to Cairns in 15 days vehicle hire plus some days in Sydney.

Below is a summary of our schedule. You can view additional photos in the YouTube video, but here are the specifics! We tend to prioritize nature destinations over urban ones, as evident in all our travels. You'll observe that we didn't spend much time in cities, but feel free to adjust based on your own preferences. With that in mind, we started our journey by flying into Sydney to visit family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlyYSBSZ_qQ

Explore Sydney in 1-2 Days: Uncover the Best of the City

We commenced our journey in Sydney, where we were staying with family, and took the opportunity to do some sightseeing as well. Despite the heavy rain, we managed to visit the Opera House (the tour was highly enjoyable), strolled through the gardens, and got a bit wet, but the experience was worthwhile. I would suggest saving a visit to the gardens for a dry day. On another occasion, we drove to Palm Beach, which was pleasant. Given the abundance of beaches in the city, you can choose which ones to explore. We opted for an AirBnB accommodation in the city, which proved to be a convenient choice for staying centrally, with easy access to buses for reaching the city center.

Explore the Blue Mountains in a Day

After collecting our camper van from Mighty campers, we headed to the Blue Mountains for a one-night stay at a charming family campsite. The drive took approximately two hours. We stopped at a supermarket in Katoomba to purchase enough food for a three-day supply. The abundant rainfall enhanced the beauty of the waterfalls, and we enjoyed a hike around Wentworth Falls and a visit to the iconic Three Sisters rock formation. It's important to note that some hiking trails were closed during our visit, so remember to check for updated information when planning your hikes.

Exploring Fingal Bay: Wildlife, Camping, and Beach Adventures

The next day, we took a trip to Fingal Bay and stopped at Walk About Wildlife Park on the journey, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch. Watching the animals roam freely in the park was a delightful experience. Upon reaching our wonderful campsite with a pool in Fingal Bay, we had the chance to explore the charming town and beach. Despite the long drive of about 4 hours that day, venturing out on this peninsula was truly fulfilling.

Exploring Crescent Head and the Koala Hospital

On the following day, we traveled to Crescent Head where it was still raining. Before continuing our journey up the coast, we stopped by the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie. Our visit there was enjoyable as we had the opportunity to observe rescued koalas up close and discover the hospital's history. We spent approximately 3 hours driving that day.

Under the Rain: A Scenic Drive to Nambucca Head

The next day, despite the ongoing rain, we proceeded with our travel up the coast towards Byron Bay, with a break at Nambucca Head for an overnight stop. We spent around 3 hours driving that day.

Discovering Sunshine and Dolphins in Byron Bay

At last, we discovered the sun shining down on us in Byron Bay, where we set up camp right by the beach. We spent time exploring both the beach and the town, gathering information about potential excursions for the rest of our journey before making online reservations. Originally planning to kayak, we had to forego the activity due to rough sea conditions. Instead, we enjoyed a picturesque walk to the lighthouse and were treated to a sighting of dolphins! After a two-night stay, we took a break from driving before embarking on a 3-hour journey to Byron Bay, followed by another 3-hour drive on the day of our departure.

Exploring Noosa Head: A Coastal Adventure

After stopping for a coastal walk at Noosa Head, we spent the evening strolling along the beach and up to the headland. We had driven for 3 hours that day.

Exploring Fraser Island from Rainbow Beach

After that, we proceeded to Rainbow Beach in order to prepare for our visit to Fraser Island the next day. The day after, we embarked on a tour with Fraser Explorer Tours and explored all the attractions. With just a day to spend on the island, looking back, we would have preferred a longer drive so we could have stayed overnight at the island's accommodation, given its magical charm. It took us 3.5 hours to reach Rainbow Beach and 2.5 hours the following day.

Refreshing Stopover in Rockhampton

To split up the journey, we spent a night in Rockhampton. We took a brief stroll around the town, after driving for 4.5 hours that day.

Exploring Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

Afterwards, we headed directly to Airlie Beach to explore the Whitsundays. The journey took us 5.5 hours by car. We embarked on two fantastic day excursions, one with Thundercat and another kayaking adventure with Salty Dog.

Exploring Townsville and Magnetic Island: A Day Trip Adventure

After leaving Airlie Beach, we traveled to Townsville and took a day trip to Magnetic Island. We took the ferry and spent the day exploring. The hike up to the fort was truly rewarding. We spent 3.5 hours driving to reach this destination, and then we took a break from driving for a day. The next morning, when it was raining, we decided to visit the Aquarium.

Exploring the Rainforest Vibes of Mission Beach

Our next destination was Mission Beach, the second-to-last stop on our journey. The rain started again, providing a great opportunity to observe nature and making us feel like we were truly in the rainforest. We spent approximately 3 hours driving that day.

Exploring Natural Wonders: Atherton Tablelands to Great Barrier Reef

During our journey to Cairns, we made a detour to explore the Atherton Tablelands, which offered stunning waterfalls, lush rainforests, serene lakes, and ancient fig trees. In Cairns, we embarked on a memorable reef excursion with Passions of Paradise. The organization was top-notch, and the crew was fantastic. We marveled at the breathtaking reef, colorful fish, and even had the luck to spot a shark, making it the highlight of our trip despite the choppy sea. On our last day, or rather morning, we drove a bit further up the coast for lunch and a stroll in Port Douglas before flying back home from Cairns, a journey that took about 3 hours.

Key takeaway

Our trip was both enjoyable and educational. Despite time constraints and the desire to avoid domestic flights, we managed to fit in a lot within a short period, resulting in several long driving days. The weather in February was particularly bad, with frequent rain following the recent bush fires and preceding the COVID-19 lockdowns, creating a unique atmosphere. Despite the extensive driving and inclement weather, we cherished the journey and created lasting memories at key destinations such as Fraser Island, the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Magnetic Island, and Byron Bay. Looking ahead, we contemplate dedicating more time to these locations on future trips, as we continue to plan our adventures.

Until next time, happy travelling!

Katherine x