Road trip in Australia - East Coast Barrier Reef - itinerary with map

After visiting Sydney in 2 days, we continue with a road trip on the East Coast of Australia along the Great Barrier Reef. Our circuit represents more or less 1 km that we will do by rental car with stages in motels or in cheap hotels. This is how our 2 week road trip in Queensland.

Queensland Tour - Map of My 2 Week East Coast Itinerary

Ce 15-day road trip along the Great Barrier Reef constitutes the 2rd part of my 3 week tour in Australia. Here is the map of the route from Brisbane to Cairns:

Circuit in Queensland - Stages of my itinerary

  • Flight Sydney Brisbane 17:00 p.m. 
  • Day 1: Car rental and road to Hervey Bay (hook at Rainbow beach)
  • Day 2: Hervey Bay
  • Day 3: Hervey Bay (1 day excursion to Fraser Island)
  • Day 4: Hervey Bay (Whales whale watching excursion)
  • Day 5: Direction Rockhampton (stopover town) 4h30 drive
  • Day 6: Very early departure for Airlie Beach (5h10 drive) - Hills borough cape and hotel installation
  • Day 7: Airlie Beach (Whitsunday Islands excursion)
  • Day 8: Airlie Beach relaxing day
  • Day 9: Road to Cairns and installation
  • Day 10: Cairns - Excursion to Green Island
  • Day 11: Road to Daintree Rainforest National Park then continuation to Port Douglas and installation
  • Day 12: Port Douglas - Relaxation and restaurants
  • Day 13: Return to Cairn (2 hours drive) - return by car - hotel near the airport
  • Day 14 : Flight from Cairns to Alice Springs 5h50

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Hervey Bay

After a few hours spent at Rainbow Beach, We arrived at Hervey bay and we settled there spend 4 beautiful days. Excursion to Fraser Island, cruise to observe the Whales (with Spirit of Hervey Bay), lazing around at the hotel pool and tasting fish (at Madigan Seafood) and seafood (Seafood Festival 12/08/19) were the main activities of this stage.

ROAD TRIP AUSTRALIA FRASER ISLAND
ROAD TRIP AUSTRALIA EXCURSION TO FRASER ISLAND
WHALES OFF FRASER ISLAND
HERVEY BAY WHALE WATCHING ON OUR EAST COAST TOUR
HOTEL A HERVEY BAY STAGE OF OUR ROAD TRIP IN AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Hillsborough Cap Beach

On the road between Hervey Bay and Airlie Beach, I had planned to stop on this beautiful beach of Hillsborough Cape to observe kangaroos. And it was a great moment when we arrived around 15pm and we saw these adorable wallabies… It was in the picnic area near the campsite that we could see 5 or 6 of them and we could approach them a few meters. Note that apart from the kangaroos, the beach is sublime!

Road trip in Australia Queensland Stopover at Hillsborough Cap Beach
Road trip in Australia Queensland Hillsborough Beach Cap Beach

Road trip in Australia Queensland - 3 days at Airlie Beach

Airlie beach is the essential seaside resort to discover the most beautiful islands of the Great Barrier Reef: The Whitsundays Islands. However, we were also able to appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the friendly surroundings of this small town. Our super well placed motel facing the artificial lagoon made our stay even more enjoyable! Here is the view from the terrace of our room where we had breakfast outside:

AIRLIE BEACH in our queensland road trip

For info: 3 nights at Whitsunday on the beach à Airlie beach - Price per night: 83 Euros without breakfasts

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Whitsundays Islands

It was with Big Fury, a super fast boat that we reached the islands in just an hour at sea. I had booked the day trip for $ 155 through an online agency (Sailing Whitsundays) but I I noticed that tickets can be bought on site at the pier for only $ 110!

When you arrive at the 3 viewpoints at the top of the hill and discover the Whitsundays from above, it's just wonderful. Shades of blues, emerald, ocher and turquoise blend harmoniously before our eyes. I am totally AMAZED and I have trouble getting back to the boat to go to the beach Whitehaven Beach.

Road trip in Australia Queensland Day on the Whitsundays Islands
Road trip in Australia Queensland Excursion on the Whitsundays Islands
Road trip in Australia Queensland cruise Whitsundays Islands

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Billabong Sanctuary

Leaving Airlie Beach towards Cairns, just before Townsville, we made a stop at Billabong sanctuary. It is an 11 hectare park where injured or sick animals are treated. It was the opportunity, among other things, to approach Koalas and pet kangaroos.

ROAD TRIP AUSTRALIA BILLABONG SANCTUARY
Kangaroos at Billabong Sanctuary stop on our Australia East Coast tour

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Cairns

After a whole day of driving to eat the 621 km from Airlie Beach to Cairns, we will stay 2 days in this city which is said to be very touristy. Disappointment because this city did not seduce me at all (lack of atmosphere, authenticity…).

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Green Island

It was at the Cairns North visitor information center (51 The Esplanade) that I booked the day trip to Green Island ($ 110).

Green island is a beautiful island with a coral reef that is home to over 120 species of plants, exotic birds, colorful corals, and fish and other marine life.

But beware ! I did not know that the Australians had made a park dedicated to mass tourism. Indeed, it is hundreds of tourists who are dumped every day by large multi-storey boats on this small end of the island, it is a helicopter that rotates non-stop over the islet to fill it up. sight to wealthy tourists, it is a Resort that sits proudly in the middle of the island and it is also a crocodile park that they have moved to make money with tourists.

In short, it is far from the wild, unspoiled and authentic island that I was hoping for! On the other hand, the funds are very populated and of any beauty.

GREEN ISLAND AUSTRALIA
GREEN ISLAND Great Barrier Reef road trip Australia
Great Barrier Reef Australia

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Mossman Gorges

I had planned to discover the Rainforestation Kuranda from Cairns to Port Douglas. But when I booked the Green Island tour, I asked for advice for Kuranda and was dissuaded from going (too many tourists, too expensive, too little wilderness). I was told that the Daintree Rainforest National Park was much more interesting to do. So change of program and direction Mossman gordes for a 2 hour hike.

Mossman Gorge is located in the southern part of Daintree National Park, 80 kilometers north of Cairns. This national park is part of the lands of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people. A suspension bridge crosses Rex Creek near its entrance to the Mossman River, connecting the parking area 2 km from the site where a 2,4 km loop of rainforest walking begins. Possibility of taking a paid shuttle. We preferred to do everything on foot to enjoy the forest but also to save money ...

Mossman Gorges Australia

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Crocodiles in the Daintree River

It is at Daintree Village that we choose to take a cruise in the Daintree River to discover crocodiles in their natural environment.

The place is very beautiful and but the crocodiles a little asleep in the early morning ... The walk lasts about 1 hour and allows you to observe some beautiful specimen of crocodiles but also many birds.

CROCODILE on the Daintree River
Road trip in Australia Queensland - Crocodiles in the Daintree River

Road trip in Australia Queensland - Port Douglas

Port Douglas, it was 2 days of happiness ! We devoted all of our time to lazing around and eating. But all this in a wonderful setting! Indeed, Port Douglas is a small seaside resort full of charm and good restaurants ! It's the 2 fish 100 m from our motel which was our canteen during these 2 days. I think we managed to test all the dishes on the menu which I highly recommend.

Road trip in Australia Queensland Restaurant 2 fish Port Douglas
Road trip in Australia Queensland - Port Douglas seafood restaurant

Also, our beautiful motel was 3 minutes from the beautiful Four Mile Beach where we did the lizards.  See this motel on Booking

Four mile beach in Port Douglas part of our road trip in Australia
2 nights at Port Douglas Motel in Port Douglas

Discover the rest of our trip with our road trip in the Outback: Red Center Desert Tour

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