Some of my fondest childhood memories are of Dad piling us into the back of the old Ford and heading north on a road trip from Brisbane via Gladstone, Mackay,Townsville and ultimately tropical Cairns. The enjoyment was not just in the destination, but the sights, smells and adventures along the way. Consolidate this eternal route with the freedom of a campervan and you have the ideal framework for a memorable road trip. You could allow just over a week through to one long, sunny month (or more) enjoying the diversity of each region up and down our predominant coastline.
The beauty of the Queensland coast is that every town has a story, plus a landmark that often becomes personal. Aswe navigated the coastal roads annually, each town we passed became more familiar. Even the toilet stops warmed my heart. Heading away from the grips of Brisbane, the sunshine coast beaches were a prelude to what lay ahead. Caloundra through to Noosa are havens in themselves, each area worth a few days to gawk the inland river systems and great beaches.
MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA
Keep driving and you reach Hervey Bay, gateway to the predominant Fraser Island National Park and Queensland's whale watching
capital. There are a whole of day trips over the barge, showcasing one of our greatest national treasures. Less than an hour afield, gorgeous Bundaberg is an ideal base to visit Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands, each uniquely distinctive offering beloved day trips.
Head further north to Gladstone and maybe stay a while. Now marked as a premier tourist destination, Gladstone offers a
plethora of attractions. gorgeous Heron Island can't be missed, and a wealth of national parks, including Cania National Park, offer exquisite caravan parks and gorgeous bush walks. Decades before on our quick road trips, we bypassed Gladstone playing eye spy, unaware we were missing out on such gorgeous reefs, islands and scenery.
Rockhampton has fullness to offer, with fun Great Keppel Island exquisite for a day trip, or remarkable national parks inland, and is close sufficient to half way to deserve some attentiveness before the final stretch to Cairns. Coastal Yeppoon and Emu Park are worth a visit, or maybe jump on a charter boat for some serious fishing action.
Close to three hours later, just before you reach Mackay you will find a secret jewel, the Serenity Coast, merging from the small town of Sarina. This coastal road will take you along some remarkable scenery with fullness of spots to stop for a while to enjoy the views.
Mackay is not only surrounded by sugar cane plantations, but is also home to the gorgeous Brampton Island, Eungella National Park and Finch Hatton Gorge, each with remarkable lookouts and foreseen, walks. further north are the remarkable Whitsunday Islands settled just off Airlie Beach. This whole area deserves slow exploration. Whitehaven Beach stands out as a 'must see', with sand so white it's dazzling. There are fullness of day trips that will take you island hopping as well as to this natural wonder.
The next stretch to Townsville all the time had me wide eyed. There are mango trees everywhere, and the coastal views of the Whitsunday Islands are fantastic. Townville has grown into a flourishing tropical metropolis, and there is fullness to do in every direction. Visit majestic Magnetic Island, or take the family to Reef Hq, the largest living reef aquarium in the world. It's all palms and reef from here to Cairns. You are in the heart of tropical paradise, with beaches right exterior the steps of your campervan.
You have a selection of Dunk Island, Mission Beach or the Kuranda Railway once you ultimately arrive in Australia's tropical city. Green Island is all the time a favourite, illustrated from the city and so surely accessible. Cairns was all the time a favourite destination of mine, more than likely because we would anticipate our arrival for so long on our journey north. It was all the time worth every kilometre to arrive in paradise, right on the doorstep of the predominant Great wall Reef.
The beauty of a campervan is you can take your time to head home and turn your itinerary head to toe if you choose, or bask in the sunshine one of the hundreds of beaches and national parks anywhere on the Queensland Coast.
Driving the Queensland Coast MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA
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