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 BRISBANE TO CAIRNS or reverse
Ocean Adventurer: 8 nights / 9 days
SELF DRIVE PACKAGE: CAR HIRE + PRE-BOOKED ACCOMMODATION
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Choose one of Truly Australia's ready-to-go Self Drive packages, with pre-booked accommodation and car hire all included, and with sensible driving distances between overnight stops already worked out for you.
Lake Mackenzie, Fraser Island © Tourism QLDThe Grand Hotel, Childers © Hugh Childers
 See City Hotels/Brisbane... for details of Brisbane accommodation
 

Self Drive Itinerary: Brisbane to Cairns (or reverse) 'Ocean Adventurer' 8 nights 

Click here for Cairns to Brisbane itinerary
Truly Ref. 1602
Day 1: Brisbane - Sunshine Coast (approx. 150 km)
Start your journey travelling north on the Bruce Highway to the Sunshine Coast. A chain of sun drenched beaches bathed by the cobalt-blue Pacific stretches from Rainbow Beach southward to Bribie Island to form the Sunshine Coast. En route you might wish to divert inland to see the Glasshouse Mountains and attractive villages like Maleny, Palmwoods and tiny Eudlo.  Near Buderim is The Ginger Factory, an unusual free admission theme park with a difference.
The Noosa area, at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast region, has facilities for fishing, boating and golf. Poised on the edge of Laguna Bay is the resort area of Noosa Heads, with its 2280-hectare Noosa National Park. This coastal park contains a network of walking tracks that wind through rainforests, giving spectacular ocean views of such unusual rock formations as Hell's Gate, Paradise Caves, Lion's Rock, Devil's Kitchen and Witches' Cauldron.
Overnight: Noosa Blue Resort (including breakfast)
 
Day 2: Sunshine Coast - Fraser Island (approx. 150 km)
Rockpool, Kingfisher Bay, Fraser Island © Tourism QLDContinuing north, reach Hervey Bay where you will be leaving your vehicle overnight and get a catamaran transfer to Fraser Island (approx. 40 minutes - transfer cost included). A unique natural wonder, Fraser Island lies at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. A short boat ride from Hervey Bay and 260km north of Brisbane, this 123km island is a World Heritage listed wilderness area. Among its natural attractions are 120km of continuous ocean beach, cliff faces of spectacular coloured sands, lush rainforests, freshwater streams, perched dune lakes, massive sandblows and abundant wildlife.
You leave your car overnight at Hervey Bay when you take the catamaran to Fraser Island.
Overnight: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island (including breakfast)
 
Day 3: Fraser Island - Yeppoon (approx. 360 km)  
Today transfer back to Hervey Bay to pick up your vehicle and travel further north through towns such as Childers, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton, then head 40km north east to Yeppoon. This popular coastal resort lies on the shore of Keppel Bay. Yeppoon and the strip of beaches to its south - Cooee Bay, Rosslyn Bay, Causeway Lake, Emu Park and Keppel Sands - are known as the Capricorn Coast due to its proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn…you are now in the Tropics! Great Keppel Island is 13km off shore and can be reached by catamaran daily service. 
Overnight: Rydges Capricorn Resort (including breakfast)
 
Eungella Broken River Mountain Retreat Day 4: Yeppoon - Eungella (approx. 410 km)
Back on the Bruce Highway, keep travelling north to Mackay, then 85km west of Mackay to Eungella National Park. Eungella has a subtropical climate, the activities vary from guided bird watch, guided rainforest walk, canoeing and a nocturnal spotlighting tour. Broken River is locally recognised as the platypus viewing capital of the world and Eungella National Park represents the largest continuous stretch of rainforest in Australia. The area is full of interesting native flora and fauna and is a must for the eco-traveller.
Overnight: Eungella Broken River Mountain Retreat - pictured (including continental breakfast)
 
Day 5: Eugella - Airlie Beach (approx. 220 km)
North of Mackay is the town of Airlie Beach, the centre of the thriving Whitsunday coast. Located 20km from the Bruce Highway at Proserpine, Airlie Beach overlooks the Whitsunday Passage and islands, and has its own beach and marina. From Airlie and Shute Harbour, visitors can travel to the outer Great Barrier Reef and reef-fringed islands.
Overnight:  Coral Sea Resort  (including breakfast)
 
Day 6: Airlie Beach - Charters Towers (approx. 400 km)
Street in Charters Towers © Tourism QLDFollow the Bruce Highway to Townsville, then travel 135km inland on the Flinders Highway to Charters Towers. This peaceful and historic town once had a gold-rush population of some 30 000. It features classic Australian architecture with verandas and lacework, particularly facades in Mosman and Gill Streets. Towers Hill, 1.5km west along Mosman Street, has old mine shafts and ammunition bunkers from World War II. Charters Towers is a real contrast to the coast.  Your overnight stay is on a nearby outback station.
Overnight:  Bluff Downs (including breakfast)
 
Day 7: Charters Towers - Mission Beach (approx. 350 km)
Return to Townsville and continue north on the Bruce Highway. At Tully head 24km east to Mission Beach. This quiet tropical 14km-long beach with magnificent golden sand, is fringed by coconut palms and unique heritage rainforest. The Great Barrier Reef is close to shore. Day cruise and sailing trips to Dunk Island and some of the surrounding islands can be taken from the jetty at Clump Point.
Overnight: Horizons on Mission Beach Resort  (including breakfast)
 
View of Mercure Harbourside, Cairns Day 8: Mission Beach - Cairns (approx. 115 km)
Continue on to Cairns, a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's beautiful wonders. A range of reef day trips are available from Cairns including trips offering snorkelling and scuba diving. Cairns is also close beach resort locations like Palm Cove and Port Douglas and to the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest. The Cairns hinterland is also a spectacular rainforest area
Overnight:  Mercure Harbourside Cairns - pictured  (including breakfast)

Day 9: Cairns
Drop off your rental vehicle in Cairns first thing this morning. 
See City Hotels/Cairns...  for details of  Cairns and nearby accommodation
 

Included
  • 8 nights accommodation - bed and breakfast throughout
  • Car hire - 8 days Hertz Group S rental vehicle (automatic 4 door sedan, 2.4 litre Toyota Camry or similar) including unlimited mileage and airport vehicle collection fees
  • Information pack
OUTLINE of REVERSE ITINERARY - Cairns to Brisbane 'Ocean Adventurer' 8 nights 
Day 1: Collect hire car in Cairns and drive to Mission Beach for 1 night at Horizons on Mission Beach Resort  (including breakfast)
Day 2: Drive to Charters Towers and stay nearby on an outback station, Bluff Downs (including breakfast)
Day 3: Drive to Airlie Beach on the Whitsunday coast for 1 night at Coral Sea Resort (including breakfast)
Day 4: Drive to the Eungella National Park near Mackay for 1 night at Eungella Broken River Mountain Retreat (including continental breakfast)
Day 5: Overnight at Yeppoon at Rydges Capricorn Resort  (including breakfast)
Day 6: Drive to Hervey Bay, park your car the night, and catch the catamaran to Fraser Island for 1 night at Kingfisher Bay Resort, (including breakfast)
Day 7: Catamaran back to Hervey Bay, then drive to Sunshine Coast for 1 night at Noosa Blue Resort (including breakfast)
Day 8: Overnight in Brisbane at the Rendevous Hotel or similar (including breakfast)
Day 9: Drop off hire car in Brisbane first thing
Return to Brisbane to Cairns itinerary ...
 
Please note that Australian hotels may have varying surcharges and minimum stay requirements during holiday periods and peak times.  
You may depart on your Self Drive on any day but note that overnights en route on a Friday or Saturday may have a weekend surcharge.
One way rental fees do not apply to this itinerary.
We will quote confirmed prices upon receipt of your proposed dates.
 
PRICES from:  
Brisbane to Cairns (or reverse^)
8 night / 9 day Self Drive  		 1 Apr '08 - 31 March '09 From 1 April 2009 Truly
Ref
Per person - based on Hertz Group S Car Hire Share Twin Single Share Twin Single
Ocean Adventurer Self Drive A$1366 A$2545 Request Request 1602
To check approximate prices in other key currencies, see our Currency Converter
^ Please request a quotation for reverse itinerary
* Surcharges may apply to some properties over weekends and during major events and holidays
* All bookings are subject to availability; substitute accommodation may be offered if named hotel is not available
* Additional person and child rates are available on request
* Upgrades to larger cars are available on request
* See Itinerary above for details of included meals
* Not included (unless otherwise stated):  National Park entry fees, sightseeing entrance fees and charges, optional insurances (such as personal accident insurance), liability waiver, optional extras (eg baby seat), bond and petrol, parking (parking is usually only a possible problem in the major cities).
* The vehicles used are supplied by Hertz - click here for Hertz Terms and Conditions (Word file in separate window)
* For more details about the fleet of vehicles used by Hertz, click Hertz Fleet Guide (slow download in separate window)

Click here for details of How to Book /How to Make a Secure Payment  
Please use the Truly Reference Number when making booking enquiries
Bookings made with Truly Australia are covered by our ABTA Bond - this financial protection does NOT apply to bookings made direct with the local operator or hotel.   You are completely free to arrange your own flights to Australia - or, if you are departing from the UK, we can quote separately by Email for competitive flight prices, including in business class.
  
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