Day 1
Arrive in Brisbane
Welcome to Queensland - Australia's Sunshine State!
Brisbane is Queensland's capital city. With subtropical weather all year round and a wealth of cultural attractions, world-class arts, and impressive natural wonders, it's an exciting destination to begin your Australian Pacific Coast Self-Drive Tour.
Explore Queensland's Capital City
After checking in at your centrally located accommodation, a relaxing way to explore is to take to the water. The Brisbane River runs right through town, and you can take a guided cruise past Brisbane’s most iconic sights, including the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, City Centre, and the Story Bridge.
Accommodation: Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane - 1 Night
Day 2
Brisbane to Noosa: The Sunshine Coast - Approximate Distance: 135 km | 84 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 49 mins
After collecting your comfortable rental car, enjoy a scenic drive to Noosa, one of Australia's best-loved beachside destinations.
Surrounded by stunning beaches and the lush hinterland of Noosa National Park, the resort town of Noosa is famed for its surf. Home to luxurious day spas, world-class golf courses, and stylish shopping, it's a fun destination to explore.
Accommodation: Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas, Noosa - 2 Nights
Day 3
Noosa Everglades Cruise: The River of Mirrors
Enjoy abundant wildlife spotting and photographic opportunities on a cruise of the Noosa Everglades: one of only two Everglades systems on the planet.
Noosa Everglades BBQ Lunch Cruise
Board your purpose-built vessel at Habitat Noosa for a cruise along the pristine Lake Cootharaba, before moving into the tranquil, mirrored waterways of the Everglades. Stop for morning tea at historic Harry’s Hut – a relic of the early timber-cutting days.
Explore, take a swim in pristine waters, photograph the abundant wildlife, or simply relax in this unique natural environment.
After further exploring the Everglades, you will return to Habitat Noosa for a roast lunch (vegetarian and vegan options available upon request). Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Cootharaba while you dine and maybe even spot a few kangaroos before heading back to Noosa at 3 pm.
Day 4
Noosa to Hervey Bay - Approximate Distance: 181 km | 112 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 20 mins
Travel to the pristine beaches of Hervey Bay, also known as the Whale Watch Capital of the World.
Hervey Bay
This charming coastal city has a pleasant subtropical climate and some very special tourists who return annually. Between July and November, whales migrate to the safe, sheltered waters of Hervey Bay to use the area as their calf nursery.
The calm waters of Hervey Bay make it an ideal watersports location for the whole family: swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, and fishing are all popular pastimes.
Accommodation: Mantra Hervey Bay, Hervey Bay - 1 Night
Day 5
Fly From Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is a small coral cay sitting at the southern tip of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Miles from civilisation, it's the perfect place to live like a castaway. With sparkling white coral beaches and crystal-clear lagoons, it's hard to imagine a more relaxing getaway.
Giant manta rays, migrating whales, and rainbow-coloured fish are just a handful of the 1200 species of sea creatures at your doorstep. Look out for migrating whales too.
Visitor numbers to the island are capped to protect the Island's fragile ecosystem. This guarantees you a peaceful stay where you will experience this fragile ecosystem to the fullest with minimal impact.
Accommodation: Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort - 2 Nights
Day 6
Lady Elliot Island at Your Leisure
Enjoy a free day on Lady Elliot Island: today is yours to discover this exotic island however you desire.
Staying at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, you'll find incredible natural experiences on offer, both above and below the waterline. Here are some awesome ways to make the most of your day:
Reef Walking: Take a guided walk in the lagoon at low tide, armed with reef walking poles, seascapes, and protective shoes. You'll see sea cucumbers, starfish, sea urchins, coral, clams, crabs, and colourful fish of all shapes and sizes.
Diving: Lady Elliot Island boasts 20 incredible dive sites around the island. They are within close proximity to the shore and have an almost limitless variety of marine and coral life.
Snorkelling: You can snorkel straight from the beach or take a glass-bottom boat tour and hop over the side. Try the Eastern side of the island for tropical fish and colourful corals. The Western side is where you'll discover manta rays, reef sharks, and dolphins (experienced snorkellers only).
Day 7
Fly to Hervey Bay and Drive to Brisbane - Approximate Distance: 285 km | 177 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 24 mins
Say farewell to your island haven and fly back to Hervey Bay. From here, make your way back to Brisbane to return your rental car.
Relax after your journey with a stroll along the footpath by the meandering Brisbane River: it will lead you to the lagoon for a refreshing swim or to trendy South Bank for a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane - 1 Night
Days 8 & 9
Fly From Brisbane to Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Fly to Australia's Red Centre for a 3-day/2-night 4WD adventure among some of the world's most iconic desert landmarks. Welcome to the unforgettable Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Ayers Rock is also known as Uluru; this is the name given by the Yankunytjatjara people, whose land the rock is situated on. This sacred 348-metre-high monolith stands in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The park also encompasses the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), both dating back hundreds of millions of years.
3 Day Uluru - Small Group Guided 4WD Outback Adventure
Spend 3 days and 2 nights on a desert experience like no other. In the hands of an experienced guide, you will tour the Red Centre's unmissable icons: Uluru, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Kings Canyon, Palm Valley, and the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Bouncing along dirt roads in an air-conditioned 4WD truck, you'll escape the tourist traps and discover the authentic Red Centre. At night, in your private bush camp, you can sleep under the stars in an authentic Aussie "Swag" (bedroll) or a safari tent if you prefer a few creature comforts!
Accommodation: Bush Camp - 2 Nights
Day 10
Alice Springs - The Red Centre
Your 4WD adventure ends today in Alice Springs, the capital of the Outback.
Alice Springs
Situated in the geographic centre of the country, the thriving outback town of "Alice" is the gateway to some of Australia's most iconic landscapes. Nestled between the beautiful MacDonnell Ranges, surrounded by gorges and stark desert plains, Alice Springs is home to outstanding galleries of traditional and contemporary works from local indigenous artists.
Alice may be 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) from the nearest ocean and 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from the nearest major cities (Adelaide and Darwin), but the town is packed with personality and local colour you can't find anywhere else. You won't forget your visit in a hurry.
Accommodation: ADoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs - 1 Night
Day 11
Fly from Alice Springs to Sydney
Fly to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Blessed with a glorious natural harbour, golden beaches, and a blissful climate, this incredible metropolis must be seen to be believed.
Settle into Sydney with a stroll along Circular Quay. With the Sydney Harbour Bridge at one end and the white sails of the Opera House at the other, is there any more iconic view in the world?
Accommodation: Adina Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sydney - 3 Nights
Day 12
See Sydney with the Sydney Harbour Explorer Ferry
To help you tick everything off your Sydney bucket list today, we've included a hop-on-hop-off Ferry Pass - there's no better way to discover the city. Sydney's ferries are an easy way to travel around, and any ferry trip is worth it for the views alone.
Hop-On Hop-Off rocket ferries depart from Sydney's main tourist precincts for a 60 to 90-minute cruise around the harbour with 11 famous stopovers along the way. These include the beach town of Manly, pretty Watsons Bay, Luna Park theme park, and bustling Darling Harbour. Disembark at any one, stay as long as you like, and board the next Explorer.
Day 13
Free Day in Sydney
Enjoy some free time to discover Sydney in depth, at your own pace.
Adventurers can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge: as well as 360-degree harbour views, you'll learn all about this engineering marvel from an expert guide. Or tackle the Bondi to Bronte walking trail along the sandstone cliffs for panoramic views of the South Pacific Ocean.
The Sydney Fish Market is the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, you can pile your plate with fresh mud crab, Balmain bugs, lobsters, fish and chips, or freshly cut sashimi and take your haul outside to eat on the pier.
However you choose to spend your day, Sydney is guaranteed to win your heart.
Day 14
Bon Voyage!
Say farewell to Sydney today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your Coral Reef, Island & Outback Self Drive, and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.
