Self Drives for Australia

Pacific Coast Explorer Selfdrive Itinerary

Self Drive Itinerary

Day 1. Sydney to Hunter Valley.

Pick up your car and drive to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia's premium wine producing regions.

(E) Country Comfort Monte Pio/(F) Peppers.

Day 2. Hunter Valley to Port Stephens.

Drive to Nelson Bay and Port Stephens. Join a dolphin cruise or 4WD tour across the sandunes (optional) or relax on one of the beautiful beaches.

(E) Salamander Shores (F) Peppers Anchorage Resort.

Day 3. Port Stephens to Coffs Harbour.

Drive along the Pacific Highway to the former convict settlement of Port Macquarie then continue through beautiful countryside to Coffs Harbour.

(E) Country Comfort / (F) Novotel Opal Cove.

Day 4. Coffs Harbour to Coolangatta.

Travel via Cape Byron (Australia's most easterly point) to the stunning Gold Coast. This evening visit Jupiter's Casino.

(E)/(F) Calypso Plaza Resort (2 nights)

Day 5. Coolangatta.

A day at leisure to enjoy the many attractions of the Gold Coast.

Day 6. Coolangatta to Brisbane.

Join the Pacific Highway, northbound to Brisbane - the capital city of Queensland. You may like to spend time at South Bank on the bank of the Brisbane River. 9 day self-drive clients will arrive Brisbane, collect their car and overnight.

(E) Novotel Brisbane /(F) Stamford Plaza.

Day 7. Brisbane to Fraser Island.

7 day self-drive clients will return their car this morning and conclude their self-drive tour. Drive past the Glass House Mountains to Montville with its delightful craft shops, then on to Hervey Bay where you park your car. Transfer by catamaran to Fraser Island.

(E) Kingfisher Bay Resort / (F) Villa (2 nights).

Day 8. Fraser Island.

Today is at leisure. The resort offers 4WD tours around the sandunes and guided walks to choose from or just relax and enjoy this beautiful World Heritage listed island - an ecologist's paradise. There's an evening spotlight tour with the ranger.

Day 9. Fraser Island to Raglan.

Travel north to the sugar town of Childers and its interesting Pharmaceutical Museum. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn at Rockhampton and continue to your farmstay. Langmore Station.

Day 10. Rockhampton to the Whitsundays.

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy a taste of the farm life with your hosts before travelling north to MacKay and continuing to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Stay for 2 nights at Airlie Beach.

(E) Coral Sea / (F) Coral Sea bayview(2 nights).

Day 11. Airlie Beach.

Today you may want to enjoy the facilities of the resort or take a day trip to one of the beautiful Whitsunday Passage Islands. Visit Whitehaven Beach and walk on 6km of sweeping, pure white silica sands - voted the world's best beach.

Day 12. Airlie Beach to Townsville.

Fossick for gemstones at the Home Hill Gallery enroute to Townsville, gateway to Queensland's tropical north. The "Strand" is Townsville's fantastic beachfront promenade, with restaurants, cafes, a water park and picnic areas. Visit the aquarium or take a drive up the winding road to Castle Hill for spectacular views of the city. You can also visit Magnetic Island, which is only a 20 minute ferry ride away.

(E) Seagulls (F) Holiday Inn

Day 13. Townsville to Mission Beach.

This morning spend more time in the Townsville area or leave early for your journey to Mission Beach. From Mission Beach you can pick up a water taxi and cruise across to beautiful Dunk Island or explore the national park area fringing the 14 miles of unspoiled beaches.

(E) Castaways (F) Horizons at Mission Beach

Day 14. Mission Beach to Cairns.

Depart Mission Beach for Cairns. Visit Paranella Park and see a Spanish castle and gardens. Further along the highway stop at the Atherton Tablelands and visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the Curtin Fig Tree, a spectacular rainforest wilderness. Tour concludes.

Price Includes: Six, eight or thirteen nights pre-booked accommodation with private facilities and air-conditioning; tea/coffee making facilities; transfers as indicated; transport mentioned in the itinerary, a Hertz Group C car rental for 7, 9 or 14 days, unlimited kilometres, mandatory vehicle insurance, plus Goway's Co-Pilot Kit of goodies (maps and directions).

Please note a surcharge will apply for bookings beginning Fridays and Saturdays and during the school holiday and Christmas periods.