Cairns to Brisbane Island Escapes Self Drive Tour Itinerary

After planning your personalised journey with one of our Travel Designers, your Australia escape begins today. On arrival in Cairns, a private transfer can be arranged to meet you at the airport and take you directly to your accommodation so you can settle in comfortably after your flight.

This afternoon, enjoy included admission to Cairns Aquarium, where you can discover the incredible marine life and tropical ecosystems of Tropical North Queensland. Afterwards, you may like to explore the Cairns Esplanade, home to the city’s swimming lagoon, picnic areas, birdwatching viewpoints, free barbecues and scenic waterfront boardwalks.

Every First Light Travel itinerary is fully customisable. Speak with one of our expert Travel Designers to tailor this journey to your interests, travel dates and travel style.

Accommodation: Cairns - 3 Nights

Experience the Great Barrier Reef in style aboard a luxurious 20-meter motor catamaran. Offering an exclusive 6-hour reef visit, Ocean Freedom ensures a relaxed, uncrowded experience. Enjoy complimentary water activities, indulge in a leisurely lunch, and explore two unique reef sites. 

Join our friendly crew for an adventure drift snorkel tour or hop on a glass-bottom boat for an insightful exploration (weather permitting). Ocean Freedom is your perfect choice for an unforgettable reef adventure.

Included Meals: Lunch

Your Travel Designer can adapt today’s inclusions to match your interests or even amend the itinerary to stay in Port Douglas instead.

Today join a small personalised Daintree Rainforest On this full-day tour, you will explore all the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation region has to offer. Sit back and relax in comfort in a custom-built 4WD air-conditioned vehicle.

As one of the only tour operators to travel on the Bloomfield Track your experience will be like no other. Spot crocodiles on a Daintree River cruise, learn about flora, fauna and the history of the Daintree on a guided boardwalk tour, take a 4WD ride through a World Heritage-listed rainforest on the rugged Bloomfield Track, savour a traditional Aussie barbecue, sample traditional ‘Aussie’ billy tea, damper and tropical fruits in the company of wallabies and enjoy a homemade Daintree ice-cream on your journey home.

Included Meals: Lunch

Collect your rental vehicle and make your way south to Townsville, Australia's largest tropical city. Townsville's many attractions include the world's largest living coral reef aquarium - Reef HQ, a wildlife sanctuary, casino, beaches, museums, theatres, galleries and restaurants. 

Beautiful Magnetic Island is just 20 minutes from the city centre by Fast Cat ferry. Today is free for you to spend it how you wish.

Approximate Distance: 347 km | 215 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Townsville - 2 Nights

Just a short ferry ride from Townsville, Magnetic Island offers the natural beauty and serenity of an untouched paradise within a thriving community. 

Boasting a unique natural environment of palm-fringed beaches, large granite boulders, hoop pines, sandy beaches and fringing coral reefs. Sit back and enjoy a comfortable, air-conditioned bus tour as a local guide shares the island's history, geography, wildlife, folklore, and hidden gems known only to locals. This tour is the result of over 40 years of combined experience living on and exploring "Maggie."

Included Meals: Breakfast

Continue south to Airlie Beach, a relaxed Australian resort town on Queensland's Whitsunday Coast. Palm-fringed beaches and waterfront parks are a staple of this seriously laid-back holiday destination. 

After your long drive, cool off at Airlie Beach Lagoon between the beach and the main street. Here you can swim all year round and there are even Lifeguards on duty in the daylight hours.

Airlie Beach is the perfect launchpad for day trips to the 74 Whitsunday Islands. Only seven of these beautiful islands are developed, and the rest are just begging to be enjoyed by travellers looking for a secluded beach to call their own.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Distance: 275 km | 171 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 9 mins

Accommodation: Airlie Beach - 1 Night 

Hamilton Island is situated in the middle of Queensland's Whitsunday Islands and at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here you'll experience everything that is great about Australia - beautiful natural surrounds, calm waters, warm weather, fascinating coral reefs and diverse flora and fauna. 

With a wide range of accommodation and enough activities to keep you entertained for weeks on end, from snorkelling the reef, to sea kayaking and scenic helicopter flights, Hamilton Island is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef getaway.

Accommodation: Hamilton Island - 2 Nights 

Step into the heart of the Whitsundays and experience the beauty of Whitehaven Beach, famous for its dazzling white silica sand and turquoise waters. Cruise through the scenic Whitsunday Passage past secluded bays and tropical islands before arriving at this iconic destination. Spend time swimming in crystal-clear shallows, relaxing on the beach, or simply soaking in the spectacular coastal scenery. Wander along the shoreline, capture unforgettable photos, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of one of Australia’s most breathtaking natural wonders, creating a memorable tropical escape in the stunning Whitsunday Islands.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxed morning on Hamilton Island before boarding your ferry through the stunning Whitsunday Islands back to Airlie Beach. Take in the final views of turquoise waters, secluded coves and lush tropical islands as you cruise across the Coral Sea. On arrival at Airlie Beach, a transfer will take you directly to your accommodation, allowing you to settle in comfortably. Spend the remainder of the day unwinding at your leisure, exploring the vibrant coastal town, strolling along the waterfront, or enjoying dinner at one of Airlie Beach’s many restaurants and cafés overlooking the marina.

Accommodation: Airlie Beach - 1 Night

Drive onwards to Rockhampton, a heritage-filled town where you can step back in time and discover the rich history of the area. Rockhampton's long history of beef production is celebrated with 10 Bull statues in key locations across town: see if you can spot them all! 

With over 2.5 million cattle within a 250km radius of the city, the "Beef Capital" title is well deserved. The charming Victorian architecture reflects the glory days of Rockhampton's 19th-century mining and beef-rearing industries. There are many heritage post offices, historic streetscapes, majestic cathedrals and quaint homes to admire.

Approximate Distance: 480 km | 298 miles   Total Driving Time: 5 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Rockhampton - 2 Nights

Explore Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast at your leisure today, discovering scenic landscapes, beaches and local attractions. Adventure seekers may enjoy an optional tour of the ancient Capricorn Caves, where limestone caverns, tunnels and narrow passageways create a thrilling underground experience with panoramic views across the surrounding countryside. For a cultural experience, visit the Dreamtime Cultural Centre to learn about the traditions and stories of the local Darumbal people and broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Enjoy interactive experiences including boomerang throwing, didgeridoo performances and native plant displays throughout the beautifully landscaped grounds.

Travel to the pristine beaches of Hervey Bay: it's also known as the Whale Watch Capital of the World. 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 here to use the area as their calf nursery.

The calm waters of Hervey Bay make it an ideal watersports location for all the family: swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing are all popular pastimes.

Approximate Distance: 381 km | 236 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 36 mins

Accommodation: Hervey Bay - 1 Night

Take in the spectacular sights and sounds of the world's largest sand island, with two full days of guided 4WD touring. Led by expert guides, you will explore some of Fraser Island’s most iconic spots.

Swim in Lake McKenzie, the island's most beautiful lake with its clear blue water ringed by white sandy beaches. Explore Pile Valley and Central Station, a former forestry camp with huge satinay, scribbly gum, brush box and kauri trees. Walk along the banks of Wanggoolba Creek which flows gently and silently through lush rainforest.

Trek over Hammerstone Sand Blow and swim in emerald-green Lake Wabby. Travel up famous Seventy-Five Mile Beach to see the coloured sands of the Pinnacles and the wreck of the cruise ship Maheno. 

Stop for a swim in Eli Creek as it flows swiftly through the dunes out to sea and takes in the stunning views of the island beaches and sand blows from Indian Head, spot dolphins, rays, sharks, turtles, or even whales swimming in the sea below.

Today the tour departs Fraser Island and returns to Hervey Bay at approximately 5.30pm to drop you off at your accommodation.

Accommodation: Hervey Bay - 1 Night

Described in the New York Times as the place "that appreciates nature and the good life". Noosa provides pleasure to all. A north-facing surfing beach, pristine river, fine restaurants, sophistication, national parks, plenty of action and you have the perfect holiday retreat. 

Visitors flock to Noosa from all over the world, many as frequent visitors and some returning to live in this exceptional coastal village. 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.

Approximate Distance: 158 km | 98 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 

Accommodation: Noosa - 2 Nights

Cruise deep into the tranquil mirrored waterways of Australia’s only Everglades, a breathtaking network of wetlands within the Cooloola National Park near Noosa. This pristine wilderness is home to more than 44% of Australia’s bird species and offers incredible opportunities for photography and wildlife viewing. Pure freshwater filters through the sandmass and tea tree forests, creating stunning reflective waters. Choose a guided eco cruise or paddle a canoe for a more immersive adventure, gliding silently through this ancient landscape and experiencing one of Australia’s most remarkable and untouched river systems.

Brisbane, Queensland’s capital, offers year-round subtropical weather, vibrant cultural attractions and access to stunning natural wonders. From the city, enjoy an unforgettable visit to Australia Zoo, world-famous as the home of the Crocodile Hunter. More than a wildlife park, it delivers an interactive adventure with incredible animal encounters at every turn. Explore expansive enclosures and meet over 1,000 animals across 28 hectares. Kids can feed kangaroos, camels and farm animals, while roaming wildlife teams introduce snakes, crocodiles, lizards and birds, creating an engaging and memorable experience for all ages.

Approximate Distance: 151 km | 93 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 

Accommodation: Brisbane - 1 Night

Say farewell to the tropical north and board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Queensland experience. 

We know you will enjoy your Cairns to Brisbane Island Escapes Holiday and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.

Included Meals: Breakfast