Intro Travel Oz East Coast Adventure – Brisbane

Map

DAY 1: WELCOME TO BRISBANE

Meet your group leader and the rest of the group at your hostel in Brisbane in the afternoon, so plan to arrive in good time. Queensland's capital sits on the bends of the Brisbane River, and South Bank, built on the site of World Expo 88, has the city's own man-made beach at Streets Beach if you want a swim before you meet everyone. The first evening is about learning names and getting a feel for the city before three weeks on the road together.

Overnight: Brisbane, 2 nights

DAY 2: BRISBANE

A free day in the city. For an extra cost you can head up to Australia Zoo at Beerwah, the zoo Steve Irwin's family made famous, about an hour north. Or stay in town for the riverside paths, the galleries at South Bank and a swim at Streets Beach. In the evening the group heads out together in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane's nightlife district, for the first big night of the trip.

Overnight: Brisbane

DAY 3: RAINBOW BEACH

North to Rainbow Beach, the small surf town at the gateway to K'gari, named for the cliffs of coloured sand behind the beach, stained red, orange and yellow by minerals in the sand. It's a slow afternoon on the sand or a wander through town, and your leader helps you plan your onward travel. Before the island there's a safety briefing, where anyone who wants to drive the 4WDs shows their licence.

DAYS 4 TO 6: K'GARI 4WD TAG-ALONG

Three days on K'gari (Fraser Island) in a convoy of 4WDs, with the beaches and sand dunes as your roads and a lead vehicle out front. At 123 km long it is the largest sand island on earth, World Heritage-listed since 1992. On day 5 you swim in Lake McKenzie, a perched lake of pure rainwater over white silica sand, and float down Eli Creek, which pours up to 80 million litres of fresh water a day across the beach. On day 6 you see the rusting hull of the Maheno, a cyclone drove ashore in 1935, and the Champagne Pools, hear about the Butchulla people and their island, and keep an eye out for wild dingoes. Nights are spent camping under the stars at a purpose-built campsite.

Overnight: K'gari (camping at a purpose-built campsite), 2 nights

DAY 7: RAINBOW BEACH AND THE BUS NORTH

Back on the mainland, there's time to walk out to the coloured sand dunes around Rainbow Beach for a last look at the bands of sand that give the town its name. In the evening you board the overnight bus to Airlie Beach, more than 800 km up the Bruce Highway, and wake in the tropics.

Overnight: On the overnight bus to Airlie Beach

DAYS 8 TO 10: SAILING THE WHITSUNDAYS

Board your sailing boat at Airlie Beach for two days and two nights among the Whitsunday Islands, 74 of them, most protected as national park. The first day is for the deck, the sun and the islands sliding past. On the second you snorkel among the coral and reef fish, then land on Whitehaven Beach, about 7 km of silica sand so fine and white it squeaks underfoot and stays cool on a hot day. The third day sails back to the mainland, with more islands and beaches on the way, and free time in Airlie Beach when you step ashore.

Overnight: On board, 2 nights, then Airlie Beach, 2 nights

DAY 11: AIRLIE BEACH

A free day in Airlie Beach, the backpacker town that is the jumping-off point for the Whitsundays. The free swimming lagoon on the foreshore is where most people end up, since the sea here has stingers in the warmer months. Optional activities are at your own cost, or take a lazy day and a night out on the main street.

Overnight: Airlie Beach

DAYS 12 AND 13: MAGNETIC ISLAND

A ferry from Townsville takes you across to Magnetic Island, named by James Cook in 1770 because he believed it upset his ship's compass. More than half the island is national park, and its hidden bays are yours to find on the first day. On the second you hike the Forts Walk, up to the gun emplacements and command post built during the Second World War to guard Townsville and its harbour. It is one of the best places in Australia to see koalas in the wild, so look up into the gum trees, and watch the rocks for rock wallabies.

Overnight: Magnetic Island, 2 nights

DAYS 14 AND 15: MISSION BEACH

Mission Beach is a 14 km strip of sand where the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforest runs down to the sea opposite Dunk Island. It's also cassowary country, so watch for these tall, blue-necked birds crossing the road. This is the trip's heart-pumping stop: for an extra cost you can skydive from 15,000 feet over the reef and rainforest, or raft the white water of the Tully River, which drains one of the wettest corners of Australia. The second day is free for the beach or another adventure, and the group gets together for a barbecue in the evening.

Overnight: Mission Beach, 2 nights

DAYS 16 TO 19: CAIRNS, THE TABLELANDS AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Four nights in Cairns, the backpacker capital of the north, with its swimming lagoon on the Esplanade. One day goes to the Atherton Tablelands, the high, cool plateau behind the city, where you swim under waterfalls and in crater lakes left by old volcanoes and slide down natural rock slides with your guide, then head out for a night in town. Another day is free, and for an extra cost you can bungee jump or go rafting. The big day is a full day sailing to the Great Barrier Reef, about 2,300 km long and World Heritage-listed since 1981, snorkelling at two outer reef sites. The trip's farewell dinner follows that evening.

Overnight: Cairns, 4 nights

DAY 20: CHECK OUT AND ONWARD TRAVEL

The trip ends with check-out in Cairns. Your group leader helps you plan what comes next, whether that's more travel around Australia or somewhere further afield, and most groups leave with a few travel partners for the next stretch.

Map

• Passport and flight tickets
• Travel insurance documents
• Casual summer clothes
• Light rain jacket
• Insect repellent

• 19 nights accommodation
• 19 meals
• All transport (excluding airport transfer)
• Group leader
• Brisbane city
• 3 day 4WD tag-along tour of K'gari (Fraser Island)
• 2 day, 2 night Whitsundays sailing tour
• 2 nights on Magnetic Island with ferry transfers
• Forts Walk
• Atherton Tablelands
• Full day snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef at 2 outer reef locations
• Help with onward travel

Not included

• External flights
• Travel insurance
• Visas
• Some meals
• Airport transfer

Preparing for the trip

Private tours and families

Booking the trip

Who travels with us

Cost and Fees

Whilst on tour