Airlie Beach Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Day 1: Collect your van on Shute Harbour Road in Airlie Beach, where depots hire 2 to 4 berth campervans only, so for a bigger motorhome, run this trip in reverse from Cairns. Stock up in Cannonvale, then swim at the free Airlie Beach Lagoon in town, safe in any season. Book two nights at a holiday park so the van can stay put tomorrow.

Day 2: Leave the van at camp and join a day cruise from Port of Airlie or Coral Sea Marina to Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet lookout on Whitsunday Island. From November to May, wear the stinger suit your tour provides whenever you swim. Back on the mainland, stroll the waterfront boardwalk towards Cannonvale and watch the sunset over the marina.

Day 3: Head north through Proserpine to Bowen, about 80 km or just over an hour away. See the Big Mango beside the highway, then spend the afternoon at Horseshoe Bay or Murray Bay, where calm days bring good snorkelling straight off the beach. Finish with the view from Flagstaff Hill and stay at a holiday park close to the beaches.

Day 4: Continue up the Bruce Highway to Townsville, about 200 km or close to 3 hours, crossing the long Burdekin River bridge between Home Hill and Ayr. Break the drive in Ayr for lunch, then check into a Townsville holiday park for two nights. In the evening, walk The Strand, the city's palm-lined beachfront with a free rock pool.

Day 5: Climb the Goat Track up Castle Hill early, before the heat, for views over Townsville, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. Spend the rest of the day on the waterfront, with lunch in the city centre and a swim at The Strand. Restock the fridge this evening, as tomorrow is a day off the road.

Day 6: Leave the van in Townsville and take the passenger ferry from the Breakwater terminal to Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island, a crossing of about 20 minutes. Catch the island bus to the Forts Walk, where you may spot koalas in the trees, then swim at Horseshoe Bay or Alma Bay, in a stinger suit from November to May. Return on an afternoon ferry.

Day 7: Drive north for about 1.5 hours to Ingham, in the middle of sugar cane country. Spend the afternoon on the boardwalks at the Tyto Wetlands, a birdwatching hotspot on the edge of town, and look out for wallabies grazing at dusk. Stay at a holiday park in Ingham, and keep well back from the water's edge, as this is crocodile country.

Day 8: Climb the Cardwell Range and stop at the Hinchinbrook Lookout, with sweeping views over the channel to the mountains of Hinchinbrook Island. Carry on to Cardwell, about 55 km from Ingham, for fish and chips on the foreshore and a walk along the jetty. Croc warning signs line this coast, so enjoy the beach without swimming. Stay at a holiday park in Cardwell.

Day 9: Drive about an hour north via Tully, where the Golden Gumboot marks the town's record rainfall, to Mission Beach. Book two nights near the beach, then spend the afternoon walking the long, palm-fringed sand. Slow down on local roads, as this is cassowary country, and never feed the birds.

Day 10: Walk the Bicton Hill track in the morning for views over Clump Point and Dunk Island, or take a water taxi out to Dunk Island for the day. Back on the mainland, swim inside the stinger net when it is in place, and look for cassowaries along the rainforest walks around Licuala.

Day 11: Head north to Innisfail and inland to Mena Creek, about 1.5 to 2 hours in total, for Paronella Park, a Spanish-style castle and garden built in the 1930s beside a waterfall. Entry tickets have included a night at the park's own caravan park, so check when you book, then stay for the evening tour, when the ruins and falls are lit up.

Day 12: Climb the Palmerston Highway onto the Atherton Tablelands, a winding road through Wooroonooran National Park, so take it slowly. At the top, follow the Waterfalls Circuit near Millaa Millaa, stopping at Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls. Spend the night at a holiday park in Malanda or Yungaburra, where nights are noticeably cooler than on the coast.

Day 13: Swim in the clear water of Lake Eacham, a crater lake ringed by rainforest, then walk among the hanging roots of the Curtain Fig Tree near Yungaburra. Browse the cafes and galleries in Yungaburra, and at dusk, wait quietly at the Peterson Creek platforms, a good place to see a platypus in the wild. Stay a second night on the Tablelands.

Day 14: Drive north for about an hour on the Kennedy Highway to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest, and browse its markets and wildlife parks. In the afternoon, take the Kuranda Range Road down to Cairns, about 30 km, and check into a holiday park for two nights. Stock up at a big supermarket before you settle in.

Day 15: Spend a slow day in Cairns. Swim in the free Esplanade Lagoon, as the city's muddy shoreline is not for swimming, then walk the Esplanade boardwalk to spot shorebirds. In the afternoon, explore the Cairns Botanic Gardens at Edge Hill, and finish at the Night Markets near the waterfront.

Day 16: Leave the van at camp and join a Great Barrier Reef day trip from the Reef Fleet Terminal, with most boats leaving in the morning for outer reef or sand cay moorings. Operators provide stinger suits from November to May. Return in the late afternoon for dinner on the Esplanade and an early night.

Day 17: Follow the Captain Cook Highway north to Port Douglas, about 65 km or an hour, a coastal drive with lookouts over the Coral Sea, including Rex Lookout. Book two nights in town, spend the afternoon on Four Mile Beach, and walk up to the Flagstaff Hill lookout at sunset.

Day 18: Drive about 20 minutes to the Mossman Gorge Centre, park the van and take the shuttle bus to the gorge, as the road beyond the centre is narrow. Walk the rainforest circuit and look over the clear river from the viewing platforms, checking the safety signs before any swim. Back in Port Douglas, browse the Sunday market if your timing works.

Day 19: Drive north to the Daintree River and join a cruise from Daintree Village or near the ferry crossing to spot crocodiles and birdlife. If your hire terms allow the cable ferry, cross the river and follow the sealed road to Cape Tribulation, stopping at the Mount Alexandra lookout. Otherwise, stay in Daintree Village or return to Port Douglas for the night.

Day 20: Spend the day where the rainforest meets the reef. Walk a rainforest boardwalk such as Dubuji, then stand on Cape Tribulation beach as the mountains drop to the sea. Swimming is not safe here, with crocodiles in the creeks and stingers in season, so stick to the walks and the shade. Stay a second night north or south of the river.

Day 21: Drive back to Cairns, about 140 km or 2.5 hours from Cape Tribulation, so leave early. Refuel, empty the waste tanks if your van has them and tidy up before you return it to the depot, checking its return time first. Cairns Airport is a short drive from most depots for an evening flight home.

Day 1: Collect your van in Airlie Beach in the morning, or for a bigger motorhome, fly to Brisbane and run this trip north. Shop in Cannonvale, then drive south for about 2 hours to Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay. Book ahead at the national park's Smalleys Beach camping area or the holiday park beside the beach, and set an alarm for sunrise.

Day 2: Be on the beach at sunrise, when wallabies and kangaroos often forage along the tideline, keeping your distance and never feeding them. After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours west through the Pioneer Valley to Eungella. The final climb up the Clarke Range is steep and winding, so take it slowly in a low gear. Book a site at the Broken River camping area.

Day 3: Be at the Broken River viewing platforms at dawn, one of the most reliable places in Australia to spot a platypus, and stay quiet and still. Take in the view from the Sky Window lookout at Eungella, then drive down to Mackay, about 80 km. Swim in the free Bluewater Lagoon in the city centre and stay at a holiday park nearby.

Day 4: Today is the longest drive, about 355 km or 5 hours to Yeppoon. Fill up in Sarina, as the Bruce Highway between Sarina and Marlborough runs for about 190 km with few towns. Take a break every 2 hours at the rest areas, then turn towards the coast at Rockhampton. Book two nights at a holiday park in Yeppoon.

Day 5: Leave the van near the Rosslyn Bay ferry terminal and take the fast ferry to Great Keppel Island, about 30 minutes each way. Swim and snorkel off the white beaches near the ferry drop-off, and pack a stinger suit from November to May. Return in the afternoon and watch the sunset along the Capricorn Coast.

Day 6: Drive about 40 minutes inland to Rockhampton. Visit the free Rockhampton Zoo beside the Botanic Gardens, then see the Tropic of Capricorn spire on the edge of town. Stock up at the city's supermarkets, as tomorrow takes you to a quieter part of the coast. Stay at a holiday park in Rockhampton.

Day 7: Drive about 225 km, or 3 hours, south to Agnes Water and the Town of 1770, named for Captain Cook's landing here in 1770. Walk to the headland lookouts at 1770, then head to the waterfront for a sunset over the water, a rare sight on the east coast. Book a holiday park in Agnes Water or 1770.

Day 8: Join a surf lesson on Agnes Water's main beach in the morning, or walk the Paperbark Forest boardwalk. In the afternoon, drive about 120 km to Bargara, the seaside village just east of Bundaberg, and book two nights. Walk the coastal path along the volcanic rock foreshore and swim in the rock-walled pool known as the Basin.

Day 9: Head into Bundaberg for a tour of the rum distillery or the Bundaberg Barrel, home of the famous ginger beer. From November to March, book an evening Mon Repos Turtle Encounter to watch loggerhead turtles nest or hatchlings head to sea, as tickets sell out. Out of season, snorkel off Barolin Rocks on a calm day.

Day 10: Drive about 120 km, or 1.5 hours, to Hervey Bay and settle into a holiday park along the Esplanade. Walk out along the long Urangan Pier and swim off the calm, shallow beaches. From about July to October, join a whale-watching cruise from the marina at Urangan, as humpback whales rest in the bay on their journey south.

Day 11: K'gari (Fraser Island) is open only to high-clearance 4WDs, so leave the van at camp and join a 4WD day tour from Hervey Bay or River Heads. Tours usually take in Lake McKenzie, the rainforest at Central Station and the beach highway along the eastern coast. Rest up tonight before the drive south.

Day 12: Drive about 185 km, or 2.5 hours, south to Noosa and book two nights at a holiday park in Noosaville or Tewantin, as parking near Hastings Street is tight for a van. Walk the coastal track in Noosa National Park from Main Beach towards Hell's Gates, watching for koalas in the trees and dolphins offshore.

Day 13: On a Wednesday or Saturday, drive about 20 minutes to the Eumundi Markets, then spend the afternoon at a Sunshine Coast beach. Otherwise, take a river cruise or hire a kayak in the Noosa Everglades. Pack up tonight for your final day on the road.

Day 14: Drive about an hour south to the Glass House Mountains Lookout for views over the volcanic peaks, then continue about 70 km to Brisbane. Many depots are near the airport, so refuel nearby, empty the waste tanks and return the van on time. Allow extra time for weekday traffic on the Bruce Highway.

Day 1: Pick up your van in Airlie Beach and shop in Cannonvale, then drive about 8 km along Shute Harbour Road into Conway National Park. Walk the Mount Rooper circuit, about 5.3 km and 3 hours, for views over the Whitsunday Islands, or the shorter Coastal Fringe circuit. Book two nights at a holiday park in Airlie Beach.

Day 2: Leave the van at camp for a day on the water. Choose a sailing trip, a fast boat to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, or a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, all departing from Airlie's marinas. Wear a stinger suit in the water from November to May. Back in town, swim in the Airlie Beach Lagoon and find dinner on the main street.

Day 3: Drive south for about 2 hours to Cape Hillsborough National Park, passing cane fields around Proserpine. Book a site at the Smalleys Beach camping area or the holiday park on the beach, then explore the short rainforest and mangrove walks before dinner. Get to bed early, as the beach is busiest at sunrise.

Day 4: Watch the wallabies and kangaroos on the beach at sunrise, keeping your distance, then drive about 1.5 hours inland through the Pioneer Valley to Eungella. Take the steep Clarke Range climb slowly. Walk to the Sky Window lookout, then wait at the Broken River platforms at dusk for a platypus. Camp at Broken River, where nights are cool.

Day 5: Try for a second platypus sighting at dawn, then walk a section of the rainforest tracks around Broken River. Drive down the range to Mackay, about 80 km, and swim at the Bluewater Lagoon in the city centre. Stay at a holiday park in Mackay or at the northern beaches.

Day 6: Drive north for about 2 hours on the Bruce Highway, crossing the Goorganga Plains south of Proserpine, which can flood after heavy wet season rain, so check QLDTraffic before you leave. Stop in Proserpine for lunch, then spend the afternoon at the Airlie Beach Lagoon. Stay at a holiday park in Airlie Beach.

Day 7: Drive out along Shute Harbour Road to Whitsunday Drive and walk to Coral Beach and The Beak lookout for a final view of the islands. On a Saturday morning, browse the markets on the Airlie foreshore. Refuel in Cannonvale and return your van before the depot closes, then catch the shuttle to Whitsunday Coast Airport.