SYDNEY TO CAIRNS (8 DAY MINIMUM).

Day 1. Sydney to Crescent Head. Follow Highway 1 to this cool, undeveloped surf town.

Day 2. Crescent Head to Byron. Follow 1 to this great, developed surf town. There are great alternative-lifestyle towns that you may like to visit here – Nimbin and Mullumbimby.

Day 3. Byron – Gold Coast – stop here for a long amazing beach crowded by multi-story apartments then head through Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. Stop anywhere from Caloundra – the undeveloped one, to Noosa – the upmarket developed one.

Day 4. Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach. These are great beach towns but your main reason for stopping is that they are gateways to Fraser Island – the world’s largest sand island. You can’t take non-four wheel drive vehicles on to the island but there are plenty of self drive and guided tour options. You will need a couple of days to experience Fraser Island.

Day 5. Hervey Bay to 1770. This is a great off the beaten track surf town – the last place that you can surf (because the Great Barrier Reef stops surf everywhere further north).

Day 6. 1770 to Airlie Beach. You may want to stop in between to experience cattle country near Rockhampton or simply head to Airlie which is a cool town by itself, but mostly as it’s the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. You will need a couple of days to experience the Whitsundays (usually by yacht).

Day 7. Airlie to Townsville or Mission Beach. If you haven’t had enough island time you should take the ferry out to Magnetic Island or carry on up to Mission Beach.

Day 8. Mission Beach to Cairns.