What’s not to love about a roadtrip that hugs one of the most majestic natural wonders of the world - the Great Barrier Reef. There’s no shortage of jumping-off points along the Big Pacific Coast Touring Route to make sure you cover as much of this tropical, sea-life paradise as possible. And back on the mainland, there’s a bunch of kitschy “big things” this stretch of road is known for like the Big Mango in Bowen or the giant gumboot in Australia’s wettest town of Tully. There’s also gorgeous rainforests, gold-rush towns stuck in a time-warp and the most delectable selection of seafood to sample on your way as you travel across two states, from Sydney in New South Wales to Cairns in far north Queensland.
Keep climbing further north until you reach Maryborough - an historical gem of a town filled with preserved colonial streets and heritage architecture. Grab a meal at one of the vintage pubs in the wharf district before heading to Fraser Island. (Fraser Island is a trip in it's own right, so if you're planning on staying there for several days - which is an excellent idea - then check out our Fraser Island trip guide.)
And if you’re in the area from November to late March, do visit Mon Repos Beach where the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the Eastern Australian mainland heave themselves up the beach to find a safe spot to dig their nests and lay their eggs. And then 6-8 weeks later the hatchlings scurry down towards the sea. You can go, with a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger, on a guided nighttime tour to see all of this and learn about these amazing endangered animals and the conservation efforts that are undertaken to help ensure their successful breeding. Bookings are essential so please make sure you book in advance.
Whilst you can’t swim with the turtles in Bundaberg you can take a day trip out to Lady Musgrave Island or Lady Elliot Island for snorkelling and diving. See coral reefs and tons of colourful tropical fish, giant clams, dolphins, turtles and a large population of Manta Rays.
If you’re into a spot of fishing, head to the internationally-renowned fishing destination at Lake Monduran where you can try your luck at catch a bass or barramundi. If fishing isn’t your thing then you can enjoy swimming or kayaking in the lake instead.
When you’re back on the mainland, drive north to Capricorn Caves - a series of limestone formations set on top of a ridge that were discovered in 1881. You can choose one of a range of informative guided cave tours that include Queensland Museum’s palaeontology dig site and marine fossils cave. Otherwise you can opt for wilder cave adventures that will see you crawling through shafts and tunnels in the fragile cave environment or for the bold, abseil down the rockface and into the cave with this Advanced Eco tourism certified experience.
Back on the mainland, head further up the coast, past mango orchards and sugar plantations, (and the giant mango in Bowen). And when you get to Townsville, head straight to Castle Hill - the heritage listed, giant pink granite hill in the centre of the city. This is the best place around to stretch your legs and get your bearings from the 360 degree views at the top of the hill. It’s also the perfect place to capture a pink-hued Queensland sunset.
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
