Australia · 14 days · 3,500 km · One-way

Cairns to Melbourne — the full East Coast

The full East Coast traverse: Cairns tropics, Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney and Melbourne. Based on maui Motorhomes' official guide.

Start: Cairns · End: Melbourne · April to November. Dry tropics up north, mild ocean down south. · Difficulty: easy

Highlights

  • Mission Beach (cassowaries)
  • Magnetic Island (Townsville)
  • Whitehaven Beach (Whitsundays)
  • Town of 1770 / Agnes Water
  • Hervey Bay (gateway to Fraser Island)
  • Noosa Heads
  • Byron Bay lighthouse
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Partial Great Ocean Road

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Cairns → Mission Beach

    Cairns → Mission Beach · 140 km

    Overnight: Mission Beach Hideaway Holiday Park

  2. Day 2

    Mission Beach → Townsville

    Mission Beach → Townsville · 240 km

    • · The Strand
    • · Magnetic Island by ferry

    Overnight: Rowes Bay Beachfront Holiday Park

  3. Day 3

    Townsville → Airlie Beach

    Townsville → Airlie Beach · 280 km

    Overnight: BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort

  4. Day 4

    Whitsundays — full day

    Airlie Beach

    • · Whitehaven Beach day trip
    • · Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

    Overnight: BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort

  5. Day 5

    Airlie Beach → Mackay

    Airlie Beach → Mackay · 150 km

    Overnight: Mackay Marine Tourist Park

  6. Day 6

    Mackay → Rockhampton

    Mackay → Rockhampton · 340 km

    • · Beef capital

    Overnight: Riverside Tourist Park

  7. Day 7

    Rockhampton → Agnes Water

    Rockhampton → Agnes Water · 220 km

    • · Northernmost surf beach
    • · Sunset at Town of 1770

    Overnight: Workmans Beach Holiday Park

  8. Day 8

    Agnes Water → Hervey Bay

    Agnes Water → Hervey Bay · 280 km

    • · Gateway to Fraser Island

    Overnight: Discovery Parks Hervey Bay

  9. Day 9

    Hervey Bay → Noosa

    Hervey Bay → Noosa · 200 km

    • · Hastings Street
    • · Noosa National Park

    Overnight: Noosa River Holiday Park

  10. Day 10

    Noosa → Brisbane

    Noosa → Brisbane · 150 km

    • · South Bank and Story Bridge

    Overnight: Brisbane Holiday Village

  11. Day 11

    Brisbane → Byron Bay

    Brisbane → Byron Bay · 175 km

    • · Cape Byron Lighthouse

    Overnight: Broken Head Holiday Park

  12. Day 12

    Byron Bay → Coffs Harbour

    Byron Bay → Coffs Harbour · 240 km

    Overnight: Coffs Coast Holiday Park

  13. Day 13

    Coffs Harbour → Sydney

    Coffs Harbour → Sydney · 540 km

    • · Optional bridge climb
    • · Opera House at sunset

    Overnight: Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park

  14. Day 14

    Sydney → Melbourne (flight + drop-off)

    Sydney → Melbourne · 880 km

    • · Option A: domestic flight (1h) + pickup new motorhome
    • · Option B: 2 extra days via Hume Highway

Recommended brands for this route

Selection based on road type and trip length. Tighter budgets — we can also quote Mighty.

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