Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney to Coffs Harbour
Your east coast adventure kicks off in Sydney, and then you'll head north toward Coffs Harbour along the mid-North Coast of New South Wales. The route takes you through some of the state's best beaches with national parkland surrounding them. By evening you'll reach the beach and meet your travel director and other travelers for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travelers)
Included Activities
- Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travelers
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration at Coffs Harbour
Landmarks Coffs Harbour 
- Day 2
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay
Head out to Australia's most easterly point where the Cape Byron Lighthouse sits high above the Pacific Ocean. You'll likely spot dolphins during this time of year, and if you're traveling during migration season, whales pass through too. For lunch you'll grab fish and chips at a local Byron Bay spot and eat right there on the sand before moving on to your next stop.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Cape Byron Lighthouse visit
Optional Activities
- Fish and chips lunch at Byron Bay
Landmarks Cape Byron Lighthouse Byron Bay - Day 3
Byron Bay to Surfers Paradise
You'll settle into Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. From here you can design your own day, checking out the many beaches and cafes, or you might take an optional tour through the Mt. Tamborine hinterland where artists and food lovers congregate. The area has an extensive canal network, and there's an optional leisurely cruise available if that interests you.
Optional Activities
- Gold Coast tour including Mt. Tamborine hinterland
- Leisurely canal cruise
Landmarks Surfers Paradise Mt. Tamborine - Day 4
Surfers Paradise to Hervey Bay and K'gari (Fraser Island)
Travel north to Hervey Bay, which serves as the gateway to World Heritage-Listed K'gari (Fraser Island). You'll take a ferry across the strait, and this crossing really stands out, particularly if you're traveling during whale migration when these gentle animals come to the calm, protected waters to give birth. K'gari happens to be the world's largest sand island and the only place where rainforest grows straight up from sand.
Included Activities
- Ferry to K'gari (Fraser Island)
Landmarks K'gari (Fraser Island) Hervey Bay 
- Day 5
K'gari (Fraser Island)
Spend the day exploring K'gari on a 4WD Fraser Island tour. You'll travel along the famous 75 Mile Beach up the east coast, stopping to see the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, the calm waters of Eli Creek, and the Maheno shipwreck. Lake McKenzie, which fills only with rainwater, offers another highlight, and then you'll walk through the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek where massive satiny, scribbly gum and kauri trees grow.
Included Activities
- 4WD Fraser Island tour along 75 Mile Beach
- Pinnacles Coloured Sands visit
- Eli Creek visit
- Maheno shipwreck visit
- Lake McKenzie visit
- Central Station visit
- Wanggoolba Creek visit
Landmarks 75 Mile Beach Pinnacles Coloured Sands Eli Creek Maheno Shipwreck Lake McKenzie Central Station Wanggoolba Creek - Day 6
K'gari to Rockhampton
You'll return to the mainland and enter Queensland's cattle country. At Langmorn Station the Creed family greets you with afternoon tea and shows you around their historic cattle property, with the original homestead dating back to 1873. They'll share stories about life on the land, and after that you'll cross the Tropic of Capricorn and arrive in Rockhampton, known as Australia's beef capital.
- Meals
- Afternoon Tea (Afternoon tea at Langmorn Station)
Included Activities
- Langmorn Station visit
- Afternoon tea at Langmorn Station
- Tour of Langmorn Station historic cattle property
- Tropic of Capricorn crossing
Optional Activities
- Restaurant dining in Rockhampton
Landmarks Langmorn Station Tropic of Capricorn Rockhampton - Day 7
Rockhampton to Airlie Beach
Visit Sarina, which holds the title of Australia's sugar capital. A guided tour at the Sarina Sugar Shed lets you learn how sugar cane gets processed and distilled, and you'll get to sample the products. Later you'll continue along the east coast to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays, where the pace of life is wonderfully slow.
Included Activities
- Guided tour at Sarina Sugar Shed
- Sarina Sugar Shed sampling
Landmarks Sarina Sugar Shed Airlie Beach 
- Day 8
Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands
Now you're exploring the Whitsunday Islands, 74 tropical specks of land with powdery beaches and rainforest, all surrounded by the Coral Sea. You'll have options for how to spend your time here, from an optional early helicopter ride over Heart Reef to catching a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach where the sand is so high in silica it squeaks when you walk on it.
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over Heart Reef
- Catamaran to Whitehaven Beach
Landmarks Whitsunday Islands Heart Reef Whitehaven Beach 
- Day 9
Airlie Beach to Cairns
After all that action, today's about unwinding and taking in the views. You'll travel through sugar cane fields and rolling paddocks framed by ocean and rainforest-covered mountains on your way to Cairns. There's time to stretch your legs along the route and soak in the humidity of this part of Queensland.
Landmarks Cairns 
- Day 10
Cairns and Atherton Tablelands
Get going early at the active Cairns Esplanade with the locals, then head up to the Atherton Tablelands, a high tropical plateau covered in rainforest including the heritage-listed Curtain Tree. You'll check out the spectacular Millaa Millaa Falls where iridescent Ulysses butterflies flutter around. After that, explore Kuranda from a unique perspective using the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which takes you high above the Barron Gorge National Park canopy.
Included Activities
- Cairns Esplanade visit
- Atherton Tablelands visit
- Curtain Tree visit
- Millaa Millaa Falls visit
- Kuranda visit
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Landmarks Cairns Esplanade Atherton Tablelands Curtain Tree Millaa Millaa Falls Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Barron Gorge National Park - Day 11
Cairns and Great Barrier Reef
You'll board a high-speed catamaran and zoom out over the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel and come face to face with six of the world's sea turtle species moving through fans of coral and countless fish. If staying dry appeals to you, there's an underwater observatory and glass-bottom boat to view the marine world from above water.
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran to Great Barrier Reef
- Snorkeling with sea turtles and coral
Optional Activities
- Underwater observatory visit
- Glass-bottom boat tour
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 12
Cairns Departure
Your east coast tour wraps up today with memories of countless beaches, world-record-breaking rainforest, tropical islands, and ocean views. You'll say goodbye to your fellow travelers and get ready to head home.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell Dinner)
Included Activities
- Farewell Dinner
