Strewth Pass Byron Bay to Cairns

Start from Byron Bay or Brisbane and head to Cairns. Visit Byron Bay and cruise through Surfers Paradise to Brisbane, overnight in Hervey Bay, stay at Aussie cattle station, and much more

Byron Bay to Gold Coast
Shortly after leaving Byron we cross the border into sunny Queensland. First stop – The Gold Coast: golden sands, theme parks, and great bars and clubs. Try it out for a couple of days yourself and see…

Gold Coast to Brisbane (zz)
On the way to Brisbane we go Zorbing (optional); it’s simple: you and your friends climb inside an oversized football full of warm water and roll down a hill. Late in the afternoon we roll into Queensland’s capital city and our end destination for the day – Brisbane! A very laid back Australian city.

Brisbane to Noosa
Fraser Island – here we come! After an early start we head towards the Glasshouse Mountains, remnants of active volcanoes from times past. Sailing past in 1770 Captain Cook saw them and thought they looked like Glasshouses in his home of Yorkshire: Active volcanoes or an active imagination? Soon after, we turn for the Sunshine Coast and stop in the yuppie holiday spot Noosa.

Noosa to Rainbow Beach
We rejoin the highway heading towards Rainbow Beach, which has awesome coloured sands (hence the name). Guided walks are possible, and you can do Fraser Island trips from here, it’s only 10 minutes away by ferry (or keep going for next stop Hervey Bay). At Rainbow Beach there’s a huge range of adventure activities on offer, from hang-gliding, shark diving and sea-kayaking with dolphins. If you do decide to jump off here, you’ll get to be part of some Aboriginal cultural appreciation.

Rainbow Beach to Hervey Bay (zz)
Hervey Bay is the next stop and our end destination for the day. Hervey Bay is the other access point to the world’s largest sand island - Fraser Island.

Hervey Bay to Kroombit Cattle Station (zz)
Westward we go; you may wish to get off the bus to visit ‘1770’ for a few days. We travel outback to our overnight stop at Kroombit. There’s a local payment to cover dinner, bunk accommodation and breakfast. We arrive early afternoon for lunch (own expense) and then enjoy the original and world famous (in Kroombit) Goat Rodeo. Don’t go to bed before cracking a whip and having a ride on the mechanical bull! Kroombit is a great taste of life in the Australian outback. A goat muster on horseback is optional at own expense.

Kroombit to Sarina
We head towards the sailing paradise of the Whitsunday Islands. Make sure you’ve booked your boat. Along the way we stop for a game of barefoot lawn bowls at the Sarina Bowling Club. Your guide will show you how its done!

Sarina to Airlie Beach (zz)
There are a few more miles to cover before our evening arrival into Airlie Beach. For the next 2-3 days most of you will say goodbye Oz Bus and hello sunshine and sailing boats …a highlight of the east coast trip. One we hope you remember after the traditional end-of-sailing party.

Airlie Beach to Townsville (zz)
Today we travel via Bowen, which is a great place to stop and earn some money picking fruit or vegetables. You can stay in Townsville or travel over to Magnetic Island with the guide (optional). And why not: it is the sunniest spot on the Queensland coast with more than 320 sunny days a year! And our chosen hostel is right on the beach. You’ll think you’ve landed in paradise. Get out for some hikes or try and spot koalas in their natural habitat. Look out for the full-moon parties at base backpackers.

Townsville to Mission Beach
We’re heading towards the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland. As we leave Townsville the mountains grow higher and the forests greener. We detour to Mission Beach, which is one great place to stay over for a few days. The beaches are superb. Relax or go skydiving or white water rafting (optional). If you’re lucky you’ll see a Cassowary, these are seriously big birds with attitude to match.

Mission Beach to Cairns
An easy afternoon section completes your Oz Ex trip. But not before we stop in Innisfail to visit some seriously big bad crocodiles (optional). Get right up close to these remarkable reptiles. But not too close because we want you to get to Cairns fit and ready for some amazing experiences. This place is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef one of the seven natural wonders of the world; and Cape Tribulation, the world’s oldest living rainforest. Don’t forget to visit the legendary Woolshed Bar.

(zz) = compulsory overnight stop required