Campervan Road Trip Brisbane - Cairns (Or Reverse)

14 Day Campervan Road Trip Example Itinerary

Note:  Driving time is based on the direct route

Day 1: Brisbane - Noosa

Driving time 1h 53min
Suggested Stay (1 Night)

G'day mate! Welcome to Brisbane, Australia! Today's the day you hit the road in your campervan and head to the breathtaking tropical paradise of Noosa. Drive to the quaint town of Eumundi to check out the famous Eumundi Markets, where you'll find unique handmade crafts and local delicacies. After that, drive to the stunning Noosa National Park where you can hike to the jaw-dropping views of Laguna Lookout. As the sun sets, you can settle into your chosen campground and take in the glowing stars.

Day 2: Noosa - Everglades Cruise - Rainbow Beach

Driving time 1 h 38 min
Suggested Stay (2 Nights + 2 Nights Camping)

Today you’ll discover Noosa’s iconic Everglades off-the-beaten-path! Explore the serene and scenic waterways of Australia's only Everglades on a specially designed eco boat or by canoe. This untouched, pristine wilderness area located within the sand dunes of the Cooloola National Park is home to over 44% of Australia's bird species and offers stunning reflections of the surrounding tea tree infused ecosystem. After your head to Rainbow Beach - the gateway to K’gari Fraser Island - the largest sand island in the world!

Day 3: Rainbow Beach

This morning you can explore the rainbow cliffs, the Carlo Sand Blow for stunning views of the coastline and dunes, search for the rainbow stairs and relax in paradise. You may wish to venture around the surrounding national parks and nature reserves such as the Great Sandy National Park and Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area. There are heaps of breathtaking walking trails and hikes that are great for wildlife spotting. Make sure you're at the Freedom Rainbow hostel tomorrow at 7am for your Fraser Island safety brief tomorrow!

Day 4: Depart Rainbow Beach - Fraser Island Lake McKenzie

The morning starts bright & early with our compulsory tour briefing at 7am sharp at Freedom Hostel. Here you will be placed into groups and have the opportunity to organise sleeping bag hire and luggage storage. You will also be taught how to drive safely on Fraser Island ahead of your big adventure! Once you have arrived on the world's largest sand island, drive for 1 hour to the Eurong Beach Resort along 75 Mile beach - K'gari's (Fraser Island) own highway with speed limits! There you can grab a coffee and chocolate croissant (own cost) for morning tea. From here, the adventure really begins, as we drive to the famous Lake McKenzie, one of the most popular and picturesque highlights of K'gari (Fraser Island). We stop for lunch and time to swim and relax in the amazingly clear waters of the lake before driving up the beach to your campsite around 3:00 pm. Settle in for an early dinner, some well-deserved drinks and plenty of fun!

Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: K’gari - Fraser Island

The day begins with a quick breakfast to fuel your busiest day on K'gari (Fraser Island)! First stop is Eli Creek, a beautifully clear creek perfect for a relaxing swim. Travelling north, stop at Maheno Shipwreck for a photo opportunity and a short history lesson about this famous K'gari (Fraser Island) icon before continuing on to Indian Head, K'gari's (Fraser Island) highest point. From here you may be lucky enough to see whales and sharks in the ocean before travelling to Champagne Pools for a dip. Lunch is served at either Maheno Shipwreck or Champagne Pools on Day 2. In the afternoon, travel back to camp for dinner and drinks.

Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Lake Wabby - Fraser Island Return to Rainbow Beach

After brekkie and once packed up, you'll drive to the beginning of the Lake Wabby walk where you'll stride through the dunes to find a tropical paradise! Lunch follows your trip to Lake Wabby before you begin the drive down the beach and back to the barge. From the mainland, head to the 4WD shed where you can unpack and quickly clean the cars. You will return to Freedom Hostel between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Rainbow Beach - 1770/ Agnes Waters

Driving time 3 h 45 min 
Suggested Stay (1 Night)

Time to self drive the coast and explore the charming town of Agnes Water - the site of Captain Cook's first landing in Queensland in 1770. Today you can visit the Paperbark Forest Walk that takes you through a beautiful paperbark forest and is a great way to experience the area's unique flora and fauna. You may want to check out the Discovery Coast Markets held on the second and fourth Sunday of every month, these markets offer a great selection of local produce, crafts, and live music - a must do!

Day 8: 1770 - Airlie Beach

Driving time 7 h 47 min
Suggested Stay (2 Nights)

Let's hit the road and take in the stunning coastal scenery towards idyllic Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays! Drive to Eungella National Park (time pending) for an epic bushwalk, and you may even see a platypus in its natural habitat. Afterward, you can head to the charming town of Mackay to stroll through the botanical gardens and check out the local markets. Make your way to a campsite of your choice near Airlie Beach.

Day 9: Airlie Beach - Whitsundays Adventure Cruise

Today you’ll jump on an unforgettable day trip to the Whitsunday Islands! Discover the incredible underwater world of the Whitsundays through snorkeling at one of its most picturesque islands. Then, head to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach for a dip in its crystal-clear waters and a hike to the Hill Inlet Lookout for some stunning views and Insta-worthy sand swirl pictures. With two snorkeling opportunities, you'll get to see the vibrant marine life up close and personal.
Your day cruise is one of the fastest catamarans in the Whitsundays and is proud to be accredited as a Climate Action Leading tour. Encounter a small part of The Great Barrier Reef while taking care of the environment. You’ll arrive back at Airlie Beach around 5 pm.

Day 10: Airlie Beach - Mission Beach

Driving time 5 h 52 min
Suggested Stay (1 Night)

Wake up early and road trip towards Townsville - the entry point for Magnetic Island. Journey to Paluma Range National Park, where you can hike to breathtaking waterfalls and swim in crystal-clear rock pools. Then, you'll head to the charming seaside town of Cardwell to soak up some sun and relax on the beach. Time permitting, visit the picturesque Murray Falls before finally reaching Mission Beach… the best place for a SKYDIVE beach landing!

Day 11: Mission Beach - Skydive - Cairns

Driving time 1 h 55 min 
Suggested Stay (3 Nights)

Why not add an exhilarating skydive - landing directly on the sandy shores - This jump has been voted one of the TOP 10 destinations for skydiving worldwide. Take a walk around Mission Beaches' pristine white sand, lush rainforests, and see from afar tropical islands. You'll the make your way to the buzzing city of Cairns for a couple of nights and get stoked about the Great-est Barrier Reef!

Day 12: Cairns - Great Barrier Reef Intro Dive/ Snorkel

This morning you can tick off one of Australia's must-do activities - a full day Great Barrier Reef tour. You'll board at 7:30 am for a day packed with fun and excitement as you explore the outer reef. With options to try snorkeling or even scuba diving, you'll spend up to 6 hours discovering 2 spectacular reef locations. Swim alongside schools of tropical reef fish and admire amazing coral formations. Learn about the underwater ecosystem during a glass-bottom boat cruise and Marine Biology presentation. It's a true bucket-list experience that you won't want to miss!

Day 13: Cairns - Cape Tribulation Rainforest Experience

Get ready to hit up an ancient rainforest tour that includes a traditional welcome ceremony at Mossman Gorge, a refreshing swim in the cascading waters, and a Wildlife River Cruise where you can spot crocodiles and other wildlife. This must-do tour takes you through some of the oldest living rainforests in the world and culminates in Cape Tribulation where you can enjoy a tasty lunch in the rainforest. Encounter diverse ecosystems from ferns and shrubs to rainforest canopy and mangroves.

Day 14: Cairns Departure

Your East Coast adventure has come to an end, today you can drop off your rental vehicle and say goodbye to like minded friends and you set off on the rest of your travels. We hope you have made memories to last a lifetime and hope to help you on your next adventure! Fiji or New Zealand anyone….!

Itinerary Vehicle Pick Up - Brisbane

Itinerary Vehicle Drop Off - Cairns 

OR Reverse.

Pick ups & Drops offs are available in Sydney, Brisbane & Cairns

Contact us for more information

Optional K'gari Fraser Island $25 - $50 vehicle insurance levy to pay directly.

Please note: Prices are subject to change for travel between PEAK SEASON.

Please contact us for a custom quote.

Love this package but have some questions? No worries!

Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about our packages.

Don't see yours here? Contact Us to find out more.

•  Can I make changes to the package?

It is no problem to customize your package to suit your travel plans by adding/removing anything that you wish. If you wish to make changes, please contact us via email

• Is the itinerary flexible?

We book all of the included tours/activities on your behalf and you will be given a voucher for each with all of the information needed ie travel date and departure/pick up location/time.

We also provide a recommended driving and overnight stay itinerary with loads if info on what to see along the way. You are welcome to follow this suggested itinerary or change it up as you travel. Please just keep in mind you will need to arrive at the departure points for the booked activities as per the dates you are booked.

It is your responsibility to prebook the suggested campsites or find free freedom camping areas along the way. Most travellers find this is a really flexible way to explore the East Coast whilst still seeing all the bucket list destinations.  

• How much should I budget for spending money?

All of our packages include some meals (you can find the included meals in the inclusions and in the day-to-day itinerary) which means that you will only have to budget for the meals that are not included. The amount that these meals will cost vary however all of the hostels have communal kitchens so you can cook your own meals instead of eating out. Some travellers will only spend an extra $5 a day whereas some will spend an extra $50! Your campervan rental includes everything you need to cook your meals.

You will also need to budget $9-35 per/person per night if you wish to stay at dedicated camp sites with full amenities if you wish to pre book these. When you book your package you will receive a document with all of our favourite campsites. This also includes free campsite options (with limited availability) if you wish to use these and save money.

• Do I have to choose the exact dates to start and finish?

Due to limited availability for the campervan rental and tours/activities we recommend that you book your package as far in advance as possible to guarantee availability on your chosen dates.

• Does this package depart daily?

Yes this package is available to depart daily (subject to availability).

• Do I have to pay upfront for this package or can I pay a deposit/in instalments?

The majority of our customers book and pay for their package in full, meaning that we will book everything in advance to guarantee availability. However, as the prices of our packages can change due to price increases, you are able to secure this amazing package price with a small deposit of just $100pp. You are then able to pay off the package in instalments as and when you wish. As we are unable to make the bookings for the campervan and tours until we have received full payment, due to availability, we do recommend completing payment for your package as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. Because of this, it is no problem to tweak the itinerary until full payment has been received - the deposit just locks in the discounted price of this package. If you are worried about availability, let us know as so we can go ahead and look into options for you, for example locking in certain parts of your trip that are likely to fill up in advance such as the Whitsundays/Fraser Island. Have a query about the payment that isn't answered above? Feel free to ask us on email at hello@backpackersworld.com