Queensland coastal towns: a road trip

In this article (14,500 words, 22 photographs, and two diagrams) we discuss our road trip from Maroochydore to Cairns and back. On this journey we visited nine towns: Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns. Directly, this trip is approximately 3,500km, however with our side trips it was just over 5,000km.
We present the logistics of our trip including trip distances (via strip maps) and costs for fuel accommodation; and briefly describe key attractions and activities along the coast.
Our impressions of each of the nine cities visited is discussed and we identify three key activities/attractions for each city. Furthermore: key facts, things to do, resources for your own visit, heritage buildings and accommodation options for each city are provided in individual appendices.
If you wish to visit the Queensland coast we provide three options: a 21 day driving plan; a 21 day plan for train and bus travel; and a 14 day plan for travelling by air to each of the World Heritage-listed sites on the coast.
The eBook hyperlinks are comprehensive and will support your research, while the photographs will give you a glimpse of what to expect. As the marketers say: “Queensland is beautiful one day and perfect the next”!