This drive takes you almost all the way up the coast of Queensland.

It starts at the Gold Coast, takes you on through the state capital of Brisbane and on to the Sunshine Coast.

At historic Maryborough you might like to take a short detour to see the whales in Hervey Bay and visit Fraser Island. Further along the way is Childers, where you can take another short detour to Bundaberg, famous for its rum and the Mon Repos turtle rookery. It’s near here, just north of Fraser Island, that the Great Barrier Reef starts near Lady Elliot Island.

Continuing north past the industrial city of Gladstone you'll come to the beef city of Rockhampton, from which a short detour will take you to Yeppoon and the Capricorn Coast. Continue northwards through the cane fields to the tropical city of Mackay. Along the way there you might like to visit the beautiful Capricorn Caves.

At Proserpine a short side trip will take you to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. Next is Bowen, famous for its mangoes and the twin towns of Ayr and Home Hill on the Burdekin River. From Townsville you can visit Magnetic Island.

Continuing north you’ll soon reach Ingham passing the Wallaman Falls, the highest single drop waterfall in Australia.

Continue on to Cardwell where there is a ferry to Hinchinbrook Island. Further north are Mission Beach and Tully, where you might meet a Cassowary while on its Spirit of the Rainforest Walk!

Then, Innisfail which is famous for its sugar and finally on to Cairns.