Queensland Coastal Family Road Trip by Motorhome

You may like to plan your trip to Noosa to start on a day that the Original Eumundi Markets are held, either on a Wednesday or Saturday. The Original Eumundi Markets are the biggest art and craft market in Australia. You may also like to stock up on fresh produce and gourmet delights to take with you on your coastal journey. The clear, calm waters of Noosa Main Beach, paired with its warm white sand, are truly postcard-perfect. With lifeguards on duty and paddle boards available to hire, you're sure to have a relaxing time. If you don't want to swim, you can stroll along the wooden boardwalk or shop at nearby Hastings Street. You will also find a great range of dining options from relaxed cafe-style to high-end restaurants along the street.

Stay 1 night in Noosa.

Make your way to Agnes Water, a quiet seaside town positioned a few kilometres from the Town of 1770, which is surrounded by the Coral Sea and Bustard Bay. The Town of 1770's name comes from where Captain Cook first landed in Queensland on the Endeavour in May 1770. Why not join a cruise in a genuine amphibious LARC! Vessel taking you around the bay to view the coastline from the water.

Head down to Agnes Water Beach for a picnic and stroll along the extensive boardwalk, finishing off with a dip in the cool waters. Take a short walk around the circular paperbark trail in Reedy Creek Reserve, with stepping stones, boardwalk sections and water crossings. If you are travelling by 4WD, take a scenic drive through the woodlands of Deepwater National Park, an unspoilt landscape with long sandy beaches, freshwater creeks and great fishing spots.

Stay 2 nights in Agnes Water.

On your way to Mackay today, you will drive through the town of Rockhampton, considered as Australia's beef capital. Just north of Rockhampton is Mt Etna Caves National Park, where you can crawl through the caves and limestone shafts, formed by a coral reef 400 million years ago. Mackay is home to Australia's longest stretch of sub-tropical rainforest, promising amazing natural encounters. Drive inland and explore Finch Hatton Gorge, home to an ancient rainforest and cascading waterfalls and Eungella National Park, rising 800m above sea level, were you can try and spot a shy platypus in its natural habitat at Broken River - best times to see them are either at dawn or dusk.

Stay 1 night in Mackay.

Today, make your way to the coastal hub of the Whitsundays at Airlie Beach. If you have time and love to hike, take a detour to Cape Hillsborough National Park to hike one of two trails, each an easy two hour walk. The Andrews Point Track will take you right out to the peninsula for amazing views, and the Yuibera (Yuwi) Plant Trail weaves through the jungle and beachside.

The vibrant hub of Airlie Beach is the perfect launching pad for fun and adventure. Whether you are exploring the lush, green rainforest of the Whitsunday coast, or partaking in activities on the water, or simply soaking-up the laid-back tropical atmosphere.

Head to the hub of The Esplanade to discover a multitude of restaurants, cafes, shops and bars. Here you can enjoy the Airlie Beach Lagoon, equipped with BBQ facilities and of course a swimming pool to cool off, and if you are in the area on a Saturday, sink your teeth into a culinary delight at the Airlie Beach Markets. You will enjoy spectacular views from the many walks around the town. Stroll along the beaches of Airlie and Boathaven, or for a longer beach walk, travel along the Bicentennial Walking Track between Airlie Beach and Cannonvale. If you want to work up a sweat, hike one of the walking circuits at Conway National Park.

A must-do experience is to get out and explore the beautiful bays, islands and beaches of the Whitsundays on a day cruise that you can add onto your package. If you are short on time, the half day Whitsunday Islands & Whitehaven Beach cruise is a great way to explore the remote and beautiful islands and beaches and one of Australia's most-photographed beaches, Whitehaven Beach. Or join a day cruise taking you to Whitehaven Beach and to Hamilton Island, where you can enjoy the island life for a day. Or spend a full day out on the water, on a Great Barrier Reef Adventure, where you will head out to Hardy Reef and experience the underwater wonderland of the World Heritage-listed marine park with its coral walls and a diverse marine life.

Stay 3 nights in Airlie Beach.

Head towards Rockhampton today and head to the seaside town of Yeppoon, the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Stroll down Yeppoon's main street or the esplanade for a spot of beach-chic shopping or dine at a wide range of restaurants and cafes serving local cuisine, from beef, seafood and tropical produce. Spend the morning or afternoon at the foreshore, with the Keppel Kraken zero-depth water park, or the lagoon pool at the southern end of Yeppoon Main Beach. Take a drive to the Capricorn Caves for a sensory feast of incredible acoustics and jolting beams of light.

Opposite Yeppoon is the beach-laden Great Keppel Island, a 30 minute ferry ride, where you can extend your journey and stay overnight. There are 17 white sand beaches to discover, with the crystal clear waters teeming with fish, turtles, giant clams and coral, with the best spots to snorkel are Shelving Beach, Monkey Point and Clam Bay.

Stay 2 nights in Yeppoon.

Stop into the Beef Capital of Australia in Rockhampton, where you can get a taste of life from 1850 to 1950 at the Rockhampton Heritage Village. See the historical streetscape along Quay Street, to see the sandstone buildings and original wrought iron lace work. You can fish for barramundi in the mighty Fitzroy as it flows right through the town.

The seaside town of Bargara is situated approximately 14km from Bundaberg towards the coast. Bundaberg is famous for its rum and sugar of the same name. The region is also Australia's largest producer of sweet potatoes, where you can find them at farm gate markets or served at many dining outlets. Head down to Mon Repos beach, home to the largest turtle rookery in the South Pacific. If you are visiting between November to March, you can join a tour to experience the once-in-a-lifetime Mon Repos sea turtles as they nest between November to January or hatch from January to March. You can take a day tour out to Lady Elliot Island or Lady Musgrave Island where you can get up close with the resident turtle or manta rays.

Stay 1 night in Bargara.

Welcome to a water-lovers paradise in Hervey Bay! With 16km of picturesque waterfront to enjoy boasting some of the safest, family friendly beaches along the Queensland coast, with a range of water activities from kite surfing to stand-up-paddle boarding. Hervey Bay is one of the best places in the world to witness the great migration of humpback whales as they make their way along the coast from July to October. With more than 7000 of these gentle giants, you can watch them from the shoreline or join a tour to cruise alongside them.

A short ferry ride will take you to Fraser Island where you can enjoy a day trip, or you may prefer to extend your stay and overnight at Kingfisher Bay Resort. Fraser Island is home to the world's largest sand island, and has been named as having one of the world's best beaches by National Geographic.

Stay 1 night in Hervey Bay.

Make your way back to Brisbane today, you may like to travel slightly inland and visit any of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland towns. If you choose to go via this route, stop into Montville, Maleny or Kenilworth, or the heritage village of Yandina. Walk the main street of Montville and marvel at the historical buildings, enjoy a spot of vintage or boutique shopping, or simply sit back and enjoy views from a local cafe. Maleny, situated in dairy country, offers a thriving art scene with its galleries and pottery studios. Kenilworth, in the beautiful upper Mary Valley Country is a small town with its historical museum, two art galleries and a cheese, yoghurt and ice cream factory, and Yandina is home to the Ginger Factory where you can sample all things ginger.