15 Day Brisbane To Cairns Tour

We have built a sample itinerary for the perfect trip along the East Coast. Our perfect trip starts in Brisbane and ends in Cairns, and includes all tours and accommodation along the way. This leaves you with worry-free travel and the time to let loose and have fun! Sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and tranquil waters await, so pack your bag and head 

DAY 1: BUS FROM BRISBANE TO RAINBOW BEACH OR NOOSA

Start day 1 of your 15-day tour in Brisbane, setting off to Noosa or Rainbow Beach (2-3 hours by bus). The bus journey is comfortable and short and will allow you to enjoy the scenic drive up the coast. We can book you into your accommodation for the night, depending on which town you’d like to go to. K'gari tours depart from both Noosa and Rainbow Beach.

Inclusions

• Bus pass from Brisbane to Rainbow Beach or Noosa
• 1 night of accommodation in Rainbow Beach or Noosa 

Meals

• Additional cost

DAY 2 - 5: K'GARI 4WD TOUR

On day 2, you will depart bright and early for your 3 day, 2 night K'gari tour. Tours leave early to head to the island, where you can look forward to a few days of fun and adventure. You can choose from a tag-along tour (with the option to drive on the island) or a guided tour, which is conducted from a 4WD bus. There are also camping options or resort accommodation available. Itineraries are dependent on your tour of choice and are influenced by the weather and tides, but generally, visit most of the island's highlights. You can look forward to visiting Lake McKenzie (great for swimming!), Eli Creek (great for floating - bring along a tube!), Champagne Pools (one of the most beautiful spots on the island), 75 Mile Beach (it doubles as both a highway and runway for scenic flights) and so much more. On day 4 you will return to Rainbow Beach or Noosa where you will have most of the day to explore and enjoy the coast. This is a great time to spend the day at the beach, enjoying the surf and sand! This part of Australia is known for its beaches and coastline. Maybe even do a surf lesson or visit the Noosa Everglades! In the evening, you will take the overnight bus to Airlie Beach (10-12 hours).

Inclusions

• 3 day, 2 night tour on K'gari with transfers from mainland accommodation. Accommodation and meals included on tour.
• Bus to Airlie Beach
• Accommodation in Rainbow Beach or Noosa

Meals

• Included while on K'gari tour
• All other meals are an extra cost

Optional Extras

• Day tour in Noosa or Rainbow Beach

DAY 6: OVERNIGHT BUS TO AIRLIE BEACH

You will take the overnight bus to Airlie Beach and arrive bright and early on day 6. From here you can explore, enjoy some free time and look forward to the next few days ahead of you!

Inclusions

• Overnight bus to Airlie Beach

DAYS 7 - 12: AIRLIE BEACH AND THE WHITSUNDAYS

You will arrive in Airlie Beach early on day 6. This is a great day to enjoy the town and explore what it has to offer. Airlie Beach has many small shops, bars and restaurants, as well as a huge seaside lagoon (a great place for spending the day). We can help you book into your accommodation of choice for your first night in Airlie Beach. You will have a few free days in Airlie Beach, as well as a 2 day, 2 night sailing tour to look forward to!

During your free time, you can keep yourself busy by joining day trips in the area or by hanging out and relaxing. If you’re up for a bit more adventure, you can go skydiving over the stunning Whitsunday Islands, head on a day trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, or hop on a scenic flight and see the beautiful Heart Reef!

For 2 days and 2 nights, you will get to join a boat trip to the Whitsunday Islands! Tours include pick up from your accommodation, and all meals and fees are included on your tour. You will have to pack a small bag to bring along with you. Most tours are BYO so you should pick up any alcohol you will need during your trip and bring it with you! You can check each tour’s individual product page to see what you’ll need to bring and the details of your trip. There are many different tour types available including backpacker trips, luxury catamarans, family-friendly trips, tours with private accommodation, shared accommodation and even one where you can sleep on the deck! Ask your travel expert which tour is right for you. All tours include the same highlights including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout and snorkelling in the fringing reefs of the Whitsunday Islands. Each boat tour has a slightly different itinerary, each of which is dependent on tides and weather, but for the most part, you can look forward to seeing the ‘big 3’. Some tours have optional extras such as hot tubs, kayaks, paddleboards, rope swings, waterslides and more just to add a little something extra to your Whitsunday experience.

Inclusions

• 4 nights accommodation in Airlie Beach 
• 2 day, 2 night boat tour in the Whitsundays

Meals

• Included during Whitsundays tour
• Meals in Airlie Beach are an extra cost

Optional Extras

• Day trip in Airlie Beach
• Meals while staying in Airlie Beach

DAYS 12 - 15: CAIRNS AND FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Head up to Cairns on day 12 on the bus, with an optional 2 days on Magnetic Island. Make your way to your accommodation for a good night’s sleep before setting off to explore Far North Queensland! Through days 13 - 15, you will get to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, the Daintree Rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands. Venture to the Great Barrier Reef on a snorkelling tour with the option to scuba dive! We’ll help you select the perfect tour for you that has both snorkelling and optional scuba diving so you can see the reefs the way you want. The day tour will take up most of the day, returning you to your accommodation in the evening. Another day will be spent exploring Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest on a day tour. Look forward to immersing yourself into the wilderness of the world’s largest rainforest and see where the rainforest meets the reef. Day trips also include wildlife spotting, and other great perks and famous natural landmarks. Lastly, you will get to visit the Atherton Tablelands! You will get picked up from your accommodation in Cairns for a day of adventure where you will explore waterfalls, lakes, rainforests and more. This is a great day for swimming and grabbing some stunning photos as you visit iconic waterfalls found in the tablelands.

Inclusions

• Bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns
• 4 nights accommodation in Cairns 
• Great Barrier Reef day trip
• Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest day trip
• Atherton Tablelands day trip

Meals

• Meals included during day tours (morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch)
• All other meals in Cairns are an additional cost 

Optional extras

• 2 nights on Magnetic Island off of Townsville
• Scuba diving on Great Barrier Reef trip