8 days in Queensland Itinerary

Once just a small port at the mouth of Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba is now a hotbed of tourism and a place more than worth adding to your Sunshine Coast itinerary.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Mon): enjoy the sea views from Caloundra Lighthouses, then kick back and relax at Maroochydore Beach, then get interesting insight from Tours, and finally kick back and relax at Mooloolaba Beach. Keep things going the next day: hike along Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, kick back and relax at Kings Beach, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Bulcock Beach.

To find photos, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Mooloolaba road trip planning website.

Brisbane to Mooloolaba is an approximately 1.5-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. December in Mooloolaba sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 23°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Tue) early enough to drive to Hervey Bay.

With the largest population in the Fraser Coast Region, Hervey Bay is a hub of activity.

On the 16th (Wed), explore the landscape on two wheels at Esplanade and then get interesting insight from Blue Dolphin Marine Tours.

For more things to do, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Hervey Bay itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Mooloolaba to Hervey Bay takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In December in Hervey Bay, expect temperatures between 34°C during the day and 23°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Wed) so you can travel to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Thu): get to know the resident critters at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, get interesting insight from Tours, and then identify plant and animal life at Opal Reef.

To find more things to do, photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Port Douglas trip planner.

You can fly from Hervey Bay to Port Douglas in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In December in Port Douglas, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 26°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Thu) early enough to drive to Cairns.

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Step off the beaten path and head to Billy Tea Safaris and Trinity Beach. Take a break from the city and head to Off-Road Tours and Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Step out of Cairns with an excursion to Barron Falls in Kuranda--about 40 minutes away. There's lots more to do: skim along the rocks with a canyoning and rapelling tour, learn about all things military at The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum, indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas, and get interesting insight from Tours.

For maps, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Cairns holiday tool.

You can drive from Port Douglas to Cairns in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a shuttle; or take a bus. In December in Cairns, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 26°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) so you can travel to Gold Coast.

A city of towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, and tree-lined streets, Gold Coast has an unpretentious air complemented by a citywide focus on sports and the arts.

Kick off your visit on the 21st (Mon): enjoy the sand and surf at Burleigh Heads Beach, stroll through Coolangatta Beach, and then kick back and relax at Kirra Beach.

To see traveler tips, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Gold Coast online day trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Cairns to Gold Coast takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from Cairns in December, expect Gold Coast to be slightly colder, temps between 32°C and 22°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Mon) early enough to go by car back home.