The Great Sunshine Way

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DAY 01 Brisbane to Mooloolaba
Distance: 90km, Approx. Travel Time: 1HR

From Brisbane city, travel north along the Bruce Highway to the picturesque Sunshine Coast. Make your way to one of the picturesque towns such as Maleny or Montville, which overlook the Glasshouse Mountains.

Explore the galleries, craft shops and art studios housed in log and stone cottages. You can also enjoy the mouthwatering local produce, including macadamias, avocados and cheeses.

Spend the night at the coastal town of Mooloolaba. Enjoy dinner at one of the chic restaurants lining the seaside Esplanade.

DAY 02 Mooloolaba to Eumundi
Distance: 39KM, Approx. Travel Time: 30MIN

Drive to the town of Eumundi, and browse the hundreds of stalls at the colorful Eumundi Markets, open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You'll find everything from handmade soaps and oil paintings to gourmet jams and organic fruit. You can also visit the world's largest ginger factory at Yandina, and sample all kinds of ginger goodies including ginger teas, ginger chocolate and even ginger ice cream.

Visit some of the farms further inland such as Coolabine Farmstead for its award winning hand crafted goat cheese. Others include Eumundi Noosa Milk, a family owned dairy farm, and Kenilworth Organic Olives, a farm that grows, produces, blends, bottles and distributes organic extra virgin olive oil.

Spend the night at a quaint bed and breakfast.

DAY 03 Eumundi to Noosa
Distance: 21KM, Approx. Travel Time: 20MIN

Drive further north to the coastal town of Noosa, renowned for its award-winning restaurants, elegant resorts and lovely beaches. Explore the chic boutiques that line Hastings Street, dine alfresco at one of the many bistros, and relax at the immaculate beaches. You can also go camel riding along the beach and through the bushland.

DAY 04 Noosa to Brisbane
Distance: 160km, Approx. Travel Time: 1HR 30MIN

Head back towards Brisbane, stopping along the way at the multi award-winning Australia Zoo. Owned by Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, it features all sorts of Australian wildlife including koalas, wombats and dingoes.

Explore the city of Brisbane, known for its laidback lifestyle, picturesque city skyline and lush parks. Explore the colourful weekend markets at South Bank, the arts and culture hub of Brisbane. Visit the Gallery of Modern Art, or take a dip in the large man-made lagoon, complete with a sandy beach. Go on a City Cat cruise, one of the best ways of exploring this lovely river city. Or enjoy shopping at Queen Street Mall.

DAY 05 Brisbane to Surfers Paradise
Distance: 79km, Approx. Travel Time: 1hr 12min

Drive to the Gold Coast, and visit one of the famous theme parks along the way. There are plenty of other attractions and activities you can enjoy in this bustling holiday paradise. Stay overnight at Surfers Paradise, renowned for its great surf beaches and its colourful shops many of which stay open until 9pm every night.

DAY 06 Gold Coast

There are plenty of things to see and do on the Gold Coast. Enjoy a tall ship cruise and have tea at Palazzo Versace, the world's first Versace hotel.

Take in stunning 360-degree views of the Gold Coast from QDeck, Australia's only beachside observation deck. It is located at the top of Q1 Resort, the world's tallest residential tower.

Shop at Harbour Town or Pacific Fair. You can also check out the Surfers Paradise night markets, held along the beachfront every Wednesday and Friday. Or take a guided night tour of Springbrook national park, where you'll discover Australia's largest colony of glow worms.

DAY 07 Surfers Paradise to Tweed
Distance: 44km, Approx. travel time: 45min

Enjoy a catch-a-crab cruise at the Tweed River. Besides catching crabs, you can try your hand at yabbie pumping, fishing or feeding wild pelicans. Alternatively, spend a leisurely morning on the beaches of Surfers Paradise and perhaps even try learning to surf. There are plenty of classes for beginners. Then enjoy lunch by the sea at Oskars on Burleigh, an award-winning restaurant with sensational ocean views and mouthwatering seafood.

Then continue south and head to Tropical Fruit World, Australia's largest fruit plantation. Take a tractor train ride through the orchards, taste all sorts of unusual tropical fruits, including the miracle fruit, chocolate pudding fruit and champagne fruit.

DAY 08 Surfers Paradise to Mount Tamborine
Distance: 48km, Approx. Travel Time: 40min

Take a day trip to Mount Tamborine, the lush hinterland of the Gold Coast, made up of abundant rainforests, waterfalls and creeks. Enjoy the cool crisp mountain air as you take a walk along one of the many nature trails.

Visit the art and craft shops along Gallery Walk, and enjoy breakfast at one of its delightful cafes. You can also enjoy wine tasting at the numerous boutique wineries. Don’t miss the Tamborine Mountain Distillery, which sells an array of fruit liqueurs, spirits and schnapps in pretty hand painted bottles.

Or if you prefer, visit another theme park for more thrills and entertainment.

For more information: www.queensland.com.sg/greatsunshineway

Print Email Request Brochure Getting to Australia Getting around Accommodation Find an Aussie specialist travel agent

DAY 01 Brisbane

Begin your journey in Queensland's capital Brisbane, known for its laidback lifestyle, picturesque city skyline and lush parks. Explore the colourful weekend markets at South Bank, the arts and culture hub of Brisbane. Visit the Gallery of Modern Art, or take a dip in the large man-made lagoon, complete with a sandy beach. Go on a City Cat cruise, one of the best ways of exploring this lovely River city. Or enjoy shopping at Queen Street Mall.

DAY 02 Brisbane to Tangalooma
75-min boat ride

Transfer to Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort, located on the beautiful Moreton Island. Have fun on a 4WD desert safari tour and enjoy the thrills of sand tobaggoning. There are plenty of other activities including quad biking, snorkelling, and marine eco cruises. The highlight is of course the chance to hand feed wild bottlenose dolphins that swim to the shore every evening.

DAY 03 Tangalooma to Gold Coast
75-min boat ride to Brisbane; Brisbane to Gold Coast - Distance: 67KM, Approx. Travel Time: 1HR

After returning to Brisbane, make your way to the Gold Coast. With its beautiful beaches, vibrant yet laidback city life and world-class attractions, the Gold Coast is Australia's favourite holiday destination.

Visit one of its renowned theme parks, and in the evening, enjoy the unique dinner show at Australian Outback Spectacular or the colourful live stage show at Conrad Jupiters.

DAY 04 Gold Coast

There are plenty of things to see and do on the Gold Coast. Enjoy a tall ship cruise and have tea at Palazzo Versace, the world's first Versace hotel.
Take in stunning 360-degree views of the Gold Coast from QDeck, Australia's only beachside observation deck, located at the top of Q1 Resort, the world's tallest residential tower. Shop at Harbour Town or Pacific Fair. You can also check out the Surfers Paradise night markets, held along the beachfront every Wednesday and Friday. Or take a guided night tour of Springbrook national park, where you'll discover Australia's largest colony of glow worms.

DAY 05 Gold Coast to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
Distance: 69km, Approx. Travel Time: 1HR 20MIN

Explore the lovely Lamington national park. This lush hinterland of cascading waterfalls, World Heritage rainforest, rock pools, boutique wineries and other hidden treasures are less than an hour from the bustling Surfers Paradise. Spend a night at the charming O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, where you can take a TreeTop Walk, and get up close to wildlife. Stay in one of its cosy guest rooms or luxurious mountain villas.

DAY 06 O'Reilly's to Mooloolaba
Distance: 210km, Approx. Travel Time: 3HR

Enjoy a Hot Air balloon flight to catch the sunrise followed by champagne breakfast. Then continue your journey north to the Sunshine Coast. Visit the multi award-winning Australia Zoo, home of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Get up close to all kinds of wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and wombats.

Spend the night in a pretty resort town such as Mooloolaba, which has beautiful beaches and excellent restaurants. Mooloolaba is home to a range of affordable apartments and chic resorts, and it is an excellent base for exploring nearby attractions such as Underwater World, where you can get up close to all kinds of marine life, and Strawberry Fields, where you can handpick fresh strawberries between June and November.

DAY 07 Mooloolaba to Eumundi
Distance: 39KM, Approx. Travel Time: 30MIN

Head inland to the lush hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. Explore the quaint mountain villages located amid rolling hills. Don't miss Montville, a charming village with art galleries, craft shops and restaurants housed in log and stone cottages. Browse the hundreds of stalls at the colorful Eumundi Markets, open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can also visit the world’s largest ginger factory at Yandina, and sample all kinds of ginger goodies including ginger teas, ginger chocolate and even ginger ice cream.

Visit some of the farms further inland such as Coolabine Farmstead for its award winning hand crafted goat cheese. Others include Eumundi Noosa Milk, a family owned dairy farm, and Kenilworth Organic Olives, a farm that grows, produces, blends, bottles and distributes organic extra virgin olive oil.
Spend the night at a quaint bed & breakfast in the hinterland. There are plenty in Montville, Maleny or Eumundi.

DAY 08 Eumundi to Noosa
Distance: 21KM, Approx. Travel Time: 20MIN

Drive further north to the coastal town of Noosa, renowned for its award-winning restaurants, elegant resorts and lovely beaches. Explore the chic boutiques that line Hastings Street, dine alfresco at one of the many bistros, and relax at the immaculate beaches. You can also go camel riding along the beach and through the bushland.

DAY 09 Noosa to Hervey Bay
Distance: 187KM, Approx. Travel Time: 2HR 30MIN
Drive north to Hervey Bay on Fraser Coast, known as the whale watching capital of Australia. Between late July and November each year, the area is teeming with humpback whales. Get up close to these amazing creatures on the numerous whale watching cruises.
Catch a ferry (40min) across to the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. Stay at the award-winning Kingfisher Bay Resort, which overlooks lakes, bushland and the sea. Explore the island's freshwater lakes, colored sand dunes, pristine beaches and ancient forest. Fraser Island is also home to all kinds of bird life and wildlife, including dingoes, possums and an array of reptiles.

DAY 10 Fraser Island
Distance: 292km, Approx. Travel Time: 3.5HR
Spend another night on the island, or commence your leisurely drive back to Brisbane.

For more information: www.queensland.com.sg/greatsunshineway