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Cairns Road Trip 2026
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Cairns Road Trip 2026

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    🇦🇺 Townsville, Australia
    McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Townsville QLD

    Yesterday in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we redefined bravery – wearing Blues gear deep inside enemy territory, north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

    We departed Airlie Beach at a respectable time this morning under yet another sun shower. Honestly, Queensland’s weather seems incapable of committing to a single season for more than about 20 minutes.

    It was a relatively short drive today, with a detour for coffee and breakfast/morning tea in Bowen. Naturally, no visit would be complete without stopping for a happy snap at the Big Mango. At around 10 metres tall and modelled on the iconic Kensington Pride variety, it’s a fitting tribute to one of Australia’s biggest mango-growing regions. At this rate we’ll need a separate album just for oversized roadside objects.

    We rolled into Townsville around lunchtime to a gloriously sunny 27 degree afternoon. After checking into our lakeside ensuite site at Townsville Lakes Holiday Park, the boys headed straight for the pool while Anthony tackled the day’s most important task – fixing the caravan TV aerial so it points in the right direction for tonight’s State of Origin decider!

    Come game time however, we followed a hot tip from a local (potentially risky move in itself 😳) and ventured to the Seaview Hotel on the Townsville waterfront. Apart from us, just about every person in the place appeared to be wearing Queensland colours. So if there are no more Penguin posts after tonight, assume we made one critical mistake… we cheered too loudly.

    P.S. Final score 30-12, Go the blues! Our local team curse prevails - wherever we go the local team loses 😆    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Whitsundays QLD

    July 7 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Today we boarded the SeaLink Reef Quest III for a day cruising through the spectacular Whitsundays.

    The itinerary included a full circumnavigation of Whitsunday Island, taking us past secluded bays, historic inlets and some of Australia's most breathtaking island scenery before visits to the iconic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout.

    After an entertaining shuttle bus ride from our accommodation, on which the driver took great delight in convincing the various international guests that almost every creature in Australia is out to get you, we departed the marina at Shute Harbour and motored out past Daydream Island and South Molle Island via the rather ominously named Unsafe Passage - somewhat fitting given the weather at the time.

    Queensland is currently experiencing what's being dubbed a "second summer", delaying the arrival of the dry season. As a result, the morning wasn't exactly inspiring confidence, with looming grey skies and scattered showers.

    We arrived at Whitehaven Beach beneath a blanket of cloud. However, by the time the tender dropped us ashore - albeit after an almost hour-long delay due to a mechanical issue - the sun had burst through, revealing the beach's famous white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water.

    The sand is around 98% pure silica, giving it its extraordinary colour. It's so pure that NASA reportedly used samples to test equipment destined for the Moon. Back in the 1960s, there were also plans to mine Whitehaven's silica deposits for glass manufacturing. Fortunately, conservationists won the battle and the proposal was abandoned.

    From the beach, we completed a short uphill walk to the Whitsunday Lookout, where sweeping views stretched along Whitehaven Beach and across to Hamilton Island.

    Back down on the beach, with the sun still shining, the boys enjoyed a refreshing swim and a game of ball in the shallows.

    Back aboard the boat, as we set off for Hill Inlet, the heavens opened. However, no sooner had we dropped anchor in the bay and made our way across to the island than the rain eased. By the time we'd completed the short rainforest walk to the lookout, the clouds parted once again, bathing the famous Hill Inlet in sunshine just as we stepped onto the viewing platform. Positive vibes for the win!

    The constantly shifting sands and tides create one of Australia's most photographed natural scenes. The tide was high when we arrived, so we didn't quite get the full effect, but it was beautiful all the same.

    On the way back down, we also sampled green ants. Who knew they made their nests in trees and one colony can take over up to 100 trees! Surprisingly citrusy, with a lingering tingle on the tongue. We'll have to try the gin they make from them one day... 😋

    We ended with dinner at the Airlie Beach Hotel, reflecting on a day that somehow delivered all four seasons without ever really getting in the way.

    Fun Fact: The Whitsundays were named by Captain James Cook as he sailed through the islands on 3 June 1970, the day on which Christians celebrated the Festival of Whit Sunday that year. However, he forgot to allow for the International Date Line, meaning he was actually there on the Monday. So technically, they should probably be called the Whit Mondays 🙃    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Airlie Beach QLD

    July 6 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Argh Queensland - beautiful one day, cyclonic the next!

    A long travel day today, made even longer by slow roadworks zones along the Bruce Highway and an unscheduled stop at Jayco Mackay to resolve an issue with the caravan’s hot water system - fortunately a quick and simple one button fix.

    What started as a beautiful sunny morning soon gave way to drizzle and grey skies. Along the way I had plenty of time to perfect the fine art of windscreen photography from a moving vehicle at 100 km/h. Hardly award-winning material, but it did keep me entertained for at least a few minutes 😂

    We finally rolled into Discovery Parks Airlie Beach around 3:30 pm under sunny skies, only for the rain to return just in time for us to unhitch the van and set up camp. The weather clearly has a sense of humour 😐

    Channeling positive vibes for tomorrow’s Whitsundays boat cruise 🤞🏼    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Yeppoon QLD

    July 5 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today’s drive took us from Bargara to Yeppoon, with a small detour for lunch in the historic town of 1770 (or Seventeen Seventy). This was the site of Captain James Cook’s second landing on the Australian mainland in May 1770, giving it the distinction of being regarded as the birthplace of Queensland.

    It was actually quite charming and far more impressive than I remembered from my previous visit in 1990, with funky cafes and some fancy new developments.

    The rest of the drive was a mixed bag as we ticked off a couple more entries from Australia’s “Big Things” collection: the Big Crab at Miriam Vale and the Big Whale at Rockhampton - both worth exactly the amount of time it takes to pull over, “take a photo Fi” and keep moving.

    The highway featured some of the roughest surfaces we’ve encountered so far, up there with NSW standards 😆, while the Great Dividing Range provided a constant backdrop to our left.

    As we rolled into Rockhampton we officially crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and entered the tropics. We celebrated by promptly turning the air conditioning up a notch to counter the balmy 27 degrees outside.

    By late afternoon we rolled into Yeppoon and checked into the NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park on a spacious ensuite site before making a beeline for the town centre. We were genuinely impressed - the beachfront foreshore has been beautifully done, with landscaped parklands, wide walking paths and a fantastic free lagoon pool overlooking Keppel Bay. Unfortunately, a howling wind ruled out any thoughts of a swim.

    Instead, we sought refuge over dinner at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club (where we’re now its newest members), enjoying great food and an even better position overlooking the beach.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Bundaberg QLD

    July 4 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    An early 4 am start this morning to watch Australia crash out of the knockout round of the Football World Cup in an agonising penalty shootout. A heartbreaking way to go, but on the plus side it meant we were all awake, packed and on the road bright and early for our next destination: Bundaberg.

    We enjoyed the Bruce Highway fatigue-zone trivia signs as we headed further north - a great initiative and fun until one of the question signs had been knocked over (#ironic). The answer board a few kms down the road proudly declared “tie-row”, but without the question we’re still trying to reverse-engineer it like some bizarre road trip version of Jeopardy! So far we’ve got absolutely nothing - any ideas?

    We rolled into Bundaberg just before midday and headed straight for the Bundaberg Rum Distillery where we perused the museum. It turns out the Bundy story started with ten minutes in the Royal Hotel where a room full of sugar growers agreed that pouring molasses down the drain was madness. Over 130 years later, Australians are still reaping the benefits of what may well be the nation’s most successful pub meeting.

    A few tastings and a bunch of merch later, we headed for the other notable attraction in town - Bundaberg Brewed Drinks - where we’re now immortalised on our own ginger beer bottle 😁

    From there, a quick drive through the main street was uninspiring so we promptly headed for our campsite for the night at the Discovery Park Bargara in the ‘fancy’ part of town.

    This is definitely the place to be. It’s got a great relaxed vibe with spacious shady sites immediately opposite the Surf Club and beach. And even better, the host remembered my name from check in and personally wished me a lovely evening as she rode home along the beachfront. You don’t get that every day.

    We enjoyed a leisurely stroll long the beachfront before joining fellow campers for dinner the camp kitchen.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Australia Zoo QLD

    July 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Crikey, what a day! Can you even call yourself an Aussie if you don’t visit Australia Zoo at least once in your lifetime?

    By the time we arrived just after 10 am, the place was already heaving with people. We headed straight for the reptile exhibits, then made our way to the Asian precinct, where we managed to score seats in the small amphitheatre and patiently waited for the tiger presentation.

    It was a bit of an anti climax. Despite an elaborate setup featuring meat suspended from bamboo poles and another piece temptingly placed in the middle of a pool, accessible only via a log bridge, the tiger they brought out was blind and consequently didn’t discover any of it. Instead, it wandered around while the presenter fumbled through what felt more like a conservation fundraising pitch than an animal demonstration. We all walked away a little underwhelmed.

    Things picked up in the African precinct with giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and meerkats - always crowd-pleasers. We snapped the obligatory photos before making tracks back to the Crocoseum to secure good seats for the famous Wildlife Warriors show.

    It was slow to get started but once the crocodiles came out it did get entertaining. We were genuinely impressed to see actual Terri, Bindi and Chandler Irwin all presenting the show in person. We certainly weren’t expecting that, and it was a nice surprise.

    By day’s end (close to 15,000 steps later), I think we’d covered the entire park at least twice. I have to say the animal enclosures were all well thought out, the grounds were immaculate, and the whole place was incredibly well organised. I think we just expected a little more spectacle in the spirit of ‘Crikey’.

    To cap off a top day we cashed in our trivia winnings for happy hour drinks by pool. Thanks Sunshine Coast, it’s been great.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler
    Coolum

    Noosa QLD

    July 2 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Now this is my kind of winter! ☀️

    Today we headed to the northern end of the Sunshine Coast to beautiful Noosa. Having never been before, I have mixed feelings...

    The beach was absolutely stunning – crystal clear water, rolling waves and wide stretches of golden sand. But Hastings Street - OMG, hectic! To be fair, it was vibrant and buzzing with cafés, restaurants and boutiques, but definitely a bit too busy and fancy for our style.

    We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the surf before settling in for lunch at the Surf Club (much more our vibe), where we scored a prime table overlooking the beach.

    While wandering along Hastings Street afterwards, the boys suddenly spotted “Catman” and insisted on getting a selfie. I had absolutely no idea who he was, but apparently he's a Japanese cyclist who became an internet sensation after riding across Australia dressed as a cat 🙄 Of course, we have social media to thank for our brief brush with a celebrity 🤦🏽‍♀️

    To top off a great day, the ‘McSmart Meals’ (aka us - team named by the boys) dominated caravan park trivia, taking out the win by a single point! 🏆

    Not a bad way to spend a winter's day.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Glass House Mountains QLD

    July 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we packed in Australia’s biggest art and craft market, a 1 kg doughnut, an unexpected back-road adventure, a giant pineapple and a beach sunset!

    First up, we headed to the Eumundi Markets where we wandered the hundreds of stalls selling everything from coffee, handmade jewellery, hot chilli sauces, t-shirts, bratwursts and the “I definitely don’t need this but I’m buying it anyway” purchases! We got them all, almost… Fortunately my sanity was saved by the old bloke selling bird whistles who could only operate in cash, which we “didn’t have” 😉

    The markets were impressive, though I challenge the claim to Australia’s biggest - I’d say the Salamanca Markets in Hobart would give them a good run for money. Mind you, by the time we made it back to the car around 10:30 am, the traffic queue waiting to get in stretched for what looked like at least a kilometre. Glad we arrived early!

    Next stop on our Sunshine hinterland adventure was the Kenilworth Bakery for their famous 1 kg doughnut. We (all 5 of us) devoured the custard and cream creation effortlessly. That said, we have a new respect for the current record holder who somehow demolished the entire thing solo in under two minutes 😳

    From there we headed to the Glass House Mountains Lookout at the mercy of our GPS, which clearly decided adventure was in order as we quickly found ourselves on increasingly questionable back roads, culminating in what can only be described as a goat track with a gradient pushing 10%. I was very happy to engage 4WD for that one.

    Ironically, some of the best views of the Glass House Mountains came from that random back road. When we finally reached the official lookout it was actually a bit underwhelming, you couldn’t even see all of the peaks! Surely they could have found a more inspiring vantage point?

    A few quick photos later we moved on to the Big Pineapple, reliving a childhood memory from decades ago. We duly ticked it off the list. Suffice to say it’s still just a giant pineapple - a now a very expensive one - that definitely doesn’t need revisiting again for at least another 40 years 🍍😂

    We wound our way home along the Sunshine Coast, beach hopping before returning to the caravan in time for happy hour and dinner.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Caloundra QLD

    June 30 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We left Tenterfield early and in no time crossed the border into Queensland. A quick photo opportunity to mark the occasion and we we off again: destination Sunshine Coast.

    Roadworks on the way to Ipswich made it a slow trip, but on the plus side it did give us plenty of time to soak up the spectacular views of the Scenic Rim.

    We had a bit of excitement navigating the caravan through Brisbane's north-western suburbs. Lesson learned: forget the GPS and just follow the street signs - they actually know where everything is!

    We rolled into the BIG4 Waterside Caloundra around 2 pm and credit to Anth for successfully manoeuvring the van onto our site via one of the narrowest roads imaginable, packed with cars, kids and general holiday chaos - no to mention an audience. Definitely earned happy hour and an afternoon spent by the pool after that effort.

    Now let the holiday begin ☀️🍹    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Tenterfield NSW

    June 29 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Leaving Tamworth this morning we followed the Bushrangers Way, passing through country once roamed by the infamous Captain Thunderbolt, Australia’s longest-roaming bushranger. Apparently known as the “gentleman bushranger”, he was said to politely relieve people of their valuables while generally avoiding unnecessary violence. What a guy 😐

    We stopped along the way at Armidale for a quick drive‑through tour and pit stop. While we may not have uncovered its hidden gems, we left feeling a little underwhelmed.

    Moving on, we passed through Guyra, which at 1,330 m above sea level boldly claims to host Australia’s highest caravan park, before stopping in Glen Innes, where we happily joined the the Grey Nomads for a picnic lunch in the sunshine at Anzac Park.

    By mid‑afternoon we rolled into Tenterfield and checked into The Lodge Caravan Park, where we are very obviously the youngest guests by several decades. The ladies’ amenities are a delight - spotless, with historical displays about the local area, softly playing music, a dressing table with scented candle and complimentary make‑up wipes, a hairdryer and even bath mats - not to mention lovely old ladies’ chatter 😊

    A walk down the main street of town delivered some valuable dinner intel from a local shopkeeper who, after seeing my crew in train, generously shared her tips on where to find the best “quantity meal” for the most bargain price. Exactly the kind of local knowledge we appreciate. Bowling Club Chinese it is!

    And of course, we couldn’t leave without finding the legendary Tenterfield Saddler, immortalised in song by Peter Allen as a tribute to his past and his grandfather, George Woolnough. It’s a genuine living piece of Aussie history, though sadly not open today.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler
    1

    Tamworth NSW

    June 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After an average coffee from the Denman Bakery, we departed town in a shower of rain and arrived a couple of hours later to a glorious sunny afternoon in Paradise (aka the Big4 Tamworth).

    The drive took us through a string of quaint country towns, framed by the Liverpool Ranges with their golden cliffs and cloud-shrouded peaks. Between towns we passed some seriously impressive horse studs, which we could only imagine are breeding the next generation of Melbourne Cup winners.

    After parking the van, it was a case of “when in Tamworth” as we headed straight for an obligatory photo at the Big Golden Guitar, followed by a visit to the Guitar Museum and Wax Museum at the Visitor Centre, where we paid our respects to country music royalty.

    Ten minutes later 🤣 we’d ticked country music off the list and moved on to explore Tamworth’s lovely main street, including a $1,300 pair of snakeskin boots 😳, before heading up to Oxley Scenic Lookout for a panoramic view over the city. Tamworth is actually much bigger than we’d expected. Who knew?

    Back at the caravan park, the boys made the most of the heated pool - and when I say heated, I mean properly heated. It only took Anth only about a minute to fully immerse himself, rather than his usual ritual of cautiously negotiating with the water one limb at a time. Winter? What’s that?

    Happy hour and a DIY dinner in the impressive camp kitchen rounded out our second day on the road this trip.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler
    1

    Denman NSW

    June 27 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We’re away!

    Notwithstanding a slow start we’ve made it to Denman near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley and from what we can see, in the dark after a couple of the region’s finest Shirazs, it’s quite pretty.

    We’ve pulled in for the night behind the Denman Hotel, a beautifully restored grand two storey heritage building with an expansive beer garden, landscaped grounds and a great free camp set up complete with defined sites, hot showers, flushing toilets, dump point and even a laundry! Highly recommend.

    After taking advantage of the last 15 mins of happy hour we enjoyed a yummy pub meal before retreating to the van for an ambitious attempt at family movie night with Despicable Me 2. It claimed to be the ultimate family movie - we all promptly fell asleep. I think we’re too old LOL 😝    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzCairns Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Ready to Roll

    June 27 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    All packed and ready to head north, escaping winter.

    It will be a different adventure for us this time, flying solo without our bestie travel buddies. Happy hours just won’t be the same xx

    Trip start
    June 27, 2026