4 weeks in QL and NSW

NYE fireworks in Sydney are awesome, so if you love fireworks then yes be here - if you don't like huge crowds, over priced food and drink, queues to get to toilets / taxis/ buses/ bars etc - then don't be here. There is no real difference driving up or down the coast from Cairns - mid December is beginning of school holidays; in NSW they start Tuesday 20 December so that and next couple days will be a lot of traffic heading north. Be aware this is peak travel time so accommodation can be scarce in places this time of year (mid December to end January) - a diversion from the Pacific Highway at Belligen is a good one, go over the mountains through Belligen, Dorrigo to Armidale - you can then use th inland highway (New England Highway) either north towards cairns or south towards Sydney (depending which way you travel) Good variety of terrain this route.

Keep in Mind that Summer in Northern Queensland is Jellyfish and Crocodile season. You pretty much can't swim in the Ocean from Cairns down to about the Whitsundays from Nov until around April/May. You said that you only had 4 weeks for this trip, although it's enough, perhaps you don't need to go all the way to Cairns? Unless you aren't actually going for the beach? Either way it's an amazing drive! For a comprehensive guide check out this one: http://www.poorexplorer.com/sydney-to-cairns-road-trip-part-1/

Have fun!

Drive up the coast, although it is school holidays, most people don't go on holidays till boxing day, there are great waterfalls on the waterfall way between Bellingen and Armidale, but this google search shows many others https://www.google.com/search?q=free+camping+places+pacific+highway&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=east+coast+waterfalls+australia.
the Wallerman falls are the tallest but a long drive to see them, I like the Springbrook falls near the gold coast and the falls on the sunshine coast,

There is an amazing waterfalls tour from Cairns that takes you to the Atherton Tablelands to see Josephine Falls, Dinner Falls, and Millaa Millaa Falls, as well as a gorgeous lake I can't quite remember the name of at the moment. I went with Barefoot Tours and it was full of 20-something backpackers (which I was) and highly recommend it, but if that's not your thing then I'm sure you could drive yourself to see the same places. It's not a long trip. Also, you'll have to go up to Cape Tribulation to see the Daintree rainforest. There are pristine, empty beaches up there as well as a very peaceful rainforest (less a touristy destination and more wildlife). I heard that doing the reef dive up there is better than Cairns (but I did mine in Cairns unfortunately) because there are so many less people out on the water.

I'd also highly recommend Fraser Island on the way down the East Coast. So many beautiful natural pools to swim in including the champagne pools and a natural lazy river- safe from jellyfish.

over the holidays book the rooms now or more than likely your end up sleeping in the car. its that busy.

Many thanks for your info it is much appreciated.

Many thanks sound great will certainly visit these

Many thanks to you all for your help. Cant wait

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.