Melbourne to Brisbane by car - in 7 days - real?

It seems that a summarisation is an attempt to say how weather can vary within seasons and from year to year and that is very true as one who lives in Queensland all year around can attest to.

Yes, you can have slightly warmer weather in Cairns or further north in August but August is still winter, even in northern Australia and Cairns might be considered to be in the sub tropics or tropics whichever way ones want to consider it so you get tropical winter weather.

Mike, I have lived in Queensland for about twenty years now and so I have a reasonable idea on weather, perhaps more so than someone taking holidays who tries to summarise to make another point.

Yes, you can have slightly warmer weather in Cairns or further north in August but August is still winter, even in northern Australia and Cairns might be considered to be in the sub tropics or tropics whichever way ones want to consider it so you get tropical winter weather.

Cairns is substantially warmer than the Gold Coast in the areas that really count:

• in the human comfort zone between 20°C - 28°C
• in the main winter months of July and August
• in nighttime temperatures (tropics much warmer)
• in the rarity of southerly winter storms and winds
• and obviously of course, in water temperature

Anyway OP - you probably know enough about the Queensland August weather to make some decisions on where you go. And presumably you didn't come to Australia to experience cool weather if you don't have to.

Mike, yep, if your comfort zone is between 20 -28 and no problems ( mine more about 22-30 ) with that not far north of Brisbane in August.

As I have already said, I live along the Queensland Coast where it is shorts and Tshirt during the day all year around, even sunbaking weather whilst walking on beach with top off in last few weeks and that is likely to continue as we have already had our little bit of winter coolness - maybe another few days to come if forecast is correct but by end of July we are usually into the warming up even further.

You can take it from a local that our weather up here is just great this time of the year and just keeps getting better.
It's a great time to be relaxing out in the sun and that is one reason why many holidaying visitors do come from southern parts including Victoria in winter, to experience some winter warmness, certainly not cooler weather.

I also lived on the Gold Coast for a number of years and yes, there are differences to what you can get there as to several hundred kilometres north of Brisbane, winter storms there not unknown of as are overnight frosts that we had a few of in various years so going north of Brisbane, you will find a little more of the summery warmth, even the Sunshine Coast being a much more relaxed environment seeing as it has not had anywhere near the same extent of highrise developments as the Gold Coast has had, I think of it as akin to a concrete jungle and traffic is something any holiday maker can do without.

The Gold Coast is beautiful - sure it has high-rise apartment buildings (much better than the low-rise sprawl of many other places) - and as a result, the population density (even in peak season) means that traffic is very light - most people do not need a car at all.

Plus it has amazing beaches, lovely parks, plenty of open space, good transport, a lovely mountainous hinterland, great dining and extensive shopping, and a vibrant night-life if you want it. And perfect weather, most days. Not a lot to dislike at all.

Visitors to anywhere can get a different perspective on what is beautiful I agree but to describe masses of highrise apartments as beautiful I could not agree with and as for urban sprawl, the Gold Coast also has plenty of that too, it even extending further and further into hinterland areas.

The traffic density can be described as awful, more akin to any city and not light at all, in fact the Gold Coast is just a stretched out city along a coast, in many places the highrises casting shadows over the beach by mid afternoon and as for amazing beaches, people do need to be very wary for most of the beaches are death traps and many people have died at Gold Coast beaches.

There is certainly an abundance of dining and that goes for the Sunshine Coast as well, shopping other than the basics hardly of much interest to most holidayers and also be wary of nightlife for there is regular violence and a drug culture.

If you do want to compare the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, pictures do tell a lot:
The Gold Coast
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=gold+coast+images&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLmdKcmZTVAhUJnJQKHTZOC_4QsAQIIw&biw=1440&bih=809&dpr=1
and for the Sunshine Coast
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sunshine+Coast+Images&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiTj9vDmpTVAhVGJpQKHQANCvAQsAQIIw&biw=1440&bih=809&dpr=1

I can speak for most Queenslanders in that there would not be any that would disagree that the Sunshine Coast is a quieter more relaxed option.
Comparing the darker aspects of life, it can be said that the Gold Coast has a much greater population, especially so when visitors are taken into account, there is far more development, far greater traffic issues ( a large section of the coastal strip of the Gold Coast is via reclaimed swamp lands and as such there are limited thoroughfares ) and unfortunately there is more crime - there has been a television series produced - Gold Coast Cops to focus on policing issues.

Thank you. The temparature gap is less important for us, it is reef that is our main destination so probably we will split leasure time between GC and Whitsundays. But thank you all for the fantastic involvment and all the help. Thanks to your kindness I have plenty pieces of information to plan my final itinerary.
Thank you all once again
Mike

No problems Mike, hope you have a great trip and if you are after any more detailed info on areas of your travel, just ask.

I promise to ask the last question now but the more I read the more doubts I have. After reading all about the weather, and having in my mind that we do not care much for accomodation as far as it is clean and safe, I start to consider Cairns as a quite good base for leasure/visiting this part of Australia. So would it be a good idea to book like 5 day nights there and to rent a car to drive around, also enjoy the reef cruises or any other options recommened for this part of your beatiful country?
Sorry for bothering but as you probably understand - it is a kind of life journey so we really want to choose the best option.
Thank you!

If I had five days at that time of year, I think they are very much best spent in Cairns (or Port Douglas, in my view), with a rental car ... the region is diverse and wonderful. And it will definitely be warmer.