Gold Coast beaches, Whitsunday Islands, rainforest and reef, departing from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Airlie Beach and Cairns
Queensland covers the whole of north-east Australia, and the road running through it, the Bruce Highway, almost always follows the Pacific Ocean. It links surf beaches, coral islands, sugar cane plantations and World Heritage rainforests. Four departure cities are available: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Airlie Beach and Cairns, with eighteen rental companies operating in the region.
The scale is that of a continent: from Brisbane to Cairns it is nearly 1,400 km as the crow flies, and much more by road. You therefore have to choose between a short loop around one city or a long trip north, often as a one-way rental. The season matters as much as the route, because the north has a pronounced wet season.
Apollo
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
3.8/5
(12 reviews)
Awesome Campers
Rental company category:Low cost
Britz
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
3.1/5
(10 reviews)
Camperman
Rental company category:Economy
Public rating of the rental company:
3.9/5
(643 reviews)
Campervan Village
Rental company category:Economy
Public rating of the rental company:
2.9/5
(139 reviews)
Cheapa Campa
Rental company category:Low cost
Chill'd by JUCY
Rental company category:Economy
Cruisin Motorhomes
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
5.0/5
(1,448 reviews)
GoCheap Campervans
Rental company category:Low cost
Hippie Camper
Rental company category:Low cost
Jucy Rentals
Rental company category:Economy
Public rating of the rental company:
3.5/5
(1,223 reviews)
Let's Go Motorhomes
Rental company category:Economy
Maui
Rental company category:Premium
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(499 reviews)
Mighty Campers
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(334 reviews)
MightyLITE
Rental company category:Low cost
Spaceships Rentals
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
3.7/5
(170 reviews)
Star RV Rentals
Rental company category:Premium
Travellers Autobarn
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(305 reviews)
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
This loop stays close to Brisbane and suits a first trip. You head south to the Gold Coast and its surf beaches, then climb into the hinterland towards the rainforests of Springbrook and Lamington. On the way back, the road follows the Sunshine Coast north as far as Noosa.
Traffic is heavy around Brisbane at rush hour: avoid driving in between 7 am and 9 am. The seaside resorts have car parks with height limits; check your vehicle's height before driving in.
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. The simplest approach is to leave the motorhome there for one or two nights on a cruise, then explore the coast: Conway Beach, Conway National Park, Proserpine and the beaches north of Bowen. Boat trips need to be booked in advance in high season.
The Airlie Beach depots are small satellite offices: confirm the pick-up address before you arrive. A one-way rental to Cairns or Brisbane depends on the rental company and the dates.
North of Cairns, the coastal road follows the Coral Sea as far as Port Douglas, then crosses the Daintree River by ferry and enters the rainforest as far as Cape Tribulation. It is one of the few places where the rainforest meets the reef.
Beyond Cape Tribulation, the track is for 4x4s only and most rental agreements prohibit unsealed roads. Check before you leave: the return is by the same route back to Cairns.
This loop climbs to the highlands: the Millaa Millaa waterfalls, the crater lakes of Barrine and Eacham, and upland villages such as Yungaburra. You then come back down the coast to Mission Beach, where signs warn of cassowaries, large flightless birds.
The mountain roads have many bends. A long motorhome calls for patience on the descents, but the climb and descent remain reasonable.
The region's great journey follows the coast for about 1,700 km: Noosa, Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Rockhampton, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville, Mission Beach, then Cairns. The stages are long and far apart, with vast areas of sugar cane.
Allow at least two weeks so you don't spend your days at the wheel. This crossing is ideally done as a one-way rental, depending on the rental company and the dates: the return trip by car or plane is then at your own expense.
The dry season sets in in the north: in Cairns, 101 mm of rain falls in May and 49 mm in June, with nearly ten hours of sunshine a day. In Airlie Beach, the sea stays at 24.2 °C in May and then 22.6 °C in June. In Brisbane, highs fall from 23.2 to 20.9 °C.
This is the Australian winter, dry and bright in the north: Cairns receives only 37 mm of rain in August, Airlie Beach 25 mm. Nights cool down on the south coast: in Brisbane, lows drop to 10.1 °C in July, and the sea at the Gold Coast stays at 20.3 °C. The July Australian school holidays fill the campsites.
The Australian spring is the most reliable period for the whole coast: in Airlie Beach, September receives only 19 mm of rain and up to 11.8 hours of sunshine a day in November. The sea warms up, from 23.5 °C in September to 27.6 °C in November. Humid heat gradually returns to the north.
This is the Australian summer and the wet season of the tropical north. In January, Cairns totals 417 mm of rain over 23 days, and Airlie Beach 290 mm. Tropical cyclones are possible in the north during this period, and floods can close sections of road. The December and January school holidays increase the crowds.
Brisbane and Gold Coast open up the south, Airlie Beach the Whitsundays, Cairns the tropical Far North and the Reef. Brisbane and Cairns are the only two cities where every rental company in the region has a depot.
A loop avoids the question of the return. To cross the region from Brisbane to Cairns, or the other way round, look for a one-way offer by entering two different cities: availability depends on the rental company and the dates.
Enter your dates and pick-up city: offers are displayed according to each rental company's local availability. The Australian school holidays in July, then from December to January, reduce the choice: plan to book earlier.
Book campsites near the busiest sites first, such as Airlie Beach in high season. For the Reef, cruises to the Whitsundays and from Cairns need to be booked in advance; the motorhome generally stays where it is during these outings.
The Brisbane depots are mostly in the Eagle Farm and Nudgee areas, those in Cairns around Sheridan Street. Allow time for the vehicle inspection, empty the waste water and refuel before returning.
In Australia, you drive on the left, the steering wheel is on the right and you go round roundabouts to the left. On the Bruce Highway, the long straight stretches make you drowsy. There are plenty of rest areas: stop about every two hours, and don't drive at night.
Kangaroos, wallabies and, in the north, cassowaries cross mostly at dawn and dusk. The road signs are reliable: slow down in these areas. A collision with a large animal can damage a motorhome, so caution is better than speed.
In the north, coastal waters can harbour dangerous jellyfish, known as stingers, especially during the wet season, roughly from November to May. Many beaches put up nets or provide protective suits. Follow the signs and the lifeguards' instructions. Saltwater crocodiles also live in the northern estuaries: respect the warnings displayed.
Most rental agreements prohibit unsealed tracks, even when they look passable. The wet season adds a risk: roads can be cut off by floods. Check the State's road condition reports and never cross a flooded road.
Sleeping outside a campsite is regulated: councils and national parks set their own rules, and fines are possible. Roadside rest areas sometimes allow one night, depending on the signs. Check with the council or the tourist office before setting up.
A week is enough for one area: the south around Brisbane, the Whitsundays or the Far North. For the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns, allow at least two weeks, three if you want to stop along the coast and visit the hinterland.
Choose according to the area you want to explore: Brisbane or Gold Coast for the south and its upland forests, Airlie Beach for the Whitsundays, Cairns for the Daintree and the Reef. Brisbane and Cairns bring together all eighteen rental companies in the region.
The route from Cairns to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree is the most striking, because the rainforest runs right down to the shore. The Whitsundays coast charms with its bays, and the Atherton Tablelands with their waterfalls and lakes.
It is possible, but not recommended for the north. From December to April, rainfall is very heavy in Cairns, cyclones can form and roads are cut off. For this period, the south around Brisbane is simpler, though thunderstorms are not ruled out.
Yes, but with precautions. In the north, the sea is warm all year, but jellyfish and crocodiles mean you should only swim at patrolled beaches or those with nets. In the south, swimming is mostly from November to April.
Staff very available to obtain information. Quick response to information.
Very good service, we are satisfied with the rental.
Very good follow-up on the file.
A valid French licence is in principle accepted for rental. As it is not written in English, some rental companies also ask for an international driving permit or a sworn translation. Check the rental company's conditions before you leave, as well as the minimum age, which depends on each offer.
Yes, depending on the rental company and the dates. A one-way rental between Brisbane, Gold Coast, Airlie Beach and Cairns is sometimes offered, but it may involve fees. Display offers with two different cities to find out whether your route is available.
It depends on the council. Many coastal towns prohibit it near beaches and in urban areas, with fines to follow. Rest areas sometimes allow one night: read the signs and check with the local tourist office.
Not directly: the Reef is visited by boat. Excursions leave from Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach in particular, and the motorhome stays on land in the meantime. Book your place in advance in high season.
Yes, mainly around Brisbane, where several tunnels and bridges have electronic tolls. Depending on the rental company, payment is made through a subscription or afterwards. Ask the depot at pick-up, as the conditions differ from one rental company to another.
Yes, the Gold Coast is a few kilometres from the state border and Byron Bay is within easy reach by road. Before crossing a state border, check any restrictions in your agreement, particularly for a one-way rental.
Queensland offers surf beaches, coral islands, waterfalls and an ancient rainforest in a single trip. A motorhome lets you follow the coast at your own pace, sleep by the ocean and plan your days around the weather, which is often changeable in the north.
The four departure cities are spread along the coast: Gold Coast and Brisbane in the south, Airlie Beach in the middle, Cairns in the north. You can set off on a short loop or cross the region as a one-way rental, choosing the season according to the part of Queensland you are aiming for.
