BetaVanabout is still in beta — expect rough edges while we keep building. Thanks for trying it early.
2 adults · 6m campervan
East Coast Australia Campervan Route: Cairns to Melbourne in 21 Days
1 – 22 February · 21 nights · A tropical-to-temperate coastal run from Cairns to Sydney, tracing reef, rainforest, Whitsunday sailing, Fraser Island dunes and Byron's hinterland before finishing amid Sydney's harbour icons. Frequent two-night stops keep the pace relaxed for a couple after variety without rushing.
Getting there: 348 km · 5 h 46 from Cairns · The Bruce Highway runs flat and coastal with plenty of overtaking lanes, but watch for road-trains and take fuel/rest breaks through the long cane-field stretches.
03 Feb – Arrive Townsville
20:46Check in and settle by Rowes Bay
23:46Walk or drive up Castle Hill for sunset views
04 Feb – Magnetic Island
08:30Passenger ferry across to Magnetic Island
10:00Snorkel at Horseshoe Bay
13:00Bushwalk to Arthur Bay lookout for wild rock wallabies
17:00Ferry back to Townsville
05 Feb – Reef HQ, depart
09:00Visit Reef HQ Aquarium
11:30Coffee on the Strand before departing
13:00Drive south to Airlie Beach
3
5 – 7 February · Stop 3 of 12
Airlie Beach
2 nights★ Whitehaven Beach sailing trip★ Airlie Beach lagoon★ Conway National Park walk
Getting there: 276 km · 4 h 33 from Townsville · A gentle coastal run off the Bruce Highway down to Airlie, with a winding final approach through sugar-cane country and hills — manageable for a 6m van but take the bends steadily.
05 Feb – Arrive Airlie Beach
17:33Check in and settle in
20:33Swim in the Airlie Beach lagoon
22:33Dinner in the marina precinct
06 Feb – Whitsundays sailing
07:30Board day sailing trip through the Whitsunday Islands
11:00Swim and snorkel off Whitehaven Beach
13:30Lookout stop at Hill Inlet
16:30Return to Airlie Beach
07 Feb – Conway walk, depart
08:00Morning rainforest walk in Conway National Park
10:30Pack up and depart
12:00Long drive south toward Rockhampton
4
7 – 8 February · Stop 4 of 12
Rockhampton
1 night★ Capricorn Caves★ Kershaw Gardens★ Big Rockhampton Bull statue
Getting there: 481 km · 7 h 34 from Airlie Beach · A long haul day down the Bruce Highway through the Whitsunday hinterland and Capricorn Coast farmland; straight, well-maintained road but plan a proper midway break for a big van.
07 Feb – Arrive Rockhampton
19:34Arrive and settle in after the long drive
21:04Easy evening stroll through Kershaw Gardens
08 Feb – Capricorn Caves, depart
08:00Guided tour of the Capricorn Caves limestone caverns
10:30Photo stop at the Big Rockhampton Bull statue
Getting there: 364 km · 5 h 30 from Rockhampton · A straightforward coastal highway drive south, quieter than the Bruce further north, running through cane-farming flats into Bundaberg.
08 Feb – Arrive Bundaberg
17:00Settle in near Bargara beachfront
19:00Sunset walk along the Bargara coastal path
09 Feb – Distillery & turtles, depart
09:00Tour and tasting at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery
11:00Visit Mon Repos turtle information centre
12:30Depart for Hervey Bay
6
9 – 11 February · Stop 6 of 12
Hervey Bay
2 nights★ Fraser Island 4WD day tour★ Whale watching cruise★ Esplanade beach walk
Getting there: 185 km · 3 h 17 from Hervey Bay · A mellow drive down through the Sunshine Coast hinterland on good sealed roads, with a final run along the coast into Noosa.
Getting there: 218 km · 3 h 59 from Noosa Heads · A steady run south crossing the Queensland border approach, mostly motorway with easy overtaking lanes for a large van.
13 Feb – Arrive Gold Coast
15:00Check in near Main Beach
17:30Sunset stroll along Surfers Paradise beach
14 Feb – Hinterland day trip
08:30Drive up to Springbrook National Park
10:00Walk to Purling Brook Falls
13:00Lunch in the hinterland township of Tamborine
16:00Return to the coast for the evening
15 Feb – Burleigh Heads, depart
08:00Coastal walk around Burleigh Heads headland
10:30Depart south toward Byron Bay
9
15 – 17 February · Stop 9 of 12
Byron Bay
2 nights★ Cape Byron Lighthouse walk★ Byron Bay hinterland – Nimbin★ Main Beach surf lesson
Getting there: 93 km · 1 h 54 from Gold Coast · A short border-crossing drive on quiet coastal roads, with a final approach into Byron along narrow but sealed lanes — take care with parking for a 6m van in town.
15 Feb – Arrive Byron Bay
14:00Settle in near Clarkes Beach
16:30Walk out to Cape Byron Lighthouse, Australia's easternmost point
16 Feb – Hinterland exploring
09:00Drive inland to the alternative township of Nimbin
12:00Explore Nimbin's markets and murals
15:00Return via the green hills of the Byron hinterland
18:00Dinner in Byron's town centre
17 Feb – Surf & depart
08:00Surf lesson on Main Beach
11:00Pack up and depart south toward Coffs Harbour
10
17 – 18 February · Stop 10 of 12
Coffs Harbour
1 night★ Big Banana Fun Park★ Muttonbird Island walk★ Coffs jetty beach
Getting there: 234 km · 3 h 45 from Byron Bay · A pleasant coastal cruise down the NSW north coast, mostly Pacific Highway dual carriageway, with rolling hills through banana-growing country toward the end.
17 Feb – Arrive Coffs Harbour
16:00Check in and settle by the marina
17:30Walk out to Muttonbird Island for sunset
18 Feb – Big Banana, depart
09:00Visit the Big Banana Fun Park
11:00Swim at the Coffs jetty beach
12:30Depart south toward Port Macquarie
11
18 – 20 February · Stop 11 of 12
Port Macquarie
2 nights★ Koala Hospital★ Tacking Point Lighthouse walk★ Town Beach
Getting there: 154 km · 2 h 37 from Coffs Harbour · A comfortable stretch of the Pacific Highway with occasional single-lane sections through forested hills; nothing technically demanding for a large motorhome.
18 Feb – Arrive Port Macquarie
15:07Check in near the breakwall
17:07Evening walk along Town Beach
19 Feb – Koalas & coast
09:00Visit the Koala Hospital
11:00Coastal walk to Tacking Point Lighthouse
14:00Relax on the beaches along the walking track
18:00Dinner overlooking the marina
20 Feb – Relax, depart
09:00Morning swim at Town Beach
11:00Pack up and depart for Sydney
12
20 – 22 February · Stop 12 of 12
Sydney
2 nights★ Sydney Opera House★ Bondi to Coogee coastal walk★ Sydney Harbour Bridge climb
Getting there: 393 km · 6 h 32 from Port Macquarie · A long final push down the Pacific Highway and Sydney's northern approaches; expect heavier traffic and tighter city roads near the end, so plan the campsite drop-off before peak hours.
20 Feb – Arrive Sydney
17:32Settle into campsite on the city's edge
19:32Evening train or drive in to see the Opera House lit up
21 Feb – Sydney icons
09:00Tour the Sydney Opera House
11:00Walk across or climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
14:00Explore The Rocks historic precinct
17:00Ferry across to Manly for sunset
22 Feb – Beaches, trip ends
08:00Coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee
12:00Final lunch by Bondi Beach
14:00Drop off campervan and trip ends in Sydney
A plan, not a promise. Campsites, roads and opening times can be wrong or out of date — check anything you'd be sorry to get wrong.
Campsites come from OpenStreetMap, which volunteers maintain. A site listed here may have closed, be full, open only in season, or be tagged wrong. We link the record we used and the site’s own page where there is one — always confirm it exists, and book it yourself.
Distances and times are measured on real roads, not guessed. But a router doesn't know about roadworks, a closed pass, a ferry that stops running in October, or the height, width and weight limits that apply to a large motorhome. Treat them as good numbers, not gospel.
The day-by-day plan is written by AI. Opening hours, prices, whether a thing runs in your season, and whether it suits your vehicle or your party can all be wrong. Check anything you'd be sorry to arrive and find shut.
Local rules are yours to know. Where you may park and sleep overnight, what a licence permits, and what the road demands of a big van vary by country and change without telling us.
Use your own judgement, and see our Terms for the rest.
Want this trip, but yours?
Different dates. A different start. Shorter driving days, or no toddler in the back. Change the shape of it and re-plan any stop — you get your own copy, and one link to share with everyone in the van.