Between Cairns and Sydney is some of the greatest coastline on Earth. Seriously, if I could go anywhere right now – it would be Northern NSW. Do it. Do it.
Set 1/4 
Get outta Cairns man! Down to Airlie Beach. Yep – it’s a damn nice place. Lush tropical rainforests and friendly people. It is a very popular place for tourists, so take full advantage of the fact you have a hire campervan and get away from the crowds. Further south is Mackay – a country town with plenty of character and charm.
Even further south is 1770, Agnes Waters and Fraser Island. With beaches white and water blue, this is like heaven on Earth – particularly as the water temperature is always warm!!!
Rainbow Beach is also very nice – the blow-hole is definitely worth a look!
Crusing south from Brisbane is the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast is a wonderfully tacky place with more fake tans than anywhere else in OZ. Having a campervan means you can see all of these fake tan people, not just the ones in Surfers Paradise. Apart from some of the inhabitants, the Gold Coast is actually very pretty. The beaches at Burleigh Heads and Currumbin offer amazing waves and views and the odd little bakery with tasty, tasty pies.
When you cross into NSW, make sure you take the mountain road through Uki and Murwullimbah to Nimbin. There’s rock pools and trees and lots and lots of weed to buy! Yay!
Nimbin is a crazy place, a bit like Venice Beach in LA, just smaller and the people are a little bit less pretty. But they are cool – and Nimbin is cool. Every May they hold the Nimbin Mardi Grass and celebrate all things marijuana, it’s fun with drugs and fun without. I dropped acid when I went there, so my memories are technicolour and terrifying (imaging a portaloo melting and screaming at you while you try to take a whizz).
Cutting through Lismore you can then descend upon Byron Bay. The people there aren’t really hippies anymore and the council is controlled by Nazi-dictators (imagine Hitler with dreadlocks!). So if you wanna sleep in town you better not do it in a van or they will sting you with a fine. Bastards.
In saying this though – there are plenty of much nicer, friendlier towns around here, like Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores. These little beach towns come alive during Summer with festivals and carnivals. In Winter the skies are blue and the beaches are all yours!
Further South are towns like Ballina and Evans Head and the first real sense that you are shaking off civilisation. With golden sugarcane farms all over this region, the sunsets and indeed the sunrises are amazing!
Good places to spend the night are:
- Airlie Beach
- 1770
- Rainbow Beach
- Yamba
- Coffs Harbour (Red Rock and Corindi Beaches are AWESOME!)
- Bellingen – think waterfalls baby!
- Seal Rocks – an insane little place just off the Pacific Hwy, The surf here is world-class!
- Newcastle
It’s an amazing trip – well worth it – especially if you dig surfing or babes...or weed.
Package Details:
Hire Length: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Pickup: Cairns / Sydney Depot
Dropoff: Sydney / Cairns Depot
Driving on unsealed roads is prohibited unless in 4WD Vehicle. Valid Credit Card Required for Security Imprint. Extra Days are available. Tour valid for 12 months from date of purchase. May be transferred to a friend or fellow traveller if you can’t get to your trip. No refunds for unused trip. All prices shown do not include National Park Fees.
