Australia’s Nature Coast is home to a unique and diverse array of wildlife, encompassing World Heritage-listed K’gari, alongside the rainforests, wetlands and wildlife-rich coastal waters of the Sunshine and Fraser coasts. Explore it all at your own pace, with the freedom and flexibility of a self-drive holiday.
Your adventure starts in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, where you stay tucked amongst the subtropical rainforest at Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat. With Kondalilla National Park close by, explore this lush environment in search of some of Australia’s distinctive wildlife, including echidnas, possums, wallabies and goannas, alongside colourful forest birdlife.
From the rainforest, travel north to Hervey Bay, where humpback whales gather in the sheltered waters during their annual migration. Whales often linger here to rest and socialise, including mothers with young calves, offering opportunities to witness spectacular behaviours such as breaching, spy-hopping, tail and pectoral-fin slapping. Continue to World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island, where ancient rainforest, freshwater lakes, towering dunes and sweeping beaches provide a spectacular setting for encounters with the island’s famous dingoes, alongside wallabies, reptiles and abundant birdlife.
Your journey then continues south to the Noosa Everglades, where you can cruise or paddle along tranquil, mirrored waterways through pristine wetland wilderness, watching for kingfishers, herons, egrets and cormorants.
Suggested Itinerary
-
Day 1:
Depart UK
Overnight flight to Brisbane via Singapore.
-
Day 2:
Arrive Brisbane
Arrive this evening and overnight in Brisbane, with time to explore the surrounding neighbourhood or relax after your journey.
Accommodation: Spicers Balfour, 1-night
-
Days 3-4
:
Explore Kondalilla National Park
After your journey north, you spend the next two days exploring Kondalilla National Park. During your time in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast you can walk in the national park (self-guided) which has 56 kilometres of trails, natural pools and waterfalls, and offers great birding opportunities. The 107 or so bird species you can see here include king parrot, peregrine falcon, whipbird and cockatoo, but you may also come across echidna (spiny anteaters) and reptiles such as the goanna, a type of monitor lizard.
Accommodation: Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, 2-nights
-
Day 5:
Drive to Hervey Bay
Take a leisurely drive to Hervey Bay, famous as the world’s first designated Whale Heritage Site and the primary gateway to the world's largest sand island, K'gari (formerly Fraser Island).
Accommodation: Akama Resort, 3-nights
-
Day 6:
Whale Watching in Hervey Bay
This morning, head out on a 3-hour cruise in search of humpback whales as they migrate through the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay. From your vessel, Ocean Defender, enjoy excellent water-level views and opportunities to witness and photograph behaviours such as breaching, tail slapping and spy-hopping.
Certified marine naturalists provide expert commentary, while an onboard whale researcher offers insights into research and conservation. You may also hear the whales’ songs through an underwater hydrophone. This afternoon is at leisure.
-
Day 7:
Full-day Excursion to K'gari
Travel by ferry to World Heritage-listed K'gari for a full-day guided exploration of the world’s largest sand island. Discover ancient rainforest, crystal-clear freshwater lakes and sweeping beaches, with opportunities to look for the island’s famous dingoes and abundant birdlife.
Swim in beautiful Lake McKenzie, walk beneath towering trees and giant king ferns at Wanggoolba Creek, travel along 75 Mile Beach and visit the Maheno Shipwreck and freshwater Eli Creek. Morning tea and lunch are included.
-
Day 8:
Travel to Noosa
Today, leave Hervey Bay and travel south towards Noosa. Along the way, the scenery gradually changes from the open landscapes around the Fraser Coast to the greener surroundings of the Sunshine Coast.
Accommodation: Seahaven Noosa, 2-nights
-
Day 9:
Full day Noosa Everglades Tour
Venture into the Noosa Everglades, a pristine wilderness of mirrored waterways and tea tree-fringed wetlands within Cooloola National Park. Explore by boat or canoe, travelling upstream to historic Harry’s Hut as your guide shares insights into the region’s wildlife and ecology.
Keep watch for white-bellied sea eagles, brahminy kites, azure kingfishers, rainbow bee-eaters and colourful lorikeets, as well as kangaroos, wallabies, lace monitors and other reptiles.
-
Day 10:
Drive back to Brisbane & Depart
Travel south back to Brisbane, return your car and depart for your journey home.
-
Day 11:
Arrive UK
