Budget-Friendly Cairns to Brisbane campervan Itinerary

Some of the best things to do in Cairns include walking along one of the many beautiful Cairns beaches, driving out to Kurrunda Rainforest to visit the Butterfly Sanctuary, enjoying annual activities like the beach run or reef race, visiting Babinda Boulders for a swim, and visiting Mount Whitfield conservation park to explore the walking tracks.

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is also another fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience to have during your Cairns holiday. If seeing the seven natural wonders of the world is on your bucket list, then be sure to tick this one off and book a tour to snorkel amongst this incredible coral ecosystem. These tours can be quite costly, so be sure to scope out deals on sites like Groupon when planning these experiences.

Once you have finished exploring, make your way to Girringun National Park and park at Wallaman Falls campsite to enjoy these camp spots in nature while you make your first campervan meal.

Wear good shoes and allow up to three hours for this experience. At the base, you can choose to navigate the final stretch of slippery rocks to take a dip in the base of the waterfall. Swimming in the icy water with the wind in your hair and the huge spray from this giant waterfall is truly an experience you will never forget.

Once you're back and dry, head down the coast and check out the amazing things to do in Townsville: explore the wet tropics great walks, visit The Strand water park (for free!), or wander the streets of Townsville to check out the street art.

If you still have some energy left, take a walk to the top of Castle Hill and enjoy the view of Townsville from above. If you’re too tired from the morning's adventures, you can choose to drive up instead before driving the final hour and a half to park up for the night at the free camp Wallace’s landing.

If you have some extra time, it is definitely worth checking out any local deals for activities or tours to explore the Whitsundays, such as seeing the white sand of Whitehaven Beach and the beautiful formations of Hill Inlet.

Once you have had your fun in the sun, make your way inland and up into the mountain range of Eungella National Park to immerse yourself in the tranquillity of this dense forest. Keep an eye out for the platypuses that are famous in this region. If you spot a small patch of bubbles on the surface of the water - just wait, as there may be a platypus about to emerge!

Then head back towards Mackay to stay at Mirani Caravan Park and take advantage of the powered camping sites to recharge your camera and other travel essentials.

If you’re feeling peckish, be sure to check out the equally artistic creations on offer at Foodspace (the onsite cafe). If you have time, you can explore nature’s art at the Mackay Botanic Gardens and learn about the history of the area at the war memorials at Jubilee Park.

Once you have filled your creative cup, drive south to Rockhampton, where you can spend the afternoon visiting the botanic gardens and admiring the views from Mount Archer. Be sure to also take advantage of the free entry to Rockhampton Zoo and spend some time meeting the wildlife. This zoo is home to close to 100 animals spanning 31 species, including Australian wildlife and exotic animals. When you’re finished for the day, head to park up for the night at the free campsites available at Kershaw Gardens.

When you arrive in Bundaberg, you can spend the day exploring Cania Gorge National Park, wandering through the Bundaberg Art Gallery, taking in the views from Amandine Lavender Farm, and sitting back and smelling the flowers at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

If you're looking for more beach adventures, make your way a little further south to relax in the secluded coastal town of Woodgate Beach. Here you can spend the day wakeboarding or just relax by the water before making your way back to stay the night at Mountain View Caravan Park.