Drive from Brisbane to Cairns taking in some of Australia’s beautiful beaches, national parks and forests.  You will not be driving the whole time, and will have plenty of time to relax on the beautiful beaches, go hiking and exploring the rainforests and national parks. 

There will also be a lot of opportunities for going snorkelling and diving on the Great Barrier reef.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 1200 MILES – 14 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Brisbane 

Days 2 & 3 – Time to explore the Brisbane are

Day 4 – Drive Brisbane to Noosa Heads via The Sunshine Coast – 86 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 5 – Drive Noosa Heads to Bundaberg via Tuan State Forest – 158 miles (4 hours)

Day 6 – Drive Bundaberg to Rockhampton – 179 miles (4.5 hours)

Day 7 – Drive Rockhampton to Airlie Beach – 299 miles (6.5 hours)

Day 8 – Enjoy Airlie Beach area

Day 9 – Drive Airlie Beach to Townsville – 169 miles (4 hours)

Day 10 – Drive Townsville to Mission Beach – 146 miles (3.5 hours)

Day 11 – Relax in Mission Beach

Day 12 – Drive Mission Beach to Cairns – 87 miles (2.5 hours)

Days 13 & 14 – Enjoy excursions from Cairns 

Day 15 – Fly home 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The fabulous east coast beaches 
• Plentiful national forests 
• Great Barrier Reef
• Diving and water sport opportunities

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 14 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This self-drive holiday is best driven in north Australia’s dry season (April to October), but can also be travelled out of dry season, if you don’t mind the mix of wetter weather.

This is a real outback adventure. Start in Adelaide in the South and make your way to Darwin in the North.  You drive through the centre and deep into the heart of Australia.  You will be driving the Stuart Highway, named after the Scottish explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from the south to the north.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 2300 MILES – 17 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Adelaide

Day 2 – A day in Adelaide

Day 3 – Drive Adelaide to the Clare Valley region – 90 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 4 – Drive Clare Valley to Flinders Ranges – 190 miles (4.5 hours)

Day 5 – Drive Flinders Ranges to Port Augusta – 107 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 6 – Drive Port Augusta to Coober Pedy – 337 miles (6.5 hours)

Day 7 – Explore Coober Pedy

Day 8 – Drive Coober Pedy to Ghan – 303 miles (6 hours)

Day 9 – From Ghan you can book a guided walk around the base of Uluru

Day 10 – Drive Ghan to Kings Canyon – 169 miles (4 hours)

Day 11 – Drive Kings Canyon to Alice Springs – 206 miles (4.5 hours)

Day 12 – Drive Alice Springs to Tennant Creek – 315 miles (6.5 hours)

Day 13 – Drive Tennant Creek to Daly Waters – 253 miles (5.5 hours)

Day 14 – Drive Daly Waters to Katherine – 171 miles (4 hours)

Day 15 – Drive Katherine to Adelaide River – 127 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 16 – Drive Adelaide River to Darwin – 70 miles (2 hours)

Day 17 – Time in Darwin

Day 18 – Fly home 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive the length of the Stuart Highway  
• Flinders Ranges National park
• Cave homes in Coober Pedy  
• Uluru (Ayres Rock)
• Kings Canyon and good hiking options  
• Kakadu National Park

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 17 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This self-drive holiday is best travelled between March to May and September to November (Australia’s Autumn and Spring) – these are the best times to pass through central Australia due to the extreme weather conditions.  

Starting in Melbourne Bay you drive west on the Great Ocean Road.  This road has a stunning coastline and one of the most scenic rugged coast roads in the world, wild and windswept by the Southern Ocean. You will see the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks formed by erosion.

Head inland to the Grampians National Park, where you experience the natural beauty of this area.  Whilst at Phillip Island, be sure to see the penguins at the evening Penguin Parade.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 750 MILES – 14 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Melbourne

Day 2 – Time in Melbourne

Day 3 – Drive Melbourne to Apollo Bay via Great Ocean Road – 120 miles (3 hours)

Day 4 – A day to explore Apollo Bay area

Day 5 – Drive Apollo Bay to Warrnambool via Great Ocean Road – 100 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 6 – Explore Warrnambool

Day 7 – Drive Warrnambool to Halls Gap – 100 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 8 – Explore Grampians National Park

Day 9 – Drive Halls Gap to Ballarat – 90 miles (2 hours)

Day 10 – Drive Ballarat to Yarra Ranges – 130 miles (3 hours)

Day 11 – Explore Yarra Ranges

Day 12 – Drive Yarra Ranges to Phillip Island – 100 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 13 – Drive Phillip Island to Mornington Peninsula – 67 miles (2 hours)

Day 14 – Drive Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne – 50 miles (2 hours)

Day 15 – Fly home

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic drives  
• Visit national parks and mountain scenery
• Aboriginal cultural centres
• Rolling hills with vineyards and tastings at the wineries
• Waterfalls
• Penguins at Phillip Island

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 14 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This holiday is best travelled between September and March (Australia’s Spring through early Autumn).   Of course, you can travel the other months but remember winter in South Australia can be wet and cold.

On this self-drive holiday around the magical island of Iceland, you get to see plenty of beautiful waterfalls, hot springs, lava fields, glaciers, forests, national parks, and a scenic and rugged coastline. 

Depending on what time of year you travel, hopefully, you will be lucky enough to see the northern lights.    

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 950 MILES – 10 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Fly UK to Reykjavik

Day 2 – A day to explore Reykjavik 

Day 3 – Drive Reykjavik to Reykholt – 68 miles (2 hours)

Day 4 – From Reykholt explore the Western region 

Day 5 – Drive Reykholt to Akureyri – 197 miles (5 hours)

Day 6 – Explore the Akureyri area

Day 7 – Drive Akureyri to Egilsstadir – 154 miles (4 hours)

Day 8 – Drive Egilsstadir to Hofn – 116 miles (3 hours)

Day 9 – Drive Hofn to Hella – 225 miles (6 hours)

Day 10 – Drive Hella to Reykjavik via Gullfoss Falls, Geysir & Thingvellir – 125 miles ( 4 hours)

Day 11 – Fly home 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Glaciers including Hoffellsjokull
• Spectacular waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Gulfoss
• Geysir Hot Springs
• Thingvellir national park 
• Northern Lights (more likely to see from September through to March)  

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 10 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This holiday is best travelled between May and September as road conditions are best, but there will no night time therefore no Northern Lights opportunities.  You can drive around the main roads of Iceland out of season but if in the winter months then please request a 4WD.

See the highlights of the north island on this scenic self-drive tour.  From Auckland head north to the tip of the Island at Cape Reinga.  The coastline is stunning and rocky on the northern tip.  Explore beautiful Bays on the way back south. 

Visit Hunua Ranges Regional Park for views of beautiful waterfalls on the way to Coromandel Peninsula.  Head inland to Rotorua and the Lakes before heading towards Napier.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 1250 MILES – 15 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland

Days 2 & 3  – Auckland sightseeing

Day 4 – Drive from Auckland to Kaitaia – 250 miles (7 hours)

Day 5 – Explore Cape Reinga

Day 6 – Drive from Kaitaia to Kerikeri via Maitai and Matauri Bay – 100 miles (3 hours)

Day 7 – Drive Kerikeri to Whangerei – 87 miles (3.5 hours)

Day 8 – Drive Whangerei to Coromandel – 226 miles (6.5 hours)

Days 9 & 10  – Explore Coromandel Peninsula

Day 11 – Drive Coromandel to Rotorua – 129 miles (4 hours)

Day 12 – Explore Lake Taupo area

Day 13 – Drive Rotorua to Napier – 205 miles (6 hours)

Day 14 – Drive Napier to Hamilton – 180 miles (4.5 hours)

Day 15 – Drive Hamilton to Auckland – 76 miles (2 hours)

Day 16 – Fly home

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Metropolitan city of Auckland
• Stunning Cape Reinga 
• Coromandel Peninsula Bay  
• Beautiful bays and tranquil towns
• Maori villages

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 15 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This holiday is best travelled between September to November (NZ Spring) and December to February (NZ Summer) and March to May (NZ Autumn).  

After a day exploring Auckland, head to the Coromandel Peninsula where you spend 3 days exploring this stunning peninsula with beautiful beaches, stunning coastline and plenty of walks. From Rotorua you could opt for a memorable Maori cultural experience and feast.

Head further south to Lake Taupo area and if you choose you could spend a day hiking in Tongariro National Park, which is New Zealand’s oldest National Park and is a dual World Heritage area. From Waitomo you can discover Waitomo’s magical Glow Worm Caves.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 600 MILES – 13 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland

Day 2 – Auckland sightseeing

Day 3  – Drive from Auckland to Hahei – 110 miles (2.5 hours)

Days 4 to 6  – Explore Coromandel Peninsula

Day 7 – Drive Hahei to Rotorua – 135 miles (3 hours)

Day 8 – Spend the day exploring the local area

Days 9 – Drive Rotorua to Ohakune via Lake Taupo – 133 (3 hours)

Day 10 – Explore Tongariro National Park 

Day 11 – Drive Ohakune to Waitomo – 111 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 12 – Why not visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Day 13 – Drive Waitomo to Auckland – 120 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 14 – Fly home 

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Metropolitan city of Auckland
• Beautiful beaches and coastal walks of the Coromandel Peninsula
• Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park
• Many opportunities for walks and hiking
• Lots of opportunities to learn about the Maori culture 

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 13 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

This holiday is best travelled between September to November (NZ Spring) and December to February (NZ Summer) and March to May (NZ Autumn).  

After 3 days exploring what Cape Town has to offer it’s time to get on the road.  First stop after Cape Town is Oudtshoorn which is known as the Ostrich capital, from here you could visit Cango Caves to see the impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations and prehistoric cave paintings.  Then onwards to Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route. 

There are a number of Game Reserves, National Parks and Nature Reserves along the route and plenty of places to stop to enjoy the dramatic scenery. There will opportunities for hiking or relaxing on the beautiful beaches.  Hermanus is the last stop, whilst here you could go on a Whale Watching tour or visit one of the many superb Wineries.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY – AROUND 1000 MILES – 14 NIGHTS

Day 1 – Arrive in Cape Town

Days 2 to 4 – Explore Cape Town and surrounding areas

Day 5 – Drive from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn – 261 miles (6 hours)

Day 6 – Explore Oudtshoorn  

Day 7 – Drive from Oudtshoorn to Port Elizabeth – 224 miles (5 hours)

Day 8 – Explore Port Elizabeth

Day 9 – Drive Port Elizabeth to Plettenberg Bay – 160 miles (4 hours)

Day 10 – Explore Plettenberg Bay

Day 11 – Drive Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay – 88 miles (2.5 hours)

Day 12 – Explore Mossel Bay

Day 13 – Drive Mossel Bay to Hermanus – 191 miles (4.5 hours)

Day 14 – Time in Hermanus

Day 15 – Drive Hermanus to Cape Town Airport – 68 miles (2 hours) then fly home

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Cape Town
• Scenic driving along the Garden Route
• Dramatic coast line
• Nature reserves, game reserves and national parks  
• Fantastic beaches and many options for hiking and whale watching tours

INCLUDES

✅ Return economy flights from London (please enquire about alternative departure airports)

✅ Fully insured compact car (larger vehicles on request)

✅ 14 nights in your chosen standard of accommodation 

✅ Guide book

NOTES

The Garden Route can be travelled all year round.