Drive Queensland: Bruce Highway from Cairns to Brisbane

Townsville stretches along the tropical Queensland coast, facing the Coral Sea and watched over by the reddish profile of Castle Hill, the granite outcrop rising at its heart. A lively hub of North Queensland, it is the gateway to Magnetic Island, an isle of golden beaches, sheltered bays and wild koalas reached by a short ferry ride. Along The Strand, the elegant seafront promenade, swimming lagoons, palms and seafood restaurants follow one another, while the Reef HQ aquarium tells the story of the Great Barrier Reef. Diving and snorkelling trips set out from here towards the outer reefs and nearby wrecks. A sunlit city where the tropical climate and the ocean set the rhythm of the days.

Continuation to Airlie Beach, a famous tourist center and base for many cruises that reach the Whitsunday Islands. Airlie Beach stretches along the tropical coast of Queensland and serves as the gateway to the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 islands set in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. A lively, laid-back beach town, it owes its fame to the postcard-perfect shores reached by boat or seaplane — chief among them Whitehaven Beach, seven kilometres of pure white silica sand on Whitsunday Island, regularly ranked among the world's finest. From the marina, cruises set out to explore the coral seabed, with diving and snorkelling among tropical fish, while scenic flights reveal Heart Reef, the heart-shaped coral formation that has become the region's emblem. Along the waterfront, a large man-made swimming lagoon allows safe bathing even during stinger season. With its markets, waterside bars and blazing sunsets, Airlie Beach is the ideal base from which to discover one of Australia's most spectacular corners.

You pass through Shute Harbour, Proserpine, and Mackay surrounded by a rustling sea of sugar cane. I arrive in Rockhampton in the evening. Approximately 485km/6.5 hours. Crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn, Rockhampton sits on the banks of the Fitzroy River in central Queensland and is known as Australia’s beef capital for the vast cattle stations that surround it. Its streets preserve elegant colonial sandstone buildings, witnesses to nineteenth-century prosperity, while nearby lie the limestone Capricorn Caves and Mount Archer National Park. From here the coast is easily reached, with the Capricornia islands and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Rockhampton is an authentic gateway to both the outback and the tropical coastline.

Heading south, we come across the town of Gladstone and continuing along the Bruce Highway, we arrive at Hervey Bay, a base for whale watching (July-October) and excursions to Fraser Island. (Approximately 395km / 5 hours). Hervey Bay stretches along a sheltered stretch of the Queensland coast, protected by the calm waters of its namesake bay and renowned as one of the world's great whale-watching capitals. From July to November, humpback whales pass through these tranquil waters on their migration, offering close encounters that draw travellers from across the globe. Above all, the town is the gateway to Fraser Island (K'gari), the largest sand island on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where rainforests grow on sand, wild dingoes roam the beaches and crystal-clear lakes such as Lake McKenzie invite a swim. Between long walks along the pier, fresh seafood and sunsets over the ocean, Hervey Bay is the perfect base from which to explore one of the most extraordinary corners of Australian nature.