Queensland in Eight Nights — Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns
Queensland is large enough to be a holiday on its own, and this itinerary stays inside it rather than running the usual Sydney–Melbourne circuit. Three bases, eight nights, moving north up the coast.
Journey overview
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
Queensland is large enough to be a holiday on its own, and this itinerary stays inside it rather than running the usual Sydney–Melbourne circuit. Three bases, eight nights, moving north up the coast.
Journey highlights
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
- Three Queensland bases in eight nights — Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns.
- A full day on the Great Barrier Reef and a full day in the rainforest.
- A hot-air balloon flight over the Gold Coast hinterland.
- Theme-park and Sea World admissions on the Gold Coast.
- Open-jaw routing — fly into Brisbane, out of Cairns, with no backtracking.
Day-by-day itinerary
You are met at Brisbane Airport and driven to your hotel. Your package includes a hop-on hop-off city loop bus, which is a straightforward way to orient yourself on a first afternoon. Brisbane sits on a bend of its river and is easy to read once you have circled it once. · Brisbane
A full day out to an island resort in Moreton Bay off Brisbane, on a shared basis. The bay's sand islands are the reason Brisbane has a coastline worth a day of its own. You return to the city in the evening. · Brisbane
You travel from Brisbane to the Gold Coast by road, an hour or so south. The rest of the day is free to settle in — the Gold Coast is a beach strip, and the beach is the point of it. · Gold Coast
A full day at a Gold Coast theme park with shared transfers provided, plus admission to the coast's observation deck for the view back over the strip and inland to the hinterland. · Gold Coast
An early start for a hot-air balloon flight over the Gold Coast hinterland, followed by a champagne breakfast at a vineyard. Balloon flights run to scheduled timings and depend on weather. Later, admission to Sea World on the coast. · Gold Coast
A travel day north to Cairns by domestic flight. Domestic airfare is not included. The remainder of the day is free once you reach your Cairns hotel. · Cairns
A full day up into the rainforest-covered ranges behind Cairns, centred on the village in the hills above the town. This is the classic guided excursion rather than the cableway route, and it runs on a shared basis. · Cairns
A full-day cruise from Cairns out to a coral island on the reef, returning in the afternoon. The excursion runs on a seat-in-coach basis, so you are collected and returned with other travellers rather than privately. The reef lies offshore from Cairns and the crossing is part of the day. Breakfast at the hotel is the only meal included. · Cairns
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and a private transfer to Cairns Airport for your onward flight. Cairns Airport is close to town and the drive is short. Your onward flight is not part of this package, so allow the check-in time your airline requires. If you have been diving during your stay, check your operator's guidance on how long to wait before flying.
What's included & excluded
Exactly what your journey covers — set out clearly, with no surprises, so you know precisely what to expect.
Included
- Eight nights' accommodation — two nights in Brisbane, three on the Gold Coast and three in Cairns.
- Daily breakfast at the hotel, from Day 2 to Day 9.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Brisbane Airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Cairns hotel to Cairns Airport.
- Brisbane hop-on hop-off city loop bus.
- Full-day Moreton Bay island excursion from Brisbane, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Surface travel from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
- Full-day Gold Coast theme-park admission with shared transfers.
- Gold Coast observation deck admission.
- Hot-air balloon flight over the Gold Coast hinterland with a vineyard champagne breakfast, operating to scheduled timings.
- Sea World admission.
- Full-day guided rainforest excursion from Cairns, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef island cruise from Cairns, on a seat-in-coach basis.
Excluded
- GST is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- TCS is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
- All meals other than those listed under Inclusions, including lunches, dinners and drinks with meals.
- Any sightseeing, entry ticket, in-water activity or excursion not specifically listed under Inclusions. This includes diving, and any equipment hire or guided activity charged separately by the reef operator.
- Transport to and from the Sea World and observation deck admissions, which are supplied as entries. Getting there is your own arrangement and at your own cost.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, and anything of a personal nature.
- Early check-in and late check-out charges, and any hotel upgrade.
- City taxes or resort fees charged directly by the hotel.
- Anything not specifically listed under Inclusions.
Related to this journey
Every destination on this journey has its own guide — attractions, where to stay and what to eat — and the journeys that pair with this one are a click away.
Plan your journey
Our travel designers turn knowledge and inspiration into a journey crafted entirely around you.
Plan My Journey →