The East Coast trip usually starts in Cairns, but this list is starting in Townsville.

I have travelled between Cairns and Townsville many times, however I haven’t had the grace of time to truly explore and squeeze all of the potential out of the area, so I feel I would be doing a disservice to the reader. Majority of these towns have great old Queensland style kitsch architecture which I absolutely love. It may not be written but it’s almost certainly there.

Ayr

Ayr is a sweet country town in the Burdekin, 1 hour south of Townsville. Enjoy the old Queenslander architecture and catch a film at the drive-in cinema or a performance at the Burdekin Theatre.

Bowen

Wide streets lined with palm trees, beautiful beaches and… a big mango?!

Bowen is the perfect town to stop for a snack or stay the night – just 90 minutes south of Ayr. Take in the views of Bowen and beyond from Flagstaff Hill, cruise along the Esplanade and enjoy the tranquility. There are two big mangos in Bowen – one on the esplanade and an even bigger one on the highway just out of town.

Seaforth

A scenic coastal town 90 minutes south of Airlie, Seaforth is a great spot to stop for a snack and enjoy the view. You can see more about Seaforth here.

Sarina

One hour south of Seaforth, beautiful beaches and good coffee. Really nice folk in town, a great coffee stop on the way to Cape Hillsborough.

Carmila Beach

If you’re travelling in an RV or you have a tent, be sure to stay the night at Carmila Beach. 40 minutes south of Sarina, the camp sites stretch right along the beach, with different areas for different camp set ups. There are compostable toilets and camp fires. Read about my time at Carmila here.

South West Rocks

Just over 3 hours south of Byron Bay. Head up to the lighthouse, visit the old gaol ruins and breath in the salty coastal air.

Sublime Point Lookout

1 hour south of Sydney. Become acquainted with the Illawarra regional with panaramic views.

Bermagui

3 hours south of Jervis Bay. The blue pool is a must see, a beautiful spot for a swim. The beaches of Bermagui are beautiful and rugged, with plenty of spots to stop for lunch along the way.

Merimbula

One hour south of Bermagui, Merimbula is the place you want to stay for the night (or two!). A serene town by the water, there are ample opportunities for whale watching and sight seeing. The ultimate Australian Summer Holidays town.

There you have it. I think these are the most overlooked stops along the way – check out my blog to see the other places I stopped on my trip from Townsville to Tasmania.

Let me know below if you’ve visited these places 🙂