All good things must come to an end. After the perfect combination of rest, relaxation and exploring in northern Queensland, the return trip had to be made. Our drive south was not going to be boring, there was more to see in our backyard. If you haven’t read about our journey north, read Part One for our recommendations on places to visit on the way north first, and you will have everything you need to discover beautiful Queensland, Australia.
Beautiful Mission Beach
Having heard so much about Mission Beach’s raw beauty, we were looking forward to our stay. The small township of Mission Beach on the Cassowary Coast is a three hour drive from Port Douglas and renowned for two things.
- Its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
- Its 14km of palm lined golden sand beach.
There are no glitzy bars, cafes and restaurants or walking promenades in Mission Beach. The small village atmosphere makes it the perfect getaway from simply everything! Be prepared to slow down right down and be captivated by its natural beauty. On our late afternoon walk we were surprised to find that we had the whole beach almost to ourselves sharing it with a sole walker we could just spot in the distance. Stopping to watch a pod of whales playing in the waters just off the shore was a delight. There are few places where you can have kilometres of golden sand all to yourself!
Dunk Island is a short water taxi ride away to take advantage of the walking trails or take the scenic drive along the coast road to tiny settlement of Bingil Bay and pop into Bingil Bay Café for lunch or dinner.
Discover Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the idyllic Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The town and its own beauty are often overlooked by tourists using it only as a base or launching point to the islands. We decided avoid the islands and stay in Airlie Beach to appreciate this laid back town.
We had found the township bustling with backpackers and holidaymakers on a previous visit. Not this time! The streets were deserted because of travel restrictions. With school holidays due to start we hoped that vacationers would make their way to the area. It’s a great place to take the family. Note that most beaches are out of bounds from November to May because the waters are full of box jellyfish. Their sting can be life-threatening. To counter this, one of Airlie Beach’s attractions is the large family friendly beach side lagoon area so you swim safely while enjoying the gorgeous views.
By now you’ve guessed that we love to walk! There are a number of hiking trails to choose from in the area including some catering for the bushwalker in the Conway National Our favourite is the Bicentennial Coastal Walkway. The walk, for us, started from our accommodation at the Mantra Boathouse at the marina just outside of the town centre. Officially starting at the Lagoon, the 4 kilometre walkway meanders mostly along the water’s edge as far as Cannonvale Beach showcasing beautiful ocean views. Take a brisk morning walk or a more leisurely evening stroll pausing for a cocktail or meal at the bars and restaurants at Abell Point.
For another viewpoint, take the short drive to Coral Point at Shute Harbour for views out over the Whitsunday Passage and the islands. And, if you’re up for it, walk up to the lookout at Mount Rooper for more spectacular views.
The hidden gems of Gladstone
A few days of rest and recreation in Airlie Beach prepared us for the final days of our road trip.
The road into Gladstone portrayed the town’s main purpose. Home to Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port, the landscape was littered with overhead and on-ground rail tracks for shunting goods to the port.
The town isn’t to be underestimated. It provides easy access to the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, and to Heron and Wilson Islands or visitors can take the short ferry ride just off shore to Curtis Island to explore a combination of the lush National Park and the pristine beaches.
Wanting to stay on dry land? The town offers a small heritage walk. There are few historic buildings in the town but the centre is full of its own unique character with a small heritage walk to follow. We wandered around the backstreets on the outskirts of the town centre finding beautiful Queenslander homes with veranda views over the port. Our meandering eventually found us at Auckland Point Lookout which gives a panorama of the harbour and beyond. Be sure to look up at the wall by the cafe for a little inspiration.
Steps leading down from the Lookout brought us to the East Shores Precinct. The parklands have a waterpark, picnic and barbeque areas, and a waterfront boardwalk. An impressive feature of the precinct is how well the site’s original industrial heritage has been incorporated into the waterfront. Signage along the boardwalk gives a detailed guide of the area’s previous function and history.
Looking for more to see around the Gladstone region? The towns of Tannum Sands, Agnes Waters, Seventeen Seventy are all great places to explore and only a short drive away.
Our recommendations
We punctuated the six hour drive from Airlie Beach to Gladstone with a stopover for lunch in Rockhampton. With more time we agree that we would have enjoyed staying a few days in the city. The heart of the city centre boasts wide and the leafy streets with beautiful old buildings. A delight to stroll along!
Where we stayed
- Castaways Resort and Spa at Mission Beach boasts rooms and apartments from where you can step into beautiful gardens with direct access to the 14 kilometre beach. Quiet and secluded but right in the centre of Mission Beach, Castaways is a wonderful place to slow down pace and get away from it all.
- The Mantra Boathouse Apartments in Airlie Beach was perfect for our midway stay. All apartments have balconies with spectacular views over the marina and beyond to the Coral Sea. The apartments are a short walking distance from town but far away enough to make it feel like we were in our own little world. We were content to while away our time reading and getting takeout for dinner to enjoy on the balcony between our sightseeing jaunts around the vicinity.
- Not far from the centre of Gladstone, we stayed at the Mercure Gladstone. Our hotel room was well furnished with a private balcony and the hotel is conveniently attached to the local sports club where we had breakfast and enjoyed pre-dinner drinks. Make sure you have a look at their beautiful art corner featuring local artists.
Where we ate
Mission Beach – We dined at Bibesia restaurant at the Castaways Resort. The staff were friendly and attentive offering us a seafront table. The menu offers fresh local produce.
Gladstone – The Dock at East Shores is a wonderful spot for a relaxed dinner – delicious seasonal food combined with spectacular night-time port views make it a “must do” when you visit this down to earth town.
Everything you need to discover beautiful Queensland!
Driving holidays are best way to see your back yard – read about our drive from Brisbane to Port Douglas and the places we visited on the way.
And, in case you missed it
Read about
- why we love to to take driving holidays; and
- why we think you’ll find it’s more fun to take a self-driving holiday.
