Hitch a ride up the east coast

It’s a given that Australia has some of the hottest beaches in the world, so why not lap it up on a roadtrip?

That’s the idea behind a new initiative known as Australia’s Great Beach Drive, launched to provide over 200km of stunning beach driving, capturing the crème de la crème of our coastlines, scenery and wildlife.

The drive is slightly biased in that it only takes in Queensland’s Sunshine and Fraser coasts, but hey, these beaches are pretty gorgeous so why not?

The touring route is steeped in culture and Aussie history, covering two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, a World Heritage-listed Marine Park, and the largest sand island in the world.

Kicked off by the Sunshine and Fraser Coast tourism teams to jointly market their regions, the itinerary involves six drives that can be tailored to meet specific interests and time spans of visitors.

The new product provides full details of self-drive 4WD options or guided tours across the region, with fact-sheets and links available via the website.

“Not only is this a very exciting product to promote Australia’s Nature Coast, it is launched at a time when petrol prices have come down dramatically, making it a very affordable way of discovering the best of Australia’s coastline,” Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd’s COE Simon Ambrose said.

“The Great Beach Drive will be a showcase for the region’s spectacular beaches, sublime climate, dramatic scenery, our abundant range of water activities, our high quality seafood and our relaxed, laid back lifestyle.”

While subject to tidal and weather conditions, the Great Beach Drive is suitable for most experienced off-road drivers, and the sections or the entire route can be covered in anything from half a day, a long weekend to a full week, depending on the activities undertaken during the drive.

The drive revs up in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where travellers can cruise through the beachside village with a kayak, canoe or cruise of the Noosa Everglades.

They can then take to their four wheel drive (4WD) for a trek on the ‘beach highway’ to Rainbow Beach, where there’s always the chance they might spot wildlife in the form of whales, dolphins, birds of prey, kangaroos and monitor lizards.

Other pit-stops include Fraser Island, which is accessed by ferry, and boasts a feast of 4WD routes, as well as water and other adventure sports, along with Australia’s famous dingo.

The north point of the Great Beach Drive is the historic city of Maryborough, with beautifully preserved colonial streets that were home to the creator of Mary Poppins, and where visitors can follow in her footsteps on the Magical Mary Trail.

Fraser Coast Opportunities GM David Spear said the combo of accessibility and diversity has made the Great Beach Drive the best way to experience our coastal treasures.

“The range of itineraries will provide flexibility, allowing everything from long-weekends to those who want to explore the region in far greater depth.”

“We will build on the international renown of Fraser Island by offering a new structured product that will provide a very compelling structured itinerary that will allow visitors to discover the attractions of the Fraser Coast and surrounding region.”

For further information on the Great Beach Drive such as tide times, track conditions, safety guidelines, camping, permits and images visit www.australiasnaturecoast.com.

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