EAST COAST, QLd–NSW TRAVEL
Spectacular scenery, relaxed stays, the promise of plenty to do or the chance to do nothing at all. Long stretches of soft, white sand, the perfect wave or whale watching from cliff-tops … beach bliss is different for everyone. And that's a good thing given what's on offer along our east coast.
It would take way too many pages to cover the hundreds of beaches from Cooktown in Queensland to Eden in NSW, but here's a snapshot of where you can squelch in the sand and dive into the deep blue along the way.
QUEENSLAND: COOKTOWN TO COOLANGATTA (2100KM)
Tropical North Queensland
Renowned for pristine wilderness and the wonders that lay offshore, the beaches here are also famous for two other things – crocodiles and stingers – so it's often better to admire the view rather than take a dip.
Cooktown is the northernmost town you can reach in a 2WD. Named after explorer Captain James Cook, it's full of history, wildlife and wilderness. Check out Finch, Quarantine and Quarantine bays but be warned, the crocodiles have also discovered the appeal of these destinations.
Cape Tribulation is where two World Heritage areas meet – the approximately 180-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Port Douglas offers easy
