~3 week honeymoon itinerary for the east coast (feedback request)
Hey everyone!
My partner and I are getting married next year and we're pretty much sold on Australia's East Coast for the honeymoon. Neither of us has ever been Down Under, so we've been deep in research mode, and now we'd love a reality check from people who actually know this coastline.
We're not the 'lie on a beach for a week' type. We want adventure, nature, good food, and city buzz mixed with wilderness. The big one: I want to skipper a bareboat catamaran myself for 3 nights in the Whitsundays, just the two of us, no flotilla or hired skipper. Got my RYA Day Skipper license and enough hours on the water to feel ready, but it's still nerve-wracking in the best way.
Quick note on timing: we're flexible on total length. The draft below is 24 days, but anywhere from a bit under 3 weeks to a bit over works for us, so don't hold back on suggestions just because they'd add or cut a day or two.
Would appreciate any feedback on our current itinerary!
Currently we’re thinking to go on the 21st or the 28th of august.
Here's the full plan, Cairns to Sydney.
Day 1 (Cairns, 3 nights): Arrive in Cairns
Day 2 (Cairns, 3 nights): Great Barrier Reef outer reef day trip (snorkelling/diving)
Day 3 (Cairns, 3 nights): Free day
Day 4 (Port Douglas, 2 nights): Get rental car, drive to Port Douglas
Day 5 (Port Douglas, 2 nights): Visit Daintree, Cape Tribulation
Day 6 (Townsville, 2 nights): Long drive Port Douglas to Townsville via Cairns (~490km/6.5-7h), lunch stop in Mission Beach
Day 7 (Townsville, 2 nights): Full day visit of Magnetic Island
Day 8 (Airlie Beach, pre-charter, 1 night): Drive to Airlie Beach via Bowen (~280km/3.5h), provisioning and charter briefing
Day 9 (Whitsundays, bareboat charter, 3 nights): Depart on charter, sail to Whitehaven Beach
Day 10 (Whitsundays, bareboat charter, 3 nights): Hill Inlet lookout, reef snorkelling
Day 11 (Whitsundays, bareboat charter, 3 nights): Final sailing day, return to marina in the afternoon
Day 12 (Airlie Beach, post-charter, 1 night): Rest day, no driving
Day 13 (Mackay / Cape Hillsborough, 1 night): Drive to Mackay (~150km/2h), relax evening
Day 14 (Agnes Water & Town of 1770, 1 night): Dawn kangaroo/wallaby sighting at Cape Hillsborough, then long drive via Rockhampton and Gladstone (~550km/6.5h)
Day 15 (Noosa, 3 nights): Drive to Noosa (~430km/5h)
Day 16 (Noosa, 3 nights): Noosa National Park coastal walk, Hastings Street
Day 17 (Noosa, 3 nights): Noosa Everglades canoe/kayak morning
Day 18 (Byron Bay, 2 nights): Drive to Byron Bay (~310km/3.5h)
Day 19 (Byron Bay, 2 nights): Cape Byron lighthouse sunrise walk, Wategos Beach
Day 20 (Sydney, 4 nights): Drop rental car near Byron/Ballina, fly to Sydney (~1h20)
Day 21 (Sydney, 4 nights): Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay
Day 22 (Sydney, 4 nights): Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
Day 23 (Sydney, 4 nights): Optional Blue Mountains day trip
Day 24 (Sydney, 4 nights): Depart / fly home