Sheri's Blog: A family road trip guide to Australia

I’ve always had strong ties to Australia - my Auntie was a "£10 Pom"! As a child, I was lucky enough to visit family in Adelaide several times, and that’s where the love for Australia started. I told myself I’d live there one day.

Fast forward to 2005, and my husband and I, with two young kids in tow, finally headed off to the land Down Under. We lived there for nine incredible years, experiencing things I’ll cherish forever.

We settled on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, just north of Brisbane, and truly embraced the Aussie lifestyle and all the country had to offer. While I continued my passion working in travel, we spent every spare weekend and holiday exploring. We bought a caravan and hit the road, and I have to say we’ve covered some serious ground!

Here are just a few highlights from my Australian travels. ☀️

Our Queensland Life

We lived in the lovely town of Buderim, just five minutes from Mooloolaba Beach. We loved the outdoor life; the kids were quickly enrolled in ‘Nippers’ (a junior lifesaving programme).

Every Sunday morning, come rain or shine, we’d be on the beach. And yes, it does rain heavily in Queensland, it’s very tropical! My favourite Sundays involved a quick bacon sandwich after Nippers finished, followed by hours basking in the sunshine, swimming, and watching the children embrace Australian life.

Wildlife became our normal. We’d often see pods of dolphins, stingrays, and even humpback whales. Driving the kids to school, I’d excitedly shout, "Look, there’s a kangaroo!" frequently getting zero reaction from the back seat. To the kids, a kangaroo bouncing past the playground was just the norm.

We spent days 4-wheel driving on North Shore Beach by Noosa, or lazing on the sands of Noosa and Mooloolaba. If you walk the Noosa National Park to Hell’s Gate, keep an eye on the trees - if you spot a koala, you’ve been truly blessed. We also held annual passes to Australia Zoo (just 30 minutes away) and saw the late Steve Irwin and his family several times. The conservation work they do there is genuinely incredible, and definitely worth a visit - it's a wildlife sanctuary, not a zoo.

Heading North: Whales, Dolphins & Emeralds

We travelled up the Queensland coast as far as Cairns several times. A classic stop for us was Tin Can Bay, getting up at 6am to feed the dolphins.

From there, we’d head to Hervey Bay for one of the best experiences of my life: whale watching. Seeing these huge, graceful creatures breach just metres away is humbling. If you’re in Queensland between June and November, this is an absolute must.

Further north, we’d stop at Agnes Water and Yeppoon for unspoilt beaches. We even ventured inland to Emerald and Rubyvale to try our hand at fossicking, digging in the dirt hoping to find a massive gem so we could retire early! Sadly, that didn't happen, but we had fun trying.

Then it was onto Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. Hamilton Island was a frequent holiday spot for us and Whitehaven Beach is just as breathtaking as the photos suggest. Taking a flight over the reef is worth every penny to see the scale of it.

The Great Sydney Road Trip (With Extra Luggage!)

One year, my parents flew into Sydney just before New Year. We decided to make a holiday of it, road-tripping down the coast to pick them up, then driving all the way back to Queensland with two extra passengers and two extra suitcases squeezed in. It was a tad tight, and the kids might have moaned a little, but the memories were worth every mile!

The drive itself is packed with gems if you know where to look...

Brisbane to the Gold Coast

We always started with a quick stop in Brisbane. It’s such a vibrant, beautiful city. A wander through South Bank is non-negotiable, it’s the perfect pit stop to stretch your legs and take a quick dip in the man-made lagoon before hitting the road again.

Next is the Gold Coast. It’s busy, energetic, and a haven for backpackers, but you can’t drive past without grabbing the obligatory photo under the Surfers Paradise sign!

The Magic Border Trick

The drive into New South Wales is always a fun novelty. You’d expect huge security or a big "Welcome to New South Wales" sign, but after Coolangatta, the border is literally a street. On one side of the road, you’re in Queensland; on the other, you’re in New South Wales.

Because of the one-hour time difference, it’s a novelty over New Year. You can celebrate midnight in Queensland, walk the short distance, and do it all over again an hour later in New South Wales!

Heading South

• Byron Bay: Just over the border, this is a must-do. It’s famous for its laid-back, hippy vibe and relaxing pace of life. The lighthouse sits on the most easterly point of Australia - the views from the peninsula are just lovely.

• The "Big" Things: We love a cheesy tourist photo! We’d stop in Ballina for a snap with the "Big Prawn", and on to Coffs Harbour for the "Big Banana" water park. The kids loved it, and it broke up the journey perfectly. And, we can't forget our very own Sunshine Coast Big Pineapple!

• Hidden Gems: Evans Head and Yamba are beautiful spots if you want something quieter. Port Macquarie is another favourite pit stop, great beaches and lovely national parks nearby.

• Wildlife Watch: If you have time, Port Stephens is well worth a detour. It’s one of the best spots on the coast to see humpback whales migrating between May and November.

Sydney Highlights

Sydney is busy, but wow, does it deliver. We’ve climbed the Harbour Bridge (tick!) and enjoyed many sunsets at the Opera Bar watching the world go by.

When the kids were younger, Bondi Beach was non-negotiable. They were obsessed with the TV show Bondi Rescue, so we spent ages scanning the sand and peering in the lifeguard tower in search of Hoppo or Reidy, their favourite lifeguards! We never did get their autographs.

If you’re in Sydney, you really must take a trip out to the Blue Mountains. Seeing the Three Sisters rock formation is special, but riding the Scenic Railway at Katoomba, the steepest passenger train in the world, is a real thrill.

That particular New Year, we stayed in Manly and caught the ferry over to Sydney harbour early to grab a spot for the fireworks. Sharing that electric atmosphere with my parents was magic. Then came the 12-hour drive back to Queensland, needless to say, we didn’t do it in one stint with a full car!

The Red Centre: Visiting Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Another unforgettable adventure, and one of my absolute favourites, was our trip to the Red Centre. We flew down to Adelaide first to stay with my Auntie and Uncle in Glenelg, a lovely seaside spot where the old trams still run into the city centre and the sunsets are legendary.

From there, we hired a car (a large one!) and headed north into the desert.

Coober Pedy: The Underground Town

Our first major stop was Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. It’s a bizarre, fascinating place where people live underground to escape the searing desert heat. It’s built on the dreams of people who sold up everything to dig in the dirt, hoping to strike it rich with opals! We stayed at the Desert Cave Hotel, sleeping inside the rock itself, such a unique experience.

The Long Road to Uluru

I won’t lie - the drive from Coober Pedy to Uluru is long. It’s hours of red dirt roads, blue sky, and lots of nothingness. I loved the rugged beauty of it, but if you’re taking kids, go prepared! Pack snacks, water, and games, because my two (now adults) still remind me it was "the most boring day ever". But the arguments in the back seat were worth it the moment we saw the rock.

Conquering the Rock

We did the climb back then, and it was tough - I thought I was going to die! Between the steepness, the heat, and the flies, it was a serious struggle. The view from the top was incredible, but coming down was just as hair-raising as going up.

Nowadays, climbing Uluru is banned out of respect for the Anangu people, which I completely understand, it’s a spiritual place, and the base walk is just as powerful (and much safer!).

If you are lucky enough to experience the outback, getting to watch the sunrise or sunset over Uluru is a magical experience, with the colour changing every minute.

We also explored The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) nearby, 36 massive red domes rising out of the desert, before collapsing into the pool at the Sails in the Desert hotel. That swim was very welcome after the heat of the day! We dropped the hire car in Alice Springs and flew home, tired but happy.

Just Scratching the Surface...

We’ve also ventured to the Top End to explore Darwin, Kakadu, and Litchfield National Parks, and hired a campervan to tour Perth and the Margaret River region in Western Australia.

Australia is vast, diverse, and endlessly surprising. I could go on forever, but I’d rather hear about your plans! Having lived it and loved it for nearly a decade, I’d be so proud to help you plan your own Aussie adventure.

Fancy heading Down Under? Drop me a message and let's chat. 🐨