Dive & Drive: The Ultimate East Coast Australia Road Trip (Sydney to Port Douglas)

Dive & Drive: The Ultimate East Coast Australia Road Trip

Australia’s East Coast is a dream road trip for anyone, but for scuba divers, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a journey that winds from world-class city diving in Sydney to pristine coral gardens in Far North Queensland. Here’s your guide to the ultimate Drive & Dive road trip — from Sydney to Port Douglas — highlighting the best dive sites and the unique marine encounters waiting for you at every stop.

 

Sydney

Sydney is one of the few major cities in the world where you can go from the heart of downtown to incredible dive sites in under an hour. With a diverse mix of sheltered bays, rocky reefs, kelp forests, and historic shipwrecks, Sydney offers fantastic diving for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned technical divers.

The temperate waters here are home to an incredible variety of marine life, including weedy sea dragons, wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish, and even the occasional grey nurse shark. Thanks to the East Australian Current, Sydney’s underwater world also sees visits from tropical species, making it a unique blend of both temperate and warm-water marine ecosystems.

Other things to do in Sydney: 

• Walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail

• Visit the Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge

• Ferry to Manly Beach & Shelly Beach

• Stroll The Rocks & Circular Quay

• Relax in the Royal Botanic Garden

Distance to Southwest rocks from Sydney:  ~460 km (≈4h 50min drive) north of Sydney driving towards Queensland. It’s best to arrive the night before your planned dive.

Southwest Rocks – The Legendary Fish Rock Cave

Fish Rock Cave, arguably Australia’s premier grey nurse shark and cave dive, boasts a spot among the world’s top 50 dive sites and stands as the sole authentic ocean cave dive destination in the country. Situated just 2km off the coast in the township of South West Rocks, this remarkable 125m cave, or swim-through, spans from one end of Fish Rock to the other.

Other things to do in Southwest Rocks: 

• Explore the historic Trial Bay Gaol

• Hike in Arakoon National Park

• Watch kangaroos on the beach at Little Bay

• Surfing or kayaking in Horseshoe Bay

• Walk to Smoky Cape Lighthouse (great views & whales in season)

Distance to Byron Bay: ~336km (≈3h 30min – 4h 15min drive)

 Byron Bay – Julian Rocks

Dive the marine sanctuary of Julian Rocks, a biodiversity hotspot where subtropical and temperate species meet. Look out for leopard sharks (summer), grey nurse sharks (winter), turtles, and massive schools of fish.

Other things to do in Byron Bay: 

• Sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse

• Surfing or bodyboarding at Main Beach or The Pass

• Boutique shopping & local markets

• Yoga or wellness retreats

• Day trip to Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens

• Waterfalls in the hinterland (Minyon Falls, Killen Falls)

Distance to Gold Coast: ~92 km (≈1h – 1h20min drive)

Gold Coast – Wrecks, Wonder Reef & Straddie

Dive the recently opened Wonder Reef, the world’s first buoyant reef; the wreck of the Scottish Prince; or cross over to North Stradbroke Island for manta rays and leopard sharks (summer), grey nurse sharks and whales (winter), and stunning reefs.

Other things to do on the Gold Coast: 

• Walk or bike the beachfront paths from Surfers Paradise to Burleigh

• Visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

• Explore the arts precinct at HOTA (Home of the Arts)

• Hike in the hinterland: Springbrook or Lamington National Park

• Theme parks: Movie World, Dreamworld, Sea World

Distance to Sunshine Coast: ~182 km (≈2h 10min – 2h30min drive)

Sunshine Coast – Reef & Wreck

Continuing north up to the Sunshine Coast to the township of Mooloolaba, where HMAS Brisbane has been intentionally scuttled to provide a unique wreck diving experience, while also creating an artificial reef. The boat itself is 133m long and was commissioned in 1967. She served in the Vietnam and Gulf wars and was decommissioned in 2003. Scuttled in 2005, divers have the unique opportunity to explore the wreck inside and out, with access to the engine and boiler rooms. There’s wide open entry and exist swim throughs, with lots of natural light.

Other things to do on the Sunshine Coast: 

• Visit Australia Zoo (founded by Steve Irwin)

• Wander around Noosa National Park coastal track

• Farmers markets at Eumundi

• Explore the Glass House Mountains (easy to challenging hikes)

• Chill at Mooloolaba beach or river kayaking

Distance to Rainbow Beach: ~101–149 km (≈2h 7min – 2h 15min drive)

 Wolf Rock & Rainbow Beach

Further north, experienced divers will love Wolf Rock, known for huge aggregations of grey nurse sharks year round, eagle rays, and sometimes even manta rays.

Other things to do at Rainbow Beach: 

• Walk or 4WD along the Coloured Sands

• Horse riding on the beach

• Sandboarding at Carlo Sand Blow (epic sunsets)

• Visit nearby Inskip Point for camping

• Access to Fraser Island / K’gari day tours

Distance to Hervey Bay:  ~123 km (≈1 h 26 min – 2 h 16 min drive)

 Hervey Bay

In Hervey Bay, explore the ex-HMAS Tobruk one of the world’s newest wreck diving sites and was officially opened for underwater exploration in late February 2019 – The open stern doors reveal the massive main tank deck, offering an almost 120-metre swim-through like no other.

Other things to do in Hervey Bay: 

• Whale watching (July–November, one of the best places in the world)

• Stroll or cycle along the 14 km Esplanade

• Explore the Botanic Gardens or historic Urangan Pier

• Visit the Fraser Coast Discovery Sphere

• Local cafés & marina dining

Distance to Lady Elliot: 40min flight from Hervey Bay

Distance to Bundaberg:  ~119 – 122 km (≈ 1 h - 1 h 40 min drive)

Lady Elliot Island

From Hervey Bay, you can take a short flight to Lady Elliot Island, the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and one of the best places to swim with manta rays and turtles. Diving Lady Elliot Island is the land-based equivalent to diving the Great Barrier Reef aboard a liveaboard. You can scuba dive with Manta Rays all year round at Lady Elliot Island Resort. It is a coral cay and the southernmost island within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Lady Musgrave Island

Travel an hour north from Hervey Bay and arrive in Bundaberg and visit Lady Musgrave Island on a day trip or liveaboard pontoon. Dive its lagoon, outer reef walls, and colourful bommies — crystal-clear water and vibrant coral make it a true highlight.

Other things to do in Bundaberg: 

• Visit the Bundaberg Rum Distillery or Bundaberg Brewed Drinks

• Turtle watching at Mon Repos Turtle Centre (seasonal)

• Visit Tinaberries for some fresh fruit ice-cream and strawberry picking (June – August)

• Botanical Gardens & Hinkler Hall of Aviation

• Day trip to Bargara Beach

• Local farm tours (macadamia or ginger farms)

Distance to Agnes Water:  ~122 km (≈ 1 h 23 min – 1 h 35 min drive)

Agnes Water

Continue north to Agnes Water, a laid-back surf town with easy reef access. Embark on an unforgettable journey to the stunning Southern Great Barrier Reef with our Reef Double Dive. Explore over 70 pristine dive sites across 7 incredible reefs in the Capricorn Bunker Group. With every dive, you’ll uncover a new underwater wonderland, teeming with vibrant marine life and breathtaking coral formations.

Other things to do in Agnes Water: 

• Learn to surf (one of Australia’s most northern surf beaches)

• Sunset at the 1770 Headland Lookout

• Paperbark Forest Boardwalk (short & stunning)

• Visit Joseph Banks Conservation Park

• Kayak or SUP in Bustard Bay

Distance to Yeppoon:  ~265 km (≈ 3 h 18 min – 3 h 48 min drive)

Great Keppel Island

Drive up to Yeppoon, then cross over to Great Keppel Island by ferry, where sheltered reefs offer beautiful soft and hard corals and relaxed tropical diving. Great Keppel Island is a tropical paradise known for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life. It offers daily scuba dive trips plus a range of other water sports which include snorkelling, kayaking, eco-tours, and accommodation.

Other things to do in Yeppoon: 

• Chill at the Yeppoon Lagoon (free beachfront pool)

• Explore local art galleries & cafés

• Capricorn Caves (guided tours)

• Koorana Crocodile Farm tour

Distance to Airlie Beach: ~500km (≈ 5 h 30 min drive)

Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Take a liveaboard to outer reef sites for spectacular coral gardens, or visit iconic spots like Bait Reef and Hardy Reef. Choose from a vast array of day trip or liveaboards that best suit your needs.

Other things to do in Airlie Beach: 

• Stroll the Airlie Beach Boardwalk & Lagoon

• Day trip to Cedar Creek Falls

• Visit markets on Saturday morning

• Hiking in Conway National Park (e.g., Honeyeater Lookout)

• Sail the Whitsundays

Distance to Ayr: ~188km (≈ 2 h 10 min drive)

 Ayr – The SS Yongala

Just south of Townsville, dive the legendary SS Yongala wreck — regularly rated among the world’s best dives. Expect giant trevallies, bull rays, sea snakes, and large Queensland gropers circling this historic wreck.

Other things to do in Airlie Beach: 

• Visit Alva Beach

• Local sugar cane history at Burdekin Theatre or small local museums

• Seasonal wetlands birdwatching

• Local cafés and small shops

Distance to Townsville: ~88km (≈ 1 h 10 min drive)

Townsville – MOUA, Yongala & GBR

If you missed Ayr, you can still get to the SS Yongala from Townsville. In Townsville, explore the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), then do another Yongala dive or head out to nearby Great Barrier Reef sites for colourful walls and coral bommies.

Other things to do in Townsville: 

• Walk or hike up Castle Hill for panoramic views

• Stroll along The Strand foreshore

• Visit Reef HQ Aquarium or Museum of Tropical Queensland

• Ferry to Magnetic Island for hikes & wildlife (even without diving)

• Paluma Range National Park (waterfalls, rainforest)

Distance to Cairns:  ~350 km (≈ 4h drive)

Cairns – Dive Capital

Cairns is the hub for day trips and liveaboards to the Great Barrier Reef. Dive iconic sites like Milln Reef, Flynn Reef, and Thetford Reef, or go further to the Cod Hole and Osprey Reef on extended trips.

Other things to do in Cairns: 

• Chill at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

• Explore Fitzroy Island or Green Island

• Visit the Botanic Gardens

• Day trip to Kuranda via scenic railway & skyrail

• Waterfalls circuit in the Atherton Tablelands

Distance to Port Douglas:  ~66 km (≈ 1 h - 1 h 10 min drive)

Port Douglas – Outer Reef Adventures

End your trip in Port Douglas, your base for diving the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs and outer barrier reef sites famous for crystal-clear visibility, healthy coral, and encounters with reef sharks, turtles, and sometimes even dwarf minke whales (June–July).

Other things to do in Port Douglas:

• Wander around the Sunday Markets

• Relax on Four Mile Beach

• Visit the nearby Mossman Gorge (easy walks & swimming holes)

• Daintree Rainforest day trip

• Sunset sail or sunset drinks at the marina

Tips for the Drive & Dive Adventure:

• Plan ahead: Some dives (like Yongala or Wolf Rock) require advanced certification or experience.

• Liveaboards: For the GBR, liveaboards let you reach the most remote, pristine reefs.

• Best time to dive: Generally, April–November offers great visibility and conditions, but there’s good diving year-round.

• Gear: Bring your own basics (mask, snorkel, computer) but rent tanks and weights locally.

• Safety: Always allow surface intervals before long drives or flights.

From temperate kelp forests to tropical coral gardens, Australia’s East Coast offers a diving road trip like nowhere else on earth. Pack your dive gear, grab your camera, and get ready to explore over 2,500 km of underwater wonders!