Hello Everyone,
I am leaving for Oz on 24th April. I was supposed to be meeting my friend at Sydney Airport but she is now going to be at Airlie Beach.
Does anyone know the best way for me to get there from Sydney? I'm going to be on my own so don't want to stop anywhere for too long.
I'd be grateful for any suggestions
Thanks
x x
Hi holsballs,
Well, the quickest way would be fly... there's an airport near there. I am not sure if it is accessible via the cheaper flights in Autralia though.....
On the other hand, it might be cheaper to bus it, but it's quite a ride from Sydney. Can you change your ticket to fly into Brisbane and then bus it (shaves a good 15 hours off your bus ride...). Greyhound/Mc Cafferty's are then the fastest but it's still quite a sit from Brisbane (good 24 hours if I am not mistaken - sorry, it's been a few years since I did that trip 
).
HTH! Sam
ps. even if you're on your own, I would recommend quite a few of the stops on the route Sydney-Airlie... Byron Bay and Fraser Island to name a couple....
If you do take the bus, you could always stop at Byron Bay and Surfer's Paradise. I think I heard someone talk about Coff's Harbour as a stop (which is about halfway to Byron Bay) once, but I've never been there myself so I don't know if it's a nice place or not. The bus trip between Sydney and Byron Bay is indeed a looooong one however. If you're doing many stops check out their travel passes.
If you're looking for a good party and cheap accomodation I can recommend the hostel TREKKER'S in Surfer's Paradise!!! 
Hi . . . .I was thinking of travelling up this way but more of a tour/travel . .seen the advice for Hollie, but do you have any additional tips for someone who has the time to explore and take it slow?
You still might have some time to book a flight up there. You would be flying in to Mackay / Prosperpine.
It is good advice to see if you can change your current ticket to arrive in Brisbane instead of Sydney there are many more smaller operators that fly out of Brisbane up to north queensland.
Oz.
Well, there are loads of places to go and things to see on the East coast. What we did a lot when we where there was just checking with other backpackers who was travelling in the opposite direction what experiences they had. That way it can be quite easy to know for example which hostels are good and which are bad and so on. People in AU tend to be quite friendly...both locals and travellers.
Going to Fraser Island is a must, but don't take those tour buses, check out the jeep tours instead!
Thanks everyone.
I have managed to book a flight the day after I arrive in Sydney.
Hollie
x x
That's definately the best way to go! The drive on the Qld coastline after Bundaberg is one of the most boring drives through Aus. It's just the same single land road and the same trees and the same straight stretch that I kept falling asleep when I was behind the wheel. Air is a much better option!!