Mike Yardley: Great Barrier Reef island escapes

"If you’re sizing up a great foray on Queensland’s holiday highway, the Pacific Coast Way, it’s not just the mainland that serves up so many temptations. On my recent road-trip between Cairns and Rockhampton, I mixed and matched some overnight stops in Mission Beach, Townsville, Cape Hillsborough, and Yeppoon with some quick and easy jaunts to the Great Barrier Reef.

"The Pacific Coast Way straddles the full length of the Great Barrier Reef, so hopping off the highway for some island time presents a glittering necklace of options. Comprising roughly a 1000 islands and coral cays, several dozen islands have dedicated resorts and hotels. Last year, I lapped up my first visit to the dreamy Whitsundays, headlined by the resort-style panache of Hamilton Island. It’s very easy get to from Airlie Beach. But on my latest trip, I ticked off two more Barrier Reef boltholes: Magnetic Island and Great Keppel Island. "

Read Mike's full article here.

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