[clive milne]

Best bangs for your buck:

Dunk Island would have to be close to the top of the list.
The story of Dunk island as best as I can recall it is that Qantas negotiated the rights to build a high end resort (and runway to take their jets) on a tropical paradise which is (or was) listed as a national park. A clause in the agreement stipulated that camping facilities were to be provided for anyone who wished to stay there, and the resort facilities (with the exception of the golf course) would be accessible to all. Basically you could catch a water Taxi over from Mission Beach ($30 return) pitch a tent for something like $5 a night, then live like a boss in the resort as long as you covered your martini bill at the bar (and slept in your tent). There was a powerful cyclone (hurricane) a few years ago that damaged the place to the extent that it closed its doors to rebuild. I think it is back up and running again. Even so, Dunk island is still open for camping and should be on your itinerary.

I would suggest flying up to Cairns, book yourself on to a trip out to the reef (either snorkeling or diving) bus it down to Mission beach (less than 2 hours), book yourself in for a day of white water rafting on the Tulley river, sleep that night in Mission Beach then next morning, catch the water taxi over to Dunk island... and relax ....All up including flights, excursions to the reef and rafting, taxi and bus fares + accommodation, this will all cost you less than what it would to get from Brisbane to Cairns by hire car.

No brainer.