Nothing of interest north of Sydney until Queensland!?!? What about Byron Bay? Yes, so it's becoming increasingly yuppified, but the beach remains beautiful and the vibe is still laid back. Byron Bay is one of my favourite places in the world!! Also, on the road between Byron and Brisbane you'll find places selling local fruit using an honour system - take a bag, leave the money in a box. (unless the drought has changed all of that).
For the sheer tackiness factor, stop off in Surfer's Paradise. Bleurgh.
I agree that Fraser Island is lovely, but for ease of travelling, Stradbroke Island is another option and is just north of Brisbane. It's more built up than Fraser, but the beaches are still lovely (although not as much as Fraser!). For a traveller, it's easier to get around - even without a car. The train is met by buses, which is met by the ferry, which is met by buses. Too easy.
Brisbane is a great city - despite what people say about it - although it helps to have a local to show you around. Ok, so I'm biased as I was born there, but it's really exploded in recent years with everything you could want from a city. You can go rockclimbing at Kangaroo Point, just near the city and overlooking the Brisbane River.
Other beautiful beaches can be found on Noosa Headland- kilometres of unspoilt beaches just a stone's throw from Noosa itself. Around the Sunshine Coast (ie Caloundra, Moolooloobah, Noosa etc) there are sky diving places which land on the beach. With the view of the glasshouse mountains and the coastline, I think it would be one of the most spectacular dives...not that I've done it myself. (But I've seen them land on the sand, so that counts, right...?!)
The glass house mountains - about an hour and a half's drive north of Brisbane - are beautiful and provide a range of options for climbing; from a stroll with clearly-cut steps to proper mountain climbing. Montville and Maleny - the towns nearby - are also quaint.
As for getting to Uluru / Ayres Rock - fly. It's a long long drive from the East Coast- I did it with my mum when I was fourteen. Just fly there and go from there. The landscape gets pretty bleak in the outback and the roads never curve. It's better to spend the driving time on the coast!
Have a wonderful time!!
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