The Townsville North Queensland Drive itinerary is the perfect relaxed touring option to experience the tropical North - from the coastal town of Townsville travel 270 kilometres round trip to the historical outback gold-mining town of Charters Towers. Why not buy a kilo of fresh northern prawns and a breadstick in Townsville for a delicious lunchtime picnic in one of the pretty parks when you reach Charters Towers. Stay a few days and enjoy the history, the many quaint old miner's cottages and colonial architecture from the late 1800s.

Side tour: Take the turn-off at Mingela and drive 40 kilometres to Ravenswood, a true ghost town, which had 48 hotels and 5,000 residents at its peak until it was deserted in 1912. It is now a heritage listed working mining town with old mullock heaps, tall chimneys and nineteenth century pubs and other buildings. View operations at the open cut mine from the lookout. Continue on from here to the Burdekin Falls Dam which holds four times as much water as Sydney Harbour. It's a gorgeous place for another picnic, fish or camp for a genuine outback Australian experience.