January, February are the middle of cyclone season.
Whilst it has been a while since a cyclone hit Cairns,
do suggest you fly as the roads are often cut off around Tully due rain depressions.
I would not suggest you do the long haul from melb to Cairns in two days.
That is crazy. It is a four day trip going via the coast, and even that is pushing it.
A safe driving holiday, would be more like
Melbourne to Sydney, leave early in the morning and you will be in Sydney by dark with some well timed stops. it is a good highway, or alternative to take the coast rd, and stop at Jervis Bay the night, dive Jervis and head for Sydney lunch time.
Shellharbour is two hours sth of sydney and offers good shore diving.
Sydney to Brisbane is a 10/12 hour trip. there is much to dive on the way.
Seal Rocks is a great dive, as well as solitary Islands.
Bryon Bay is 3 hrs south of Brisbane and offers a good diving and great place to check out for a day. The Pacific Hwy from Sydney to Brisbane is good, with only a couple places that are still being worked on. Most of the way is well off the coast, just trees, and trees, and more trees.
You have to turn off to get to see anything.
Brisbane To Airlie Beach is a ten hour drive, most of it is off the coast, and the highway is reasonable but not the best. Airlie Beach is worth the visit even if you don't dive. it is off the main highway turn left at Mackay.
If you were to get to Rockhampton and feel tired, do not go further. It is a long haul tired from Rocky to Mackay, the road, not the best, and very little is open after dark. there is really nothing to see that you have not seen in rest of your trip. Trees, trees, and a kangaroo or two or three.
Mackay to Cairns is a good trip, long day but there is so much to see I break it up into two days.
If the roads are flooded this is were it will happen. there is 200km of pot holes from all the previous flooding. Townsville, is what it is, but the Yongala is a great wreck dive. Magnetic Island is a good place to stay as well.
Also recommend a trip to Port Douglas, most of the diving will happen out of there, and is worth it.
Consider a trip to Mossman and the gorge. There is a coast road which can be used to get to Cooktown, which if you have a 4wd is worth every cent to get across the river at Mossman.
It has some great scenery. Alternatively you can take the highway which is longer, but faster.
Cooktown is the forgotten end of the GBR. The diving is good and best of all, not many tourist.
Just hippy backpackers.
Here is a link to relocator cars and vans.
I have travelled from Cairns to Sydney and back often using them.
It cost me nothing, but food on the way. They once even paid me to all the petrol as well as
an extra $100 bucks for food.
Rental Relocations Australia New Zealand United States Canada - Hire Now at StandByCars
You just have to pay $1000 incase of accident and what ever the hire cost of van is,
often $1 a day. If you decide to use them, be quick to make decisions, because everyone is using them and they go very fast. They do have a waiting list you can join.
That time of year, there will be lots of cars leaving Cairns, and cars traveling from Sydney to Melbourne from memory.
Just another hint if you are going to fly, join up for email from Jetstar and Virgin.
they will send you info when they are having sales. This is when you book. Flights can get as cheap as $39 from Cairns to Brisbane, etc etc.
Late January, lots of students returning interstate for start of Uni. Everyone is waiting on the sales, so book early. The sales for that time will be on in late November/ Early December.
When in Brisbane don't forget the HMAS Brisbane, great dive, and worth every cent.
