Elliston greeted us with low skies and the type of weather that makes a coastal town feel dramatic and a little mysterious. The sea was restless, the wind sharp, and the landscape striking.
We parked up and wandered down to the jetty. The Elliston jetty stretches out over usually calm, clear water, inviting you to slow down and take it all in. The coastline here feels raw and open, the kind of beauty that doesn’t need to shout.
But what surprised us was the Great Ocean Drive. A short loop just out of town, it winds along the cliffs with views that demand you to stop often. Dotting the roadside are sculptures that range from whimsical to powerful, each one standing boldly against the backdrop of crashing waves and endless sky. They’re unexpected, imaginative, and a testament to the creativity of this little community that punches above its weight.
We took our time, pulling over again and again to admire both the art and the views. Elliston isn’t a place to rush — it’s best enjoyed slowly, with the windows down and the camera close at hand.
Exploring the unbeaten paths of Australia, one adventure at a time! 🌿 Follow along as we uncover hidden gems, tackle rugged terrains, and embrace the thrill of exploring offbeat destinations. 🚙💨
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Updated September 2026
Beach walks, local markets, and whales in calm blue water. Hervey Bay is the coast at its most easygoing. Perfect for slow mornings, sea breezes, and a good reminder to pause for a while.
Updated September 2026
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Updated August 2026.
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Updated August 2026.
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Updated August 2026
Most people drive through Cardwell. We stayed and found a milky-blue swimming hole in the hills, a calm upgraded foreshore, and the quiet gateway to Hinchinbrook Island. Just time your Spa Pool visit for rain.
Our second stop in St Lawrence, the quiet town between Mackay and Rockhampton: two nights at the community rec ground, Friday lasagne night, a local’s tour with a mate, and the old meatworks boilers in the bush.
Updated August 2026
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Cameron is a travel writer, photographer, and freelance copywriter with more than fifteen years of experience crafting stories that connect people and place. Travelling full-time on the road in a motorhome with his partner, he documents Australia’s quieter corners through Off the Main Road, a travel journal devoted to the towns, landscapes, and characters often overlooked by the tourist trail.
His writing blends observation with lived experience, drawing on a professional background in brand storytelling. With a photographer’s instinct and a writer’s eye for detail, Cameron captures moments that reveal the character of regional Australia, from weathered towns and open landscapes to the honest texture of life on the road.


A solo flight to Lady Elliot Island brought a famously short grass runway, an hour in the lagoon, guano mining history, a 150-year-old lighthouse, a communal buffet, and an afternoon among turtles, manta rays and coral gardens.