Chase the Sun: Your Go-To Road Trip Guide for Discovering the Sunshine State in Winter

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Beach vibes. Hot pizzas. And ice-cold jugs of Aperol Spritz. It may be giving Positano, but we're not talking about a summer on the Italian Riviera. Instead, Aperol is bringing something similar a little closer to home with an inspiring Sunshine State road trip. Inspired by the best offerings of the Amalfi Coast, the Aperol Queensland Kombi Tour will travel along the east coast of Australia  — starting in Airlie Beach and ending in Port Douglas — bringing all the trimmings of a mid-year European escape with it. 

Want to get on board? While you may not personally be able to hop onto the Kombi van yourself (that spot's reserved for the rooftop DJ), you can certainly create your own road trip to chase the sun and enjoy an Aperol Spritz in the process. To get you started, prep your playlists, nominate a designated driver and drop the following suggestions into Google Maps. 

NOOSA

Home to one of only two everglade systems on earth, the natural beauty of Noosa can be found 90 minutes north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway. It's a location that feels far enough to count as a road trip, without the need to fork over half your week's rent to fill the tank to get there.

There are a couple of things you need to know about Noosa. Number one: it's packed with excellent options for outdoor activities, like surfing, dolphin spotting, swimming in secluded beach spots or simply exploring the aforementioned everglades. And two: its iconic Main Beach is packed with places serving up perfectly made Aperol Spritzes just steps away from the sand.

On that note, our suggestions are to check out Locale Noosa and Miss Moneypenny's.  The former is a refined Italian restaurant on Hastings Street that does an excellent Calamarata pasta with Fremantle octopus, black olive, leek cream and fried capers. Meanwhile, the latter delivers high-end dining, including a seven-course degustation.

Steve Davison via Unsplash

TOWNSVILLE

Being blessed with year-round sunny weather means outdoor activities — such as beach parties, barbecues and day trips to balmy Magnetic Island — are popular pastimes in Townsville, practically any time you visit.

Ditto al fresco dining, with some of the best options in town including The Ville and Rockpool Pavilion. Part resort, part casino and part restaurant, The Ville is an excellent destination to tackle the trifecta of relaxation, roulette and revelry (including a refreshing Aperol Spritz or two). Rockpool, on the other hand, is all about enjoying a meal that fuses old-school coastal charm with a modern style. 

AIRLIE BEACH

Work your way up to the Whitsundays and book a couple of days at Airlie Beach — generally considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. While its close proximity to one of the seven natural wonders of the world makes the options for outdoor ventures fairly obvious — snorkelling, island hopping, helicopter riding over the ocean, oh my — more obscure (though no less interesting) suggestions include exploring Airlie's social scene.

If you're keen to extend your stay at Airlie Beach, Coral Sea Marina Resort is our suggestion, with the 76-room boutique hotel offering a wide range of accommodations alongside some brilliant in-house dining venues. Similarly, Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill is an excellent option if your long-weekend requirements include a place to play and stay.

Insider hack: plan your stay for either of the first two weekends in July to coincide with the Aperol Kombi pit stop five, and enjoy the vintage van serving up icy Aperol specials (like rosemary-infused Rosy Cheeks) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Northerlies.

CAIRNS

A pit stop at Cairns comes highly recommended if you want your itinerary to include swimming in natural pools below gushing waterfalls, hiking through lush rainforests and white water rafting down steep ravines and raging rapids.

Cairns is also home to some of the best places to dine and drink in Tropical North Queensland.

The breezy, bustling beachfront Villa Romana is our pick for all-day, Italian-inspired fare. Standouts include the live black mussels served Sicilian-style, with cherry tomatoes, chilli, garlic white wine and charred ciabatta. The nearby Salt House serves up fresh, local and seasonal produce that perfectly pairs with amazing cocktails.

And, although the Salt House never fails to deliver on the drinks front, come late July a visit by the Aperol Kombi Van will elevate the experience by way of an exclusive pop-up Aperol Lawn Bar. While the relaxing day beds and ocean views will still be on offer, they'll now include a side of funky DJ tunes. The van will then hang around for another week, making an appearance at the Food & Wine Festival '23 - Salt House Cairns, on Saturday, August 5. 

PORT DOUGLAS

This palm-fringed, 3500-person town 70 kilometres north of Cairns makes it easier than you could ever imagine to access iconic World Heritage-listed marvels, specifically the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. However, it is also an excellent option if you're keen to sink your teeth into some world-class watering holes, such as the Court House Hotel and La Cucina.

The Court House Hotel (AKA The Courty) is the oldest pub in town, so we're going to guess it knows a thing or two to keep customers coming back. Add it to your itinerary, if your road-trip non-negotiables include old-school pub grub that focuses on fresh, local produce.

If, on the other hand, you really can't get a trip to Milan out of your mind, head to La Cucina. While the eatery may be a million miles away from The City of Love, its Italian-inspired menu and classy cocktails bar (including an excellent Aperol Spritz) make it our pick for those who want to experience la dolce vita, minus the long-haul flight.

Keen to follow the Aperol Kombi Tour? Invite your friends, load up your own car and come along for the ride. For further details, visit the website.