Etty Bay itself is a stunner of a beach, but its locals make it even more amazing cassowaries are often spotted sneaking along the sand. "startScreen": "aus-link-account" TTNQ acknowledges the custodianship of the Great Barrier Reef & Wet Tropics by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect our natural assets for future generations. who wants the trip to end? Your experience begins with a traditional smoking welcome ceremony before you stroll along private paths with your Kuku Yalanji guide, who will share their traditions and culture passed down over thousands of years. The half way point is Townsville which might be worth a stop. > 3. Spanning 457km down Australias East Coast, the drive from Cairns to Townsville takes you on a journey infused with exhilarating natural experiences and breath-taking beauty, with highlights from two world heritage listed areas, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. You can see it rising from the sugar can fields, a rock pyramid, and it beckons you to climb it and once at the top you have uninterrupted 360 degree views. With activities to suit everyone's holiday agenda, Townsville North Queensland will create memories to last a lifetime. A 15-minute walk will lead you to an impressive 25m waterfall; you can swim at the base of the falls, so make sure you bring your swimmers. Continue your waterhole hopping at the Cardwell Spa Pool. Ingham is the second major township along Bruce Highway between Cairns and Townsville. The North Queensland coastline while driving from Townsville to Cairns features some of the most incredible beaches, spectacular scenery, great fishing and exciting things to do.. This oft-overlooked coastal town gives you a base to reach Magnetic Island. Phone: 1800 216 223, 440 Sheridan Street, Cairns, If theres something worth chucking a u-ie for, its the largest single drop waterfall in Australia. 2023 Tourism Tropical North Queensland - Is a not for profit organisation and the official Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) of Cairns and Great Barrier Reef, extending from Cardwell to the tip of the Torres Strait Islands and out to the Northern Territory border. However, as I found out recently there are lots of reasons to take a few days on this road trip and to make it more about the journey than the destination. "login": { Airlie Beach-Townsville 280km. I was commissioned to write a travel story for Luxury Travel . And how far/driving time is Cairns to Townsville. This is where you branch off if you want to see Australias highest waterfall Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park. Then continue north on the Mulligan Highway for 20 minutes to historic Cooktown, and climb to the top ofGrassy Hillin the town centre for a breathtaking view. To the east of the CBD, you'll find Magnetic Island , to its north and south there's national parks and its west, well, that's where the real adventure begins. Parking is on a private sugar cane farm so don't block the road. Does Townsville warrant a couple. Charter Towers to Hughenden. Bamboo grove at Paronella Park. If youre visiting between June and November, go behind the scenes at the Tully Sugar Mill on a guided tour. regardless of circumstance and ability. Once youre full enough to face the day, make way for Babinda Boulders, a stunning rainforest swimming hole just seven minutes away from the township. Day 11: Drive from Townsville to Mission Beach, with a detour to Wallaman Falls. If you have found this site helpful, please book TOURS and ACCOMMODATION through our booking partners. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user. Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise. There is a maximum stay of 2 nights.RATES: FREE. While youre there, take a wander round TYTO Regional Art Gallery and the Mini Military Museum at Hinchinbrook Shire library, too. Reduced speed limit (40km/h). | website by. Spanning 457km down Australia's East Coast, the drive from Cairns to Townsville takes you on a journey infused with exhilarating natural experiences and breath-taking beauty, with highlights from two world heritage listed areas, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. A variation of the _gat cookie set by Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to allow website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. Linger over lunch at eternal favouriteCasa Pastathen walk off the authentic Italian fare by joining the signposted Hinchinbrook Heritage Walk, between Ingham and neighbouring Halifax. Day 11. Journeying through over 12 national parks, it's easy to see how the Great Green Way got its name. Our coaches stop in the heart of Cairns and Townsville, eliminating the need for a transfer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. COACH FEATURES. From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. 2.2 Day 2: Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville accommodation recommendations. { All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. 35 kms south of Port Hinchinbrook on the Bruce Highway, the Hinchinbrook Lookout gives you unforgettable views of the Hinchinbrook Channel. Faiclities include flushing toilets, hot showers, free WiFi, pool, library, mini golf, camp kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining, rec room with TV, laundry.RATES: $30 for two people. 149km. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You have dozens of rainforest and coastal walking trails, secluded inlets, and wide empty beaches to explore, and if youre lucky youll see an endangered Cassowary, but keep a safe distance. An 800 metre track across Henrietta Creek leads to Gooligans Picnic Area. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. At Mamu Tropical Skywalk, meander through the rainforest canopy on a raised boardwalk, and climb to the top of the 37m observation tower delivering epic views of the North Johnston River Gorge. The road to Undara is sealed the entire way from Cairns, Townsville and . This cookie, set by Tribal Fusion, collects data on user visits to the website, such as what pages have been accessed . Mission Beach is the birthplace of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where in the 1960s-70s, John Busst campaigned to save Ellison Reef from limestone mining, setting the legal precedent for the protection of the entire marine park. From here, it's a 3-hour drive to Townsville. }, Rockhampton-Mackay 335km. Watch out for crocodiles though, theyve been known to sunbake on the nearby rocks. The area is named after the endangered Eastern Grass Owl (TYTO Capensis) and is one of the few places in the world where you may be fortunate enough to spot one. Cairns to Townsville Distance: 347 Kilometers | 4 hours and 30 minutes. There are even daily transfers available from Mission Beach so that you can take a break from driving for the day. 3,050 km | 21 - 26 days. Password (8+ characters) . Drive half an hour west again intoWooroonooran National Park, home to fascinating native critters such as double-eyed fig parrots and musky rat-kangaroos, as well as Mt Bartle Frere, Queenslands highest mountain. When to visit. Appropriately named, you wont be surprised to discover a series of smooth granite boulders at this freshwater swimming hole. Known as the greatest detour in the North, opt for the scenic route by deviating onto the Canecutter Way. Encompassing waterfalls, wetlands, mountains, and plenty of friendly country towns, this itinerary includes the unmissable hot spots, so that you can begin your East Coast adventure in the best possible way. Optional Detour Tully Gorge National Park. Australias largest island national park is covered in mountains, fragile heathland, tropical rainforest and mangrove fringes. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Cairns to Cooktown Road Trip: Bloomfield Track or Inland Road? In the afternoon, drive just over one-hour toUndara Volcanic National Park, home to the remnants of the worlds longest lava flow from a single volcano. It's not only conveniently close to the world's largest reef system but the once-sleepy town promises to show a new side to the natural wonder, which stretches 2,300 kilometres from the tip of Cape York to Bundaberg further south. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. If youre feeling like a big kid, or youre travelling with actual kids, the natural waterslide here will be very popular. } Lesser known are the smaller beaches and coves that make up a huge part of its charming appeal. Re: Cairns to Townsville. If youve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, well be happy to hear from you. Photo: Elsa's Wholesome Life of Instagram. There are several local operators such as Calypso Reef Cruises, Quicksilver Cruises andWavelength, each offering daily tours from Reef Marina in Port Douglas. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. According to a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman, Night Owl in Fairfield Waters was the target of a ram-raid and burglary at 2am this morning, when a stolen Toyota Hilux was used to drive into . Other less-frequented highlights of the park include: Free Camping at Japoonvale Rest Area - is on the banks of Liverpool Creek. Photo: ecologist.sHayes via Instagram. Its a perfect spot to park the campervan and cool off in crystal clear water amid granite boulders. Judbarra/Gregory National Park to Timber Creek. Take your camera! Allow four hours to complete the walk, which takes you across the ridge between Henrietta and Douglas creeks, before winding down to the spectacular, double-tiered Nandroya Falls. Townsville. Little Crystal Creek, Paluma Range National Park, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. Tide Caf delivers dishes with locally-sourced ingredients and has vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with There are lots of campervan hire companies in Cairns we decided to go with Britz which was a great solution and gave us plenty of flexibility to change our itinerary if we needed. A vivid turquoise colour, the spa itself is a natural depression in the creek bed that causes the water to bubble and swirl like a Jacuzzi. Take the long track back to the campground and enjoy a rainforest dip at Douglas Creek. If youve built up a sweat en-route, theres plenty of places to cool off: Paradise Waterhole at Big Crystal Creek offers sparkling green waters and natural waterslides; Little Crystal Creek has a series of cascading pools centred around a 1930s concrete arch bridge; while jaw-dropping Jourama Falls features swimming holes and lookout points to the 180m multi-tiered waterfall. Although they're both tropical cities, Cairns and Townsville are as different as chalk and cheese in many ways. Year round. This road trip from Townsville to Cairns may only be four and a half hours, but it is packed with heaps of sights and attractions. Day 14: Head out to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns on an all-day . Mount Mulligan Lodge, Mount Mulligan, Queensland Mount Mulligan Lodge. And, if youre feeling ultra-adventurous, go big with Xtreme rafting for the wildest ride possible. This leads to a Townsville to Cairns driving time of around four hours and four minutes. screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the websites functions. It is a popular swimming and picnic spot. 6:32 pm arrive in Cairns. Undara Experience, Undara, Queensland Rowan Bestmann, Tourism and Events Queensland. Sunset cruise. Day 7-8. "custAction": "event2" as soon as they enter the website. Mackay-Airlie Beach 150km. Before you reach your final destination, take the short detour to see Millaa Millaa Falls, a magnificent waterfall surrounded by lush green rainforest. Borroloola to Limmen National Park. The drive from Cairns to Darwin is a long one. Walk 40 minutes to the top of extinct volcano Hallorans Hill to see the tablelands unique mosaic landscape and geological formations. There are two free campervan-friendly campsites nearby, which are mapped at the end of the article. Instead of retracing your steps down the coast, this drive will take you inland, passing . How to get to Australia's most iconic cities. Wallicher and Tchupala Falls are a short walk from the car park and are well worth a gander at. Get the latest information on offers & upcoming attractions via our newsletter. 2.4 Day 4: Cairns to Townsville (347km) 2.5 Day 5: Townsville to Airlie Beach (275km) 2.6 Day 6: Day trip to the Whitsundays. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive }); Now that youve finished exploring the bustling, vibrant city of Cairns and have the faded stamps from The Woolshed and Gilligans on your hand to prove it, its time to start your East Coast adventure. At over 1,853 million km Queensland is Australia's second-largest state. Alternatively, drive 62km up the road and chow down on a crab sanger in Cardwell. Dunk Island is only 4km off the coast of Mission Beach, and takes only 10mins with Mission Beach Water Taxi, so its almost rude not to visit. News; Doctor says too many in Townsville not heeding the sun safety message. 12 brilliant experiences in Cairns 1. We've listed some beautiful places to camp along the way, some of them free, so this is a great journey to do in a campervan. "campaignIntegrationUrl": "/bin/create/recipient", Whichever you choose, you can expect a memorable introduction to the worlds largest coral reef, home to more than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays, plus hundreds of stunning islands with sun-soaked beaches. Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Paronella Park between Townsville and Cairns. If youre not strapped for time, bail on your plans to head north straight away and head out for some island time at Maggies, as shes known by the locals. Trippy is where Distance: 1,718km. Overlanders Way drive takes you from the Great Barrier Reef to the Northern Territory outback, so be sure to pack your flippers and your hiking boots. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving We have a range of suggested self-drive itineraries. The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. Project management and a drive for high quality service; High level of attention to detail with a creative approach to problem-solving; Mission Beach. Here's a detailed Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary that takes in the best sights along the east coast of Australia with your JUCY rental. Additional adults $15. }, Going direct, the Townsville to Cairns drive is 347km in distance. Drive time: three hours to Mount Mulligan, 2.5 hours to Cairns. Re: Driving from Cairns to Townsville inland. > 8. We road tripped over 1200km through tropical north Queensland from Cairns up to Cape Tribulation and down to Airlie Beach going via countless national parks, waterfalls, beautiful beaches and rolling hills. Explore seaside towns where the locals hang, walk to giant waterfalls, explore a castle, and see a giant gumboot- would it really be a straya road trip without one big thing? Followed categories will be added to My News. Port Douglas, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. For business-friendly apartments: Quest Townsville . This beautiful beachside area blends vibrant art and culture with unique tourism attractions, inviting you to relax and unwind. Swap the rainforest for the seaside and veer towards the coast to Lucinda, which offers a bewdy of a view of Hinchinbrook Island. Traffic reports and road conditions can be found on the QLDTraffic website qld.traffic.qld.gov.au, download the QLDTraffic app or call 13 19 40. Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Mossman Gorge Centre, Queensland Tourism Australia. Spend your day chilling on the beach, or opt for one (or more) of the island walks, including to the summit of Mount Kootaloo, greeting you with panoramic views of the Family Islands National Park and to the mainland. The drive is approx 630km from Cairns to Airlie Beach, which takes approx 7 hours. Don't miss a truly enchanting meal with theFlames of the Forest Aboriginal Cultural Experience, where you'll venture into the rainforest near Port Douglas to indulge in a seven-dish banquet as your Kuku Yalanji hosts share music, ceremony and storytelling. Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7.44am The crash, at the . "FYASignUpDtmConfig": { Facilities include a pizza oven, pool, gym, camp kitchen, BBQ area, showers and laundry. - is right on the beach. This six day adventure passes through Dirranbandi and St George. If the view from the top doesnt satisfy your waterfall hunger, head to the bottom on a 3.2km trek. After breakfast at Caffiend, one of many hip cafs along Grafton Street in Cairns, drive 68 kilometres (42 miles) north towards Port Douglas.Fifteen minutes out of Cairns, exit the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an incredible 90-minute ride over World Heritage-listed rainforest. Mission Beach offers a range of dining options, cafes, art galleries, supermarkets, some good fishing, sky diving, white-water rafting and reef and mangrove tours. If you can spare the time to go via the Gillies highway from Cairns, through the southern part of the Atherton Tableland then it is an excellent drive. Cream Magazine by Themebeez, Townsville to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time and best stops, Cape Patton Lookout, Victoria: Great Ocean Road photo stop, Birdie Beach, NSW: The Central Coasts nudist beach, Maroochydore to Gympie road trip: Distance, drive time & stops. Museum of Underwater Art, Townsville, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. David Whitley. Pass through sugarcane fields and forests full of history and charm before stopping at the magical ruins of a former grandiose Spanish Castle at Paronella Park. 375km. 56km. Answer 1 of 7: We are planning to drive between Cairns and Townsville next September, and are looking at a possible overnight stay about half way. Follow the Flinders Highway east for 125 kilometres (78 miles) before detouring toBowling Green Bay National Park, home to rugged mountains, wetlands, salt pans and mangrove forests. Try searching for places within 4 hours of Cairns. Journeying through over 12 national parks, its easy to see how the Great Green Way got its name. The sites, though small, are separated by walls of tropical foliage for privacy. "validationFavouritesUrl": "/bin/australia/favourites/sanitycheck", Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions and leave at 3:46 pm. Day 12: Spend the day relaxing at Mission Beach, seeing some of the sights on the coast and in the rainforest. Mission Beach would be better referred to as Mission Beaches with its 14km stretch of sand interlinking three beaches and four villages. Queensland 4814 Phone: 1800 216 223, 2023 Camperman Australia, All Rights Reserved; ABN 26 108 103 206, Australian Toll Free Number: 1800 216 223. You can stop off at Lake Barrine for morning tea and scones, then onto the curtain fig tree, then onto the Hypipamee Crater . to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more. Facilities include free WiFi, showers, camp kitchen, BBQs, laundry, pool. Choose Cairns to be in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, where day boats and liveaboard boats launch from the massive dock area there. Photo: Caravaningqueensland, Spa Pool near Cardwell. Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc. Or get a full Cairns to Townsville flight plan. Date. Considered one of Australias favourite skydiving destinations, Mission Beach is made up of four small towns spread along a 14km stretch of palm-fringed beach. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Facilities include showers and laundry. Drive through the wetlands of Eubenangee Swamp National Park, a bird lovers paradise. Located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and a 20-minute ferry from Townsville, "Maggie," as the locals call it, tends to be off the typical traveller trail. road conditions from Cairns to Townsville, Enter a city to drive through, or find all. Edmund Kennedy National Park makes a rewarding detour to mangrove forest boardwalks, empty beaches, and enormous lace monitor lizards. Stay: Hit the hay at Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park located on the beachfront. Detour to Queensland's oldest hotel at the Nindigully Pub and try the 1.2 kilogram 'Road Train' hamburger - if you dare! The total driving time is 4 hours, 17 minutes. 2.3 Day 3: Day trip to the Daintree Rainforest. This cookie is used to collect user information such as what pages have been viewed on the website for creating profiles. Rest for the night at the four-starSovereign Resort Hotel. Drive from Cairns to Townsville via Cooktown, through World Heritage-listed reef and rainforests to golden outback savannah, taking in tropical Queensland at its finest. The best bets for Townsville accommodation are For beachside location: Water's Edge The Strand. Heading south, its not long until youll notice the distinctive silhouette of Walshs Pyramid rising steeply above the historic sugar-milling town of Gordonvale.