At Babinda Boulders (1 hour south of Cairns) the water is refreshing year round. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. to Castle Hill Lookout for 360 degree vistas. Next, drive north for an hour to see the sacredBloomfield (Wujal Wujal) Fallswith a guide, and learn about the cultural significance of this area for Indigenous Australians. However, this depends on the date you are flying so please check with the full flight schedule above to see . If youre craving more swimming, make way to Behana Gorge behind Walshs Pyramid and embark on a 7.4km return hike with the stunning Clamshell Falls as a cooling reward. Parking is on a private sugar cane farm so don't block the road. The Babinda Bakery is a local legend and offers pies, cakes and pastries. 14 day Queensland road trip: Cairns to Townsville - Australia Cairns to Townsville by bus. 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.. Password (8+ characters) . This is where you branch off if you want to see Australias highest waterfall Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park. Hope this helps 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. August Moon - Located in Innisfail, August Moon gets five stars on Trip Advisor and has large sites and full facilities including a beautiful swimming pool. What day of the week has more flights from Cairns to Townsville? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Check out Ponytail Falls along the Tully River, which can be reached via the Cardstone Weir Lookout. - is right on the beach. is 50 metres from a white sandy beach with views to Dunk Island. Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. In addition to the highlights listed on road trips #4 and #5, the Sydney to Cairns drive includes Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, The Pyramid summit climb, Paronella Park, Mission Beach, Hinchinbrook Island, and empty palm-fringed beaches and national parks in which to camp. regardless of circumstance and ability. For what you want (to stop half way), Mission Beach or Tully would suit. 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. 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. This self drive route will take you through some of Australia's most beautiful and best known attractions. "login": { Veer back towards the coast to Mission Beach, four seaside villages linked by a 14km stretch of golden sand. USB Chargers. Heart of Reef Shuttles, 48-50 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, Queensland 4802 Phone: 1800 216 223, 40 French Street, Eagle Farm, Queensland 4009 Head to the foothills of Mount Bartle Frere and cool off at Josephine Falls. Cairns to Cooktown Road Trip: Bloomfield Track or Inland Road? 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. Townsville to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time and best stops Before you take to the wheel, head down to the Strand for a bit of brekkie. VisitJames Cook Museum, housed in a stunning 19th century former convent, for a look into Cooktowns remarkable history. Give yourself half a day to enjoy everything this scenic drive has to offer. Day 9-10. How many people are killed by crocodiles in Australia. The half way point is Townsville which might be worth a stop. Try searching for places within 4 hours of Cairns. This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. 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 uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. RATES: $7 per person. As you pass through the lush pine forest plantations, watch out for the lookout point, which provides uninterrupted views out to Hinchinbrook Island, before continuing along the forest drive until you reach Attie Creek. Photo:overlandersway via Instagram. Continue reading. Tickets cost $55 - $110 and the journey takes 5h 40m. Cairns to Townsville - 4 ways to travel via train, plane - Rome2rio Paronella Park between Townsville and Cairns. If you're trying to avoid mountains or steep grade roads, check the elevation profile from Townsville to Cairns. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. Passing through 15 hand carved tunnels, 37 bridges, spectacular waterfalls and into the stunning Barron . Make a few hours of it and tuck into takeaway from Etty Bay Kitchen or save your appetite and head to the famous Oliveris Deli in Innisfail for European-inspired lunches and gourmet products. Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise. At over 1,853 million km Queensland is Australia's second-largest state. Whether youre out to catch a barra, hike Australias largest island National Park or adventure your way through a scenic 4WD track, Cardwell is the perfect launch pad for an outdoorsy weekend with a friendly local twist. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Brisbane to Cairns road trip: Long and short itineraries - Finder Overlanders Way - Northern Territory drive for about 45 minutes. It contains a unique UUID to group actions across pages. For a good value, well located motel: Yongala Lodge By The Strand. Project management and a drive for high quality service; High level of attention to detail with a creative approach to problem-solving; Walk 40 minutes to the top of extinct volcano Hallorans Hill to see the tablelands unique mosaic landscape and geological formations. Hungry travellers should head toPalm Cove's award-winningNu Nu Restaurant, which showcases Queensland seafood with a subtle Asian twist and serves lunch until 4pm. The uuid2 cookie is set by AppNexus and records information that helps in differentiating between devices and browsers. When is the best time to visit Australia? driving 4.5 hours. Julia Creek to Mount Isa. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it. Tully River is popular with whitewater rafters and you cansee these thrill seekers take on the rapids fromFlip Wilson lookout. }, You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. 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. Your journey may draw to an end in Townsville, but there are plenty of things to do in this historic town before continuing your East Coast adventure. ), even more waterfalls. 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. 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. Sunset atop Castle Hill is highly recommended for 360-degree across. Townsville to Cairns drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Facilities include a pizza oven, pool, gym, camp kitchen, BBQ area, showers and laundry. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. Drive North Queensland | Townsville to Cairns- Great Green Way Road conditions from Townsville to Cairns There's no denying that fact, but it's still easy to underestimate the kilometers involved. This oft-overlooked coastal town gives you a base to reach Magnetic Island. The direct drive from Townsville to Cairns is 216 mi (347 km), and should have a drive time of 4 hrs 42 mins in normal traffic. The Great Tropical Drive is an amazing way to experience Tropical North Queensland. travelers and answer their questions about Cairns! By limiting the number of hikers, you have a chance to connect with and appreciate the raw beauty of Hinchinbrook. Stay: Head to Babinda Quarters for some much-needed shut eye in a restored art deco guesthouse, that was once the nurses and doctors quarters. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. There are even daily transfers available from Mission Beach so that you can take a break from driving for the day. Make sure you check road conditions Museum of Underwater Art, Townsville, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. Road Condition Information - QLDTraffic 11/11/2021. When to visit. If your road trips are best served chock-a-block with waterfalls, head to Murray Falls, in the Kirrama Range. Sydney to Ballina road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops. Day 12: Spend the day relaxing at Mission Beach, seeing some of the sights on the coast and in the rainforest. Hit the famous waterfall circuit, uncover those lesser known or stretch a little further and take a dip in Australias widest, single-drop waterfall on the Atherton Tablelands. 35 kms south of Port Hinchinbrook on the Bruce Highway, the Hinchinbrook Lookout gives you unforgettable views of the Hinchinbrook Channel. While they're both synonymous with warm climates, the Great Barrier Reef and rich in . Take the short ferry ride across to Magnetic Island, home to Northern Australias largest colony of koalas living in the wild. Panoramic Windows. Later, indulge in some balmy nightlife on Flinders Street East atShaw & CoorCactus Jacks. Phone: 1800 216 223, 440 Sheridan Street, Cairns, Premier Motor Service also services this route once daily. 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. Photo: Evokedotie via Instagram. From here, it's a 3-hour drive to Townsville. We've listed the highlights from north to south so if you're traveling from Townsville to Cairns, start from the bottom and work up. Youve made it to the beautiful coastal town of Cardwell; head straight to the Cardwell Beachcomber to set up camp or settle into one of their motel rooms, villas or cabins before refuelling at their beachfront restaurant its just the spot to catch the sea breeze and savour the ocean views. 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. Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, Queensland Tourism Australia. Car or Camper. document.body.appendChild(script); Queensland 4814 Phone: 1800 216 223, 2023 Camperman Australia, All Rights Reserved; ABN 26 108 103 206, Australian Toll Free Number: 1800 216 223. Thus a trip to the Great Barrier Reef should be on your agenda! Explore the islands 23 bays and beaches via extensive walking tracks or rent a Barbie car and cruise around in style. Townsville to Cairns - 4 ways to travel via train, plane - Rome2rio As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive Cairns to Townsville - Cairns Forum - Tripadvisor Top Things To Do in Townsville, Australia - Culture Trip . Hit the highway for a drive to remember on the Great Green Way. 375km. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Followed categories will be added to My News. Day 4. Year round. Borroloola to Limmen National Park. To get here, take Bramston Beach Road (off Bruce Highway) and follow the signs to Eubnangee Swamp National Park. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. Additional adults $6. Re: Cairns to Townsville. I was commissioned to write a travel story for Luxury Travel . Welcome to Tourism Australia. 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. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Were here to reveal all. 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. The drive is approx 630km from Cairns to Airlie Beach, which takes approx 7 hours. This cookie is used to collect user information such as what pages have been viewed on the website for creating profiles. What is the biggest national park in Australia? Driving north from Townsville to Cairns - Indefinite Leave stay for about 1 hour. This tropical region is warm to hot all year round with lots of great swimming in rock pools, gorges and waterfalls to experience. 12 Road Trips from Sydney for campervan travellers Bruce Highway - Best Places To Stop Between Townsville and Brisbane It's a drive that can easily be done in half a day, but there is so much interesting stuff between the two that you could spend a full day, or two, completing the trip. Click the button below to explore more questions Photo: Nodotel_ of Instagram. Day 12-14 - Noosa Heads to Fraser Island (180km/2hrs) Day 14-17 - Fraser Island to Airlie Beach (800km/9hr) Day 17-18 - Airlie Beach to Townsville (250km/3hr) Day 18-19 - Townsville to Mission Beach (230km/2hr) Day 19-21 - Mission Beach to Cairns (130km/1.5hr) Sydney to Cairns Flights. Texas longhorn cattle, Charters Towers, Queensland Melissa Findley, Tourism and Events Queensland. All of that glorious rainfall makes Tully River an awesome place forwhite water rafting, with rapids ranging from grade three to the more challenging grade four. If youve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, well be happy to hear from you. Pick up some takeaway lunch then explore lesser-known parts of Babinda Creek on a self-guided kayak or SUP with Babinda Kayaking. Before you reach your final destination, take the short detour to see Millaa Millaa Falls, a magnificent waterfall surrounded by lush green rainforest. The Canecutter Way officially finishes up at Kurrimine Beach, one of the closest beaches to the Great Barrier Reef so close that you can actually walk out to explore King Reef on very low tides. Re: Driving from Cairns to Townsville inland. Travel NQ 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. River Tubing. Melanoma March in Townsville to spread the sun safety message 3,050 km | 21 - 26 days. Cool off at nearby Little Crystal Creek before driving the remaining 45 minutes to Ingham, a sugar cane town with a distinctly Mediterranean feel thanks to the Italian and Spanish migrants who came here at the end of the 19th century to work in the cane fields. If you have found this site helpful, please book TOURS and ACCOMMODATION through our booking partners. Drive North Queensland | Cairns to The Whitsundays Drove Mackay to Cairns in 2002. Self-made Spanish immigrant Jos Paronella built Paronella Park as a gift to his wife Margarita. Townsville doctor Emma Wawn urges support for Melanoma March on the Facilities include showers and laundry. to double check the weather. For families: Discovery Parks Townsville. Day 2. A Cassowary at Etty Bay. In the centre of Mossman turn left into . 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. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Free WiFi. Bruce Highway - Best Places To Stop Between Cairns and Townsville Hit the wheel and head 25mins down the road, keeping your eyes peeled for these big birds as you go. Australia's Best Teachers 2023: Digital technologies teacher David Make way to Tully, 30 minutes north and go grab a photo with a classic Aussie big thing. 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. "resetPassword": { Distance from Cairns to Townsville - Distance Calculator exclusive access for offers and promotions, Nandroya Falls, Wallicher Falls and Tchupala Falls, Atherton Tablelands | Wooroonooran National Park. One of the wettest areas of Australia, Tully is nestled between Mount Mackay and the thickly forested margins of Mount Tyson (it even has a giant Golden Gumboot to celebrate the record-breaking rains of 1950, which you can climb to the top of.) Photo: Bella.Lee.x via Instagram. Once youve had your tucker, take a cheeky 10min detour inland on the Cardwell Forest drive. }, This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. AppNexus sets the anj cookie that contains data stating whether a cookie ID is synced with partners. Venture intoBlack Mountain National Parkand see the imposing mountain range of black granite boulders, stacked precariously on top of another, defying gravity. Drive: Cairns to Townsville Roadtrip | SIXT Car Rental Hop off Skyrail at the Kuranda terminal, stretch your legs with a stroll around the charming village of Kuranda and thenboard the historic Kuranda Scenic Railwayfor the 60-minute return trip to Smithfield. Reclining Seats. Take your camera! Ingham is the second major township along Bruce Highway between Cairns and Townsville. The total driving time is 4 hours, 17 minutes. The drive from Cairns to Darwin is a long one. Flying Fish Point Tourist Park - is right on the beach in Cassowary habitat so you are likely to see one of these enormous flightless birds.RATES: $36 powered for two people, $28 unpowered. 115km. For the keen hikers, there is a 6km return walking track that climbs up to the summit. Alternatively, drive 62km up the road and chow down on a crab sanger in Cardwell. What may come as a surprise is that the spectacular waterfalls and crystal-clear pools tucked away in this lush green paradise are so easily accessible, despite feeling worlds away from the hustle and bustle of nearby city life.