Epic Road Trip
It’s easy to turn your holiday to Tropical North Queensland into an epic road trip. There are four main routes that lead into the region: the Great Inland Way, Pacific Coast Way, Matilda Way and Savannah Way.
The Great Inland Way starts in Sydney, New South Wales, and runs all the way to Cooktown, covering almost 2700km. It winds past rolling farmland, historic gold rush towns, dusty country pubs and lush rainforest before meeting the Coral Sea. Covering nearly the entire Queensland coast, the Pacific Coast Way links the Gold Coast and Cairns. It’s a 1870km journey past sparkling beaches, through multiple national parks and some of Australia’s most famous resorts.
The 1800km Matilda Way lets you discover the beauty of inland Queensland from the New South Wales border all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It’s a little-visited region that will give you a taste of the real Outback.
For a true adventure, tackle the Savannah Way. Traversing the top of the country, the Savannah Way travels for 3700km between Broome in Western Australia and Cairns. It passes through 15 national parks and five World Heritage Sites, making for an unforgettable journey. It’s a mix of sealed and dirt roads, so make sure your vehicle is suitable before attempting it.
Where to hire a car
There are many places to hire a car across Tropical North Queensland including from these companies.
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cairns northern beaches
Avis Australia Cairns
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cairns northern beaches
Britz Campervans and 4WD Cairns
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cairns northern beaches
Travellers Autobarn Cairns
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cairns northern beaches
JUCY Rentals Cairns
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cairns northern beaches
Right Price Car Rentals
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Apollo Motorhome Holidays – Cairns
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cairns northern beaches
Mini Car Rentals
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Cairns Luxury Car Hire
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There’s so much to do in Tropical North Queensland.

Mini road trips in Tropical North Queensland
Discover local specialties and hidden gems on a mini road trip through Tropical North Queensland with these one day wonders. Here are eight itineraries to get you out and about.

10 things near Mareeba worth the drive from Cairns
If your ideal holiday involves roaming from providore to providore, seeing 400-million-year-old rock cave formations and exploring waterfalls in between, there’s a town on the Atherton Tablelands you’ll want to get to know.

7 road trips you don’t want to miss
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned road trip. Whether it’s a leisurely Sunday drive or an extended journey, hitting the road offers unbridled freedom. So fasten your seatbelt, shuffle your favourite playlist and settle back as you journey through Tropical North Queensland.

Cape York is calling: Planning a trip to The Tip
Ready to tackle one of Australia’s most remote landscapes, Cape York? Just you, a car and 1,200km of untamed, World Heritage-listed, 180 million year-old rugged rainforest beauty – aka The Tip.

Take a road trip on the Great Barrier Reef Drive
The strip of bitumen between Cairns and Cape Tribulation, now known as the Great Barrier Reef Drive, is 140 km of jaw-dropping beauty. The road winds between two world heritage icons that Tropical North Queensland is famous for: the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Savannah Way – An Outback Adventure through Gulf Country
From sculptural gorges, to bird-filled wetlands, experience 1,099kms of pure outback adventure as you drive Queensland’s Savannah Way.

Why the Undara Lava Tubes should be on your must-see list
Some adventures are off the beaten track and others, like the Undara Lava Tubes, are underneath it. You’ll need to dip below the earth’s surface, to explore these famous 190,000-year-old lava tunnels that point to an explosion when 23 cubic kilometres of lava flowed for 160 kilometres, carving a natural playground south-west of Cairns.

Guide to Cairns & Port Douglas
A getaway is looming and you’re longing for a tropical escape – Cairns and Port Douglas are both popular holiday havens boasting a wealth of experiences. Read this guide to help plan your trip to these two seaside locales.