Drive North Queensland

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Itineraries & Road Trips

Drive Tropical North Queensland

From reef to outback, through rainforest and grasslands, driving in Tropical North Queensland is an unforgettable travel experience. Explore this website for travel tips and destinations along our unique touring routes. It’s time to plan your adventure!

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lawn hill gorge

Highlights

  • Coffee Plantations
  • Waterfalls
  • National Parks
  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Cobbold Gorge
  • Historic Towns

The Savannah Way

Cairns to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park

The Savannah Way is an epic, two-state, one-territory, 3,700km journey across the top of Australia. You can take a section of the drive in Tropical North Queensland between Cairns on the coast and Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park close to the Northern Territory border – a distance of about 1,700km.

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Behana Canyoning Cairns canyoning

Highlights

  • Skydiving
  • White Water Rafting
  • Bungee Jumping
  • Jet Boating

Adrenaline adventures in TNQ

Cairns

Buckle up and get ready to be the main character of your own adventure movie with adrenaline pumping fun in [more…]

Canoe/kayak
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Family enjoying picnic next to the creek at Crystal Cascades

Highlights

Tropical Family Getaway: 7 Days in TNQ on a Budget

Tropical North Queensland is a giant natural playground that allows you to save on some activities and splurge on others, [more…]

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mossman river near silky oaks lodge

Highlights

  • Cairns
  • Palm Cove
  • Mossman Gorge
  • Port Douglas

Refresh and Recharge: 3-Day Itinerary to Clear Your Mind

Wellness comes naturally to the top end as warm tropical weather, lush rainforests, long stretches of beaches and an abundance of fresh food set the scene for healthy habits.

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72 Hours in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands

Cape York & Torres Strait

You’re here for a good time not a long time, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on one of Australia’s most remote and bucket-list regions. Here’s how to take in some of the sights of Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands in only three days.

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10 Day Luxury Escape in Paradise

Cairns to Lizard Island

Use this as a guide for planning your luxury sojourn to Tropical North Queensland. Exploring the premium side of iconic landscapes including reef, rainforest, city and outback, this itinerary is perfect for honeymooners, anniversaries and special occasions, or simply those who like to live in the lap of luxury. 

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Cairns Botanic Gardens

Highlights

  • Crystalbrook Cairns (Riley)
  • Harbourside Bar & Kitchen
  • Dreamtime Cruise
  • Ochre Cairns
  • Cairns Canyoning

A Green Weekend in Cairns

Cairns

Let’s embark on a journey that not only fills our souls with awe-inspiring nature, but also leaves a positive mark on the environment. Get ready to explore Cairns and its surrounding areas with these exciting recommendations for sustainable travel.

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Goanna on beach at Cape Tirbulation

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • Beaches
  • Dining
  • Reef
  • Wildlife
  • Resorts

Ev road trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation

Cairns to Cape Tribulation

Explore Palm Cove, Cape Tribulation and EV-erywhere in between with this electric vehicle itinerary.

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aerial image of lake eacham

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Rainforest
  • Food & Drink
  • Lakes
  • Historic Villages

EV Road trip from Cairns to Atherton Tablelands

Cairns to Millaa Millaa

Take those electric feels all the way from Cairns to Millaa Millaa on this electric vehicle road trip through the Atherton Tablelands.

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aerial image mission beach

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Rainforest
  • Beaches
  • Castles
  • Food & Drink

EV Road trip from Cairns to Cardwell

Cairns to Cardwell

Got an electric vehicle? Drive the tropics the sustainable way with this EV road trip from Cairns to Cardwell.

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Highlights

  • 4WDriving
  • Historic Towns
  • National Parks
  • Waterfalls
  • Beaches
  • Wildlife
  • Fishing

Cairns to Cape York

Cairns to Cape York

Got a heightened sense of adventure and want to take it all the way to the top (of Australia)? Jump into a 4WD and head off on an unforgettable journey from Cairns to Cape York.

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Blencoe Falls Camping

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Lookouts
  • Hot Springs
  • Undara Lava Tubes

Kirrama Range Road

Cardwell to Undara

The Kirrama Range Road is stunning drive across the ranges from Cardwell to Undara, with plenty to see and do, and spectacular scenery including lookouts, waterfalls, heritage-listed rainforest and swimming holes.

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family at paronella park

Highlights

  • Castles
  • Local produce
  • Museums
  • Freshwater Swimming

2 day Paronella Park & Tablelands

Babinda, Paronella Park, Atherton Tablelands

This jam-packed two day itinerary will take you through southern Cairns to the magical Paronella Park and up to the Atherton Tablelands to treat your tastebuds to an abundance of local produce.

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aerial image of four mile beach port douglas

Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Islands
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Dining

4 day island and beach hopping

Palm Cove, Fitzroy Island & Port Douglas

Craving a slice of sandy paradise? Keep palm and follow this 4 day island and beach hopping itinerary through Palm Cove, Fitzroy Island and Port Douglas.

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Sailaway

Highlights

  • Luxury accommodation
  • Waterfalls
  • Rainforest
  • Sand Cay
  • Sailing
  • Culture
  • Scenic flight
  • Beaches

5 days in Cairns

Cairns, Port Douglas & Daintree Rainforest

This five-day adventure through Cairns, Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands will give you a holiday glow and leave you feeling grounded and recharged.

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indigenous trail tropical north queensland

Highlights

  • Indigenous culture
  • Rock art
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Rainforest
  • Art

The Ultimate Indigenous Trail

Tropical North Queensland

Weaving your way from Cairns, Cooktown and beyond, discover the deep cultural connection to country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Traditional Custodians share.

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Pullman Cairns International

Highlights

  • Sand Cay
  • Freshwater Swimming
  • Islands
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Scenic Flights

A relaxing weekend in Cairns

Cairns

Desperate for an escape from stressful, busy city life? Take a well-deserved break and feel grounded the moment you touch down in Cairns; the gateway to Tropical North Queensland.

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Palm Cove

Highlights

  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Beaches
  • Rainforest
  • Culture
  • Dining

Long weekend escape to the tropics

Cairns & Port Douglas

Leave the hustle and bustle of life behind and reconnect with yourself in Tropical North Queensland. Jump on a plane to Cairns for a mini-escape, you don’t need a passport to visit this tropical destination.

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Tastes of the Tablelands Festival

Highlights

  • Distilleries
  • Local Produce
  • Coffee
  • Atherton Tablelands
  • Bars
  • Freshwater swimming
  • Beaches

3 day Cairns food trail

Atherton Tablelands & Cairns

Craving fresh air away from city life? Savour a weekend escape and taste the flavours of the tropics on this three day Cairns food trail.

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accessible travel in tropical north queensland

Daintree & Cape Tribulation Accessible Itinerary

Cairns – Cape Tribulation

Enjoy an accessible adventure in the Daintree & Cape Tribulation with this two day itinerary.

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Man in wheelchair in front of Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

2 Days in Cairns Accessible Itinerary

Cairns City

Cairns city offers a wide variety of day activities and a large choice of accessible dining and entertainment options. There is enough to do to fill days – let alone a half day – especially around the Esplanade and Pier precincts. Here’s some accessible activities for a half day in Cairns city.

This article was produced in partnership with Spinal Life Australia’s Accessible Australia.

Shopfront/shopping
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Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Waterfalls
  • Museums
  • Caves
  • Off-road driving

Road Trips From Cairns

Tropical North Queensland

From swimming in wild waterfalls, to exploring hidden coves and outback tracks, it’s time to hit the road to enjoy [more…]

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Cobbold Gorge Lake

Highlights

  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Historic Towns
  • Fossicking
  • Cobbold Gorge
  • Outback Retreats

Lava Tubes, Gems and Gorges

Undara to The Lynd Junction

Discover real Australia and find a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes and the powerful forces of nature as you travel from Undara to the Lynd Junction along the Savannah Way.

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Couple at Ellinjaa Falls

Highlights

  • Lookouts
  • Historic Towns
  • Waterfalls
  • Dairy Farms

The Waterfall Circuit

Cairns to Atherton Tablelands

It’s time to hit the road, from Cairns into the Atherton Tablelands and towards today’s destinations along the Waterfall Circuit.

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aerial of Atherton Tablelands farmlands

Highlights

  • Lakes
  • Markets
  • Waterfalls
  • Local food
  • Hot air ballooning

3 Day Atherton Tablelands Adventure

Cairns to Yungaburra

Head for the Atherton Tablelands hills for a true taste of Tropical North Queensland. This hinterland that hugs Cairns is packed with all sorts of [more…]

cafe coffee icon
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Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Waterfalls
  • Swimming Holes
  • Museums
  • Castles
  • Cassowaries

The Great Green Way

Townsville to Cairns

Stretching between Cairns and Townsville, this under-the-radar route can be completed in four hours, but is best enjoyed over a couple of days so you can soak up the region’s spectacular natural assets and relaxed friendly vibe.

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Grassy Hill Cooktown

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Indigenous Tour
  • Historic Pubs
  • National Parks
  • Waterfalls

The Bloomfield Track

Cape Tribulation to Cooktown

Drive the beautiful and wild Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown – a bucket-list drive for all 4WD enthusiasts.

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great tropical drive

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Outback
  • Swimming Holes
  • Rainforest
  • Islands
  • Beaches

The Great Tropical Drive

Cairns to Cairns

Get ready to discover the very best of Tropical North Queensland on the Great Tropical Drive. Some 26 different routes make up the drive, taking you from coast to Savannah, islands to the outback, rainforest to reef.

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Chillagoe Smelters

Highlights

  • Historic Towns
  • Stargazing
  • Caves

The Wheelbarrow Way

Mareeba to Chillagoe

Stretching from Mareeba to Chillagoe, the Wheelbarrow Way travels through verdant crop-producing farmlands, cattle country, wooded savannah and friendly little towns with impressive histories.

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CREB Track

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • 4WDriving
  • Waterfalls
  • Historic Towns

The CREB Track

Daintree to Cooktown

The CREB Track is one of the country’s most challenging four-wheel-drive adventures, traversing spectacular World Heritage-listed rainforest as it weaves its way north from Daintree village to Cooktown.

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Mena Creek Falls at Paronella Park

Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Paronella Park
  • Mamu Tropical Skywalk

The Canecutter Way

Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail

Discover the unique delights of the Cassowary Coast region as you pass historic towns and sugar-cane fields on the Canecutter Way from Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail.

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great barrier reef drive

Highlights

  • Etty Bay
  • Port Douglas
  • Mission Beach
  • Paronella Park
  • Atherton Tablelands

Mini Road Trips

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.

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great barrier reef drive

Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Shopping
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Mossman Gorge
  • Rainforest
  • Dining

The Great Barrier Reef Drive

Cairns to Cape Tribulation (return)

Welcome to the loveliest little drive in Queensland. Short but oh-so-sweet, the Great Barrier Reef Drive covers just 140km in a straight line north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas.

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Book now and save big!

Book your holiday to Tropical North Queensland and save up to 20% off on hotels, tours and more!