Etty Bay is known as one of the regions most scenic beaches, but what really makes this little cove so special is its inhabitants home to the magnificent Southern Cassowary, youre very likely to see these notoriously hard to spot birds roaming the beachfront in the late afternoon or early morning. > 5. 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. This cookie is set by the provider Fullstory. We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, Underneath the waters surface though, is a kaleidoscope of coral and other aquatic life including tropical fish, dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and giant clams, which you can swim with. Cairns to Townsville - Cairns Forum - Tripadvisor The route may look simple on the map, but you'll need to factor in which roads are sealed and unsealed, which are four by four only, and which have supply stops along the way. For example, we provide accurate form labels; Near Townsville until May 1. script.async = true; Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Facilities include shower cubicle without water (bring your own shower bag), compost toilets, picnic tables and gas BBQs. 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. If you're seeking a thrill, take to the skies with Skydive Australia to soar above white-sand beaches, tropical rainforest and the awe-inspiring reef. 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. Travel between Cairns and Townsville in a convenient and comfortable Greyhound coach from just $66. Facilities include beachside BBQs, flush toilets, hot showers, free WiFi.RATES: $28 - $32 for two. If youre craving a thrill, take to the mighty Tully River on a white water rafting adventure with Raging Thunder and tackle 3 and 4 grade rapids. David Whitley. Practicalities. Day 14 5 Tips for Self Driving Tours of the Cairns Tablelands, Cruising the Channel: Hinchinbrook Houseboats for Rent. Finish the day in the bustling sugar town of Innisfail. Cairns & Great Barrier Reef stay for about 1 hour. Atherton Tableland waterfalls tour. DAY 1: CAIRNS - ATHERTON TABLELANDS - RAVENSHOE . Road trips call for recharging days and Mission Beach is made for reading a book on the sand, relaxing by the pool or walking barefoot along the beach. Cairns to Cooktown Road Trip: Bloomfield Track or Inland Road? 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. A big part of travelling is finding the perfect spot to have a cold drink at the end of a day adventuring. ), even more waterfalls. Brisbane to Cairns road trip: Long and short itineraries - Finder Call in at the relaxed beachfront hamlets that make up Mission Beach. The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. Undara Experience, Undara, Queensland Rowan Bestmann, Tourism and Events Queensland. Your trip begins in Cairns, Australia. News; Doctor says too many in Townsville not heeding the sun safety message. Other less-frequented highlights of the park include: Free Camping at Japoonvale Rest Area - is on the banks of Liverpool Creek. If you're planning a road trip to Townsville, you can research locations to stop along the way. In the centre of Mossman turn left into . Drove Mackay to Cairns in 2002. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. Melanoma March in Townsville to spread the sun safety message 6:32 pm arrive in Cairns. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. 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. Townsville-Cairns 350km. Townsville is a big place, about the same as Cairns but without so much of that "tourist centric feeling". Hotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's daily session limit. Peruse the chic boutiques along Macrossan Street before a sunset stroll along the white sands of Four Mile Beach up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout. If youve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, well be happy to hear from you. Spend at least 2-3 days of your Brisbane to Cairns drive itinerary off the road in Townsville. The road to Undara is sealed the entire way from Cairns, Townsville and . Although they're both tropical cities, Cairns and Townsville are as different as chalk and cheese in many ways. If youre visiting between June and November, go behind the scenes at the Tully Sugar Mill on a guided tour. Mini Road Trips Around North Queensland - Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Here you can swim in the resort pool, get a massage on the private beach, feast at the on-site restaurant and bar and attend nightly bonfires on the beach. There is a maximum stay of 2 nights.RATES: FREE. open-ended. Port Douglas, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. The Queensland leg of the Great Inland Way road trip extends 1863 kilometres from Outback Queensland to the Coral Sea. Every site has a view of the water. Hughenden to Richmond. CNS-TSV is a really nice drive, and 4 hours is about right if your drive sensibly. Pack your togs and soak in the emerald-green water at the Babinda Boulders or slide down the smooth rockslide at Josephine Falls. 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. }, Facilities include flushing toilets and picnic tables. Forget what you've heard, Townsville is just as much a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef as any of its northern neighbours. Why stop at the Mount Alexandra Lookout near Cape Tribulation? This anonymous data helps us to better understand users' needs and customize the website accordingly. Trippy is where Spend the afternoon just outside of town atLeahton Park, home to the largest herd of pure bred Texas Longhorn cattle in Australia. Picture: Supplied. Days 4 and 5: Cooktown to Mount Mulligan, then back to Cairns. If you havent seen a Cassowary during your travels, a trip to Etty Bay should be at the top of your to-do list. Cairns or Townsville? Which Tropical Queensland City To Visit If you're going on a road trip from Townsville to Cairns, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Paluma Range National Park and Little Crystal Creek, or the ever-popular . Drive the Great Green Way Tropical Drive between Cairns and Townsville, see high country and amazing waterfalls, spectacular rainforests, quaint towns, picture perfect beaches and expect the unexpected en-route, where nature displays its frivolity with massive vibrant butterflies and huge, colourful, flightless cassowary birds. Mission Beach, Queensland Chris McLennan, Tourism and Events Queensland. One way from Cairns to Townsville Available from 5th June2019 30th June 2019: 1 day $199*, with 400 kms or 2 days $329* with 400 kms included - nil relocation fee! Before you take to the wheel, head down to the Strand for a bit of brekkie. This itinerary is perfect for couples, solo travellers, and families. Drone shot of Eubenangee Swamp and grassy knoll. Hop off Skyrail at the Kuranda terminal, stretch your legs with a . Day 11: Drive from Townsville to Mission Beach, with a detour to Wallaman Falls. With the reef, Atherton Tablelands and the Daintree just a stones throw away from Cairns, youre gonna need that energy! For a fittingly European-inspired stay,Villa Veronis a charming bed and breakfast which also hosts an Italian festival every year. Then drive half an hour west to the spectacularMamu Tropical Skywalk, featuring a 350-metre (0.2-mile) elevated walkway above the treetops. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Watch out for crocodiles though, theyve been known to sunbake on the nearby rocks. From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. The Atherton Tablelands are lovely, and in September the nights will still be cool. Grassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. 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. If you have found this site helpful, please book TOURS and ACCOMMODATION through our booking partners. 11/11/2021. Head to the foothills of Mount Bartle Frere and cool off at Josephine Falls. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Honest tourism information about Australia. Set on five hectares (12.4 acres) of tropical gardens beside Mena Creek, you can peruse the castles architecture and ingenious hydroelectric system, as well as a waterfall, gardens, museum and caf. Then sleep under the stars atUndara Experience, with permanent and powered tents that house comfortable bedding. > 9. Water taxis shuttle day-trippers toDunk Island. and leave at 3:46 pm. 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. If time allows, drive 5mins up the road for (you guessed it! Mackay to Townsville drive - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums News; Australia's Best Teachers 2023: Digital technologies teacher David Titherley praised for his unique approach to teaching. Click the button below to explore more questions Gold Coast golfer Matt Stubbs off to US for World Long Drive tour Pub and club tour. ); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), The Townsville to Cairns drive is 347km in distance, with a driving time of 4h4m. Depart Cairns 7:30am and Port Douglas at 8:30am approx. 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. On-board Restroom. After you've explored the forest, book in for anafternoon Daintree River cruisethrough mangrove estuaries and past tropical birds and crocodiles, before continuing the drive for another hour or so to Cape Tribulation. Itinerary Airlie Beach to Cairns Drive. If you're trying to avoid mountains or steep grade roads, check the elevation profile from Townsville to Cairns. Overland Travel: Driving The Overlander's Way from Townsville to Mt Isa trip dates & more! 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. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user. Texas longhorn cattle, Charters Towers, Queensland Melissa Findley, Tourism and Events Queensland. If the view from the top doesnt satisfy your waterfall hunger, head to the bottom on a 3.2km trek. Known as the greatest detour in the North, opt for the scenic route by deviating onto the Canecutter Way. Follow the Bruce Highway north for about an hour before taking a break in the Mount Spec section ofPaluma Range National Park. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive 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. The Townsville distance from Brisbane is nearly 15 hours but the distance Cairns to Townsville is just over 4 hours so you are well on your way to Cairns by now. To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortiums (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Cairns? Check - plan - go - with up-to-date traffic and travel information on road conditions, incidents, vehicle crashes, emergency roadworks, special events, road closures and congestion state-wide. The total driving time is 4 hours, 17 minutes. How long do I need for my trip to Australia? Craft brewery adventure. The best bets for Townsville accommodation are For beachside location: Water's Edge The Strand. 375km. Cairns to Townsville Bus | Greyhound Australia 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. Getting Here - Undara From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. Password (8+ characters) . Here's my 3-day itinerary exploring the natural playground of Magnetic Island and Townsville. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific Photo: Julianchiarotto via Instagram, Babinda Boulders. Dogs are welcome on this part and there are many great spots to pull up and enjoy your lunch along the way. "screenSet": "Aus-V3-RegistrationLogin", The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Departure times vary between 06:00 - 18:50. Day 9-10. alongside console screenshots of code examples: Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the websites components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. Back on the road, continue north along the Bruce Highway to return to Cairns, gateway to the islands, rainforest and reef of Tropical North Queensland. 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. Again making it a good spot to stop for fuel and other supplies, particularly if you've not stocked up and are doing the trip in the other direction. 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. Borroloola to Limmen National Park. Traffic reports and road conditions - Department of Transport and Main Walk 40 minutes to the top of extinct volcano Hallorans Hill to see the tablelands unique mosaic landscape and geological formations. 0. When you're there, if . Drive from Cairns to Whitsundays - where to stay on route? If youve given it a fair go and still no luck, theres fish and chips at Lucinda Point Hotel Motel Restaurant.