Bring your camera! Take your camera! When you hear of a beach situated between the Great Barrier Reef and a World . and leave at 5:47 pm. Grassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. Try searching for places within 4 hours of Cairns. If you want to go by car, the driving distance between Cairns and Townsville is 345.47 km. Going direct, the Townsville to Cairns drive is 347km in distance. Check out Ponytail Falls along the Tully River, which can be reached via the Cardstone Weir Lookout. 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. }, Take a dip in the beautiful blue Cardwell Spa Pools and Attie Creek Falls, and enjoy scenic lookout points. 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. Other less-frequented highlights of the park include: Free Camping at Japoonvale Rest Area - is on the banks of Liverpool Creek. 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. Heart of Reef Shuttles, 48-50 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, Queensland 4802 Phone: 1800 216 223, 40 French Street, Eagle Farm, Queensland 4009 The uuid2 cookie is set by AppNexus and records information that helps in differentiating between devices and browsers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Save some dollars by buying a double pass for both Paronella Park and Mamu Tropical Skywalk, a scenic 30mins drive away. Day 3. drive for about 1.5 hours. 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. Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7.44am The crash, at the . By limiting the number of hikers, you have a chance to connect with and appreciate the raw beauty of Hinchinbrook. The Whitsunday Islands are around a three and a half hour drive from Townsville. This cookie helps to categorise the users interest and to create profiles in terms of resales of targeted marketing. Paronella Park between Townsville and Cairns. Day 12-13. The Atherton Tablelands are lovely, and in September the nights will still be cool. Adult round trip fares are around $150. Then drive half an hour west to the spectacularMamu Tropical Skywalk, featuring a 350-metre (0.2-mile) elevated walkway above the treetops. While in Innisfail, download the Cassowary Coasts Tropical Deco App for a self-guided Art Deco and historical walk around the town, and jump aboard a croc-spotting and wildlife tour with Snapping Tours. "startScreen": "aus-link-account" Although you cant walk on the jetty, you can head to the nearby fishing jetty to throw a line for giant trevally, Spanish mackerel, queenfish or northern bluefin tuna. There are spectacular day trips, too. VisitJames Cook Museum, housed in a stunning 19th century former convent, for a look into Cooktowns remarkable history. 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. There is creekside camping at Jourama Falls suitable for campervans. Texas longhorn cattle, Charters Towers, Queensland Melissa Findley, Tourism and Events Queensland. }, { 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. Cairns-Cape Tribulation 150km. *Conditio. Turn the drive into a Townsville to Cairns road trip, instead, and you can enjoy the Paluma Range National Park, Mission Beach and Behana Gorge. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the This cookie is placed by Pinterest Tag when the user cannot be matched. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Mossman Gorge Centre, Queensland Tourism Australia. Head back to Paronella Park for their Evening Experience, exploring the grounds and night and seeing the castle and Mena Creek Falls come alive with lights. Detour to Queensland's oldest hotel at the Nindigully Pub and try the 1.2 kilogram 'Road Train' hamburger - if you dare! Wake up with a 45-minute walk to Cape Tribulation lookout on Cape Tribulation Beach, right next to the resort. 3,050 km | 21 - 26 days. From Cairns, lovely Port Douglas is about an hour drive north . Stay: Castaways Resort has a poolside sun lounger with your name on it and the onsite restaurant Buko offers an awesome feed too. 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. We love this section of Australia for its diversity, culture, hinterlands and . Veer back towards the coast to Mission Beach, four seaside villages linked by a 14km stretch of golden sand. Although they're both tropical cities, Cairns and Townsville are as different as chalk and cheese in many ways. First things first brekkie! From here, it's a 3-hour drive to Townsville. 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. It took a while to plan . Additionally, the background process scans all of the websites images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag Photo: MyDetoxTravel of Instagram, Discover the unspoilt beauty and wilderness of Hinchinbrook Island. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more. > 3. screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the websites functions. River Tubing. Photo: ecologist.sHayes via Instagram. With over 240 species of birds, TYTO Wetlands is the perfect spot for some bird-watching. Daintree and Cape Tribulation day trip. The best bets for Townsville accommodation are For beachside location: Water's Edge The Strand. Walk 40 minutes to the top of extinct volcano Hallorans Hill to see the tablelands unique mosaic landscape and geological formations. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. All car and Motor home rental companies allow their conventional vehicles to go to Undara, or have offered discounted rates on their 4WD hire vehicles. - is right on the beach. If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from Cairns, Australia to Townsville, Australia. script.src = It covers a variety of scenery from city to country to coast to mountain to rainforest. } There are two free campervan-friendly campsites nearby, which are mapped at the end of the article. *Product Disclaimer:Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. is 50 metres from a white sandy beach with views to Dunk Island. > 4. 0. This six day adventure passes through Dirranbandi and St George. Photo: Reubennutt via Instagram. Sydney to Cairns train. 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. 56km. With activities to suit everyone's holiday agenda, Townsville North Queensland will create memories to last a lifetime. regardless of circumstance and ability. Fifteen minutes out of Cairns, exit the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield to take theSkyrail Rainforest Cablewayfor an incredible 90-minute ride over World Heritage-listed rainforest. Day 13: Drive from Mission Beach to Cairns, stopping at a few places along the way. Cairns & Great Barrier Reef From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. What is the biggest national park in Australia? Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie. Finish the day in the bustling sugar town of Innisfail. Honest tourism information about Australia. Judbarra/Gregory National Park to Timber Creek. The calculated flying distance from Cairns to Townsville is equal to 176 miles which is equal to 283 km.. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving Children $10. You can also sign up for SMS traffic alerts for selected far north or south coast regions. Venture intoBlack Mountain National Parkand see the imposing mountain range of black granite boulders, stacked precariously on top of another, defying gravity. because there's an entire community of travelers talking Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Users can also use shortcuts such as M (menus), H (headings), F (forms), B (buttons), and G (graphics) to jump to specific elements. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it. Walk one kilometre (0.6 miles) return toAlligator Creek lookoutfor a photogenic canopy-level view of the creek, before a quick dip in the nearby swimming area. Eat: PepperVine Restaurant serves a range of cuisines, each dish beautifully presented with outstanding flavours. 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. When is the best time to visit Australia? Start your day with a spot of brekkie at the funky Bingil Bay Caf, then hit the road north to Paronella Park, one of the most unique places youll see along the Great Green Way. Allow yourself 3 to 4 hours up and back. When you're there, if . Richmond to Julia Creek. Photo: Bella.Lee.x via Instagram. This itinerary is perfect for couples, solo travellers, and families. This cookie is used to collect user information such as what pages have been viewed on the website for creating profiles. When you're ready to depart Cooktown, you can choose between driving just over four hours to Ravenshoe, or taking a detour to Mount Mulligan Lodge. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 11:45 amdrive for about 59 minutes, 12:44 pm Mission Beach There's no denying that fact, but it's still easy to underestimate the kilometers involved. 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? And, if youre feeling ultra-adventurous, go big with Xtreme rafting for the wildest ride possible. 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. . 347km. Atherton Tableland waterfalls tour. The best time to visit Townsville is in the . To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Mackay-Airlie Beach 150km. Townsville to Charter Towers. Australia Travel Questions is an independent travel advice site full of expert knowledge about Australia. Moderator of the Cairns and Townsville stolen cars and sightings Facebook group Sam Testa claimed one of the boys charged was alleged to have been behind the wheel of the stolen Toyota Yaris that . Sydney to Ballina road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops. "profileUpdate": { Charter Towers to Hughenden. 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. Tully River is popular with whitewater rafters and you cansee these thrill seekers take on the rapids fromFlip Wilson lookout. Why stop at the Mount Alexandra Lookout near Cape Tribulation? Call in at the relaxed beachfront hamlets that make up Mission Beach. You won't be sitting in the car for long when you have some of Mother Nature's best water parks along the way. This is where you branch off if you want to see Australias highest waterfall Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park. Make sure you check road conditions Jet boat rides. Typically 21 buses run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. If you have found this site helpful, please book TOURS and ACCOMMODATION through our booking partners. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. }, var cachebuster = Date.now(); Once youve had your tucker, take a cheeky 10min detour inland on the Cardwell Forest drive. But if youre travelling up the coast from Brisbane to Cairns over the course of a few weeks, there are a few excellent places to stop along the way. Facilities include flush toilets, hot showers and undercover BBQs and eating areas. Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Cairns? and others. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Walk to McClellands lookout for spectacular views over the islands and coastline. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This self drive route will take you through some of Australia's most beautiful and best known attractions. 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. Drone shot of Eubenangee Swamp and grassy knoll. Cheap campervan rental. Luckily you can break up this long journey with a stop at Tina Berries in Bundaberg for an ice cream or two! 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. This magical moss covered pleasure garden has enough nooks, crannies and sources of fascination to keep you delighted for hours. And how far/driving time is Cairns to Townsville. Stay: Paronella Park has on-site camping and cabins, or stay 2mins down the road at Mena Creek Hotel, also promising a tasty pub feed. is not on the beach but it is only a 10 minute walk away. Sites are shady and separated from one another by foliage. Mission Beach. Self-made Spanish immigrant Jos Paronella built Paronella Park as a gift to his wife Margarita. 7 km south of Cardwell, and just off the highway, is Five Mile Creek Swimming Hole where you can take a quick dip and enjoy a picnic. 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. Cairns->Townsville is 350km or 4 hours. > 6. Mineral rich waters of Cardwell Spa Pools. 5:07 pm arrive in Townsville. 457km (one way) How. { Re: Driving from Cairns to Townsville inland. 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. Paronella Park, Mena Creek, Queensland Mark Clinton, Tourism and Events Queensland. "homePagePath": "/content/australia/en_us.html", But Townsville is worth a visit as well, thanks to its family-friendly attractions, excellent day trips, and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. This leads to a Townsville to Cairns driving time of around four hours and four minutes. Townsville-Cairns 350km. At over 1,853 million km Queensland is Australia's second-largest state. The Townsville to Cairns drive is 347km in distance, with a driving time of 4h4m. Heading west from Cardwell, the Cardwell Forest Scenic Drive is a 26 km loop that explores swimming holes, a natural spa pool called the Cardwell Spa Pool (pictured) and waterfalls with picnic spots. Cairns and Townsville really aren't that far from each other only 350-ish km from each other by road. Afterwards, spend the evening at the historic Civic Club, play billiards on one of two 100-year-old tables and don't forget to make a booking for their famous Friday night barbecue. RATES: $7 per person. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. After 19 years as a teacher, David Titherley says students learn . Make way to Tully, 30 minutes north and go grab a photo with a classic Aussie big thing. The ultimate Cairns to Darwin road trip itinerary. Panoramic Windows. 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. Photo: Simona_198735 of Instagram, Paluma Range National Park. AppNexus sets the anj cookie that contains data stating whether a cookie ID is synced with partners. Cairns to Townsville by bus. This cookie is set by Facebook to display advertisements when either on Facebook or on a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising, after visiting the website. Flights from CNS to TSV are operated 33 times a week, with an average of 5 flights per day. Zoe Falls on Hinchinbrook Island. 83. Paluma Range National Park. Lose yourself in one of the castles many hideaways, marvel at the rumbling Mena Creek Falls, and feel dwarfed as you take a stroll down the magnificent Kauri Avenue. Head southwest for 50 minutes toMillstream Falls, Australias widest single-drop waterfall, for a brief stop before spending the morning atInnot Hot Springs, relaxing in the therapeutic mineral waters that fill its six public pools. to each other and sharing tips and advice. The direct drive from Cairns to Mackay is 457 mi (735 km), and should have a drive time of 9 hrs 25 mins in normal traffic. 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. Rockhampton marks, roughly, the halfway point between Townsville and Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. This beautiful beachside area blends vibrant art and culture with unique tourism attractions, inviting you to relax and unwind. An island day tour takes you down the picturesque Hinchinbrook Channel before arriving at Zoe Bay on the islands southeastern side. If the view from the top doesnt satisfy your waterfall hunger, head to the bottom on a 3.2km trek. Bamboo grove at Paronella Park. If youre feeling like a big kid, or youre travelling with actual kids, the natural waterslide here will be very popular. If youve given it a fair go and still no luck, theres fish and chips at Lucinda Point Hotel Motel Restaurant. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site. COACH FEATURES. USB Chargers. Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with And, if you didnt manage to spot a cassowary at Etty Bay good news, you may find that youre second time lucky; Mission Beach supports the highest density of the endangered birds. 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. Continue 400 kilometres south (249 miles) to the enchanting outback town ofCharters Towers, where the heritage streetscapes hark back to the gold rush days of the late 19th century. Mount Mulligan Lodge, Mount Mulligan, Queensland Mount Mulligan Lodge. Here's my 3-day itinerary exploring the natural playground of Magnetic Island and Townsville. 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. > 11. Followed categories will be added to My News. trip dates & more! . Peruse the chic boutiques along Macrossan Street before a sunset stroll along the white sands of Four Mile Beach up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout. And how can we get a piece of sand cay action? Serving everything from pancakes and freshly made wraps to fresh fruit sorbet and ice-cream, theres no chance youll drive away hungry. Lucinda. Itinerary Airlie Beach to Cairns Drive. First name. }, 14 years ago. Explore the phenomenal Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), the Southern Hemisphere's first underwater art museum, before whiling away the rest of the afternoon along the Strand, apalm-tree studded promenade with beaches, bars and restaurants. Picture: Supplied. Services are operated by Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Our coaches stop in the heart of Cairns and Townsville, eliminating the need for a transfer. This is the eastern half of the . It's okay, you can start planning your Check-in: 375km. for images that are not described. 115km. Additional adults $6. This famous railway winds its way on a journey from Cairns to Kuranda. Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. "screenSet": "Aus-V3-RegistrationLogin", From the beach landing, take a short walk through rainforest to the sparkling freshwater pool at the base of Zoe Falls, an idyllic swimming hole. Loop around lush Tropical North Queensland fromCairns, gateway to theGreat Barrier Reef, up to Cooktown, rich with Aboriginal and early European history and down toTownsville, to explore ancient rainforests, fruit plantations, gold mining towns and secluded hideaways along the way. 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. At Babinda Boulders (1 hour south of Cairns) the water is refreshing year round. Once back on land, drive 45 minutes north to Cardwell. Weve all seen those gorgeous wisps of whiteness poking out from an azure sea on Great Barrier Reef. Airlie Beach-Townsville 280km. Heading south, its not long until youll notice the distinctive silhouette of Walshs Pyramid rising steeply above the historic sugar-milling town of Gordonvale. Swap the rainforest for the seaside and veer towards the coast to Lucinda, which offers a bewdy of a view of Hinchinbrook Island. Additional adults $15. RATES: $6 per adult. News; Doctor says too many in Townsville not heeding the sun safety message. Townsville to Cairns drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Footpath Closure for works. 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. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies.