Overview
Trip Details
Day 1: Cairns Apollo Branch to Josephine Falls and Paronella Park
Distance: 123km
Travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Pick up your vehicle at the Cairns Apollo Branch and head south. Today you will be exploring
Josephine Falls in Woooroonooran National Park
before arriving at the enchanting gardens of Paronella Park. Famous for its rainforest fringed swimming hole and waterfall 'water slide,' Josephine Falls is a popular waterfall with travellers and locals alike and is a great spot to jump right in to your Cairns adventure.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 2: Paronella Park
While you might not expect castles and North Queensland in the same sentence,
Paronella Park
will pleasantly surprise you. Spend the second day of your North Queensland road trip exploring the incredible grounds of Paronella Park. Built in the 1930s by José Paronella, Paronella Park was once the go-to social location for residents of the Mena Creek area. Now, you can wander through the castle ruins and explore the captivating grounds.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 3: Paronella Park to Undara
Distance: 232km
Travel time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Say goodbye to Paronella Park, today's destination is a different type of magic. After just under 3 hours on the road today, you'll find yourself within
Undara Volcanic National Park.
Image: Jason Charles Hill
Day 4: Undara
One of the longest lava tube cave systems in the world,
Undara Lava Tubes
were created some 190,000 years old from a volcanic eruption. Spend the day exploring this natural phenomenon on a guided tour before enjoying the sunset over the savannah grassland.
Image: Jason Charles Hill
Day 5: Undara to Millaa Millaa
Distance: 171km
Travel time: 2 hours
Say goodbye to the outback and hello the rolling green hills of the Atherton Tablelands. Once you've arrived at the quaint township of
Millaa Millaa
, make your way stat to the famous
Millaa Millaa Falls
. Once you've taken in its beauty (and had a cheeky swim under the falls!), continue on to Zillie and
Ellinjaa Falls
, all within a short distance of one another.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 6: Millaa Millaa to Cape Tribulation
Distance: 218km
Travel time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Enjoy the scenery on today's drive as you pass through green rolling hills, to the Australian bush before arriving in world heritage rainforest at
Cape Tribulation.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 7: Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest
Just how old is the world's oldest tropical rainforest? About 130 million (give or take a few years!). The
Daintree Rainforest
is a part of the larger Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and is one of nature's greatest triumphs. Surviving world-altering events (the dinosaur extinction and an ice-age just to name a few!), this rainforest is home to the world's first songbirds and flowering plants. Plus, it's incredibly beautiful. You don't even need to take our word on it - it's been scientifically recognised as a place of "exceptional natural beauty!"
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 8: Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas
Distance: 85km
Travel time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Wind down from your time in the rainforest by visiting
Port Douglas
. On your way into Port Douglas be sure to stop by
Mossman Gorge
.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 9: Port Douglas
Spend your day in Port Douglas however you'd like. Relax at
Four Mile Beach
, interact with Australian animals at
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
, discover the
Great Barrier Reef
or, if you've arrived on a Sunday, wander through the Port Douglas Markets.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 10: Port Douglas to Cairns
Distance: 67km
Travel time: 1 hour 10 minutes
We might have even saved the best to last. The Great Barrier Reef drive between Port Douglas and Cairns is one of the most scenic drives in Australia (if not the world!). Be sure to stop at Rex Lookout on your way back to Cairns for stunning views of the rainforest, beach and Coral Sea!
Where to Stay
Paronella Park
Undara Experience
Cape Tribulation Camping
Big4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park
