Best road trip around tropical North Queensland guide

Ready to plan the ultimate North Queensland road trip? It’s time to pack your swimmers, load up the campervan and hit the open road to enjoy everything on offer in this tropical paradise.

From Cairns to Cooktown, there’s ample opportunity to soak up the sun and sand, while seeing plenty of wildlife along the way. Take as much or as little time as you want on this self-paced journey through some of Queensland’s best-kept secrets. Here are 7 places you won’t want to miss along the way!

Best road trip around North Queensland: 7 places you can’t miss

Total distance: about 1,004km | Recommended days: from 10 to 12 days | Best time to do the route: between April and October | See route in Google Maps

1. Cairns: Day 1 & 2

Start your North Queensland road trip in Cairns and spend a day or two exploring this tropical city. Considered the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers plenty to see and do. Make sure you pop some snorkelling on the agenda, first stopping in at Reed Teach to get up to speed on what you can expect to find and where. Marine biologists share interesting facts and insights to help you get the most out of your experience.

If you’re looking for more amazing experiences, head to Lake Eacham where you can swim in a giant volcano crater that’s more than 10,000 years old. You can also plan a trip to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda, which is the largest one in the Southern Hemisphere.

There is so much outdoor beauty to explore in Cairns. You can head off chasing waterfalls, or simply hang out at the main esplanade, where you will find plenty of dining options, shopping, volleyball courts, a skate plaza and so much more. Of course, don’t forget the amazing beaches where you can sit back and soak up some sun, or enjoy the surf. Pop Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach and Ellis Beach on your to-do list.

2. Palm Cove: Day 3

Welcome to Palm Cove! The perfect seaside town for you to enjoy a little downtime on your incredible road trip. It’s a little less touristy than neighbouring Cairns, which gives you ample opportunity to take off exploring without the crowds. Start with a stroll along Clifton Beach, which was voted Australia’s cleanest beach and Queensland’s friendliest beach in the past decade.

If you have managed to plan your trip in October, then join in for four days of celebrating food at the Reef Feast. Tropical North Queensland’s best chefs all come together in the one place to dish up the best of the best to delight your taste buds. You can then pop down to the Palm Cove Markets, which are held the first Sunday of every month from April to December, and check out some amazing stalls.

Finally, make sure you spend plenty of time getting out into nature and seeing everything on offer. Check out Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for an amazing half-day experience that will leave your jaw dropped, enjoying the crocodiles, cassowaries, koalas and quolls.

3. Port Douglas: Day 4 & 5

Port Douglas is the perfect destination to hit up with your campervan, starting with a nice, long drive down the Great Barrier Reef Drive. This incredible stretch of road wins through rainforests, mountains and the coast, offering up sights you won’t experience anywhere else.

Next, head off and check out Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, where you can get up close with so many amazing animals, including birds, koalas, kangaroos, possums, bettongs, mahogany gliders and so much more. On your second morning there, it’s well worth getting up nice and early and taking a walk along Four Mile Beach. Watching the sun come up is an unforgettable experience for you to sit back and soak up on your trip.

At the end of a busy day, head to the Marina, where plenty of drinking and dining options are available. Hemingway’s Brewery is one of the top spots to sit and unwind, with plenty of amazing food items for you to choose from on the menu.

4. Daintree: Day 6 & 7

Welcome to the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Australia. The Daintree Rainforest offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure for you to soak up, with so much beauty to explore during your stay. Start off with some Jungle Surfing, where you can almost fly through the rainforest, enjoying uninterrupted views as you go. You can zipline your way through at a speed that works for you while learning about the history of the rainforest from your guides.

A river cruise is another great way to see the rainforest from a completely different view. You can make your way through the mangroves while spotting plenty of birdlife as you float by. There’s also the chance to see crocodiles, frogs, snakes, butterflies, lizards and more. You can even pack a picnic and find the perfect spot to stop off after your tour and sit back and soak up everything around you.

Head into the Mossman Gorge, a boulder-strewn valley where you can view crystal clear water that bubbles over the ancient rocks there. It’s a must-see on your trip. If you’re looking for a bit more relaxation during your stay, then head to the Daintree Wellness Spa, which harnesses the pure waters of the onsite waterfall to create both a relaxing and healing environment.

5. Cape Tribulation: Day 8 & 9

Cape Tribulation is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the perfect spot to spend a day or two and soak up plenty of fascinating places. Start by heading up to the Alexandra Lookout, which offers unparalleled views of the Daintree Coast, Daintree River, Snapper Island, Low Isles, Port Douglas, Black Rock and more.

Next, head down to check out the beaches on a Cape Trib Horse Ride, where you will pass through beaches, paddocks and winding river beds ending at Myall Beach, which offers some spectacular views. Of course, you can jump back over to check out more of the Daintree Rainforest, and even take a night walk. Many of the animals only come out after dark, including possums, bats and other creepy crawlies.

Looking to cool off? There are also plenty of swimming holes around Cape Tribulation that are the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. One of the most popular is Mason’s Waterhole, which is right next to Mason’s Cafe, so you can grab a bite to eat at the same time.

6. Cooktown: Day 10

This often overlooked destination makes the perfect stop on your trip, away from all the tourists and crowds. Thanks to all the quartz in the area, the place is known as Gangaar, or ‘Place of the Rock Crystals’. You have the opportunity to really immerse yourself in culture and history, learning about the traditional owners of the land, the Balnggarrawarra people. You can join a tour that will take you into their homeland, teaching you about ancient rock art, bush food and medicine and so much more.

Head to the local museum to discover even more, with an extensive collection of Guugu Yimithiir artefacts for you to feast your eyes on. Finally, end off your trip at The Croc Shop, where you can find almost anything and everything crocodile themed.

7. Undara Volcanic National Park: Day 11 & 12

With a big five-hour drive ahead of you, this is the perfect spot to finish your North Queensland road trip. The park itself contains the remains of one of the Earth’s longest flows of lava that has come from a single volcano. You can head off to see the Undara Lava Tubes, which are the longest lava tube cave systems in the world. It’s the perfect place to head off the beaten track and really see some remarkable sights.

You can head into underground caves, where hundreds of thousands of micro bats fly out to feast on insects at sundown. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch. The next morning, head to Ringer’s Camp for a Bush Breakfast, where you can even learn how to make toast by an open fire.

You can finish the trip off at Kalkani Crater, where you can walk around the 2.5km rim and soak up some amazing views in the process.

Organise your North Queensland road trip with Camplify

After you sort out campervan hire in Cairns, throw in the swimmers and head off on the tropical trip of a lifetime. With so much incredible nature to immerse yourself in along the way and these best spots for camping in North Queensland, each day will be filled with yet another unforgettable experience. Start planning your North Queensland road trip today and make sure these seven stops are on your list!

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