Cairns to Townsville Road Trip Itinerary |

Planning a road trip in North Queensland? Cairns and Townsville are two of the largest towns in North Queensland, but what is there to do between them?

Queensland is a huge state. It is approximately the size of 2.5 Texas’s, and 17% larger than Alaska, making it larger than any US state. If Queensland were a country, it would be the 18th-largest country in the world.

While Queensland is not the largest state in Australia (West Australia is 46% larger), Queensland does have more visitors, and lots of tourists take road trips and drive the east coast of Australia.

Beaches line the east coast of Queensland. There is plenty to do in the southern areas of the state, from the Gold Coast to Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

Townsville and Cairns are popular spots for tourists, close to the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests, but what is there to do between Cairns and Townsville?

We were pleasantly surprised at just how many amazing things there are to do on a road trip between Cairns and Townsville. We even wished we had more time to drive between the two cities so that we could experience more of the unique offerings.

Keep reading to find out where to stop on a Cairns to Townsville road trip.

Heading north from Cairns?  Check out our guide for The Best Things to do in Daintree and Cape Tribulation.

How Long Do You Need to Travel from Cairns to Townsville?

The 350-kilometer drive from Cairns to Townsville takes approximately 4.5 hours without stopping.

While it is completely doable to complete this trip without stops, there are plenty of reasons to get out of the car, besides for food and bathroom breaks, on the drive from Cairns to Townsville.

It is easy to stay on the Bruce Highway the entire route, but lots of the options below require leaving the highway and driving inland for a while.

If you have the time, it is worth making stops. There are plenty of things to do and see between Cairns and Townsville.

What Time of Year Is Best to Travel from Cairns to Townsville?

The wet season in this area takes place from November to March each year. While it does not rain daily, the amount of rain can flood the roads, which then close.

There are signs along the road that let you know if part of the highway is currently closed due to floods.

While we traveled in January and did not encounter any rain, the wet season is not the best time of year to visit Tropical North Queensland.

April to October are much better months to visit Tropical North Queensland. The weather won’t be as hot, and there are fewer risks of flooding.

Is the Drive Between Cairns and Townsville Easy or Difficult?

The drive from Cairns to Townsville is on a sealed highway, usually 1 lane on each side with the occasional passing lane.

There is often roadwork, which means slower speeds and occasionally stopping for traffic to go one way at a time.

Are there many service stations, restaurants, and hotels between Cairns and Townsville?

While there aren’t towns and cities in a row along this route, there are plenty of times when service stations, hotels, and restaurants are available.

If you are concerned, check the distance to the next town before continuing.

Is this part of a larger holiday? I am at the phase in my life where travel insurance is important, and Safety Wing offers annual plans.

Things to do Between Cairns and Townsville

Babinda Boulders

Less than an hour south of Cairns, Babinda Boulders is a popular swimming hole surrounded by rainforest.

Fast-moving creeks are flowing through the large boulders, and also pools of cool water, perfect for swimming.

Picnic tables, BBQs, and toilets are located in the car park for Babinda Boulders.

Babinda Boulders is on Bruce Highway A1 while the next several locations are off of state route 52, Gilles Highway.  

We chose to take the longer route, with more stops.

Cathedral Fig Tree

The Cathedral Fig Tree, a 500-year-old fig tree, can be seen after a quick 300-meter return walk along a boardwalk.

This incredible fig tree is the inspiration for the Tree of Life in the movie Avatar.

Lake Barrine Tea House and Boat Rides

Formed by a volcanic eruption, Lake Barrine is a freshwater lake about an hour southwest of Cairns.

Lake Barrine Tea House is right on the lake and opens for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. Tea is also served on 1.5-hour-long boat rides on the lake.

If you would rather view the lake by land, a walking track goes around the entire lake.

Curtain Fig Tree

A short boardwalk walk from the parking lot, the Curtain Fig Tree is estimated to be 500 years old and nearly 50 meters tall.

Tolga Bat Hospital

Bookings are essential for a daily tour offered between 3 pm and 6 pm.

See bats up close, watch them eat, and interact while learning about their lives and the bat hospital.

Malanda Falls Swimming Pool

Close to parking, toilets, and picnic spots, this swimming hole is actually a swimming pool built to combine the falls and river.

Malanda Falls is very popular on hot summer days.

Nerada Tea Factory

Take a tour of the largest tea plantation in Australia and enjoy tea and scones at Nerada Tea Factory.

Waterfall Circuit

Three beautiful waterfalls make up the Waterfall Circuit. Visit one or all 3 depending on how much time you have.

Milla Milla Falls

This 18-meter waterfall is Australia’s most photographed, and it is easy to see why.

Just a quick walk from the parking lot, Milla Milla provides a lovely swimming hole with a gorgeous view of the falls.

Change rooms, toilets, and picnic tables are nearby.

Zillie Falls

Just a short walk from the car park, the Zillie Falls viewing platform offers a fantastic view. To swim, you need to trek further than the trail goes. The path gets slippery after rain, but can be climbed for those who are keen.

Of the 3 waterfalls in Waterfall Circuit, Zillie Falls isn’t the best for swimming.

Otherwise, it is a great place to look at the waterfall and picnic, though there are no toilets or change rooms nearby.

Ellinjaa Falls

A 200-meter-long walk leads to Ellinjaa Falls, another perfect place to swim.

It is a bit steep and tricky to get to, but worth it.

There is a cave behind the falls, and it is usually not as crowded as Milla Milla Falls.

There aren’t toilets or changing rooms at Ellinjaa Falls.

Mungalli Dairy Creek Cafe

Located in the original farmhouse, Mungalli Dairy Creek Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks featuring their own cheeses, yogurts, and ice cream.

They also have a shop filled with hand-crafted and locally sourced items.

Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk

From the rainforest floors to the tops of the trees, Mamu Rainforest Walk covers it all.

Wheelchair and pram-friendly, this skywalk covers 2.5 kilometers round trip, with a few lookouts and a multi-level tower. The tower can only be climbed by stairs.

The entire walk takes about an hour.

There is a shop, cafe, and toilets at the entrance to the Canopy Walk.

Lanie’s Tip: Bring bug spray!

Paranella Park

An hour and a half south of Cairns, Paranella Park is home to a castle, gardens, lots of parks, and a waterfall.

Tickets are required and include a 30-minute guided walk, a night tour, 1 free night in the caravan park, and the ability to come back anytime for 2 years.

For those who wish to take pictures that could be from a fairy tale, Paranella Park is the place to do it.

Discount tickets are available when booking the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk together with Paranella Park.

Murdering Point Winery

Murdering Point Winery specializes in tropical fruit wines such as mango, lychee, and passionfruit.

They are open daily for tastings, and wine, port, and liqueurs are available to buy.

Charley’s Chocolate Factory

Learn about chocolate from the cocoa seed to the bar at Charley’s Chocolate Factory.

Tours only run a couple of days each week and must be pre-booked.

Tours of Charley’s Chocolate Factory include a chocolate tasting, and of course, everything is available to purchase.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a small beach town with gorgeous white sandy beaches and has the closest access to the Great Barrier Reef, which is about 40 kilometers from the shore.

Plenty of water tours leave from Mission Beach, including white water rafting or snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.

Markets are held every other Sunday morning on Mission Beach.

Find a hotel in Mission Beach.

Mission Beach is a nice place to spend the night if you are looking to turn your trip from Cairns to Townsville into multiple days. There are lots of hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Mission Beach.

We stopped for a night in Mission Beach on our journey.

Looking for adventure?  Beach Skydive from 15,000 feet above Mission Beach, one of the highest sky diving opportunities in Australia.

The Original Pub With No Beer

The Song “A Pub With No Beer” made famous by country singer Slim Dusty, was originally a poem by Don Sheahan about the Day Dawn Hotel in Ingham, Queensland.

The Day Down Hotel is now named Lees Hotel, and they do now serve beer, along with lunch and dinner daily.

The Golden Gumboot

golden gumboot tully — The Golden Gumboot in Tully, Queensland

After a competition in 1970 to determine which was the rainiest city in Australia, Tully was awarded the Golden Gumboot, which is a 7.9-meter-tall fiberglass gumboot to represent the amount of rainfall that Tully received in 1950.

There are stairs inside The Golden Gumboot, and visitors can climb to the top.

Looking for other "big things" between Cairns and Townsville?
The Big Cassowary is located in Mission Beach and The Big Crab is in Cardwell.

TYTO Wetlands

120 acres of wetlands with over 240 species of birds, unique plants, and lots of wallabies, TYTO Wetlands has plenty of walking tracks and observation decks for spotting wildlife.

Visit the information center for information on tours, or just walk around on your own.

Frosty Mango

Open 9 am to 5 pm daily, the Frosty Mango serves meals, but most notably, frozen treats.

The orchards at Frosty Mango are filled with tropical fruit trees, and visitors are welcome to wander through.

In-season fruit is sold at the front of the shop. We purchased rambutan and abiu. I had never heard of abui before, but both fruits were delicious.

Many ice cream flavors can be found at Frosty Mango, and I went with the obvious mango.

Little Crystal Creek

A waterfall with many swimming holes, Little Crystal Creek is a freshwater creek with cool water, the perfect place to cool down on a hot day.

Just a few stairs down from the parking lot, everyone can choose which section of the creek to swim and play in. Climb up the rocks to be closer to the falls, or down the rocks for larger swimming holes.

There is an area where the water is deep enough to jump off of the rocks, but be careful and make sure you know exactly which water hole that is.

Things to do Between Cairns and Townsville with Kids

Most of the items, if not all, can be done on a Cairns to Townsville Road trip with kids, but here are a few items that are specifically for kids.

For families looking for a quick place to get out of the car and play on their road trip from Cairns to Townsville, Ingham has a shaded fenced-in playground right on the main road.

Other places to get out some energy on the way from Cairns to Townsville include:

Rotaract Park, Atherton
Betty Walker Park, Tolga
Kurrimine Beach Water Park, Kurrimine Beach
Jetty Playground, Cardwell