DRIVE NORTH QUEENSLAND
Buckle up your seatbelt and jump behind the wheel on one of the many stunning scenic drives of Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. From here, the journey is just beginning and getting to your final destination is half the fun.
A web of roads links every corner of the region from sleepy beach villages, rugged four-wheel-drive adventures, ancient rainforest and expansive savannah plains. Spectacular natural landscapes will take your breath away as you discover the secrets of the diverse countryside.
The only tunnels you’ll find here weave through leafy avenues of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest that climb up the mountain ranges and hug the coast at the only convergence of two natural World Heritage Areas in the world—the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Wet Tropics Rainforest.
THE GREAT GREENWAY
The Great Green Way, connecting Townsville to Cairns, can be completed in around four hours but is best undertaken over two days to soak up the region’s incredible natural assets and relaxed friendly vibe. Along the way, you’ll find a castle in the rainforest, beautiful beaches and stand between the two World Heritage Areas in Mission Beach and the Cassowary Coast.
GREAT BARRIER REEF DRIVE
Head north along the short but oh-so-sweet Great Barrier Reef Drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation in the famous Daintree Rainforest, part of the greater Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Some of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s most famous spots are peppered along this drive from the luxury resorts of Port Douglas and coconut-lined beach of Palm Cove to family-friendly attractions and spectacular national parks.
GILLIES HIGHWAY
Ascending from a junction 35km south of Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands, the Gillies Highway ducks, winds and weaves (reputedly with 263 corners) over an elevation of almost 1,000 misty meters. You’ll likely feel your ears pop and you’ll feel the temperature drop as you ascend through the mountain range.
Stop off at Heales Lookout for the mandatory photo across the Goldsborough Valley and Walsh's Pyramid.
THE SAVANNAH WAY
Leave the lush rainforest of the coast behind and head to the cool of the tablelands and the dramatic landscapes of the Queensland outback as you start the epic two-state, one-territory, journey from Cairns to Broome of The Savannah Way. Walkthrough ancient geological formations, have a yarn with the locals in tiny country pubs and catch barramundi in the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria as you complete the 1,700km section of this interstate road trip within Tropical North Queensland.
You’re in for quite an adventure.
CAPE YORK
Tackle the untamed frontier region dotted with rugged national parks, pristine waterways, and secluded beaches as you make the 1,200km pilgrimage from Cairns to the northernmost point of the Australian continent—the tip of Cape York Peninsular.
Cape York is Australia’s ultimate self-drive location—in fact, you’ll find more 4WDs here than anywhere else in the country. The culture here is a fascinating mix of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the local communities you’ll travel through have rich traditions dating back tens of thousands of years.
4WD fans will want to conquer the Old Telegraph Track on the way to the tip of Australia as it offers countless challenges laced with scenic river crossings and bush campsites with front row seats to watch others forging creeks.
Whether you choose the road less traveled or iconic scenic drives, an unforgettable journey ahead awaits.
From chill to thrill, golden beaches to far reaches, the world’s warmest welcome is waiting for you at drivenorthqueensland.com.au
