Drive North Queensland

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Road trips

Drive Tropical North Queensland

From reef to outback, through rainforest and grasslands, driving in Tropical North Queensland is an unforgettable travel experience. Explore this website for travel tips and destinations along our unique touring routes. It’s time to plan your adventure!

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Behana Canyoning Cairns canyoning

Highlights

  • Skydiving
  • White Water Rafting
  • Bungee Jumping
  • Jet Boating

Adrenaline adventures in TNQ

Cairns

Buckle up and get ready to be the main character of your own adventure movie with adrenaline pumping fun in [more…]

Canoe/kayak
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Family enjoying picnic next to the creek at Crystal Cascades

Highlights

Tropical Family Getaway: 7 Days in TNQ on a Budget

Tropical North Queensland is a giant natural playground that allows you to save on some activities and splurge on others, [more…]

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Goanna on beach at Cape Tirbulation

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • Beaches
  • Dining
  • Reef
  • Wildlife
  • Resorts

Ev road trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation

Cairns to Cape Tribulation

Explore Palm Cove, Cape Tribulation and EV-erywhere in between with this electric vehicle itinerary.

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aerial image of lake eacham

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Rainforest
  • Food & Drink
  • Lakes
  • Historic Villages

EV Road trip from Cairns to Atherton Tablelands

Cairns to Millaa Millaa

Take those electric feels all the way from Cairns to Millaa Millaa on this electric vehicle road trip through the Atherton Tablelands.

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aerial image mission beach

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Rainforest
  • Beaches
  • Castles
  • Food & Drink

EV Road trip from Cairns to Cardwell

Cairns to Cardwell

Got an electric vehicle? Drive the tropics the sustainable way with this EV road trip from Cairns to Cardwell.

electric vehicle charging station icon palm tree icon waterfall icon castle icon
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Highlights

  • 4WDriving
  • Historic Towns
  • National Parks
  • Waterfalls
  • Beaches
  • Wildlife
  • Fishing

Cairns to Cape York

Cairns to Cape York

Got a heightened sense of adventure and want to take it all the way to the top (of Australia)? Jump into a 4WD and head off on an unforgettable journey from Cairns to Cape York.

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Blencoe Falls Camping

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Lookouts
  • Hot Springs
  • Undara Lava Tubes

Kirrama Range Road

Cardwell to Undara

The Kirrama Range Road is stunning drive across the ranges from Cardwell to Undara, with plenty to see and do, and spectacular scenery including lookouts, waterfalls, heritage-listed rainforest and swimming holes.

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Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Waterfalls
  • Museums
  • Caves
  • Off-road driving

Road Trips From Cairns

Tropical North Queensland

From swimming in wild waterfalls, to exploring hidden coves and outback tracks, it’s time to hit the road to enjoy [more…]

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lawn hill gorge

Highlights

  • Coffee Plantations
  • Waterfalls
  • National Parks
  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Cobbold Gorge
  • Historic Towns

The Savannah Way

Cairns to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park

The Savannah Way is an epic, two-state, one-territory, 3,700km journey across the top of Australia. You can take a section of the drive in Tropical North Queensland between Cairns on the coast and Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park close to the Northern Territory border – a distance of about 1,700km.

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Cobbold Gorge Lake

Highlights

  • Undara Lava Tubes
  • Historic Towns
  • Fossicking
  • Cobbold Gorge
  • Outback Retreats

Lava Tubes, Gems and Gorges

Undara to The Lynd Junction

Discover real Australia and find a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes and the powerful forces of nature as you travel from Undara to the Lynd Junction along the Savannah Way.

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great barrier reef drive

Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Shopping
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Mossman Gorge
  • Rainforest
  • Dining

The Great Barrier Reef Drive

Cairns to Cape Tribulation (return)

Welcome to the loveliest little drive in Queensland. Short but oh-so-sweet, the Great Barrier Reef Drive covers just 140km in a straight line north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas.

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Couple at Ellinjaa Falls

Highlights

  • Lookouts
  • Historic Towns
  • Waterfalls
  • Dairy Farms

The Waterfall Circuit

Cairns to Atherton Tablelands

It’s time to hit the road, from Cairns into the Atherton Tablelands and towards today’s destinations along the Waterfall Circuit.

Waterfall icon swimming icon food and wine icon
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aerial of Atherton Tablelands farmlands

Highlights

  • Lakes
  • Markets
  • Waterfalls
  • Local food
  • Hot air ballooning

3 Day Atherton Tablelands Adventure

Cairns to Yungaburra

Head for the Atherton Tablelands hills for a true taste of Tropical North Queensland. This hinterland that hugs Cairns is packed with all sorts of [more…]

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Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Waterfalls
  • Swimming Holes
  • Museums
  • Castles
  • Cassowaries

The Great Green Way

Townsville to Cairns

Stretching between Cairns and Townsville, this under-the-radar route can be completed in four hours, but is best enjoyed over a couple of days so you can soak up the region’s spectacular natural assets and relaxed friendly vibe.

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Grassy Hill Cooktown

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Indigenous Tour
  • Historic Pubs
  • National Parks
  • Waterfalls

The Bloomfield Track

Cape Tribulation to Cooktown

Drive the beautiful and wild Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown – a bucket-list drive for all 4WD enthusiasts.

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great tropical drive

Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • Outback
  • Swimming Holes
  • Rainforest
  • Islands
  • Beaches

The Great Tropical Drive

Cairns to Cairns

Get ready to discover the very best of Tropical North Queensland on the Great Tropical Drive. Some 26 different routes make up the drive, taking you from coast to Savannah, islands to the outback, rainforest to reef.

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Chillagoe Smelters

Highlights

  • Historic Towns
  • Stargazing
  • Caves

The Wheelbarrow Way

Mareeba to Chillagoe

Stretching from Mareeba to Chillagoe, the Wheelbarrow Way travels through verdant crop-producing farmlands, cattle country, wooded savannah and friendly little towns with impressive histories.

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CREB Track

Highlights

  • Rainforest
  • 4WDriving
  • Waterfalls
  • Historic Towns

The CREB Track

Daintree to Cooktown

The CREB Track is one of the country’s most challenging four-wheel-drive adventures, traversing spectacular World Heritage-listed rainforest as it weaves its way north from Daintree village to Cooktown.

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Mena Creek Falls at Paronella Park

Highlights

  • Beaches
  • Paronella Park
  • Mamu Tropical Skywalk

The Canecutter Way

Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail

Discover the unique delights of the Cassowary Coast region as you pass historic towns and sugar-cane fields on the Canecutter Way from Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail.

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great barrier reef drive

Highlights

  • Etty Bay
  • Port Douglas
  • Mission Beach
  • Paronella Park
  • Atherton Tablelands

Mini Road Trips

Tropical North Queensland

Discover local specialties and hidden gems on a mini road trip through Tropical North Queensland with these one day wonders. Here are eight itineraries to get you out and about.

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Book now and save $100 on tours

Are you visiting Tropical North Queensland soon? Take advantage of our Tropical Dollars and get $100 off tours and experiences* when you book through Experience Oz! Use code TNQ100

*Min spend $200. T&C’s apply. Travel by 21 June 2024.