Why pay thousands of dollars to join a tour of Northern Queensland when you can save money and choose your own self-drive tour? You are guaranteed to see more of the area and pay less! If you are ready for a real-life choose-your-own-adventure, read on for a self-drive tour which will show you highlights you shouldn't miss around Cairns in a 5 days.
Day 1 - Experience the gateway to Queensland's tropical north, Cairns
No trip to Cairns is complete if you don't visit The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system. Book a day cruise with operators such as Passions of Paradise, Quicksilver Cruises, ProDive Cairns or book a scenic flight to get an eagle's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. After your day on the reef, relax at the Cairns Lagoon and choose one of several thriving cafés along Grafton and Spence streets or mingle with the locals among 180+ stalls at Rusty's Markets (Friday to Sunday).
Cairns Lagoon
Day 2 - Experience Kuranda, the well known Village in the Rainforest
Flock to the mighty Barron Falls before you reach Kuranda, the well known village in the rainforest as you pretend you are an artisan admiring Kuranda's natural beauty and relax with the vibrant arts and craft stores and markets in the area. Kuranda has a thriving tourism and there are many things you can choose to do for the day.
Port Douglas is a main town great for catching up on some zzz's on the beach, wandering the coastal shops or having a bite to eat and a real coffee! When you have had your fill of suburbia, your first taste of the rain forest awaits you. Mosman Gorge is the place to safely observe waterfalls and over 30,000 plant and animal species. Try out the local coffee plantation for a fresh latte or some tropical fruit, wine or local spirit. Trundle down to spot platypus at dusk in Yungaburra and then a night time canoe trip.
The Kuku Yalanji language group who live in the region obtained much of their food and other requirements from the rain forest. Timber for firesticks, spears, woomeras and boomerangs came from forest trees. Sap from some trees were used to stupefy fish and many animals were hunted (Queensland and National Parks and Wildlife Service.)
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 19 minutes (82km)
Day 3 - See the wildlife in UNESCO World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park
Cape Tribulation is the closest you will get to Cape York if you don't have a kitted out 4wd however if you have a 2wd you can still visit the pristine and private paradise which is ready to explore. Feel young again on the Jungle Surfing Zip Line or head to the beach to go horse riding, snorkelling on an ocean safari, take a crocodile cruise or watch the sunset on a private beach beside cassowaries with a glass of wine and a massage.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 36 minutes (67km)
Day 4 - Take to the sky at Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands is truly amazing. One day isn't quite enough to take in the jungle feel on a plateau which stretches for miles however it gives you a taste to come back for more. The region is known for their gourmet food and wine trails which cris-cross across the ‘food bowl of the tropics’ and the unique marsupial tree kangaroo, however it is the waterfall circuits which call you out to Atherton Tablelands for the day. Their stunning rainforest backdrops are truly beautiful and it's hard to choose a favourite between Milla Milla Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls.
Daily drive total: Approximately 3 hours 38 minutes (218km)
Day 5 - Go for a swim in South Mission Beach
Don't make the mistake and go to Mission Beach, make sure you make it to South Mission Beach! Depending on the time of the year, you may be able to safely swim in the ocean waters however check with the lifeguards. If swimming is out of the question, take a raft down Tully River or a boat trip to explore Dunk Island, unless you're the adventurous kind and then you should take a parachute from 14,000 feet up in the air and really experience everything the region has to offer.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 24 minutes (109km)
Day 6 - Head for home
Unfortunately the trip has ended, however your holiday memories will live on! Make sure you take Cassowary Coast Trail with a swimming stop over at Josephine Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Queensland, Crystal Caves in Innisfail, and Millstream Falls for an afternoon swim at The Babinda Boulders and wait for the city lights of Cairns to come back into view.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hour 2 minutes (147km)
Zillie Falls
Millstream Falls
Trip total: Approximately 10 hours 45 minutes travel time. (659km)* *Trip time not inclusive of travelling to or from Cairns.
50+ Things to See Around Cairns on a Tropical Self-Drive Tour
- Enjoy a swim in one of North Queensland's most beautiful waterfalls, Josephine Falls
- Mingle with the locals at Rusty's Markets
- Take in the local culture at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
- Smell the fresh rainforst on a self-guided tour at the Daintree Discovery Centre
- Go off the grid at Hinchinbrook Island, Australia's largest national park island
- Snorkel or dive through the world's largest coral reef system Great Barrier Reef
- Cruise through the heart of the world's most ancient rainforest on Barron River's Kuranda Riverboat Cruise
- Join birds of all sizes in their natural habitat at Birdworld
- Feel a Ulysses butterfly kiss in person at the Butterfly Sanctuary
- Cuddle a koala at the Kuranda Koala Gardens
- Meet some nocturnal critters at Batreach
- Take home personalised candy from Kuranda Candy Kitchen
- Learn how to avoid deadly snakes and spiders at Australian Venom Zoo
- Kiss a baby crocodile at Rainforestation
- Glide above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Experience Barron Gorge, waterfalls and rainforest on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
- Visit the world famous Kuranda Markets
- Take a photo of the spectacular Barron Falls
- Meet a life size replica of an Allosaurus Dinosaur at Emu Ridge Gallery / Fossil and Gemstone Museum
- Experience the wonders of Mosman Gorge
- Stop over for breakfast in Port Douglas
- Try out the local coffee plantation for a fresh latte
- Take a tropical fruit trail
- Have a cold one at Barrier Reef Brewery
- Trundle down to spot platypus at dusk in Yungaburra
- Experience a night time canoe trip.
- Find where the rainforest meets the beach at Cape Tribulation
- Feel young again on the Jungle Surfing Zip Line
- Head to the beach to go horse riding
- Snorkelling on an ocean safari
- Watch the creepy crawlies and nocturnal animals come out to play on a night walk
- Snap up a crocodile cruise
- Stalk a Cassowary
- Watch the sunset on a Thornton Beach
- Enjoy a beach massage at Cape Tribulation Spa
- Cool off with a swim in Lake Barrine, a volcanic crater lake
- Have lunch at Milla Milla Falls.
- Raft your way down Tully River
- Take a boat trip to explore Dunk Island
- Open up your parachute from 14,000 feet up in the air over South Mission Beach
- Take the scenic route on Cassowary Coast Trail
- Stop over at Innisfail
- Have an afternoon swim at The Babinda Boulders
- Wait for the city lights of Cairns to come into view.
- Check out Millstream Falls
- It's hard to choose a favourite between Milla Milla Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls.
- Stand next to an amethyst taller than you at The Crystal Caves Atherton
- Look out for the unusual tree kangaroos in the Atherton Tablelands
- Swim in Cairns Lagoon
- View Cairns from Glacier Rock Lookout
Day 1 - Experience the gateway to Queensland's tropical north, Cairns
No trip to Cairns is complete if you don't visit The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system. Book a day cruise with operators such as Passions of Paradise, Quicksilver Cruises, ProDive Cairns or book a scenic flight to get an eagle's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. After your day on the reef, relax at the Cairns Lagoon and choose one of several thriving cafés along Grafton and Spence streets or mingle with the locals among 180+ stalls at Rusty's Markets (Friday to Sunday).
Cairns Lagoon
Day 2 - Experience Kuranda, the well known Village in the Rainforest
Flock to the mighty Barron Falls before you reach Kuranda, the well known village in the rainforest as you pretend you are an artisan admiring Kuranda's natural beauty and relax with the vibrant arts and craft stores and markets in the area. Kuranda has a thriving tourism and there are many things you can choose to do for the day.
- Cruise through the heart of the world's most ancient rainforest on Barron River's Kuranda Riverboat Cruise
- Join birds of all sizes in their natural habitat at Birdworld
- Feel a Ulysses butterfly kiss in person at the Butterfly Sanctuary
- Cuddle a koala at the Kuranda Koala Gardens
- Meet some nocturnal critters at Batreach
- Take home personalised candy from Kuranda Candy Kitchen
- Learn how to avoid deadly snakes and spiders at Australian Venom Zoo
- Kiss a baby crocodile at Rainforestation
- Glide above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Experience Barron Gorge, waterfalls and rainforest on the Kuranda Scenic Railway
- Visit the world famous Kuranda Markets
- Take a photo of the spectacular Barron Falls
- Meet a life size replica of an Allosaurus Dinosaur at Emu Ridge Gallery / Fossil and Gemstone Museum
Daily drive total: Approximately 47 minutes (36km)
Day 2 - Experience Port Douglas and Mosman Gorge
Day 2 - Experience Port Douglas and Mosman Gorge
Port Douglas is a main town great for catching up on some zzz's on the beach, wandering the coastal shops or having a bite to eat and a real coffee! When you have had your fill of suburbia, your first taste of the rain forest awaits you. Mosman Gorge is the place to safely observe waterfalls and over 30,000 plant and animal species. Try out the local coffee plantation for a fresh latte or some tropical fruit, wine or local spirit. Trundle down to spot platypus at dusk in Yungaburra and then a night time canoe trip.
The Kuku Yalanji language group who live in the region obtained much of their food and other requirements from the rain forest. Timber for firesticks, spears, woomeras and boomerangs came from forest trees. Sap from some trees were used to stupefy fish and many animals were hunted (Queensland and National Parks and Wildlife Service.)
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 19 minutes (82km)
Day 3 - See the wildlife in UNESCO World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park
Cape Tribulation is the closest you will get to Cape York if you don't have a kitted out 4wd however if you have a 2wd you can still visit the pristine and private paradise which is ready to explore. Feel young again on the Jungle Surfing Zip Line or head to the beach to go horse riding, snorkelling on an ocean safari, take a crocodile cruise or watch the sunset on a private beach beside cassowaries with a glass of wine and a massage.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 36 minutes (67km)
Day 4 - Take to the sky at Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands is truly amazing. One day isn't quite enough to take in the jungle feel on a plateau which stretches for miles however it gives you a taste to come back for more. The region is known for their gourmet food and wine trails which cris-cross across the ‘food bowl of the tropics’ and the unique marsupial tree kangaroo, however it is the waterfall circuits which call you out to Atherton Tablelands for the day. Their stunning rainforest backdrops are truly beautiful and it's hard to choose a favourite between Milla Milla Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls.
Daily drive total: Approximately 3 hours 38 minutes (218km)
Day 5 - Go for a swim in South Mission Beach
Don't make the mistake and go to Mission Beach, make sure you make it to South Mission Beach! Depending on the time of the year, you may be able to safely swim in the ocean waters however check with the lifeguards. If swimming is out of the question, take a raft down Tully River or a boat trip to explore Dunk Island, unless you're the adventurous kind and then you should take a parachute from 14,000 feet up in the air and really experience everything the region has to offer.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 24 minutes (109km)
Day 6 - Head for home
Unfortunately the trip has ended, however your holiday memories will live on! Make sure you take Cassowary Coast Trail with a swimming stop over at Josephine Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Queensland, Crystal Caves in Innisfail, and Millstream Falls for an afternoon swim at The Babinda Boulders and wait for the city lights of Cairns to come back into view.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hour 2 minutes (147km)
Zillie Falls Millstream FallsTrip total: Approximately 10 hours 45 minutes travel time. (659km)* *Trip time not inclusive of travelling to or from Cairns.
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