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8 day driving holiday start/end Cairns
Greetings. My wife and I are planning on doing an 8 day driving holiday starting and ending in Cairns. We are both keen snorkelers and want to experience the great barrier reef plus hang out on some nice beaches and see the rainforests. Seeing the reef is pretty much a dream of mine- All else being equal, is there much difference in seeing it from Cairns or Port Douglas?
I saw this trip suggestion on queenslandholidays.com and it seems to be pretty much what we are looking for. In April 06 we did a similar driving holiday from Brisbane to Sydney and absolutely loved it. FWIW, our overnight accomodation budget is about $150AUS. Are there any particular must stay places within that budget range? I saw on another post the link to "Dougies" in Port Douglas. That place looks like something we would like, but possibly not quiet enough. We prefer to self cater, so having a kitchen is helpful. Edit: We do like our beer and wine, so if there are any can't miss brewpubs or wine places, that would be great to know about!
Day 1 & 2: Cairns to Cape Tribulation
The best place to start a Tropical North Queensland holiday is snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. Full-day cruises depart daily from Cairns City Wharf. In the evening you can take a leisurely stroll around the city and see how the colonial architecture merges with gracious parks, international standard restaurants, boutique shopping and modern art galleries.
The next day, twenty minutes or so north of Cairns, the highway drive hugs the coastline. Stop for lunch at Port Douglas, the famous seaside town where you can enjoy a village atmosphere and some great beachside dining experiences.
Continue north to the Daintree National Park. It takes less than five minutes to cross the Daintree River by ferry, but on the other side you enter an entirely new tropical world.
At Cape Tribulation accommodation is available in luxury resorts, guest houses and camping facilities.
Duration: 2 hrs 40 mins
Distance: 145 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 3 & 4: Cape Tribulation to Atherton
To get a true perspective of the magnificent rainforest visit the Daintree Rainforest Environmental Centre. Here, touch-screen technology provides a detailed explanation of the region's flora, fauna, ecology and evolution. The 23-metre high Canopy Tower provides possibly the best above-ground-level views of rainforest available anywhere. Each level has its own large viewing platform, and at the top, the view across the forest canopy is dramatic. It's a photographer's dream.
Head back down the road, crossing the Daintree River again. If time allows take a Daintree River cruise and spot some crocodiles if you're lucky. Continuing south, take the turn-off to Mareeba along the picturesque Developmental Road, passing through Mount Molloy. Sitting atop a plateau rising, 1000 metres above sea level, is the farm and grazing landscape of the 'Highlands' known as the 'food bowl' of the north-western tropics. Arriving in Mareeba, you can taste locally grown espresso coffee and see the amazing diversity of wetland birdlife in the wild at Mareeba Wetlands, about 13 kms north of Mareeba near the town of Biboohra.
At the southern edge of Atherton town you'll find one of the tableland's major attractions, the Platypus Park. Here you'll find a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of a wild platypus. Stay overnight in Atherton.
Duration: 2 hrs 25 mins
Distance: 135 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 5: Atherton to Mission Beach
Head off early down the Range towards Innisfail, taking a short stop at Millaa Millaa Falls on the way. It's easy to pass through Innisfail on the way to Mission Beach, without realising you're in one of Australia's largest sugar-producing towns. Guided walking tours are conducted daily.
Continue south to Mission Beach. Hugging the coast for about 15kms, Mission Beach takes in a handful of villages from Garners Beach in the north to Kennedy Bay in the south. Stretch your legs on the 1.5 km Ulysses Link Walking Track, which winds its way along the breathtaking Mission Beach foreshore. You'll find a range of accommodation close to rainforests and beautiful beaches.
Duration: 2 hrs 10 mins
Distance: 160 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 6 & 7: Mission Beach to Cairns
Spend a day relaxing in Mission Beach or experience the thrill of white water rafting on the Tully River. Rafting companies operate daily and provide transfers from Mission Beach. The nearby Misty Mountains Trails (15 kms from Tully) will challenge even the best bush walker. If sightseeing is more your thing, take a drive to Paronella Park (47kms from Mission Beach) a crumbling Spanish castle at Mena Creek. Paronella Park appears to be hundreds of years older than its true age creating the image of a lost paradise and fantasy garden hidden in the depths of the rainforest!
On the way back north to Cairns drop into the El Arish Pub on the Bruce Highway for a counter meal - but be warned - the walls are covered with historical photos of local boar hunting expeditions!
Duration: 2 hrs 10 mins
Distance: 140 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
7 " 8 day driving holiday start/end Cairns
Greetings. My wife and I are planning on doing an 8 day driving holiday starting and ending in Cairns. We are both keen snorkelers and want to experience the great barrier reef plus hang out on some nice beaches and see the rainforests. Seeing the reef is pretty much a dream of mine- All else being equal, is there much difference in seeing it from Cairns or Port Douglas?
I saw this trip suggestion on queenslandholidays.com and it seems to be pretty much what we are looking for. In April 06 we did a similar driving holiday from Brisbane to Sydney and absolutely loved it. FWIW, our overnight accomodation budget is about $150AUS. Are there any particular must stay places within that budget range? I saw on another post the link to "Dougies" in Port Douglas. That place looks like something we would like, but possibly not quiet enough. We prefer to self cater, so having a kitchen is helpful. Edit: We do like our beer and wine, so if there are any can't miss brewpubs or wine places, that would be great to know about!
Day 1 & 2: Cairns to Cape Tribulation
The best place to start a Tropical North Queensland holiday is snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. Full-day cruises depart daily from Cairns City Wharf. In the evening you can take a leisurely stroll around the city and see how the colonial architecture merges with gracious parks, international standard restaurants, boutique shopping and modern art galleries.
The next day, twenty minutes or so north of Cairns, the highway drive hugs the coastline. Stop for lunch at Port Douglas, the famous seaside town where you can enjoy a village atmosphere and some great beachside dining experiences.
Continue north to the Daintree National Park. It takes less than five minutes to cross the Daintree River by ferry, but on the other side you enter an entirely new tropical world.
At Cape Tribulation accommodation is available in luxury resorts, guest houses and camping facilities.
Duration: 2 hrs 40 mins
Distance: 145 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 3 & 4: Cape Tribulation to Atherton
To get a true perspective of the magnificent rainforest visit the Daintree Rainforest Environmental Centre. Here, touch-screen technology provides a detailed explanation of the region's flora, fauna, ecology and evolution. The 23-metre high Canopy Tower provides possibly the best above-ground-level views of rainforest available anywhere. Each level has its own large viewing platform, and at the top, the view across the forest canopy is dramatic. It's a photographer's dream.
Head back down the road, crossing the Daintree River again. If time allows take a Daintree River cruise and spot some crocodiles if you're lucky. Continuing south, take the turn-off to Mareeba along the picturesque Developmental Road, passing through Mount Molloy. Sitting atop a plateau rising, 1000 metres above sea level, is the farm and grazing landscape of the 'Highlands' known as the 'food bowl' of the north-western tropics. Arriving in Mareeba, you can taste locally grown espresso coffee and see the amazing diversity of wetland birdlife in the wild at Mareeba Wetlands, about 13 kms north of Mareeba near the town of Biboohra.
At the southern edge of Atherton town you'll find one of the tableland's major attractions, the Platypus Park. Here you'll find a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of a wild platypus. Stay overnight in Atherton.
Duration: 2 hrs 25 mins
Distance: 135 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 5: Atherton to Mission Beach
Head off early down the Range towards Innisfail, taking a short stop at Millaa Millaa Falls on the way. It's easy to pass through Innisfail on the way to Mission Beach, without realising you're in one of Australia's largest sugar-producing towns. Guided walking tours are conducted daily.
Continue south to Mission Beach. Hugging the coast for about 15kms, Mission Beach takes in a handful of villages from Garners Beach in the north to Kennedy Bay in the south. Stretch your legs on the 1.5 km Ulysses Link Walking Track, which winds its way along the breathtaking Mission Beach foreshore. You'll find a range of accommodation close to rainforests and beautiful beaches.
Duration: 2 hrs 10 mins
Distance: 160 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
Day 6 & 7: Mission Beach to Cairns
Spend a day relaxing in Mission Beach or experience the thrill of white water rafting on the Tully River. Rafting companies operate daily and provide transfers from Mission Beach. The nearby Misty Mountains Trails (15 kms from Tully) will challenge even the best bush walker. If sightseeing is more your thing, take a drive to Paronella Park (47kms from Mission Beach) a crumbling Spanish castle at Mena Creek. Paronella Park appears to be hundreds of years older than its true age creating the image of a lost paradise and fantasy garden hidden in the depths of the rainforest!
On the way back north to Cairns drop into the El Arish Pub on the Bruce Highway for a counter meal - but be warned - the walls are covered with historical photos of local boar hunting expeditions!
Duration: 2 hrs 10 mins
Distance: 140 kms
Road Conditions: Sealed
July 7th, 2010, 11:47 PM