Drive

Road trip! Whether you’re young or old, want to spend a day, week, month or year out and about, the unique and diverse landscapes of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef rate as one of the best self-drive holidays on the planet.

Australia’s only true tropical motoring route - The Great Tropical Drive

Toss your watch and wind away at your own pace along palm-fringed beaches, ancient World Heritage-listed rainforests and the golden outback of the Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region on Australia’s only true tropical motoring route - the Great Tropical Drive. The Great Tropical Drive road map encompasses 2079km of tropical Outback Australia, including 13 Discovery Trails showcasing some of Australia’s most breathtaking scenery, bird watching and best known attractions - the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Atherton Tablelands, Cape York, Gulf Savannah, Mission Beach, Hinchinbrook Island and Undara Lava Tubes – just to name a few.

Most of the roads in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region are accessible by conventional car or motor home and a myriad of self-drive car hire services rent these, as well as four-wheel drive vehicles so you can travel as far and wide as your heart desires.

Couples

Find her a rock
Pan for gold at Tyrconnell Historic Goldmine or fossick for precious gems and stones in Mt Garnet or Mt Surprise – finder’s keepers!

Take a natural hot spa together
Mother Nature has created a rejuvenating and healing natural, hot mineral springs between Ravenshoe and Mount Garnet.

Fall asleep under the stars
Let Mother Nature sing you both to sleep under the stars in the peace and tranquillity of outback Cairns and Great Barrier Reef.

 

Daintree Discovery Centre

Award winning Discovery Centre is a world class interpretive facility nestled in the rainforest, 10 kms north of the Daintree River.

(07) 4098 9171
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Families

Are you as big as a magnetic termite mound?
Kids will get a kick out of comparing their own height to these amazing and often very large termite nests scattered throughout the tropical outback.

Explore Chillagoe Caves
Explore magnificent limestone caves, historical mines and uncover hidden treasures in Chillagoe.

Canecutter Heritage Trail
Drive the Canecutter Heritage Trail and swim at Josephine Falls, indulge in some local fruit and wine, and learn the romantic story of Jose Paronella at Paronella Park.