The northern part of Queensland is tropical paradise, known most famously for being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world. It's one of the best roadtripping destinations in Australia, with beaches, viewpoints, coastal towns and hikes to explore all along the way.
Cairns is often considered the entry point to Tropical North Queensland. From Cairns, you can roadtrip in both directions: down south towards Townsville (the focus of this guide), up north along the Captain Cook Highway to Mossman and further north to the Daintree Rainforest. I have done all three and am here to give you all the best tips of what to do along the way.
→ Check out my complete guide to roadtripping the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns to Mossman!
→ Check out my guide to visiting the Daintree Rainforest!
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
The route from Cairns to Townsville is about 350km. This guide is in geographical order from Cairns south to Townsville.
We first roadtripped from Townsville to Cairns in early May 2026 and returned at the end of the month after our time up north, driving the road in the opposite direction down south, and updated the original post with all the new things we did. This post was first published on 5 May 2026; last updated 26 May 2026.
Purchase my Ultimate Australia Map
Heading to Australia? Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia (including its three external territories) can be found in my Ultimate Australia Map!
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Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.
Useful Information for a Roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville
Below is some useful information for preparing for your roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. Aboriginal people have lived on the land for more than 60,000 years, with many different traditional language groups.
→ Learn more about the Aboriginal people of Queensland.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Tropical North Queensland gets a pretty intense rainy season from November to April which can often see floods and many tourism infrastructure closed. The best time to visit is during winter and early spring from May to October for pleasant, warm, sunny, dry days.
Length of stay: A roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville is about 350km. You can do it in a day but I recommend three days to do it properly.
How to Get to Cairns
You can start this roadtrip from either Cairns or Townsville, both major cities in Tropical North Queensland. If you need to rent a campervan, the best place to start is Cairns, so all the information below pertains to arriving in Cairns. If you're already on the road and heading towards this part of the country, you can of course start at either end depending on your route.
By flight: Cairns has its own airport, connecting nationally across Australia as well as to multiple international destinations.
The airport is just north of the city, less than ten minutes by car or 15 minutes by bus.
By car: The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
→ Rent a campervan in Cairns with Apollo, Camplify, Indie or Juicy.
You can also do this roadtrip in a normal rental car, choosing to stay in accommodations along the way instead.
By coach: If you don't want to drive this roadtrip, both Greyhound and Flixbus run coaches between Townsville and Cairns with multiple stops in between so you can explore the region at your own pace without having to drive.
Where to Stay on a Roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Driving in a car or traveling by coach? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are some great accommodation options between Cairns and Townsville.
→ Check out places to stay to suit your budget and accommodation type.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. The best way to find legal camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
In Cairns, we checked into Tasman Holiday Parks, a delightful paid campsite before driving down during our second visit to the region. It's small but peaceful and with all the amenities of a paid campground, including a swimming pool, power, laundry, kitchen and more.
There is an awesome free camping spot right next to the famous Babinda Boulders. We didn't stay here but it looked awesome and they even have free toilets and showers!
Just inland from Mission Beach, we camped at the Bilyana Free Camp, a great, grassy free camp just off the A1. It's next to a train line so it can be loud if a train comes past but this only happened once during our stay.
Sometimes there is a cute little coffee trailer parked up here in the morning for you to grab a morning brew.
Big Crystal Creek Camping Area is a nice paid campsite run by Queensland National Parks located right next to the swimming area at Big Crystal Creek.
All campgrounds in Paluma Range National Park can be booked through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service. Entry to the national park is free.
We stopped at Vincent 'Bushy' Parker Park, a lovely, peaceful free campsite in Rollingstone (about 45 minutes north of Townsville). There are toilets and a dump point as well as a freshwater creek swimming area.
It's free to stay here, you just need to book a spot in advance on the Townsville camping website.
Where to Eat on a Roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville
We had some fantastic meals as we explored the area between Cairns and Townsville. I've included my recommendations in geographic order from north to south.
In Cairns, we had massive bowls of delicious pho at Vietnam Pho Pho. The interior is really big and felt almost like a cafeteria but don't let that put you off, the pho is delicious! Come hungry as the portions are big.
In Babinda, before visiting the boulders, we had a delicious lunch of toasties at the adorable Hey Maté.
Vietnam Pho Pho
Hey Maté
In Ingham, Fiori With Love is a delightful spot which has been lovingly decorated to be super welcoming and cozy. Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, the food was yummy and the staff so kind. Perfect stop before visiting Wallaman Falls!
In Mutarnee, near Big Crystal Creek and Paluma Range National Park, stop at Frosty Mango for their mango frosty ice cream and to snap a photo of the Big Mango Man!
Best Things to Do on a Roadtrip from Cairns to Townsville
The drive from Cairns to Townsville is about 350km including Port Douglas which can definitely be done in a day but I recommend at least two or three days to properly explore all the wonderful things there are to do along the way.
Here is everything we did in geographical order from north to south (Cairns to Townsville):
Drive on Walshs Pyramid Road
This is a nice photo spot just south of Cairns - especially if you have a drone - of the road driving straight towards Walshs Pyramid, a triangular-shaped peak. Feeling more adventurous? There are also hiking trails on the mountain.
Go for a dip at Babinda Boulders
Babinda Boulders is a natural swimming spot in a beautiful, clear, green stream filled with granite boulders. There is a safe designated swimming area where you can enjoy the water.
There is also a short walk on a boardwalk along the stream to the Devil's Pool. Swimming is not permitted in this part as the currents are very dangerous, but the views are beautiful of the boulders and worth the stroll.
Swim in Josephine Falls
Josephine Falls is a popular swimming hole in Wooroonooran National Park with lots of natural pools and waterfalls. It's just a ten-minute walk from the parking lot to reach different viewing platforms and spots to enter the water. Please do so safely as the current is quite fast!
Feel the mist of Millaa Millaa Falls
Perhaps the most famous waterfall in Tropical North Queensland, Millaa Millaa Falls is a stunning 18-metre waterfall dropping into a swimming hole surrounded by the most lush rainforest. Truly beautiful.
Enjoy the walk down to Little Millstream Falls
Little Millstream Falls is just outside Ravenshoe. It's a short walk from the parking lot down to the falls, although the view from above is arguably the best.
Spot Tully Falls
The Tully Gorge Lookout is in Tully Falls National Park and overlooks Tully Falls, a gushing waterfall on the Tully River. It was nice, but the one-way drive in was quite long so if you don't have time for this one, I think that's okay.
Apparently there is also a cool waterhole at the top of the falls which we were unable to find; that would have made the trip out worth it!
Float in the Cardwell Spa Pool
Cardwell Spa Pool is a natural swimming hole known for its gorgeous, milky blue water in which you can float and enjoy the serenity.
The best time to visit is from May to September so that the water is fresh, clear and running at normal levels after the rainy season.
Take in the view from Lannercost Lookout
On the drive up to Wallaman Falls, be sure to stop at Lannercost Lookout for gorgeous views over Lannercost State Forest.
See Australia's highest single-drop waterfall
The impressive Wallaman Falls in Girringun National Park is Australia's highest single-drop waterfall and you can really feel how powerful it is, plunging 268 metres down.
There is also a difficult 3.2km return hike, the Djinda Walk, down to the base of the falls here if you want to take on a challenge!
Swim in Paradise Water Hole
Paradise Water Hole is a popular natural swimming hole in Paluma Range National Park. We didn't swim because the weather wasn't on our side but on a sunny day, it would be delightful to enjoy the water here!
Entry to Paluma Range National Park is free.
Spot the Big Mango Man
Located next to the Frosty Mango restaurant on the A1, this is a fun photo stop of... a big mango man!
Take in the view from Castle Hill Lookout
Castle Hill sits more than 900 feet above Townsville on a giant granite monolith and offers the best views of the city in all directions. You can hike or drive up.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
