In this article we are going to take you through our favourite state in our favourite home away from home – Queensland, Australia – with one epic Cairns to Brisbane itinerary.
- Where: Cairns – Brisbane (Cairns – Townsville – Airlie Beach/Mackay – Yeppoon – Fraser Island – Brisbane
- The time needed: 3-4 weeks
- Distance: Around 1900 Kilometer
In Ireland, if you have to drive more than 3 hours in a day it is nearly unimaginable. If you had to drive from Cork to Dublin in one sitting, you would nearly consider stopping off for a night at the halfway mark!
Things are a lot different in Australia – it is a MASSIVE country with huge distances from point A to point B. Although, one thing is for sure, what awaits you at each place will be worth the driving distance.
Let’s get straight into your perfect Cairns to Brisbane itinerary.
Cairns to Brisbane: Tropical Queensland
We lived in Queensland for 7 years and it is our home away from home. All of the places that we will mention are places where we actually set our feet and saw with our own eyes.
The best thing about the majority of all these sights – they are free!!!! (except for the times when there is a boat or ferry involved)
- Spaceship Vans – Are you a backpacker or a budget traveler? No problem, then this is the one for you! There are great deals available on Spaceship Vans. We used it for four weeks in New Zealand and had no issues, highly recommended by us! Another bonus is that they have depots in Airlie Beach and Brisbane to drop the vehicle off once your trip is completed.
- Discovercars – This is the best website to compare all car rental companies and score the best deal for you. There are all sorts of vehicles available, from small-budget cars to large family saloons, or perhaps even a 4×4.
Cairns
The first amazing itinerary of Australia we will tell you about is a huge one! It goes from Cairns to Brisbane or vice versa.
The pace you travel is entirely up to you, it can be done in 3 weeks, it can be dragged out to 2 months or longer!
Basically, if you like a place – stay longer!
We will mention the most memorable places we visited, but of course, there will be lots of interesting stop-offs in between.
This is the perfect Australia road trip itinerary for those that love wildlife, nature, and outdoor activities.
The Incredible “Great Barrier Reef”
Cairns itself is a holiday destination where you could easily spend a few weeks sightseeing.
What Cairns is probably most famous for is that it is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest living single organism on planet Earth.
Go on a snorkeling tour and see the spectacular coloured reefs, an abundance of tropical fish, turtles, and maybe even sight the famous clownfish.
There is an abundance of different snorkeling tours with different budgets to suit your needs.
Cape Tribulation
Take a day trip up North to Cape Tribulation, where the reef meets the rainforest – a rainforest that is over 100 million years old! The drive up is spectacular as you hug the coastline driving through mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
You will see lots of stunning beaches on this trip, but what is fxcked up is that you cannot go swimming here as there is saltwater crocodiles in the water.
Instead of seeing the inside of a crocs mouth maybe go on a Wildlife and Crocodile Cruise for that!
On the drive you will pass Mossman Gorge, this is a nice spot to stop off for a break and some lunch.
Exotic Waterfalls
You can go swimming without any fear of a crocodile munching on you! In the Cairns area, there are many waterfalls and swimming holes. You could spend an entire day visiting numerous waterfalls if you wanted to.
The most popular route is the “The Waterfall Circuit”. Three waterfalls along a 20km lap – Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, and Elinjaa Falls (Millaa Millaa being the pick of the lot) are an hour and a half South of Cairns.
Barron Falls is only 40 minutes by car on the Northwest side of Cairns. You can’t go swimming here it is only a viewing area. At 125 meters tall this impressive cascade waterfall is quite the sight to see in the wet season, but in the dry season is unfortunately a lot less impressive.
The drive to Barron Falls brings you up the Atherton Tablelands and brings you to the town of Karanda, a relaxed hippy-style town where you can also do a river cruise and spot some freshwater crocodiles.
These guys are a lot smaller than their gigantic cousins “The Salty’s’.
Check out Bookme.com.au for any deals in the area – we got our 2 hour river cruise tour here for only $12 per person.
Tropical Paradise Islands
Off the coast of Cairns, you will have an abundance of choice of islands to visit. All of these can be done on day trips or overnight stays. The islands are surrounded by natural beauty – rainforests, blue waters, and white-sand beaches.
We have visited both Fitzroy Island (staying in the Fitzroy Island Resort for a weekend stay) and the Franklin Islands (on a day trip). Basically, they all offer the same, you can’t go wrong no matter what island you choose to visit.
Snorkeling the many reefs available to you is an obvious one to do, but if you are not a fan of the water there are also many glass-bottom boat tours. to take in the beauty around and below you.
Alternatively, just sit back on a lounger and have a cocktail watching dolphins play in the sea.
From Cairns to Townsville is about 350 Kilometers and a four-and-half-hour drive.
You should give this part of the trip up to 3 days, there are a lot of cool attractions to see, and nearly all are free!!
Stunning Swimming Holes
There are quite a lot of swimming holes between Cairns and Townsville, these are our two favorite.
The first must-see stop-off you will visit after leaving Cairns is only one hour away – Babinda Boulders.
This is a spectacular place to go for a swim in crystal clear waters surrounded by massive granite boulders in the middle of a rainforest.
Crystal Creek is our other favourite swimming hole and is located just over one hour North of Townsville. This is an adventurous type of swimming hole with an abundance of choices of different areas to swim.
The most fun though is the many natural water slides there. Start at the very top and slide the whole way down on the carved-out smooth rock formations.
If sliding down rocks is not your thing, then just relax at the very bottom pool – Paradise pool. Bring your snorkeling gear to see the many fish in the crystal-clear waters.
A Cassowary? Never Heard of it!
What the Fxck is a Cassowary you say?
Cassowaries are large flightless birds slightly smaller than an ostrich. They have bright blue heads and necks and a large casque on their heads.
Their claws are huge dagger-like and look more like a dinosaur’s foot! There is no guarantee of seeing these in the wild. You just have to make sure you bring your patience with you and have a bit of luck on the day!
Wallaman Falls: The Largest Waterfall in Australia
Roughly at the halfway mark between Cairns and Townsville, you will find the Wallaman Falls, at nearly 270 meters tall it is the largest waterfall in Australia, and what a sight to behold!
You can check out the breathtaking view of the water plunging down from the platform at the very top.
However, we would also recommend hiking down to the bottom for a close-up view. You will encounter stunning views on this hike which will take around 2 hours, it will be worth it!!
Make sure to bring plenty of drinking water and beware of snakes and stinging trees – it is Australia after all!
Magnetic Island
Once you have gotten to Townsville there will be one more place to check out which can be done a day visit – Magnetic Island.
Here you will see some of Australia’s iconic animals, majestic views, snorkeling spots, and stunning beaches. There is accommodation available on the island but if you didn’t have the time there is still a lot you can see in one day.
How to get there?
Get the early morning ferry over from Townsville, this will cost you $32 online or $36 at the ticket office and only takes half an hour to get there.
Once on the island, you can hire a kind of convertible Barbie-looking car for around $80/day. The cheapest choice is getting a bus around the island which is frequent and only cost around $3 per trip per person.
Magnetic Island – Now Let’s Have Fun!
So now we know how to get there and get around, let’s check out what there is to do! Make your way to Arcadia Beach from the ferry terminal.
Just before Arcadia, there is a large rock formation which has lots of wild Rock Wallabies. These friendly little creatures are not too shy about posing for a photograph.
The next stop is a hike up to “The Fort” an abandoned WW2 fort which is about 4 kilometers and takes around 2 hours. The views at the very top will make the effort worth it!
What our favourite part about the hike was though, were the wild koalas hiding in the trees on the way up.
Keep an eye out for arrows on the ground put down by other hikers, they are indicators of where a koala is more than likely snoozing! After all that hiking the best way to cool off is by taking a dip in the many beaches.
The biggest and easiest accessible is Horseshoe Bay. Two nearby beaches are – Florence Bay and Arthur Bay. You would have sighted all of them from the hike to “The Fort”, They are a bit wavier waters than it is at Horseshoe Bay, but you will have them almost all to yourself!
Don’t get too excited to cool down when you see the water and remember to take your phone out of your pocket before you dive in (ahem)………
*Make sure to respect all wildlife – They are wild animals and can be aggressive when provoked.
Airlie Beach/Mackay
Townsville to Airlie Beach will take you three and a half hours, this can be done in one drive. Airlie Beach to Mackay is an hour and a half away.
The Most Beautiful Beach in the World!
Airlie Beach is the gateway to “The Whitsunday Islands” and the most beautiful beach in the world – Whitehaven Beach. Silica white sand and turquoise blue waters with sting rays resting only a couple of meters away, this place is paradise!
There are multiple choices for seeing this stunning place, you can get a day trip on a speed boat, an overnight stay on a yacht, or a scenic flight. We have done the speed boat and yacht, and both were very enjoyable, and both include multiple stops offs to go snorkeling.
Cape Hillsborough
Between Airlie Beach and Mackay is a National Park called “Cape Hillsborough” This is an early starter as you want to get here for sunrise.
It is at this time when kangaroos come onto the beach looking for food (now they get fed by a ranger for the kangaroos’ safety). You will still get some amazing pictures though!
Once the sun has risen the kangaroos disappear back into the woods. Hike up the short (about 15 minutes one way) but steep hill located on your right-hand side when looking at the ocean.
You will emerge from the trees to the most spectacular views overlooking the bay – if the tide is out, you can walk a loop leading back to where you started otherwise head back down the way you came up.
Mackay and Eungella National Park
We were lucky to call Mackay our home for 6 years, besides the many stunning beaches (31 to choose from!) Mackay also has the bluest river in Australia.
Mackay is our favourite place in Australia so make sure to read more about our reasons why here.
From Mackay, take a trip inland to Eungella National Park. It is here where you will see the crazy-looking animal – The platypus (read more about them in the animal section here)
Keep an eye out for snakes as well, there are many of them here from small little ones to large Pythons! After doing your wildlife tour take a dip in a waterfall along one of the various hikes in the area.
Finch Hatton
When you are visiting Eungella NP you will also have time to explore “Finch Hatton Gorge”. It is easily accessible from the main road and a short 2 km hike to the first natural pool. Resist the temptation to jump into the refreshing water immediately.
Hike to the top first on this enjoyable and adventurous trail where you can swim in “The Ring Of Fire” (Named after a flower!) From the top, you will work your way down exploring the pools, cascades, and waterfalls that you can have entirely to yourself!
Yeppoon
Mackay to Yeppoon will take about 4 hours. We highly recommend Carmilla Beach (about an hour and a half south of Mackay) as a perfect stop if you wanted to break up the drive into two.
This is a great spot for a rest and a sandwich. An even better option is to set up camp right on the beach with stunning blue waters at your feet.
This place is simply breathing every time and is one of the top camping spots we have ever been to during our Australia travels.
Rockhampton
Before you get to Yeppoon, take the tiniest of detours through Rockhampton. Stop off for a free visit at Rockhampton’s Zoo in the botanical gardens.
For a free zoo, they actually have a lot of cool animals to see, including a 4-meter saltwater croc!
After the zoo have a coffee underneath the huge, intertwined fig trees in the botanical gardens. Finish up the day by driving up to Fraser Lookout for sunset with views for miles.
Yeppoon’s Beautiful Blue Waters
Yeppoon is only half an hour away from Rockhampton and is a small, chilled seaside town where you can relax for a few days.
Go for a day trip to Byfield National Park where you can swim in turquoise waters in a forest, again all for free!
15 Kilometers of the coast lies Great Keppel Island, catch a ferry over for a day trip or even better for a few days! Return tickets are around $45 per adult.
Pass the time away by exploring the island on its many choices of hikes with panoramic views. After sunset, the place will be abundant with wildlife with possums and quite a few echidnas as well!
Carnarvon Gorge
We didn’t plan to include Carnarvon Gorge in this itinerary, but if time and budget suit then we would highly recommend a visit to this fantastic hidden gem of Australia. A 900-meter sandstone plateau rises up from the plains with many hikes and waterfalls.
We have embarked on many hikes on our world travels, hiking volcanoes in Kenya and Indonesia to name but a few, and Carnarvon Gorge still holds place as one of our favorites.
Carnarvon Gorge is about five and a half hours inland from Yeppoon.
You can break up the journey by staying in Blackdown Tableland National Park, which is roughly halfway.
Carnarvon Gorge is a natural wonder of Australia that surprisingly doesn’t get as much attention it deserves. It’s a long hike inside the gorge, about 20 km round trip, but truly worth every step of it.
Take in the sights of cliffs rising up to 600 meters in some places and explore the many side tracks that all offer something unique.
If your feet and morals allow you, then hike up to the viewpoints as well. At the top, you will witness breathtaking views and vastness. Carnarvon Gorge was one of our favourite visits during our Cairns to Brisbane road trip.
For everything you need to know about visiting Carnarvon Gorge here.
Fraser Island – K’Gari
Time to do a bit of 4×4 driving! Fraser Island (Also known as K’Gari) is the world’s largest sand island and you are going to love this place!
There are many iconic highlights you will see here such as Lake Mackenzie, 75-mile Beach, The Maheno shipwreck, and Eli Creek.
Keep an eye out for wild dingos as they roam the island freely. Learn about dingo safety as there have been attacks over the years and DO NOT feed a dingo even if they do look harmless and friendly – They are wild native animals and not house pets.
Fraser Island – Getting There and Costs
It is possible to take a day trip over, but we personally would plan this cost into your budget and hire a 4×4 to drive over yourself (a bit more on the expensive side as this will cost around $450 -$500 for three days).
The size of this island should not be underestimated, you will have lots to see and do.
There are two options of getting to Fraser Island. A ferry from Hervey Bay or a ferry from Rainbow Beach.
Prices start at around $130 for a 4×4 return, 4 adults are included in that price.
Brisbane – Queensland’s Capital
Welcome to Brisbane!! You made it, you completed the ultimate Cairns to Brisbane itinerary, however, the adventure does not end just yet.
We are going to use Brisbane as a base and tell you about the many places you can visit from the city.
Brisbane is Australia’s third biggest city and is often overlooked, yet it is a place that has lots to offer.
Make your way to Kangaroo Point to sight the skyline view of the city and Story Bridge.
Moreton Bay – A Hidden World Under the Sea
Moreton Bay lies about 16 kilometers off the coast of Brisbane and has many amazing natural attractions. But it is the man-made wonderland that will be your highlight – The Tangalooma Shipwrecks.
15 ships have been deliberately sunk to form a break wall for smaller boats, also creating an amazing snorkel and wreck dive.
This is one of our favourite snorkeling sites we have ever been!! There are all sorts and sizes of different fish here, just beware there can be a very strong current here.
National Parks – A Natural Spectacle
There are many National Parks around the Brisbane area, you could spend lots of days exploring them all. I am going to tell you about Springbrook NP and Lamington NP, both should be considered for a full-day trip.
Springbrook National Park
Both parks are located about an hour and a half drive from Brisbane, as an alternative option you could stay in camping grounds within the parks. We stayed in “The Settlement“ in Springbrook and it is a perfect base to explore both.
Especially for $7 per person per night!The great thing about staying in “The Settlement” is its close location to Purling Brook Falls, literally a couple of hundred meters! Take the 4-kilometer circuit hike in a clockwise direction (Otherwise you will be climbing a lot of stairs back up!) and embrace the falls as you wander through a Jurassic Park-style environment.
Lamington National Park
Lamington NP is only a half-hour drive from Purling Brook Falls, and it is here where you will truly see something unique! Besides the many waterfalls, views, and peaks there is one attraction that stands out –The Natural Bridge.
The Natural Bridge is an unusual geological feature. Walk down to the bottom of the track and enter a small cave and you will see a waterfall crashing down through the ceiling for a spectacular view and creating a “Natural Bridge”
But wait, there is more! If that wasn’t impressive enough for you then your mind will be blown away when it gets dark, the darker the better. At nighttime, thousands and thousands of glow worms show off their mysterious luminescence creating a fairy tale scene!
Make sure to have a torch or other light and make your way back to the cave, inside the cave you will see the walls and ceiling lit up by these magnificent creatures.
The glowworms are not only confined to the cave though. Take lots and lots of breaks when you are on the track that leads to the cave. Turn off your torch and watch as the glow of thousands of “stars” in the forest strike your eye immediately.
Cities – Brisbane’s Neighbours
Brisbane has two cousins very nearby yet very different from each other – The Sunshine Coast and The Gold Coast.
The Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is a 60-kilometer stretch north of Brisbane and feels more like an upmarket type of place. You will have plenty of choices of restaurants and boutiques here.
During the day dive into the waters for a surf or swim at the gorgeous Maroochydore Beach. Enjoy a drink and some live music at night in the many establishments.
40 Minutes north of Maroochydore lies Noosa Heads, a laidback coastal town surrounded by bays, beaches, and National Parks. All of these places can be used as a base to explore the Sunshine Coast.
Read about the best things to do in the Sunshine Coast here.
The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is a city about one hour South of Brisbane and Australia’s Holiday capital for families, even so, it can also be discovered as a couple or single person. You will have plenty of choices of different things to do.
From theme parks to beaches to pubs and restaurants. Obviously, this can be quite an expensive place!
Go for a drive through Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta and view the city’s many high-rise building skylines from the everlasting stretching beach.
Into surfing? Then Surfers Paradise sounds like to place for you!
Why stop here?! Continue the Australian road trip from Brisbane to Sydney:
Cairns to Brisbane Itinerary: Things to Remember!
- Plan your hikes and ensure to bring plenty of water, a hat, insect repellent and sun cream.
- The wet season is December-April in Queensland which means good for waterfall flow. In the dry season, they may be dried up and not that impressive – something to consider.
- The most important one of all – Have fun and enjoy!
Enjoy Your Cairns to Brisbane Road Trip!
We truly love this part of Australia, a place we called home for 7 years.
We are certain that you will enjoy every minute of your Cairns to Brisbane itinerary as much as we did.
Please feel free to leave us a message below or contact us through our socials.
Slán go fóil
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