Reef, Rainforest, Waterfalls: Your Epic 5-Day Cairns Road Trip

Your Fantastic 5-Day Road Trip Itinerary From Cairns

Just picked up your campervan in Cairns? Mission brief: explore one of Australia's most diverse regions. With the Great Barrier Reef to the east, ancient rainforest in the north, and Atherton Tablelands waterfalls and crater lakes inland, this corner of Far North Queensland packs a lot of fun into short, day trip adventures.

This 5-day loop takes you from our Spaceships Cairns depot right around all the best things to do while visiting Cairns. Plus, every stop on this route has campervan-friendly facilities.

Overview:

Before You Hit The Road: Explore Cairns

If you’ve got the time, Cairns has enough to fill a day. The Esplanade runs along the waterfront brimming with cafes and bars. It’s also home to the lagoon - a free saltwater pool, and activities like Pilates, yoga, and beach volleyball. The Cairns Botanic Gardens (10 minutes north, free entry) showcase a range of tropical plants, and the Crystal Cascades just out of town offer an easy 1 km walk to freshwater swimming holes like the fairy pools.

The Great Barrier Reef is right here. Many day tours leave from the marina for snorkelling and diving at one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Fitzroy Island and Green Island are also popular spots to check out.

The magic of Fairy Falls: a must-see on your Cairns road trip

Day 1: Cairns to Port Douglas

• Distance: 67 km
• Drive Time: 1.25 hours (without stops)

Launch day takes you on the Cairns to Port Douglas drive north along the scenic Captain Cook Highway, it’s one of those roads where you’ll want to pull over. Rainforest covered mountains drop straight into the Coral Sea and the road follows the coastline the entire way.

Within just 20 minutes of driving, you’ll reach Palm Cove and Trinity Beach. Your first proper taste of tropical coastline. Ellis Beach, one of the most unspoilt beaches along the coast, is a dreamy place to stop. Visitors can swim in the patrolled areas with stinger nets and fish at its southern end.

Around the halfway mark, Rex Lookout gives you the full panorama. Imagine turquoise blue water with islands dotting the horizon and the coastal range behind you. Two-minute stop, so worth it for the photos!

You’ll know you’ve arrived in Port Douglas when Four Mile Beach opens up on your left.

What to do:

Four Mile Beach: Go for a swim, stand-up paddleboarding, or kitesurfing, or book a tour out to the reef. Tours from Port Douglas are often less busy, use smaller boats and the reef can be in better condition than from Cairns. There is a fantastic walk at the northern end of the beach up to the top of Flagstaff Hill with spectacular views over the Coral Sea, Snapper Island, and Daintree Forest.

Food & Drink: The coastal town is foodie heaven with cafes and restaurants with food from all over the world. Try Sassi La Cucina on Macrossan Street for Italian and seafood or Salso Bar & Grill for tropical dining overlooking the Dickson Inlet.

Mossman Gorge: 20 minutes inland from Port Douglas is Mossman Gorge. Located within the Daintree Rainforest - the world's oldest continuously surviving rainforest, we’re talking 180 million years old (which makes the Amazon look like a teenager). Learn about the indigenous Kuku Yulanji people who have inhabited the forest for over 50,000 years, walk the lush trails, chase waterfalls and enjoy a refreshing swim in one of the crystal clear swimming holes. Stick to the designated swimming areas as the river can be deceptive.

To end the day, Park up at the Mossman Pool & Caravan Park and relax in the 50 m long Olympic-size swimming pool. Or head back into town for more overnight options, such as Dougie’s Backpacker resort with powered campervan sites, hammocks by the pool, and just 300 m from the beach.

Relax at Cow Bay Beach

Day 2: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation

• Distance: 84 km
• Drive time: 1.75 hours + ferry (without stops)

Day two takes you to the only place on earth where two World Heritage Sites meet - the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, side by side.

About 50 km north of Port Douglas the road dead ends at the Daintree River. Use the Daintree Ferry to cross the river to Cape Tribulation - it operates continuously from 5am to midnight every day. Make sure to fuel up before crossing the river as petrol stations are limited on the other side. After crossing the river, the roads narrow and the rainforest presses in from both sides with canopy overhead. Cape Tribulation itself is small, scattered and more a collection of beaches and boardwalks than a town. It’s remote, dramatic and properly wild.

What to do:

Kulki, Madja & Dubuji Boardwalks: Short elevated walks through the mangroves with beach views.

Explore the beaches: You’ve got a number of beautiful options to choose from, Cape Trib Beach, Myall Beach, Noah Beach, Thornton Beach and Cow Bay Beach to name a few. It’s not recommended to swim due to crocs and jellyfish.

Turtle Rock Cafe: A popular spot 400 m from the beach for morning coffee or a taste of local produce and fruit.

Daintree River Cruises: If you didn’t spot a croc on the ferry, guided river cruises can pretty much guarantee it. You’ll see huge saltwater crocs, or ‘salties’, lurking in the waters or sunning themselves on the riverbanks.

Emmagen Creek: A safe freshwater swimming hole with a rope swing further up Bloomfield Road. Look for the track between the scrub, it’s not well signposted.

Mason’s Swimming Hole: Try out Mason’s Cafe with its little general store to stock up on road trip supplies. The freshwater swimming hole is located behind the cafe, it’s croc-free and safe to swim for just an extra buck!

Other adventures: There are loads of boat trips, ocean kayaking, horse riding, diving and snorkelling opportunities, or head into the Daintree Forest for a choice of bush walks, trails, and ziplining.

Camp at the eco-friendly Cape Tribulation Camping, right on Myall Beach. You can eat wood-fired pizzas and enjoy a beer or cocktail at The Sandbar, also on the beach if you don’t feel like cooking.

Enjoying the scenery at Masons Swimming Hole

Day 3: Cape Tribulation to Atherton Tablelands

• Distance: 210 km
• Drive time: 3 hours + ferry (without stops)

Head back inland for the 3 hour drive south to Atherton Tablelands. Today you're trading coastal tropical for highland tropical. The Artherton Tablelands sit at 600 m - 900 m altitude inland from Cairns, where the air is cooler, there’s volcanic crater lakes, and Far North Queensland’s best waterfalls. On the way stop for a coffee at Mareeba, home to Australia's oldest coffee plantation Skybury Farms.

Overnight, Lake Eacham Tourist Park and Mandala Falls Caravan Park put you central near the lakes. Or, Atherton Holiday Park keeps you closer to town.

What to do:

Visit crater lakes: Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are volcanic craters filled with fresh, clear water. Both are perfect for swimming or canoeing (even at night), surrounded by rainforest.

Waterfalls: The tablelands are famous for them. The Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit hits three of the most well known within 20 minutes of each other: Millaa Millaa Falls (Aussie’s most photographed waterfall), Zillie Falls, and Elinja Falls. Yes, we’re saying to chase waterfalls. TLC would not approve, but your Instagram will!

Wildlife: Keep an eye out for tree kangaroos and wallabies or try spotting Platypus at Peterson Creek.
Rainforest Walk: Walk among ancient trees (some over 600 years old). Visit the Cathedral Fig Tree near Yungaburra. It’s a tree that inspired Avatar's ‘Tree of Souls’ and is only a 10-minute walk.

Food & Drink: Mungali Creek Dairy does delicious cheeses and ice cream from their own herd, or visit Mt Uncle distillery for Far North Queensland rum or a sip of their 100% Australian agave syrup.

Millaa Millaa Falls Atherton Tablelands by Peter Nijenhuis

Day 4: Atherton Tablelands to Mission Beach

• Distance: 144 km
• Drive time: 2 hours (without stops)

Day 4 takes you back down to sea level and the tropical coastline. Mission Beach is your reward: 14 km of coast spread across 4 beach towns. The drive south also takes you back past yesterday's waterfalls if you missed any.

What to do on the way:

Mamu Tropical Skywalk: An elevated walkway that takes you from the rainforest floor up to the canopy with an observation tower at the top giving you views over the tablelands and coast.

Alligators Nest Swimming Hole: Despite the name, there are no alligators or crocs. Swimming here in the pristine waters is completely safe and it’s a great stop for a picnic.

Tully White Water Rafting: Inland from Mission Beach, spend the day on the Tully River white water rafting on grade 3 & 4 rapids through rainforest gorges. Transfers from Mission Beach are available or you can drive yourself.

Skydiving: To get a real high, why not skydive over Mission Beach? If throwing yourself out of a plane from 15,000 feet in the air over reef and rainforest appeals, this is your spot.

From Mission Beach, enjoy the four connected villages: Bingil Bay (north), Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, and South Mission Beach. The beaches are genuinely beautiful. Palm-lined, golden sand, and cassowaries occasionally wander out of the forest onto the shore. The area is known as the Cassowary Coast, so look out for these large flightless birds with bright blue necks. If you spot one, keep your distance and don’t feed it.

You can go for a swim, but check local croc warnings and swim in stinger nets between November and May. Stroll along Kennedy Walking Track (4 km through forest and across beaches) to secluded bays. Mission Beach is also very close to the outer reef if you want to go snorkelling or diving again.

Eat at the quirky Bingil Bay Cafe, minutes from the beach, or Shanti Cafe on Porter Promenade in Mission Beach, who boast they serve your “favourite eats, beats, coffee, beers & cocktails each day.” That just about covers all bases!

There is a choice of campgrounds, like Mission Beach Camping and Caravan Park or Binigil Bay Campground, both with fantastic beachfront camping sites and are just a few minutes from the centre of town. Imagine parking up, opening up your rear awning and falling asleep to the sound of ocean breeze and waves.

Amazing views on your road trip from Cairns: there's so much to do and see

Day 5: Mission Beach to Cairns

• Distance: 139 km
• Drive time: 2 hours (without stops)

Your final day includes two more of the best waterfalls near Cairns. Leave yourself some time for these two stops:

Josephine Falls: Head off the main A1 to stop at Josephine Falls in Wooroonooran National Park. It’s a beautiful place with natural rock water slides. A couple of hours can “slide” by here!

Babinda Boulders: About another 20 km north from Josephine Falls is Babinda Boulders where massive granite boulders split the creek into channels and pools. The water rushes through with serious force carving smooth curves into the rocks over thousands of years. You can swim here but stick to the designated areas, always respect the signs and stay out of restricted zones.

The site holds significance for the Yidinji people. Local tradition tells of Oolana, a young woman who fell in love with Dyga from a neighbouring tribe. They travelled together and camped by the river. But Oolana was married to Waroonoo, a respected village elder. Both tribes searched for the couple, and Dyga was taken back by his people. Oolana threw herself into the water in grief. The land shook, boulders rose from the river and her spirit is said to remain in the stones.

From Babinda, it’s a straight 60 km drive back into the centre of Cairns.

Mission Complete

Five days around Cairns give you reef, rainforest, waterfalls, and coastline without burning through your fuel budget or spending half the trip behind the wheel. This loop hits all the Cairns highlights without the rush.

Pick up your campervan, point it north, and see what tropical Australia actually looks like.

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