Cairns to Port Douglas Drive: Best Stops on the Captain Cook Highway

The 66-kilometre drive from Cairns to Port Douglas takes a little over one hour. Travelling north up the Queensland coast along the Captain Cook Highway, you’ll have the Coral Sea at your side all the way. While this might be a quick drive, there’s a lot packed into those 60-Ks that are worth pulling over for. After all, it’s part of the stunning Great Barrier Reef Drive that ribbons between palm-fringed beaches and the vast Daintree Rainforest.

One of tropical Queensland’s most picturesque drives, you’ll be easily persuaded to take your time on this route. Build some extra stretch into your itinerary to turn it into a journey and bookmark these stops along the way.

This trio of idyllic tropical beaches in Cairns’ northern suburbs make a great first-stop along the route. First up, pull into postcard-perfect Trinity Beach. Just 25 minutes from the CBD, this quieter spot is perfect for pausing for a coffee and enlivening dip before heading up the coast. You can cool off in the water here in the protected, patrolled areas. A little further up the road you’ll find the lesser-known gem or Kewarra Beach. Hemmed by palms, this quieter spot is pretty for a swim in the patrolled and enclosed area. Then, from Clifton Beach you can reach the hugely popular Palm Cove via the cycling and walking track. Walk or pedal the 4.6-kilometre path along mangrove boardwalks, under swaying palms and beside the sparkling Coral Sea to arrive at Palm Cove in time for lunch.

Palm Cove really is as dreamlike as it sounds. In this tropical village you’ll find luxury resorts, adorable boutiques and elevated restaurants all collected around a beachside esplanade hemmed with ancient melaleuca trees. Even if you have a tight schedule on route to Port Douglas, don’t miss a stop here. Take a wander around the esplanade, watch the anglers on the pretty jetty, soothe with a spa treatment and make time for a beautifully curated meal.

Swimming in the calm, shimmering waters at Palm Cove is a bucket-list item, just be sure to swim in the designated enclosed area during stinger season. And because sunrise and sunset are awash with a spectrum of golden hues that silhouettes those coconut palms perfectly, you might consider spending the night to make the most of this tropical dreamscape.

Because the drive to Port Douglas is a series of one beautifully cliched beach after another, it can be hard to know which one deserves a diversion. But you can add Ellis Beach to the must-stop list. This tiny coastal enclave sits on the pumice-filled shore of a long stretch of beach, just off the Cook Highway. What’s fantastic about Ellis Beach is that you can camp right by the sand, which means you can fall asleep to the gentle lap of waves and wake up in a real-life paradise.

Of course, this is far north Queensland and that means there’s plenty of tropical wildlife to encounter. Get comfortably (and safely) close to the region’s resident reptiles on a boat cruise tour with Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Wander the wildlife sanctuary to observe local native fauna in their natural habitat and join the lagoon cruise that weaves through the wetlands for a bit of croc-spotting fun at feeding time. Allow about two to three hours in your day to properly explore the sanctuary.

This incredible spot demands you whip out the camera for a selfie. Here at Rex Lookout, you’ll be framed by a 180-degree view of the cerulean Coral Sea with Double Island anchored off to the south. If you come at the right time, your view will be enhanced by hang gliders and paragliders launching from the hill. It’s a quick stop to stretch the legs and snap a pic before rejoining the road north.

If you missed out on stopping at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures or just can’t get enough croc action, pull over at the Mowbray River Foot Bridge. Just 10 minutes south of Port Douglas, you can pull over, stroll to the foot bridge and keep a sharp eye on the river below. You’re at a safe distance for spotting those prehistoric-looking beasts as they lazily float in the water. There’s a designated croc-viewing platform that’s popular with local anglers, who’ll be more than happy to point the salties out for you. If you can time your stop with low tide, you’ll have better luck locating these lurking locals.

The stretch of Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas gets a good work out, so it’s well-maintained and sealed. The drive is winding in some sections and is single lane each way, so it’s not one to rush, but is perfectly manageable in a campervan. Take your time, follow the road advice and enjoy the tropical landscape by pulling over at the viewpoints. Keep in mind, if you’re travelling during the wet season (November to April), heavy rains can cause landslips that necessitate road closures, so always check the Queensland Traffic website before heading off. Also be extra alert when driving at dawn or dusk as this is peak time for wildlife to be out and about. You don’t want to hit a cassowary!

Tropical North Queensland is beautiful in any season, even the wet season. But there are a few things to note when deciding to do this drive. Typically, the dry season, which extends through the winter from May to October is ideal for clear days that aren’t as humid as the hotter months. Because this is the most popular time, campsites do book out early, particularly during the school holidays, so try to avoid these peak periods or be prepared to plan ahead.

The wet season runs from around November to April and is hot, humid and comes with increased chances of heavy rains, wind, and the possibility of cyclones. It also coincides with peak marine stinger season (November to May), so if you are travelling at this time, remember to always swim in the netted enclosures and wear stinger suits.

Once you reach Port Douglas, there’s every chance you’ll want to keep tracking north to spend a day at Mossman Gorge, dip into the Daintree and finish the Great Barrier Reef Drive by going the extra 84 kilometres to Cape Tribulation. These are perfect day trips from Port Douglas and are easily accessed with a campervan on sealed roads.

No visit to Far North Queensland is complete without experiencing the pristine beauty of Mossman Gorge. Set at the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, here the pristine waters of the Mossman River tumble over granite boulders hemmed by lush tropical foliage. Begin your experience at the gorge by parking at the visitor centre and taking the shuttle into the heart of the gorge. While here, you can join an Indigenous tour or take one of the designated tracks for a self-guided hike.

The largest tropical rainforest in Australia, the Daintree sprawls across 1,200 square kilometres all the way to Cooktown and is as ancient as it is awe-inspiring. For 130 million years, this eco-diverse forest has endured, even when the dinosaurs didn’t. You can still see the remains of Jurassic period dinosaurs here at the Discovery Centre, which is a little over one hour’s drive from Port Douglas on sealed roads. To get to the centre, you’ll need to take the 15-minute cable ferry across the Daintree River, which is an experience in itself. Keep an eye out for crocs lounging in the river as you glide over to the north bank!

Once you’ve crossed the Daintree River and explored the rainforest, you’ll be compelled to carry on to where the rainforest meets the reef at stunning Cape Tribulation. This coastal headland collides with the crystal sea, separated only by slips of impossibly white sand. Spend a day snorkelling in the reef and take a tour to explore the rainforest. Cape Tribulation is the end of the road for campervans, as the unsealed Bloomfield Track heading further north is only accessible by 4WDs. Remember, the terms of your Travellers Autobarn hire exclude damage caused by unsealed roads, so relish this natural end point in the journey before turning back towards Port Douglas.

After arriving in Cairns, pick up your campervan from our Cairns depot before heading north to Port Douglas. With free unlimited kilometres on all hires, you can plan to do this Far North Queensland return drive over two relaxed days or, better yet, take your time over a week and really sink into the rhythm of the tropics.

Our range of campervans suits all kinds of road trips. If it’s just the two of you, opt for the compact Budgie Van, Chubbie or station wagon. If you’re three or more, the Hi5, Kuga or HiTop will give you more space. Included in every hire is a 10 per cent G’Day Parks discount, booklet on free camping in Australia and the free RoadTrip app with partner discounts.

Explore further with these incredible road trips from Cairns that reveal the wild landscapes and coastal enclaves of Queensland and beyond.

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• Weekend Road Trips from Cairns
• Cairns to Brisbane road trip

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