Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

[spender Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spender]

Team Pradopoint

Currently sitting in Palm Cove, FNQ and enjoying the warmth and regretting the plane up here - 4x4 next time.

FYI Mantra Amphora - is a great spot - PM me to get details of the guys we used - very good

I have bi-partisan agreement from the family that next year we do a 2 to 3 week return road trip from Brisbane to Cairns (incl Port Douglas) up the coast stopping as required to enjoy the beaches and attractions - if we don't reach Cairns - no dramas.

I am looking for the collective wisdom of this forum to assist our planning. We will have a camper trailer (most likely) or caravan by then so recommendations re beach front caravan parks and other must do attractions most welcome.

Also is 2 to 3 weeks enough??

Cheers

Spender

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Also is 2 to 3 weeks enough??

IT'S NEVER ENOUGH

[Steptoe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steptoe]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Hi Spender,

A few weeks back we did the exact trip you are planing except we did it with our 5 kids (have been to busy to write a trip report yet, but it is coming). We did it in 25 nights and it was absolutely brilliant!!

Our itinery was as follows: Brisbane - Rockhampton(2 nights) - Airlie Beach(2 nights) - Townsville(1 night) - Mission Beach(4 nights) - Cairns(6 nights) - Cooktown(2 nights) - Cairns(2 nights) - Bowen(2 nights) - Eungella(2 nights) - Rockhampton(2 nights) - Brisbane.

25 nights was great as it really gave us enough time to look around and we didn't have to spend too long in the car at any one time. If I had to change anything it would be to skip Rockhampton (we had family commitments) and stay somewhere like 1770 or Agnes Water, probably also skip Townsville and stay at a little town called Groper Creek (didn't go there on our trip but have heard good things about it since).

Airlie Beach is really popular with backpackers and the like (except a bit more Yuppy), but a really picturesque town. We stayed at Island gateway Aspen Parks which was great as it is a couple of K's out of the main nightlife in town (always plenty of hungover tweenies in the morning so probably quite rowdy at night), and a really tidy caravan park. There are beachfront markets every saturday morning which are fantastic, Cedar Creek Falls is worth a look although a bit crowded. There is a water park/lagoon pool where the kids can have a swim which is a hoot (you have to pay for the carpark).

Townsville for me, really had nothing going for it, except Reef HQ Aquarium which is definitely worth a visit. The Strand is nice, but just not really my thing, and the rest of townis quite old and dumpy (bound to offend someone but that's my personal opinion).

Mission Beach is great, but doesn't quite live up to all the hype about how great it is. The beach is beautiful when the weather is calm, and the town is small and sleepy although there is a woolworths. We stayed at Mission Beach Eco Village, and all I can say about it is WOW!!! what a fantastic Place. Probably one of the highlights of the trip while staying at mission beach was going to Paronella Park at Mena Creek (about 45mins drive) It was voted RACQ's number 1 top thing to do in QLD. We also went to Milla Milla Falls which is worth a look.

Going from Mission beach to Cairns we stopped at Jourama Falls and Wallaman Falls. Jourama falls itself is nothing that special, but the walk to the falls is awesome. You have to cross the fast flowing creek twice, which is absolutely spectacular. We spent more time in the creek than we did at the falls. If there has been a decent amount of rain I would say the creek would be impassable. Wallaman Falls is jaw dropping, it's the longest single drop Waterfall in Australia at 305m!!!

In Cairns we stayed at Kewarra beach and did all the usual things- Skyrail, Kuranda Railway, Butterfly Sanctury, Green Island etc. We visited Hartleys Crocodile adventures, was alright but not what I thought it would be. We also took a drive from Kuranda along Black Mountain Road up to Mossman Gorge, then back to Port Douglas and Cairns, I would also reccomend this drive, althogh there looked to be lots of interesting side track along Black Mountain road that I'm sure a few of the locals on the forum could tell you more about.

Cairns to Cooktown through the Daintree/Bloomfield Track is spectacular, altough don't expect to need 4WD as much as you read about, unless it's high tide or there has been alot of rain, as there are a number of creek crossings. the deapest of which was about level with the top of the wheels when we went through. Most of the "Track" is a wide graded gravel road, infact the people from Wujal Wujal Community take a Toyota Canter Bus along there regularly. although they were stuck in one of the creeks when we got there.

Cooktown is just a little piece of heaven for me, the clock is wound right back and nothing happens fast. It's a beautiful town and somewhere I wished that I could have had a few more days in. I would have liked to check out Lakeland National Park and the coloured sands out of Hope Vale. Again I'm sure some of the locals could tell more.

Back in Cairns e stayed at Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort. If you have kids this is an absoulte MUST STAY place, although a bit dear, you certainly get what you pay for. From memory Chippy stayed there on his round OZ trip and he raved about it as well.

Bowen is a hole of a town with some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere!!! The fact that they shot the movie Australia there is really not a compliment as they were looking for somewhere that could look like it was the 1930's (I think). We stayed at Rose Bay Resort which was right on the beach front, although from what I saw I probably wouldn't recomend the Rose Bay Caravan Park. What I liked about Bowen was the fact that we could swim at the beaches, the signs all tell you that you can't just the same as every other beach, but the locals at Rose Bay told us that no-one has ever been stung there and they swim just about all year round. There is some great snorkeling in calm weather around the rocky headland.

Eungella is right up in the Mountains behind Mackay and is absolutely freezing!!! But spectacularly lush, and the best spot in Australia to spot a Platypus. There is a drive around Crediton Loop Road which is definitely 4WD only in parts, big washouts and a creek crossing that is not for the faint of heart, you basically slide down a mud bank and in to the creek, which when we were there was about level with the headlights, the creek bed is solid but very rocky so make sure you walk it and pick a line first. On the banks of the creek there is a fantastic camp ground which you could get to fairly easy if you come from the oposite direction (can't remember where the entry is in the opposite direction, it is signed but you'll have to look at the maps) except that unless you have a winch you won't be able to get up out of the creek to do the rest of the drive.

Geez I can ramble on, better get back to work I guess.

If you have any questions let me know or PM me and I can send some pics.

[spender Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spender]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Thanks Steptoe - some good stuff in your report will help the planning.

Was following a couple of cars and camper trailers up the road to Port Douglas today - obviously heading to the Cape - very jealous :evil:

[rumble11 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rumble11]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Cairns to Cooktown through the Daintree/Bloomfield Track is spectacular, altough don't expect to need 4WD as much as you read about, unless it's high tide or there has been alot of rain, as there are a number of creek crossings.

It doesn't take much rain to make the track impassable. The creeks can rise by a metre or more in minutes. I've seen a number of cars wrecked this way.

It gets graded this time each year. It deteriorates over the course of the year and gets hammered in places during the wet season. Big washouts can literally appear overnight.

Having said that it is a nice easy drive and is beautiful.

Mick

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

As a once long term resident of NQ I can (as fortold) disagree with a few coments below.

Townsville - Not all is old. Has some nice suburbs and a lot of history. - Magnetic Is is well worth a visit and has some great beaches and bush walks. The town common is also well worth a visit if you are into bird watching. A trip up Mount Stuart or hervey range has great views along the coast.

Agree about the beaches at Bowen - best kept secret, or maybe not so secret now. Only place i know where I could knock of work at 5:00 and be diving on a coral reef by 5:30.

Another side trip worth doing is to Charters Towers to see an historic gold town.

I am sure you will love NQ whereever you go.

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Saunders Beach just north of Townsville is a free camping spot for a night or 2 and overlooks the beach.

Just up from there is Hencamp creek caravan park which will have you overlooking the beach and is worth the price of accomodation.

Rollingstone has another free camp on a large freshwater creek which is good swimming and camping with toilets and showers. 2 days max stay.

Bowen has a lookout too, and on a good day it would have to be one of the best.

The tablelands are all very accessible and you could spend a week driving through the rainforests looking at waterfalls and all the other things.

Groper creek is a fishing village near the mouth of the Burdekin river. It floods every year and every house is 12ft in the air to accomodate this.

Morriseys creek and Cromarty creek both have free camping facilities on a saltwater creek so if fising is your deal then they are accessible.

Crystal creek 40mins north of Townsville has great camping along the banks and you can fish there too.

Broadwater NP is located inland from Ingham and has a wonderfull camping area. You can swim there all year round, and even do day trips to Wallaman falls.

5 Mile creek about 5 minutes south of Cardwell is worth a look and a swim if you like that kind of thing. Only a few minutes off the highway and has toilets too.

If you decide to stay in Townsville a few days then it is well worthwhile going out to the Burdekin Dam. Make sure you call through Ravenwood and see the town and go to the mine lookout. The town reminds me of an old western movie. The buildings are well kept and most are heritage listed by a long way.

[Callo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Callo]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

Spender,
One of the highlight towns and surrounds we stayed at was Cardwell. The caravan park was right on the beach, had a lovely bar for happy hour and a great restaurant. The town itself has a great fishing jetty and the pub is friendly. The great thing about making this a base for 3-5 days is the hinterland, Definitely one of the great highlights of our recent 34,260 trip to and from the PP GTG was in the hinterland you could access from Cardwell.
We were advised to go to Wallaman Falls (the longest single drop waterfall in Australia), Murray Falls (watch the horse flies) and Tully Gorge (simply beutiful). Well worth the drives.
But on speaking to some locals they advised us to go to Blencoe Falls which incidentally has a great National park camping ground by a huge lagoon on the river. It is easily accessible by 4x4 camper trailer. The falls and river upstream are very very pretty. However this is not the highlight. The highlight is the drive in.
Rough directions are.
Go north on Bruce Highway to Kennedy about 10 km by memory. Then turn west on the only road out of the village for about 7-8 km. Off to the right you will see a road sign that says Falls Road. If you miss it the road you were on from Kennedy goes to dirt and you have come about 2 km too far. You know you have the right road if you encounter a road closed sign. ( Evidently there is a dispute between two local councils and they have closed the road until it is resolved as a cover your backside exercise. The road (some very old tar but mostly dirt) was built in the 1940s and winds up the Great Divide to over 750 metres through spectacular country before emerging on the range. The drive then crosses great high country to the Blencoe falls camping ground. The total distance from Kennedy is about 47km to a major fork in the road 9go left) then 19 km along the high country to the camp ground.
It took us about 2.5 hours with scenic stops etc from Kennedy to the camp ground.
You an drive 5 km (or walk on a separate shorter trail if you wish) to the falls viewing platform by going just past the camp ground and looking for a sign up in the trees that directs you left to the viewing area.
On the way we saw a cassowarry that was quite unperturbed by us and heaps of birds and reptiles. Also be careful of cattle on the high country. There are some very very big bulls up there.
I would rate this as one of the better drives we have done - up there with the Simpson, Gibb River Road and Cape Leveque for its beauty. Just ignore the road closed signs - all the locals do. If in doubt speak to the tourist information centre at Cardwell and they will put you straight.
It is possible to come home the long way round if you like by going to Mount Surprise and back to the Bruce Highway via The Lynd and Greenvale to Townsville or Chraters Towers.

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re: Brisbane to Cairns (and back) - top attractions

The road to Blencoe falls is fabulous. Crosses 13 or 14 creeks most with flowing water and meanders through the rainforest along the Herbert river.

However the road closed sign means that. If you wish to go around then that is up to you. I would also imagine that insurance would not support your cause nor would the local police.

There is a real possibility of the road being cut with trees falling across the road so a chainsaw would be handy, which is why the dispute of ownership began.
The national parks and local council are in dispute over the maintanance and upkeep costs of the road.
Since no one is prepared to foot the bill the road closed sign was set up a 4 or 5 years ago I think.

Last time I asked the Cardwell info centre they advised me to go around through the tablelands as the road is signed with a road closed sign. But only at the Kennedy end??

The local farmers still need access to their properties so at this stage they use it. But if you asked them they would tell you they come from the Tablelands way.

Your call.