Hire car day trips from Cairns going North
Growing up in Cairns back in the 19…’s (let’s not talk about how long ago). I always forget that there is just so much to do and see. This itinerary is about keeping you south of the Daintree River ferry, as several car hire companies don’t like their cars going north of the river.
My initial itinerary:
Cairns ➡️ Port Douglas 🚙 70km with a travel time of 1 hour 10 minutes
Port Douglas ➡️ Daintree 🚙 53km with a travel time of 47 minutes
Daintree ➡️ Mareeba 🚙 110km with a travel time of 1 hour 40 minutes
Mareeba ➡️ Cairns 🚙 65km with a travel time of 1 hour 05 minutes
All because I wanted people to get some of what I think is the world’s best Ice Cream at Emerald Creek 295km and 5 hours of driving.
As I was mapping the journey, I kept thinking, ‘oh, you need to visit this place, and wow, I forgot how much I like swimming at Mossman Gorge… the day ended up being longer than 24 hours on the road.
So instead of giving you a set itinerary like this:
9AM leave Cairns 10:15AM arrive Port Douglas have a coffee leave Port Douglas at 10:50 to arrive at the Daintree at 11:40 for lunch do not dilly dally as you need to be back on the road at 12:35 and and and and…go go go go STOP! It is not HAMMER time it is HOLIDAY time.
Finding that balance between seeing and doing everything and having a lovely holiday and a pleasant drive is a tricky one. I am going to leave that decision in your court. I will, however, tell you about the things I like and why.
The road from Cairns to Port Douglas is one of the Australian classic drives. The area between Cairns and Palm Cove is built up a lot over the years, so the drive only really starts to get enjoyable once you pass Palm Cove and the old nudie beach. There is no doubt that most of the beaches between Cairns and Palm Cove (Palm Cove included) are worth the visit, but we want to get you out of dodge and up the coast before you start stopping.
Between Cairns and Port Douglas is Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm. They now call it Crocodile Adventures, but it is still a working farm. If you have not seen many big Australian Saltwater Crocodiles, this is the place to do it. At 43 bucks for an adult and $21.50 for kids (they have a family pass as well), it’s 100 bucks for a couple with a cold drink or two. I have been there many times over the years and would not miss an opportunity to go again.
Why do I like it? I love crocodiles and these guys have been going since I was a kid. She it is a tourist spot and caters for those looking to see a croc do a death roll. The staff know their stuff. How it is off to Port Douglas!
Now that you are in Port Douglas, the world is your oyster. Bill Clinton’s favourite restaurant is in Port (Nautilus). When I am in Port, I love getting a Mocka’s pie and going and eating it down on the beach with a Bundy Ginger Beer. If you are looking for something a little more swanky, google the best places to eat in Port Douglas and remember you are driving, so NO Booze.
When on holiday, I try and do things a little differently from what I can at home. Daintree village is that, to be sure. On its day, this was one of the last stops on the coastal east coast of Australia. The Croc cafe is famous for its spring rolls, and they do a tremendous tropical feed. If you are looking for something more Daintree, then the Daintree Teahouse is the place to be.
So now you are full and need a swim and chill for a bit.
When I grew up, you could drive in and take a swim at Mossman Gorge anytime you liked. These days the traditional local owners have developed a fantastic business looking after the area and, indeed, the visitors to the gorge. Mossman Gorge is in my top five places to swim in North Queensland. The water is colder than you would expect, but this is good news NO crocs. Good to know if you have just visited the croc farm!
From there, you then need to decide how far out of the way you will drive what ‘this bloke’ reckons is Australia’s best ice cream. If you say, let us go to Australia’s best ice cream, then you will not be back in Cairns for close to three hours. You are about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Mossman Gorge from Cairns.
Leave traffic lights behind you and head north. If you decide to go up to the Atherton tablelands via Mount Molloy, you will see an interesting contrast to what the tropics look like and how rainfall is the lifeblood of the rainforest. One minute you will be driving through dense rainforest, and then suddenly, you are in subtropical bush and grasslands.
Visually it’s an incredible day as you get to see a lot of different far-north Queensland landscapes. Some of the mountains you will be passing average over 30 m of rain are year.
Remember, many of these roads passed through cattle country. Always watch for cattle grazing on the side of the road, especially around sunset. Like most country areas in Australia, there is plenty of wildlife that can cause hazards on the road. If you see a sign like a cassowary crossing, please slow down. It is always a good idea to observe these local road enforcement signs. The community is up are very protective of their cassowary populations, so you don’t want to be the one reducing the population.
Please do not Drink and Drive.
