If you’ve been searching the earth for paradise, then call it off. You’ll find what you’ve been looking for in the breathtaking scenery surrounding Cairns – from the ancient rainforest of the Daintree, to the dreamy beaches and islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
The best way to explore it all is by car. With two wheels at your fingertips, you can get to the most secluded of places, and enjoy the freedom of travelling where you want to, where you want to. Plus, SIXT’s electric vehicles let you travel without doing any harm to our beautiful planet.
CAIRNS TO PORT DOUGLAS
This 67-kilometre trip transports you to another world. Leaving behind Cairns’ busy streets, you’ll soon find yourself moving through laid-back coastal villages and remote beaches.
Unmissable sights and experiences along the way include the palm-dotted shoreline of Palm Cove, the pumice-filled sands of Ellis Beach and Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – where you can catch the world-famous crocodile attack show.
Port Douglas is packed with great restaurants, colourful shops and lovely resorts. It’s also a great launchpad for exploring the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest.
CAIRNS TO THE ATHERTON TABLELANDS
For an entirely different experience, hit the road the Atherton Tablelands. This is a lush, magical area, filled with spectacular mountains, tropical rainforest, towering waterfalls and lakes formed from volcanic craters.
If chasing waterfalls is a priority, then follow the 100-kilometre-long waterfall circuit, which passes three magnificent falls: Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa. Other highlights include brunch at The Teahouse on Lake Barrine, platypus-spotting in Yungaburra village and Mungalli Creek Dairy.
Also worth adding to your itinerary are Paronella Park, where you’ll visit a Spanish castle built in the 1930s on five hectares of tropical forest, and Mamu Tropical Skywalk, where you’ll see the rainforest from a bird’s eye view.
CAIRNS TO CAPE TRIBULATION (AKA THE GREAT BARRIER REEF DRIVE)
To see the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef side by side, take the Great Barrier Reef Drive, which stretches for 140 kilometres from Cairns to Cape Tribulation.
Shortly after the turn-off to Port Douglas, you’ll reach the incredible Daintree River. Here, you can take a cruise in search of crocodiles, or, if you’d prefer to stay on land, a stroll along the 1.2-kilometre-long Madja boardwalk through rainforest and mangroves. That’ll have you ready for a treat at the Daintree Ice Cream Company and a swim at stunning Mossman’s Gorge.
Before long, Cape Tribulation will come into view – and you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time. Expect empty beaches, untouched rainforest and pristine air.
CAIRNS TO MISSION BEACH
This 140-kilometre-long adventure takes you south, visiting hidden swimming holes, pretty beaches and waterfalls on the way.
Be sure to swing by Babinda Boulders for a dip in a pool surrounded by rainforest, Josephine Falls to slide down a natural waterslide and Etty Bay to see cassowaries in the wild.
Your next stop should be Mission Beach, where the Great Barrier Reef comes closest to the mainland – it’s just 40 kilometres offshore. Join a boat, and go snorkelling or diving, and, if you’ve time, spend a night or two (or three!) staying on the Family Group of Islands.
GETTING TO CAIRNS
You could transform your holiday in Cairns into the road trip of a lifetime, by driving along Australia’s East Coast from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. SIXT has branches in many locations across all three cities.
A faster option is to fly to Cairns Airport, and rent a car at SIXT’s onsite branch. We offer a variety of vehicles, from comfy SUVs to tough 4WDs to eco-friendly EVs.
