Adelaide to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
Adelaide to Cairns road trip: Mission Beach to Babinda
The last leg of the journey is the 139km drive from Mission Beach to Cairns. On the way up to Innisfail, you can stop at the gloriously odd Paronella Park, a mansion in the rainforest, and the Australian Sugar Heritage Centre in Mourilyan.
Top things to do in Innisfail include a crocodile cruise on the Johnston River and turtle-spotting by the Warrina Lakes.
Top experiences near Innisfail to book in advance
- Get superlative rainforest views – on the Mamu Tropical Skywalk.
- Enjoy the strange Spanish castle surrounded by jungle – at Paronella Park.
- Save money with a Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Paronella Park combo ticket.
Innisfail accommodation favourites include the affordable Flying Fish Tourist Park and the well-reviewed Barrier Reef Motel.
Nearby are the coastal Ella Bay National Park and birdlife-packed Eubenangee Swamp National Park. But the more popular stop is Josephine Falls, from where a hiking trail leads to Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain.
Babinda to Cairns
The highlight of Babinda is the Babinda Boulders, where a stunning swimming hole is surrounded by giant granite boulders. The Babinda Quarters is the best overnight accommodation option here.
On the way from Babinda to Cairns, you’ll skirt the edge of Wooroonoran National Park and Bellenden Ker.
The turn-off for the popular Behana Gorge walking track comes just before Gordonvale. This 6.6km return walk takes you through the rainforest, past gorgeous swimming holes, to Clamshell Falls.
Once in Gordonvale, you’re effectively in the southern suburbs of Cairns.
Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance
- From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
- For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
- For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
- For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.
Things to do in Cairns include taking the Green Island ferry or Fitzroy Island ferry to one of the nearby islands, or the Evolution cruise to Hastings Reef.
You can also visit the Cairns Aquarium, go bungy jumping at Skypark Cairns and learn about tropical plants at the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
High quality Cairns accommodation options include the Pacific Hotel, the Hilton Cairns and the Sebel Cairns Harbour Lights.
Alternatively, of course, you can simply fly from Adelaide to Cairns.
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