Bowen to Cairns road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
Bowen to Cairns road trip: Paluma Range National Park and Ingham
Beyond Townsville, the Bowen to Cairns road trip runs parallel to Paluma Range National Park. There are several waterfalls here, but the rock pools of Crystal Creek are most people’s favourite.
Keep going along the highway, and you’ll reach Ingham. This is where you branch off for Girringun National Park and Wallaman Falls, the highest waterfall in Australia.
For accommodation in Ingham, try the Ingham Tourist Park and the Tropixx Motel, which has its own restaurant.
Attractions between Bowen and Cairns: Cardwell
Cardwell comes after Ingham. This is where you can get a boat transfer to wild, natural and resort-free Hinchinbrook Island. Australia’s largest island national park is a big hiking destination, and the four day, 32km Thornsborne Trail, is one of Australia’s top walks.
Otherwise, the top attraction is the Cardwell Spa Pools, an eerily blue rainforest swimming hole.
Best Cardwell accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Cardwell are:
- For a holiday park with an outdoor pool and children’s playground: Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park.
- For prime location: Cardwell Beachfront Motel.
- If those two are fully booked: Kookaburra Holiday Park.
Just to the north of Cardwell, you can also visit Murray Falls in Girrimay National Park.
Click through for the next section: Tully and Mission Beach.