Cairns to Josephine Falls drive: Distance, time, stops & tours

The Cairns to Paronella Park drive covers a 75km distance in a driving time of around 1h5m. Worthwhile road trip stops along the way include Walshs Pyramid, Behana Gorge, Josephine Falls and the Babinda Boulders.

The drive from Cairns to Josephine Falls takes you from the Great Barrier Reef’s main gateway to one of Queensland’s most attractive waterfalls.

Josephine Falls is a glorious cascade in Wooroonooran National Park, at the base of Queensland’s highest mountain – Mt Bartle Frere.

If you have three days in Cairns, do a Great Barrier Reef trip, a Kuranda scenic train and cable car combo and a Mossman Gorge plus Cape Tribulation World Heritage rainforest day tour. With more time, consider mesmerising scenic flights over the Reef, dinner cruises and waterfall-packed Atherton Tableland tours.

To choose from a wide range of memorable Cairns tours and experiences, look here. To pick the Cairns accommodation best suited to you, book here.

How to get to Josephine Falls from Cairns: Tours

The easiest way to get to Paronella Park from Cairns is on a tour. There are several good value tour options that stop at Josephine Falls for a while as part of their itinerary.

One popular choice also visits Atherton Tableland highlights such as Millaa Millaa Falls, Lake Eacham and the Babinda Boulders.

Another option bundles it in with Dinner Falls, the Cathedral Fig Tree and Mount Hypipamee National Park.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.

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Cairns to Josephine Falls: Distance and driving time

However, those who have hired a car in Cairns may prefer to get to Josephine Falls under their own steam.

By car, the distance from Cairns to Josephine Falls is 75km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and five minutes.

It’s also possible to turn the drive into a bit of a road trip, as there are plenty of attractions worth seeing on the way to Josephine Falls or on the way back.

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.

Cairns to Josephine Falls drive: Best stops

The Cairns to Paronella Park drive is mainly to the south along the Bruce Highway. You can make a slight detour to Isabella Falls on the way to Gordonvale, then climb Walshs Pyramid and walk to Clamshell Falls down Behana Gorge afterwards.

The next sizable town is Babinda, where you’ll find the popular Babinda Boulders swimming hole.

Josephine Falls is a little further south.