Mackay to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Mackay to Cairns drive is 733km in distance, with a driving time of around 8h35m. Great Mackay to Cairns road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Airlie Beach, Bowen and the Cardwell Spa Pools.
A Mackay to Cairns road trip covers a large chunk of the tropical Queensland coast. Several of northern Queensland’s highlights can be enjoyed along the way – either on the main route or with a slight detour.
Unless you’re in a rush, it’s better to tackle the Mackay to Cairns drive as a road trip. Spread it out over a week or so, and you can have a fantastic holiday.
To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.
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.
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.
Mackay to Cairns distance and driving time
The distance from Mackay to Cairns by car is 733km. That makes for a driving time of around eight hours and 35 minutes.
The first stretch is from Mackay to Proserpine. There isn’t much to see along the way, but there are two excellent detours.
Three great Mackay experiences to book in advance
- (Highly recommended ✅) Whitsunday Islands boat cruise – with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
- Cape Hillsborough sunrise tour – meet wallabies on the beach.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finch Hatton Gorge waterfalls tour.
Best Mackay accommodation options
The top places to stay in Mackay are:
- For attractive apartments by Blacks Beach: The Shores Holiday Apartments.
- For a cheap, but surprisingly good, motel: Cool Palms Motel.
- For apartments with kitchenettes by the marina: Mantra Mackay.
- For a holiday park with lot of family-friendly facilities: Big4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park.
- For fully furnished apartments in prime position next to Bluewater Lagoon: Riviera Mackay.
Go towards the coast and you can see kangaroos on the beach at Cape Hillsborough. Stay at the Cape Hillsborough caravan park if so.
Go inland and there’s Eungella National Park. Try to spot a platypus from the bridge at Broken River or go walking to the stunning waterfalls at Finch Hatton Gorge.
Click through for the next section: The Whitsundays.