Mackay to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
Mackay to Cairns drive: Cape Gloucester and Ayr
On the way up to Bowen, you may prefer to divert up towards low-key Cape Gloucester for the quiet holiday towns of Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay.
Afterwards, on the Bowen to Townsville leg of the Mackay to Cairns road trip, you can branch off to Cape Upstart National Park and Alva Beach. Diving tours to the SS Yongala depart from the latter.
The other possible stop to add to the road trip itinerary is Ayr. Highlights here include the Ayr Nature Display’s mosaic and the old-fashioned Stardust Drive-In cinema.
The best accommodation in Ayr
The top accommodation picks in Ayr are:
- For a family-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Ayr.
- For a motel that gets it right: Country Ayr Motel.
- For cheap rates and a pool: Ayr Max Motel.
Click through for the next section: Townsville.