Melbourne to Cairns inland road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Babinda and Cairns

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.

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.

The Babinda Boulders near Babinda, Queensland, is a highly photogenic, but not entirely safe, place to swim. Photo courtesy of Destination and Events Queensland.

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 Walshs Pyramid. 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.

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.