Melbourne to Port Douglas 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.

On the way from Babinda to Cairns, you’ll skirt the edge of Wooroonooran 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.

Walshs Pyramid near Cairns, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland/ Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Once in Gordonvale, you’re effectively in the southern suburbs of Cairns.

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.

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.

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.

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Melbourne to Port Douglas drive: Cairns to Port Douglas

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is 67km in distance, making for a driving time of about one hour and two minutes.

It’s a particularly scenic drive as well, with the Captain Cook Highway hugging the coast. Rainforest and mountains flank the Captain Cook Highway on the other side.

The Captain Cook Highway hugging the coast on the drive between Cairns and Port Douglas. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

The Melbourne to Port Douglas drive passes through Smithfield before taking in several Cairns beach suburbs. These include Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.

Attractions further north include the Macalister Range National Park near Wangetti. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is also in Wangetti and the Rex Lookout to the north is one of the best photo stops along the drive, overlooking Wangetti Beach.

There are plenty of natural attractions on the drive north. These include the Thala Beach Nature Reserve north of Oak Beach, while you can take a short detour at Mowbray to see Big Mowbray Falls.

Shortly afterwards, you turn off the Captain Cook Highway at Craiglie and enter Port Douglas. The Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat is on the way into the resort town, and the Port Douglas Marina is where all the reef cruises depart from.

Aside from the Great Barrier Reef tours, highlights of Port Douglas include river cruises, Four Mile Beach and the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat.

9 Port Douglas experiences to boost your holiday

Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour – visiting three amazing snorkelling sites on the Outer Reef. This is the one for seeing the very best of the Reef.
Visit Agincourt Reef – with a cruise, underwater observatory and coral viewing in a semi-submersible. This is the best Port Douglas Reef tour for less confident swimmers.
Half-day Low Isles snorkelling tour – ideal for those with less time.
Daintree River wildlife cruise combo – see lots of crocs, then visit the cascades of Mossman Gorge.
Sunset sailing cruise – with welcome drinks and appetisers aboard a luxury catamaran.
Scenic helicopter flight – see the Great Barrier Reef from above.
Go fishing at a barramundi farm – with lunch included.
Aboriginal cultural walk – including bush tucker tasting and traditional hunting techniques.
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – meet all manner of native Australian animals.