Newcastle to Cairns inland road trip: Best stops & distance
The best stops on a Newcastle to Cairns inland road trip, following the Carnarvon Highway route, include Moree, Roma, Emerald and Townsville. The distance from Newcastle to Cairns is 2,290km, with a driving time of around 25 hours.
Planning a Newcastle to Cairns inland road trip itinerary
Most travellers driving from Newcastle to Cairns will do so along the well-trodden coastal route, stopping at several coastal towns and islands along the way. In all honesty, this is the most popular route for a region. It is not quite the quickest route from Newcastle to Cairns, but there’s only a couple of hours in it.
Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, 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 trip.
If you’re in a hurry, however, or want to explore a different side to Australia, then the quickest route from Newcastle to Cairns goes inland.
Use this guide to help you plan the perfect stops on a Newcastle to Cairns inland road trip itinerary.
Newcastle to Cairns road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
By car, the distance from Newcastle to Cairns on the inland route is 2,290km. That makes for a driving time of around 25 hours.
The best road trip stops to add to a Newcastle to Cairns road trip itinerary include the Hunter Valley wine region, Moree, Roma, Emerald and Townsville.
Good things to do in Newcastle include enjoying wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours, swimming at Merewether Baths and browsing the city’s museums.
9 cool Newcastle experiences you need to book in advance
- An Adventure boat cruise along the Hunter coast – with thrills and scenery.
- A mobile phone-based scavenger hunt – explore the city differently.
- An architecture and street art walking tour – see all the best murals.
- A whale-watching tour – get close to the migrating humpback whales.
- A two hour city highlights tour by bus – get orientated when you first arrive.
- A scenic helicopter flight – see the spectacular coastline from above.
- A three hour craft beer and food-matching tour – get a taste of the drinking and dining scene.
- A food, drink and history walking tour – hear stories and indulge at the same time.
You can also try boat tours along the Hunter coast, street art walks and after dark true crime tours.
Newcastle accommodation highlights include the luxurious Crystalbrook Kingsley, the buzzy QT Newcastle and the heritage-stuffed Grand Hotel.
Newcastle to Cairns drive: Newcastle to Scone
From Newcastle, head north-east along the Hunter Expressway towards Branxton. This is one of the gateways to the Hunter Valley wine region, although the most easily visited are around Allandale on the way.
At Branxton, join the New England Highway and head past Belford National Park. Daredevils may be interested in Skydive Hunter Valley at Whittingham, but the next sizable towns are the thoroughly underwhelming Singleton and Muswellbrook.
After Muswellbrook, the first town is Aberdeen, where you can hang out by the Hunter River in Jefferson Park.
There’s a potential detour to picnics, fishing and watersports-friendly Lake Glenbawn. Otherwise, Scone is the next town. The 4km Figtree Creek Track through Scone Mountain National Park is the highlight here.
The best places to stay in Scone
The top Scone accommodation options are:
- For a cheap, but surprisingly good quality motel: Isis Motel.
- For a bed and breakfast with an indoor pool: Strathearn Park Lodge.
- For town centre location: Portman House.
Click through to the next section: The Kamilaroi Highway.