Perth to Cairns road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
Perth to Cairns road trip: Mission Beach to Babinda
The last leg of the journey is the 139km drive from Mission Beach to Cairns. On the way up to Innisfail, you can stop at the gloriously odd Paronella Park, a mansion in the rainforest, and the Australian Sugar Heritage Centre in Mourilyan.
Top things to do in Innisfail include a crocodile cruise on the Johnston River and turtle-spotting by the Warrina Lakes.
Top experiences near Innisfail to book in advance
- Get superlative rainforest views – on the Mamu Tropical Skywalk.
- Enjoy the strange Spanish castle surrounded by jungle – at Paronella Park.
- Save money with a Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Paronella Park combo ticket.
Innisfail accommodation favourites include the affordable Flying Fish Tourist Park and the well-reviewed Barrier Reef Motel.
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.
Babinda to Cairns
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.
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.
More massive Australian journeys
Where to stop on a Canberra to Brisbane road trip.
Plan the perfect Melbourne to Byron Bay road trip.
Where to stop on a Sydney to Darwin road trip.
The best stops on a Coral Bay to Broome road trip.
Where to stop on the Gladstone to Cairns drive.