Tully to Townsville road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Tully to Townsville drive covers a 209km distance in 2h25m. The best road trip stops to add to a Tully to Townsville itinerary are the Cardwell Spa Pools and Jourama Falls.

This independent, Australia travel expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Tully to Townsville in Queensland. To just book Townsville accommodation, go here, and to look for the best tours and activities, go here.

To learn more about the Tully to Townsville drive, including the distance, driving time and the best stops along the route, read on…

Planning a Tully to Townsville road trip itinerary

The drive from Tully to Townsville is a leg on the journey down the Queensland coast. Most travellers will tackle it as part of a longer road trip from Cairns to the Whitsundays.

Tully is the gateway to the ludicrous Golden Gumboot statue.

Townsville is where you can take the ferry to gorgeous Magnetic Island, enjoy sunset cruises and visit the Museum of Underwater Art. For more Townsville experiences, explore here. To ferret out the best Townsville accommodation deals, look here.

Tully to Townsville distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Tully to Townsville is 209km. That makes for a driving time of approximately two hours and 25 minutes.

6 Townsville experiences to book in advance

Magnetic Island ferry tickets – head over to one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.
SS Yongala wreck dive – sea how coral and marine life have made the shipwreck home.
Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art cruise – witness the extraordinary underwater art project up close.
Helicopter ride along the coast – get amazing views from above.
Sunset sailing cruise – watch the colours over the water, with alcoholic drinks included.
Jetski tour to Cape Pallarenda – whizz past beaches and giant boulders.

The first logical stop on the way south is Murray Falls in Girrimay National Park.

Next comes Cardwell. This is where you get the boat transfer to Australia’s largest island national park – Hinchinbrook Island. The island is a wild, resort-free place, but the 32km Thornsborne Trail along it is one of Australia’s great walks.

The other place to visit in Cardwell is the bizarrely blue Cardwell Spa Pools.

The Cardwell Spa Pools in Cardwell, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

Best Cardwell accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Cardwell are:

For a holiday park with an outdoor pool and children’s playground: Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park.
For prime location: Cardwell Beachfront Motel.
If those two are fully booked: Kookaburra Holiday Park.

Tully to Townsville road trip: Ingham

Next comes Ingham, gateway to Girringun National Park and Australia’s highest waterfall, Wallaman Falls. Go in the other direction, and you can hang out at Forrest Beach.

Ingham accommodation choices include the budget-saving Ingham Tourist Park and barbecue-boasting Motel Ingham.

Tully to Townsville drive: Paluma Range National Park

On the way from Ingham to Townsville, the Bruce Highway flanks the multi-section Paluma Range National Park.

If picking just two attractions in this large national park, go for the rock pools of Crystal Creek and the dainty Jourama Falls. Both offer rainforest-surrounded swims.

The route then passes Halifax Bay Wetlands National Park and Balgal Beach on the way into Townsville.

Things to do in Townsville include going on a diving cruise to the Museum of Underwater Art, relaxing on a small group sunset cruise and taking the ferry to Magnetic Island.