Make way to Tully, 30 minutes north and go grab a photo with a classic Aussie big thing. If youve given it a fair go and still no luck, theres fish and chips at Lucinda Point Hotel Motel Restaurant. Considered one of Australias favourite skydiving destinations, Mission Beach is made up of four small towns spread along a 14km stretch of palm-fringed beach. Stay: Castaways Resort has a poolside sun lounger with your name on it and the onsite restaurant Buko offers an awesome feed too. News; Doctor says too many in Townsville not heeding the sun safety message. Spanning 457km down Australia's East Coast, the drive from Cairns to Townsville takes you on a journey infused with exhilarating natural experiences and breath-taking beauty, with highlights from two world heritage listed areas, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Drive just 20 minutes to the coastal town of Lucinda where you can board aferry to Hinchinbrook Islandfor the day. Spend your day chilling on the beach, or opt for one (or more) of the island walks, including to the summit of Mount Kootaloo, greeting you with panoramic views of the Family Islands National Park and to the mainland. Youve made it to the beautiful coastal town of Cardwell; head straight to the Cardwell Beachcomber to set up camp or settle into one of their motel rooms, villas or cabins before refuelling at their beachfront restaurant its just the spot to catch the sea breeze and savour the ocean views. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user. Take Moss Road (off the Bruce Highway) for about 100 metres until you see a narrow gravel track on the right marked with a red rectangle. document.body.appendChild(script); Photo:tgriffo18 via IG. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. First things first brekkie! This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management. Photo: Nodotel_ of Instagram. Stay: Hit the hay at Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park located on the beachfront. Panoramic Windows. It's okay, you can start planning your Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:44 pmdrive for about 1 hour, 2:46 pm Lucinda Wake up with a 45-minute walk to Cape Tribulation lookout on Cape Tribulation Beach, right next to the resort. Flying Fish Point Tourist Park - is right on the beach in Cassowary habitat so you are likely to see one of these enormous flightless birds.RATES: $36 powered for two people, $28 unpowered. Mission Beach, situated midway between Townsville and Cairns is made up of four beach villages linked by 14 kilometres of wide golden sands. "validationFavouritesUrl": "/bin/australia/favourites/sanitycheck", In the afternoon, drive just over one-hour toUndara Volcanic National Park, home to the remnants of the worlds longest lava flow from a single volcano. Day 12: Spend the day relaxing at Mission Beach, seeing some of the sights on the coast and in the rainforest. "profileUpdate": { There are spectacular day trips, too. Once youre full enough to face the day, make way for Babinda Boulders, a stunning rainforest swimming hole just seven minutes away from the township. }, Start your final leg of the drive with another scenic detour on the Cardwell State Forest Drive. The Far North up close and personal: Drive from Cairns to Townsville. Allow one and a half hours for the Kalkani Crater rim walk, which takes you up the side of a volcano and offers incredible views over the lava plains and fertile pockets of rainforest. Venture intoBlack Mountain National Parkand see the imposing mountain range of black granite boulders, stacked precariously on top of another, defying gravity. If you have time, detour through the small village of Paluma, Paluma Range National Park, and Crystal Creek for picturesque waterfalls and mist shrouded rainforests before heading back to the Bruce Highway. Drove Mackay to Cairns in 2002. Flames of the Forest, Port Douglas, Queensland Flames of the Forest. Optional Detour Tully Gorge National Park. For business-friendly apartments: Quest Townsville . Reclining Seats. The direct drive from Cairns to Mackay is 457 mi (735 km), and should have a drive time of 9 hrs 25 mins in normal traffic. Before you take to the wheel, head down to the Strand for a bit of brekkie. Back on the road, continue north along the Bruce Highway to return to Cairns, gateway to the islands, rainforest and reef of Tropical North Queensland. "startScreen": "aus-link-account" If youre lucky enough to spot one of these fascinating ancient birds, make sure you are cass-o-wary and keep a safe distance, especially if their chicks are nearby. Head back onto the main drag and continue into Cairns and rest up at one of the many resorts and caravan parks available. What day of the week has more flights from Cairns to Townsville? Last name. City: round-trip one-way. > 12. Weather conditions: Check road conditions from Cairns to Townsville, or you can get reverse directions from Townsville to Cairns.If you're trying to avoid mountains or steep grade roads, check the elevation profile from Cairns to Townsville.Or if you are hungry, look for places to eat between Cairns and Townsville.If you want to plan a road trip with stops along the way, you can view a full . It takes 4-5 hours to drive the Great Green Way between Cairns and Townsville if you drive without stopping. Cairns to Townsville Drive 348 km | 4.5 hours over 2 or 3 days. If youre visiting between June and November, go behind the scenes at the Tully Sugar Mill on a guided tour. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible Hotjar sets this cookie to detect the first pageview session of a user. Millaa Millaa Falls, Millaa Millaa, Queensland Scott Pass. The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. Zoe Falls on Hinchinbrook Island. Etty Bay is known as one of the regions most scenic beaches, but what really makes this little cove so special is its inhabitants home to the magnificent Southern Cassowary, youre very likely to see these notoriously hard to spot birds roaming the beachfront in the late afternoon or early morning. Spanning 457km down Australias East Coast, the drive from Cairns to Townsville takes you on a journey infused with exhilarating natural experiences and breath-taking beauty, with highlights from two world heritage listed areas, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. Explore the phenomenal Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), the Southern Hemisphere's first underwater art museum, before whiling away the rest of the afternoon along the Strand, apalm-tree studded promenade with beaches, bars and restaurants. Whichever you choose, you can expect a memorable introduction to the worlds largest coral reef, home to more than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays, plus hundreds of stunning islands with sun-soaked beaches. Hop off Skyrail at the Kuranda terminal, stretch your legs with a . Does anyone have any suggestions? This beautiful beachside area blends vibrant art and culture with unique tourism attractions, inviting you to relax and unwind. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. The Great Tropical Drive is an amazing way to experience Tropical North Queensland. Lucinda. *Conditio. With its pristine beaches, rainforests, mangroves and inlets, Australias largest island National Park is worth planning for. '//pixel.roymorgan.com/stats_v2/Tress.php?u=5tqi9smhs3&ca=20004853&a=daw1nwh3&cb=' + cachebuster; Katherine to Judbarra/Gregory National Park. Townsville-Cairns 350km. To the east of the CBD, you'll find Magnetic Island , to its north and south there's national parks and its west, well, that's where the real adventure begins. It ends in Townsville, Australia. It's a drive that can easily be done in half a day, but there is so much interesting stuff between the two that you could spend a full day, or two, completing the trip. "homePagePath": "/content/australia/en_us.html", "validationUrl": "/bin/ta/postauth", Stay: Paronella Park has on-site camping and cabins, or stay 2mins down the road at Mena Creek Hotel, also promising a tasty pub feed. playground, games room with TV, free WiFi, BBQ area. Daintree and Cape Tribulation day trip. Take a stroll along the beachfront to the jetty as the sun sets and keep an eye out for turtles and dugongs, which are often seen from the jetty. Rockhampton, Queensland. As you pass through the lush pine forest plantations, watch out for the lookout point, which provides uninterrupted views out to Hinchinbrook Island, before continuing along the forest drive until you reach Attie Creek. Hughenden to Richmond. Queensland 4814 Phone: 1800 216 223, 2023 Camperman Australia, All Rights Reserved; ABN 26 108 103 206, Australian Toll Free Number: 1800 216 223. Additional adults $15. Drone shot of Eubenangee Swamp and grassy knoll. Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin. Reduced speed limit (40km/h). News; Australia's Best Teachers 2023: Digital technologies teacher David Titherley praised for his unique approach to teaching. Find out more. Don't miss a truly enchanting meal with theFlames of the Forest Aboriginal Cultural Experience, where you'll venture into the rainforest near Port Douglas to indulge in a seven-dish banquet as your Kuku Yalanji hosts share music, ceremony and storytelling. If you're planning a road trip to Townsville, you can research locations to stop along the way. It covers a variety of scenery from city to country to coast to mountain to rainforest. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie. Cairns is located in Australia with (-16.923,145.7663) coordinates and Townsville is located in Australia with (-19.2664,146.8057) coordinates. For what you want (to stop half way), Mission Beach or Tully would suit. We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years. Take a refreshing dip in the main pool and wander along the rainforest path to the eeringly-named Devils Pools and discover the Indigenous legend behind this spooky spot. Pass through sugarcane fields and forests full of history and charm before stopping at the magical ruins of a former grandiose Spanish Castle at Paronella Park. Heres how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, The small commissions received cost you nothing extra and help fund more content for the site. The uuid2 cookie is set by AppNexus and records information that helps in differentiating between devices and browsers. Passing through 15 hand carved tunnels, 37 bridges, spectacular waterfalls and into the stunning Barron . What may come as a surprise is that the spectacular waterfalls and crystal-clear pools tucked away in this lush green paradise are so easily accessible, despite feeling worlds away from the hustle and bustle of nearby city life. If you're going on a road trip from Cairns to Mackay , we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Townsville and $ Airlie Beach and top places to visit like Historic Village . Facilities include showers and laundry. Although you cant walk on the jetty, you can head to the nearby fishing jetty to throw a line for giant trevally, Spanish mackerel, queenfish or northern bluefin tuna. Give yourself half a day to enjoy everything this scenic drive has to offer. Its a perfect spot to park the campervan and cool off in crystal clear water amid granite boulders. Australia & Queensland Travel & Border Information. This is a True/False flag set by the cookie. This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments. Continue along well signed and flat . All car and Motor home rental companies allow their conventional vehicles to go to Undara, or have offered discounted rates on their 4WD hire vehicles. Save. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When to visit. 14 years ago. Wallicher and Tchupala Falls are a short walk from the car park and are well worth a gander at. From the camping area, stroll along the Butterfly walk (its renowned for the Ulysses butterflies that flit along this passage between September and February)through World Heritage-listed rainforest to the gorge. Peruse the chic boutiques along Macrossan Street before a sunset stroll along the white sands of Four Mile Beach up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout. But what are they? The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. Road trips call for recharging days and Mission Beach is made for reading a book on the sand, relaxing by the pool or walking barefoot along the beach. This oft-overlooked coastal town gives you a base to reach Magnetic Island. We've listed the highlights from north to south so if you're traveling from Townsville to Cairns, start from the bottom and work up. Head to the foothills of Mount Bartle Frere and cool off at Josephine Falls. 12 brilliant experiences in Cairns 1. Other less-frequented highlights of the park include: Free Camping at Japoonvale Rest Area - is on the banks of Liverpool Creek. After breakfast at Caffiend, one of many hip cafs along Grafton Street in Cairns, drive 68 kilometres (42 miles) north towards Port Douglas.Fifteen minutes out of Cairns, exit the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an incredible 90-minute ride over World Heritage-listed rainforest. This is the eastern half of the . is 50 metres from a white sandy beach with views to Dunk Island. Loop around lush Tropical North Queensland fromCairns, gateway to theGreat Barrier Reef, up to Cooktown, rich with Aboriginal and early European history and down toTownsville, to explore ancient rainforests, fruit plantations, gold mining towns and secluded hideaways along the way. Once back on land, drive 45 minutes north to Cardwell. Day 7-8. River Tubing. Sunset atop Castle Hill is highly recommended for 360-degree across. Dr Helena Rosengren says she sees a large number of people along The Strand who are not heeding the sun safety message Click the button below to explore more questions Head southwest for 50 minutes toMillstream Falls, Australias widest single-drop waterfall, for a brief stop before spending the morning atInnot Hot Springs, relaxing in the therapeutic mineral waters that fill its six public pools. The Townsville distance from Brisbane is nearly 15 hours but the distance Cairns to Townsville is just over 4 hours so you are well on your way to Cairns by now. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Mineral rich waters of Cardwell Spa Pools. Drive just 25 more minutes to end the day in Malanda, and spend the night under the rainforest canopy at Sharlynn by the river. }); Now that youve finished exploring the bustling, vibrant city of Cairns and have the faded stamps from The Woolshed and Gilligans on your hand to prove it, its time to start your East Coast adventure. Continue north forone and a halfhours along Cape Tribulation Road and explore the regions other icon, theDaintree National Park, home to the majesticMossman Gorge. Follow the Flinders Highway east for 125 kilometres (78 miles) before detouring toBowling Green Bay National Park, home to rugged mountains, wetlands, salt pans and mangrove forests. I was commissioned to write a travel story for Luxury Travel . After breakfast atCaffiend, one of many hip cafsalong Grafton Street in Cairns, drive 68 kilometres (42 miles) north towardsPort Douglas. 4:47 pm The Boulders. After parking the campervan at Port Hinchinbrook or Cardwell, you can ferry across to Hinchinbrook Island. Additional adults $6. From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. Additional adults $15. Great Green Way The start of your East Coast Adventure. Paronella Park, Mena Creek, Queensland Mark Clinton, Tourism and Events Queensland. Save. Sydney, NSW 2229 Phone: 1800 216 223, 167 Mount Low Parkway, Townsville, After 19 years as a teacher, David Titherley says students learn . Luckily you can break up this long journey with a stop at Tina Berries in Bundaberg for an ice cream or two! The ultimate Cairns to Darwin road trip itinerary. Another 30 minutes behind the wheel will bring you to Babinda. And, if all else fails, you can visit the Big Cassowary statue at Wongaling Beach for a guaranteed sighting. Call in at the relaxed beachfront hamlets that make up Mission Beach. regardless of circumstance and ability. > 2. Hotjar sets this cookie to identify a new users first session. The mammoth jetty here stretches almost 6km into the sea. Meander through the ancient forest on your own along theRainforest Circuit Track, which begins at Rex Creek bridge and entails a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile) loop with incredible views. While they're both synonymous with warm climates, the Great Barrier Reef and rich in . A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it. Facilities include free WiFi, showers, camp kitchen, BBQs, laundry, pool. When you're ready to depart Cooktown, you can choose between driving just over four hours to Ravenshoe, or taking a detour to Mount Mulligan Lodge. "screenSet": "Aus-ProfileUpdate", These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The road to Undara is sealed the entire way from Cairns, Townsville and . The drive from Townsville to Cairns connects northern Queensland's two . You can see it rising from the sugar can fields, a rock pyramid, and it beckons you to climb it and once at the top you have uninterrupted 360 degree views. Discover the dreamy charm of this quiet stretch of of coastline. Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park. Hit the famous waterfall circuit, uncover those lesser known or stretch a little further and take a dip in Australias widest, single-drop waterfall on the Atherton Tablelands. Check out Ponytail Falls along the Tully River, which can be reached via the Cardstone Weir Lookout. Queensland 4870 Phone: 1800 216 223, 2/11 Northview St, Mermaid Waters QLD 4218 Phone: 1800 216 223, 273 Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Typically 21 buses run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. script.async = true; Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the websites HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. Pub and club tour. "registration": { Flights from CNS to TSV are operated 33 times a week, with an average of 5 flights per day. Swap the rainforest for the seaside and veer towards the coast to Lucinda, which offers a bewdy of a view of Hinchinbrook Island. Cairns to Cooktown Road Trip: Bloomfield Track or Inland Road? Heading south, its not long until youll notice the distinctive silhouette of Walshs Pyramid rising steeply above the historic sugar-milling town of Gordonvale. Facilities include flushing toilets and picnic tables. Airlie Beach-Townsville 280km. Pick up some takeaway lunch then explore lesser-known parts of Babinda Creek on a self-guided kayak or SUP with Babinda Kayaking. A Cassowary at Etty Bay. Check intoCape Trib Beach Housefor the night which is set on seven acres (2.8 hectares). The Brisbane to Townsville distance is undeniably long. Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. "login": { Walk to McClellands lookout for spectacular views over the islands and coastline. You also have the option of cutting the Canecutter Way short and joining back onto the Bruce Highway after youve passed Silkwood to resume your adventure. Cairns to Townsville. The Babinda Bakery is a local legend and offers pies, cakes and pastries. Does Townsville warrant a couple. This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions. "taIdRetryLimit": 3 More chilled than thrill? Here's a detailed Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary that takes in the best sights along the east coast of Australia with your JUCY rental. Day 5. is not on the beach but it is only a 10 minute walk away. Hotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's pageview limit. A 15-minute walk will lead you to an impressive 25m waterfall; you can swim at the base of the falls, so make sure you bring your swimmers. History walking tour. Journeying through over 12 national parks, it's easy to see how the Great Green Way got its name. Picture: Supplied. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. 6:32 pm arrive in Cairns. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to By limiting the number of hikers, you have a chance to connect with and appreciate the raw beauty of Hinchinbrook. Continue to Townsville in time for lunch atThe Beet Barfor superfood bowls, salads and juices that celebrate local produce. Email. Hit the wheel and head 25mins down the road, keeping your eyes peeled for these big birds as you go. It took a while to plan . If youre craving more swimming, make way to Behana Gorge behind Walshs Pyramid and embark on a 7.4km return hike with the stunning Clamshell Falls as a cooling reward. Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. For the keen hikers, there is a 6km return walking track that climbs up to the summit. How long do I need for my trip to Australia? Fifteen minutes out of Cairns, exit the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield to take theSkyrail Rainforest Cablewayfor an incredible 90-minute ride over World Heritage-listed rainforest. to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more. Later, indulge in some balmy nightlife on Flinders Street East atShaw & CoorCactus Jacks. 231km. 13 years ago. If you're seeking a thrill, take to the skies with Skydive Australia to soar above white-sand beaches, tropical rainforest and the awe-inspiring reef. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. Stay Updated: Dine alfresco by the ocean, uncover the stories of a military past, explore dramatic landscapes or immerse yourself in a remarkable diving experience on the Great Barrier Reef. This famous railway winds its way on a journey from Cairns to Kuranda. We love this section of Australia for its diversity, culture, hinterlands and . > 6. Mount Mulligan Lodge, Mount Mulligan, Queensland Mount Mulligan Lodge. Where. > 4. Pack a picnic and spend the morning exploring tropicalTully Gorge National Park. The accommodation options between Cairns and Townsville are mostly motel/holiday park affairs and theres not much above 3 stars. Save some dollars by buying a double pass for both Paronella Park and Mamu Tropical Skywalk, a scenic 30mins drive away. CBD meaning: What does CBD stand for in Australia? Charter Towers to Hughenden. Photo: Bella.Lee.x via Instagram. Children $10. Photo: MyDetoxTravel of Instagram, Discover the unspoilt beauty and wilderness of Hinchinbrook Island. Please visit the operators website for further information. Day 4. Borroloola to Limmen National Park. The first decent-sized town on the Bruce Highway going north is Ingham. Green Island day trip. What are the biggest cities in Australia? "screenSet": "Aus-V3-RegistrationLogin", alongside console screenshots of code examples: Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the websites components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. With the reef, Atherton Tablelands and the Daintree just a stones throw away from Cairns, youre gonna need that energy! Day 13: Drive from Mission Beach to Cairns, stopping at a few places along the way. Cairns to Borroloola (QLD/NTborder) 1,389km. Here's the top 10 things to do. Tully River is popular with whitewater rafters and you cansee these thrill seekers take on the rapids fromFlip Wilson lookout. 10:00 am start in Cairnsdrive for about 45 minutes, 10:45 am The Boulders and answers related to Townsville. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. who wants the trip to end? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Townsville to Charter Towers. The Townsville to Cairns drive is 347km in distance, with a driving time of 4h4m. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. The sites, though small, are separated by walls of tropical foliage for privacy. Located in the ruggedly beautiful Mount Mulligan, this all-inclusive outback station is all about quintessential Australian experiences combined with effortless luxury. Car or Camper. 2.1 Day 1: Arrive in Cairns. Traffic reports and road conditions can be found on the QLDTraffic website qld.traffic.qld.gov.au, download the QLDTraffic app or call 13 19 40. Bring your camera! To determine the most generic cookie path that has to be used instead of the page hostname, Hotjar sets the _hjTLDTest cookie to store different URL substring alternatives until it fails. It's not only conveniently close to the world's largest reef system but the once-sleepy town promises to show a new side to the natural wonder, which stretches 2,300 kilometres from the tip of Cape York to Bundaberg further south. 347km. 0. Your email has been successfully verified, please click the button below to continue to log in. With activities to suit everyone's holiday agenda, Townsville North Queensland will create memories to last a lifetime. > 3. Moderator of the Cairns and Townsville stolen cars and sightings Facebook group Sam Testa claimed one of the boys charged was alleged to have been behind the wheel of the stolen Toyota Yaris that . Little Crystal Creek, Paluma Range National Park, Queensland Tourism and Events Queensland. If your road trips are best served chock-a-block with waterfalls, head to Murray Falls, in the Kirrama Range. You won't be sitting in the car for long when you have some of Mother Nature's best water parks along the way. Dunk Island is only 4km off the coast of Mission Beach, and takes only 10mins with Mission Beach Water Taxi, so its almost rude not to visit. Stay at: Agnes . Walk one kilometre (0.6 miles) return toAlligator Creek lookoutfor a photogenic canopy-level view of the creek, before a quick dip in the nearby swimming area. VisitJames Cook Museum, housed in a stunning 19th century former convent, for a look into Cooktowns remarkable history. Day 3. Paronella Park between Townsville and Cairns. Next stop, Ingham. 5. Cape Tribulation-Cooktown (4WD only) 100km. Appropriately named, you wont be surprised to discover a series of smooth granite boulders at this freshwater swimming hole. 7 km south of Cardwell, and just off the highway, is Five Mile Creek Swimming Hole where you can take a quick dip and enjoy a picnic. Photo: ecologist.sHayes via Instagram. for images that are not described. > 7. All of that glorious rainfall makes Tully River an awesome place forwhite water rafting, with rapids ranging from grade three to the more challenging grade four. Re: Cairns to Townsville. This leads to a Townsville to Cairns driving time of around four hours and four minutes. The giant golden gumboot is 7.9 metres tall, homage to the highest annual rainfall this town has received. { The best bets for Townsville accommodation are For beachside location: Water's Edge The Strand. Once youve had your tucker, take a cheeky 10min detour inland on the Cardwell Forest drive. Follow the Bruce Highway north for about an hour before taking a break in the Mount Spec section ofPaluma Range National Park. RATES: $7 per person. . There are several waterfalls to see here, but the highlight is swimming in the rock pools of Crystal Creek.