Cairns to Port Douglas Drive: The Ultimate Guide

Thinking to make the Cairns to Port Douglas drive? Here is everything you need to know to make the trip!

Visiting Tropical North Queensland is really a must do if you are travelling to the Sunshine State. Due to it being the location of the famous Great Barrier Reef it is definitely one of the best places to vacation on Australia’s East Coast!

Road Tripping around Australia is certainly our favourite way to get around but it can be hard if you don’t know the ropes. This guide will run you through the best stops on the Cairns to Port Douglas as well as give you all the different options to drive it.

Full disclaimer: The Cairns to Port Douglas trip is just as beautiful as any of the iconic road trips around the world so it is really an unmissable trip if you are coming to Australia.

More Places to see in Qld:

Cairns to Port Douglas Drive

There are so many ways to make this drive. Many backpackers choose to do the journey with a campervan but due to the short stretch of road (mostly on the Captain Cook Highway) it is also possible to do the journey with a car or a rental car. This route is also known as the “Great Barrier Reef drive” as it makes its way Cairns to Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation.

One of the main reasons this driving route is so spectacular is due to the many lookouts that are available along the way to take a photo snap. As you are right in the middle of tropical north Queensland, you can expect the scenery to be quite diverse for example from thick forest to clear white sandy beaches.

While the beaches are absolutely picturesque many are not available for swimming due to one of the most dangerous creatures that lives in Australia – the Australian crocodile. For the matter, you also won’t want to swim in any creeks on this stretch of Australia – many unknowing German’s have met their end doing this – not advisable. Many Australians still choose to use the beaches in the area but you do need to be mindful of crocodiles if you choose to do so.

Distance Cairns to Port Douglas? If you are not a fan of really long road trips, this is a great option as it is less than 100km one way and takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to drive the entire length.

Due to the many lookouts and things to see along the way, you will expect for this drive to take you the better part of a day. As a little tip it is nice to stay at least 1 night in Port Douglas before making your way back to Cairns. The great part of this area of Australia, is that Tropical North Queensland is a little cheaper than Brisbane, the Gold or Sunshine Coast so you can get a really nice 4 or 5 star place for a great deal. We would recommend this hotel.

Is there petrol stations along the way? No, there are no petrol stations along this route so fill up in advance.

Are there restaurants? Yes, but limited. Many people choose to BYO their own food.

Where to stop along the Drive from Cairns to Port Douglas

There are more than 10 lookouts and tonnes of places to stop along the drive. We have noted the “must dos” in our opinion below:

Trinity Beach – An absolutely stunning beach with a lookout at the top of stairs. Definitely worth a stop. Magic aqua water waits you at the beach.
Trinity Bay Lookout – One of the best lookouts in the area as it has incredible views of Four Mile Beach.
Clifton Beach – You can’t swim in this beach but it is definitely worth a stop.
Palm Cove – One of the best areas in Tropical North Queensland. You could spend a few days exploring this area as it has a great vibe. If you have the time, and want to spend more time in the area you might like to check out Things to do in Palm Cove.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – One of the most popular things to do in the area and a great place to stop if you are a tourist looking to experience native Australian wildlife like koalas, wallabies and of course crocodiles.
Rex Lookout – Located on the Captain Cook Highway. One of the most popular lookouts from Cairns to Port Douglas. Most definitely worth a stop.
Four Mile Beach – If you only want to stop at one beach, make sure you stop here. It is one of the most popular beaches in Far North Queensland and for good reason. Make sure you also visit the Four Mile Beach Lookout for epic views.
Ellis Beach – Another perfect beach. It is possible to stay in amazing beachfront bungalows on Ellis Beach. There is also a nice little bar here which is worthwhile checking out. Tip – the nachos are totally delish.

The great thing about this drive is there is literally something to see the entire way. From the moment you step into your car it is lookout after lookout. Feel free to pull over at the ones that are most appealing to you. The government has done a good job of making a lot along the drive so you don’t have to fear you’ll drive straight past one and totally miss out.

Another great thing about this area of Queensland is due to the very long stretch of sand, it is not hard to get a little bit of paradise all to yourself. Of course, you might have to share your spot with a croc or two but it is all part of the good fun! At least that’s what you can tell yourself.

As you are right in the middle of Kuranda National Park, the great part of this drive is that it is absolutely magnificent. It almost feels if you are in Costa Rica or Hawaii with amazing green rainforest meeting the beach.

This trip is really an unmissable activity in Queensland.

It is easy if you have your own car but it is still possible to do even if you are travelling Queensland without your won vehicle. Here are some other transportation options that you can use to make the beautiful trip from Cairns to Port Douglas.

Self Drive Cairns to Port Douglas

The first option is to use your won car and drive from Cairns to Port Douglas.

If you are a backpacker in Australia and have purchased a van or other vehicle, this will be the best option as it is the most affordable. It will cost up to 1 tank of petrol (around $50 AUD at the current rate of fuel in Australia). Shared amoung friends this is a super cheap and affordable option!

What we long about DIY rather than Tour is you can spend as long or as little as you like at each spot along the way!

Rent A Car To Drive GBR Route

If you don’t have your own car, it is super easy and relatively affordable to rent a car to make the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas.

We would highly recommend renting a car if you don’t have your own as we think being able to stop where you want and soak up the scenery is invaluable on the trip.

The best way to do it would be probably to rent it from Cairns as this is where the cheap flights are into and drive to and from Port Douglas. It is always better to drive the car both ways than pay the one way return fee if you are able to. Plus, seeing the views twice really isn’t all that bad!

It is roughly $100 AUD for car hire in Cairns. That means for car hire for 5 days it will cost you around $500AUD. To search for the cheapest car hire during your dates click here.

If you are planning on renting a car from Cairns we would highly recommend staying a few days in Port Douglas as there are plenty of things to see in do in the area including taking an amazing trip to Mossman Gorge. If you decide to stay a few nights, here are our top picks for accommodation in Port Douglas:

A Tour From Cairns to Port Douglas

A tour is a nice alternative to driving the route yourself as a local is able to show you some cool spots and hidden gems along the way.

There are some great tours from Cairns and Port Douglas where you can take boats and explore the Great Barrier Reef which are fabulous.

Here are some to check out:

Shuttle Service

If you don’t feel like driving the route or you don’t have a car, lucky for you, there are a lot of shuttle companies that run this route.

The negative of this option is that you don’t get to stop and admire the many beautiful lookouts along the way. The positive is that you can still see the incredible scenery of the Great Barrier Reef Drive from the comfort of your own seat and they can pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Cairns and drop you to your hotel in Port Douglas – door to door service!

The shuttles cost around $40 AUD pp one way, depending on the company who you go with.

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We hope you enjoy your trip from Cairns to Port Douglas! Let us know in the comments below if it was everything it is cracked up to be. Make sure you caption your epic pictures along the way with some Australian Instagram Captions!

Want to buy an Australian product to take home? Here are the best blue light glasses in Australia.