Cairns Road Trips

Camperman has campervan hire depots at each of the road trip start and end points, so you don't have to back track. Simply pick up your campervan at the beginning of your journey and drop it off at the end.

9 Road Trips from Cairns

These road trips depart from Cairns and strike out on a one way journey, ending at a destination where you are able to drop off your rental campervan at one of Camperman's depots. Great places to stay in your campervan, as well as the rates, are listed for each stop, along with the local attractions with maps and photos.

1. Cairns to Townsville: Far North Queensland 
   350 km | 2 days
   This coastal drive includes Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, the pyramid hike, Paronella Park, Mission Beach, Hinchinbrook Island, empty palm-fringed beaches and national parks. More.
   
   
   The spa pool at Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns.
   
   
2. Cairns to Airlie Beach Drive: The Tropics and Whitsundays
   630 km | 4 days
   This road trip continues on from Townsville (above). Highlights include Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, the pyramid climb, Paronella Park, Mission Beach (empty palm-fringed beaches), Hinchinbrook Island, Bowen's Horseshoe Bay for a swim, a walk through massive granite boulders to a lookout, to arrive at Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays.
   
   
3. Cairns to Brisbane Drive
   1,740 km | 13 days
   Continue on from Airlie Beach (above). Highlights include Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, the pyramid climb, Paronella Park, Mission Beach (empty palm-fringed beaches), Hinchinbrook Island, Bowen's Horseshoe Bay for a swim, a walk through massive granite boulders to a lookout, Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, Cape Hillsborough National Park where kangaroos hang out on the beach, Capricorn Caves, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, whale watching at Hervey Bay, World Heritage listed Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach and the Great Sandy National Park, Noosa, the Hinterland and the Glasshouse Mountains. 
   
   
   Glasshouse Mountains north of Brisbane
   
   
4. Cairns to Sydney: East Coast Road Trip Itinerary
   3,050 km | 21 - 26 days 
   Continue on from Brisbane (above). Highlights include Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, the pyramid climb, Paronella Park, Mission Beach (empty palm-fringed beaches), Hinchinbrook Island, Bowen's Horseshoe Bay for a swim, a walk through massive granite boulders to a lookout, Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, Cape Hillsborough National Park where kangaroos hang out on the beach, Capricorn Caves, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, whale watching at Hervey Bay, World Heritage listed Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach and the Great Sandy National Park, Noosa, the Hinterland and the Glasshouse Mountains, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Springbrook National Park, Lamington National park, Byron Bay, Nimbin, the Mt. Warning summit climb, the Sapphire Coast and its national parks, the ancient misty rainforest of Dorrigo National Park, Bellingen, Myall Lakes, the Hunter Valley wine region, and the Blue Mountains before arriving in Sydney.
   
   
   
   
5. Cairns - Darwin - Uluru - Adelaide: Australia's red centre 
   6,000 km | 24 days 
   Cairns to Darwin | Darwin to Adelaide  
   Highlights of this road trip include Undara Lava Tubes, Mataranka Hot Springs, Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, Litchfield National Park, Darwin, Devils Marbles, Uluru, the Olgas, the underground town of Coober Pedy and the city of Adelaide.  
   
   
   Uluru. Photo: thetravellingmonkeys via IG
   
   
6. Cairns to Melbourne: East Coast Road Trip Itinerary 
   4,250 km | 36 days
   This epic road trip carries on from Sydney (above). Highlights include Babinda Boulders, Josephine falls, the pyramid climb, Paronella Park, Mission Beach (empty palm-fringed beaches), Hinchinbrook Island, Bowen's Horseshoe Bay for a swim, a walk through massive granite boulders to a lookout, Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, Cape Hillsborough National Park where kangaroos hang out on the beach, Capricorn Caves, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, whale watching at Hervey Bay, World Heritage listed Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach and the Great Sandy National Park, Noosa, the Hinterland and the Glasshouse Mountains, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Springbrook National Park, Lamington National park, Byron Bay, Nimbin, the Mt. Warning summit climb, the Sapphire Coast and its national parks, the ancient misty rainforest of Dorrigo National Park, Bellingen, Myall Lakes, the Hunter Valley wine region, and the Blue Mountains, Sydney, the rugged sandstone cliffs and bays of the Royal National Park,  the Sea Cliff Bridge, Nan Tien temple the southern hemisphere's largest Buddhist temple, the Pigeon House Mountain summit climb, lots of beaches, fresh oysters, local cheese, seals, the Gippsland Lakes and Wilsons Promontory, and the penguins of Phillip Island. 
   
   
7. Cairns - Sydney - Melbourne - Adelaide: East Coast & the Great Ocean Road.
   5,750 km | 43 - 48 days
   Cairns to Melbourne | Melbourne to Adelaide
   This road trip takes you half way around Australia down the east coast and along the southern coast. You'll take in all the highlights above on the Cairns to Melbourne drive (road trip #6). The journey between Sydney and Melbourne can either follow the coast, or veer inland to Australia's capital city Canberra and through the Snowy Mountains before rejoining the coast. From Melbourne to Adelaide you'll skirt the turquoise sea along the Great Ocean Road, visit ancient rainforests, glow worms, stunning mountains and rock formations, limestone caves, wine and cheese regions, steam trains and paddle steamers. You'll meet emus, kangaroos, cockatoos, koalas, wombats, echidna's, dolphins and seals along the way. For this trip it is more economical to take advantage of our campervan buy back deal.  
   
   
   The Sea Cliff Bridge south of Sydney.
   
   
8. Cairns - Sydney - Adelaide: East Coast and the Outback
   4,850 km | 33 - 40 days
   Cairns to Sydney | Sydney to Adelaide
   This road trip gives you a good dose of Australia's beautiful coast plus the unique sparsely populated landscapes of the outback. You'll take in all the highlights above on the Cairns to Sydney drive (road trip #4) From Sydney you head west through the Blue Mountains and into the countryside and its cute historic towns with stately stone buildings. The outback landscapes are like nowhere else and the night skies will leave you in awe. Highlights include the desert sculpture park near Broken Hill, Menindee Lakes in Kinchega National Park, Mungo National Park, the Murray River and the Barossa Valley wine region.
   
   
   Mungo National Park.
   
   
9. Cairns - Darwin - Broome - Perth - Adelaide: Half Way Around Australia
   12,060 km | 50 - 60 days
   Cairns to Darwin | Darwin to Broome | Broome to Perth | Perth to Adelaide
   Highlights of this road trip include Undara Lava Tubes, Mataranka Hot Springs, Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, Litchfield National Park, Broome, the whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef, the dolphins of Monkey Mia and the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, white shell beaches, emu and other wildlife, the strange rock formations of The Pinnacles Desert and carpets of wildflowers. Cruise the Dampier Archipelago and surf down the Lancelin Sand Dunes. Hang out in Perth for a couple of days. Climb the giant Gloucester Tree, camp among Yeagerup Dunes, explore limestone caves, taste Margaret River wine, cross the Nullarbor and hike the coastal trails of Coffin Bay National Park.  For this trip it is more economical to take advantage of our campervan buy back deal.  
   
   
   Lucky Bay. Photo: esperancetravel via Ig

Map of Australian Road Trips