There’s no better word to describe Far North Queensland than, “Wow!”
This special part of the country is full of incredible adventures. Snorkelling past coral and marine life in the Great Barrier Reef. Cruising through the region's islands. Exploring the lush Daintree Rainforest. Searching for beautiful waterfalls, then stopping to swim below the cascades. Relaxing on golden sand. Best of all, staying in holiday parks with tropical foliage, spacious sites, modern cabins, wonderful facilities, and refreshing swimming pools.
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Not sure where to begin planning? You've come to the right place. We've put together a Far North Queensland journey that starts in Townsville and ends in Cooktown. No doubt, you’ll be booking beachfront sites and cabins in no time via the G'day Parks app or online.
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Even though it's debatable whether this city is actually part of Far North Queensland, there's no denying that Townsville is the gateway to Tropical North Queensland. If you’re flying in, Townsville Airport is the best place to arrive for this journey.
Townsville is your first taste of the Great Barrier Reef. The Yongala Dive down to the coral-covered, historic shipwreck is legendary, or you can swim through the depths of The Museum of Underwater Art.
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To enjoy the views from above the water surface, jump on a ferry to Magnetic Island – a nature and wildlife haven – or climb to the top of Castle Hill for a Townsville panorama.
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There's lots to see and do around the city, which is known for its street art, café culture, and The Strand—a beachfront promenade featuring a walkway, waterpark, eateries, picnic spots, and stinger-safe rockpool.
WHERE TO STAY?
Discovery Parks - Townsville
Discovery Parks - Townsville will set the tone of sun and fun for the rest of your Far North Queensland road trip, with a swimming pool, waterpark, playground, and bouncing pillow. For mealtimes, there’s camp kitchen, BBQs, or an on-site restaurant if you want a holiday break from cooking. There are grass and slab sites, or a wide range of cabins and motel rooms—our pick is a deluxe two-bedroom cabin.
Soak up the Townsville sunshine at Coral Coast Tourist Park, with its pool, kiosk, tour desk, sparkling amenities, and unbeatable hospitality. Lined with palm trees, the park offers shady powered and unpowered sites, as well as all sorts of cabin configurations—from the pet-friendly to family-sized.
Townsville Tourist and Lifestyle Village
Space, peace, and quiet are on the agenda at Townsville Tourist and Lifestyle Village—the perfect retreat after full days of exploring the Great Barrier Reef and local attractions. With powered sites and deluxe villas, the park has two gorgeous pools for cooling down, camp kitchen and BBQs to cook up a dinner feast, and an off-leash dog park if your pup is joining the trip (sites only!).
Located an hour north of the city, Ingham Tourist Park has the relaxed feel to start your Far North Queensland journey on the right foot. The park has shady powered and unpowered sites (including large drive-through options for big rigs), ensuite units with their own cooking facilities and bathroom, an outdoor swimming pool, camp kitchen, BBQs, and a playground.
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Next up is the Cassowary Coast. On the way, take a slight detour inland to visit Wallaman Falls in Girrigun National Park—Australia’s highest single drop waterfall, surrounded by World Heritage rainforest. As you arrive in Cardwell, there’s more waterfall spotting to enjoy, from Murray Falls to Attie Creek Falls.
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A key attraction is the Cardwell Forest Drive, a picturesque, inland driving trail. There are parking areas to get out and explore lookout points, walking trails, picnic areas, and swimming spots. By far, the most famous point is the Cardwell Spa Pool—once a local hidden gem, now a tourist favourite. To see its bright blue waters, the best time to visit is from May to September, when the water levels are typically ideal for bathing in this creek-fed, mineral-rich pool.
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From the shore, it's easy to spot Hinchinbrook Island just eight kilometres off the coast. Book a day trip to soak up its magnificent hikes, lookouts, and waterfall swimming spots. At Zoe Falls, you can choose between the natural infinity pool at the top or swimming beneath the cascades.
WHERE TO STAY?
Kookaburra Holiday Park
Between the beach and forest, Kookaburra Holiday Park blends seaside ambience with tropical foliage for the ideal North Queensland escape. Pick a powered site beneath the palm trees or spend the night in a cabin, motel unit, or villa—then, it’s time for a splash in the swimming pool.
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Continue your Cassowary Coast adventures at Mission Beach, where you can go snorkelling on the outer Great Barrier Reef or white water rafting on the Tully River. Hikers will like the climb up Bicton Hill or the trails beneath the lush rainforest canopy in Djiru National Park.
Got a sweet tooth? Book a Charley’s Chocolate Factory tour for Australia’s only cocoa tree to chocolate bar experience. From seeing baby cocoa trees in their tree nursery to tasting cocoa nibs straight from a pod, you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for the chocolate-making process. At the end of the tour, you can purchase your favourite treat from their shop.
To find a souvenir and delicious food, the Mission Beach Markets are held at Ulysses Park on Porter Promenade on the first and third Sunday of each month. With so much to do, make sure you carve out enough time to relax on the golden foreshore!
WHERE TO STAY?
Mission Beach Hideaway Holiday Village
Just a path away from the sea, Mission Beach Hideaway Holiday Village is a delight. They’ll got all campers covered with powered caravan sites and unpowered tent sites, along with a range of accommodation, from non-ensuite cabins to premium deluxe cabins. Their pool and spa are the balm for hot days, plus there are great facilities like camp kitchen, BBQs, and a playground.
Let's head 30 minutes up the coast to Kurrimine Beach. Here, find an unspoilt stretch of sand that’s so close to the Great Barrier Reef, you can sometimes walk out to King Reef when the tide is at its lowest. That’s definitely a reason to pack a pair of reef shoes!
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Anglers will be in heaven, with plenty of opportunities to cast a line. There’s a boat hire and fishing charter company in town who can kit you out with everything you need.
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Half an hour away, check out the art deco town of Innisfail before a visit to Paronella Park. It will feel as if you’ve been transported to another world as you tour the grounds, explore the gardens, and soak up the scenery on a picnic. Don’t miss Paronella Park's sister attraction, the sky-high rainforest Mamu Tropical Skywalk.
WHERE TO STAY?
King Reef Resort
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Before reaching the tropical metropolis of Cairns, a lakeside getaway awaits at Lake Tinaroo. On your way, make sure to go waterfall spotting at Millaa Millaa Falls and Nandroya Falls.
In Lake Tinaroo, swap the coastline for boating, fishing (permit required), swimming, kayaking, waterskiing, and picnicking in the Atherton Tablelands.
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Enjoy a wide network of walking and cycling trails, soundtracked by a chorus of native birdlife, in Danbulla National Park and State Forest. A highlight is the Grade 2 trail leading to an ancient Cathedral Fig Tree that’s around 500 years old.
WHERE TO STAY?
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is packed with in-park fun, including an all-abilities waterpark, accessible swimming pool, on-site café, bouncing pillow, basketball court, hire equipment, and a boat ramp to make the most of its lakeside location. There are slab and grass sites for campers and a range of units and villas for travellers who prefer self-contained accommodation.
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Get back to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, with many snorkelling and scuba diving experiences or unforgettable cruises to islands like Michaelmas Cay, Green Island, and Fitzroy Island. From June to September, you might even spot whales amongst the wondrous marine life!
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To spend a day in Kuranda, travel there and back via the Kuranda Scenic Railway, or ride above the trees on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Once you arrive, there are a bunch of wildlife experiences, including Birdworld Kuranda, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and Kuranda Koala Gardens.
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Cairns has its fair share of thrills, from jet boat rides to bungy jumping. If you prefer a relaxed pace, check out the museums, galleries, markets, gardens, and – of course – beaches (Palm Cove is a beauty). A dip in the lagoon on the Cairns Esplanade is also a treat, especially when followed by a coffee or meal at a nearby café.
WHERE TO STAY?
Crystal Cascades Holiday Park
Crystal Cascades Holiday Park is always a hit with kids, thanks to its resort-style pool, playground, pump truck, and large variety of accommodation. Nature is everywhere you look, from powered sites with mountain views to the deck of a Birdwing Spa Villa.
Barrier Reef Tourist Park
Seeking peace after a long day of exploration? Head right on down to Barrier Reef Tourist Park to relax in their tropical grounds, TV room, or swimming pool. Whether you’re parking your caravan on an ensuite site or checking into a deluxe villa, it’s a true retreat in Cairns’ southern suburbs.
First City Caravilla offers convenience, comfort, and a tropical location less than 15 minutes from the city’s attractions. If you’re camping or caravanning, there are powered and unpowered sites. For fans of roofed accommodation, there are budget and ensuite cabins. One thing’s for sure: there will always be a palm tree in sight!
Lake Placid Rainforest Retreat
Lake Placid Rainforest Retreat’s location is so nature-based, you’ll find it hard to believe you’re only 20 minutes from the city centre! Stay in a powered site, villa, bungalow, or Kingfisher Cottage to enjoy the pool, kiosk, camp kitchen, BBQs, and leafy foliage.
DON'T MISS PORT DOUGLAS AND THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST!
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You can either enjoy Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest as a day trip from Cairns, or on your way to our final stop in Cooktown. It's up to you and how you like to travel!
An hour north of Cairns, drop into Port Douglas for a splendid day relaxing on Four Mile Beach, shopping ’til you drop on Macrossan Street, visiting the Wildlife Habitat sanctuary, or getting another hit of snorkelling on the outer reef.
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Then, it’s time to step into the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage area. This place will leave you wonderstruck, whether you’re on a guided tour, taking a scenic drive, or hiking incredible nature trails. Keep an eye out for saltwater crocs—or book a river cruise to marvel at these wild creatures from a safe distance. To see the rainforest from up high, try the Daintree Rainforest Skywalk or ziplining at Cape Tribulation.
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Mossman Gorge is another treasure, with self-guided hiking tracks past mossy granite boulders, charming waterfalls, and secluded rockpools. For an introduction to the land’s Indigenous identity, take a guided Dreamtime Walk. Beginning with a smoking ceremony, your guide will share about aspects like bush food sources and traditional Aboriginal plant use, ending with a bush tea and damper.
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Our final stop is Cooktown, four hours north of Cairns. As you travel through Lower Cape York, make sure you stop at some of the beautiful waterfalls, like Wujal Wujal Falls (note: due to crocs, no swimming in this one), Trevathan Falls, and Home Rule Falls, paired with beautiful scenery and walking tracks.
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There’s lots to do around Cooktown, from the lush botanical gardens to the museum. For the best panorama of the northernmost part of this journey, head to Grassy Hill for a 360-degree view.
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One hour north of Cooktown, see the coloured cliffs of Elim Beach, contrasting with the sea and sand. That said, there are also many gorgeous, northern beaches around Cooktown where you can simply sit back and relax, like Finch Bay, Quarantine Bay, and Walker Bay. After a journey distance clocking in at more than 650km, you’ve earned it!
WHERE TO STAY?
Cooktown Holiday Park
There’s no better way to celebrate reaching the end of your Far North Queensland journey than diving into the pool at Cooktown Holiday Park. Between powered sites, motel units, cabins, and villas, every kind of traveller is accounted for, plus they have all the facilities to make sure you finish your journey feeling clean, comfy, and happy.
KEEN FOR MORE? CHECK OUT UNDARA!
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This is an optional detour and requires a few hours' drive inland, but it’s worth the kilometres to see a completely new side of Tropical North Queensland. Undara Volcanic National Park is home to a complex lave tube cave system, formed by a volcanic eruption around 190,000 years ago, and you can take a guided tour past these incredible geological formations.
After exploring the caves and tunnels, soak up the fresh air and natural wonders above ground while bushwalking. The 2.5-kilometre Kalkanni Crater rim walk climbs up the side of a former volcano; from the top, you’ll be able to spot the line of the lava tubes in the landscape below.
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Top it all off with a sunset wildlife watching experience, where your expert guide will point out native creatures while you savour wine and nibbles as the sun goes down.
WHERE TO STAY?
Discovery Resorts - Undara
Add an outback flavour to your Far North Queensland getaway at Discovery Resorts - Undara. Camp on a powered or unpowered site surrounded by red dirt, or pick out unique accommodation like pioneer huts, restored railway carriages, swag tents, and homestead rooms. Then, enjoy campfires (weather permitting), dips in the pool, and drinks at the on-site bar.
Please note, Discovery Resorts - Undara has a seasonal closure each year from October to March.
Discovery Parks - Mount Surprise
Discovery Parks - Mount Surprise is just half an hour away from Undara. There are powered and unpowered sites for camping and caravanning, plenty of self-contained cabins, and lots of fun features like a pool, mini golf, kiosk, and seasonal campfires.
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From the Great Barrier Reef to Daintree National Park, this Tropical North Queensland journey is full of wonder!
Before you start the car, first you need to book your stays with G’day Parks! Lock in your locations via the app or online, then get excited—you’re about to be blown away by Far North Queensland.
