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Great Tropical Drive

2080km
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From bush to beach, the Great Tropical Drive gives you a true taste of northern Queensland
  • ROAD CONDITION: 2WD, sealed
  • BEST MONTHS TO TRAVEL: All year
  • ACCESSIBILITY:
  • MOBILE RECEPTION:
  • PET FRIENDLY:
Road condition
2WD, sealed
Best months to travel
All year
loader-image
Cairns, AU
temperature icon 28°C
light rain


500km
  • Cairns88km to Innisfail
  • Innisfail53km to Tully
  • Tully97km to Ingham
  • Ingham112km to Townsville
  • Townsville136km to Charters Towers
  • Charters Towers419km to Mt Garnet
  • Mt Garnet96km to Atherton
  • Atherton33km to Mareeba
  • Mareeba37km to Kuranda
  • Kuranda300km to Cooktown
  • Cooktown266km to Port Douglas
  • Port Douglas67km to Cairns
  • CairnsDestination

3D Terrain Map
Note: You can zoom and rotate with your mouse.

[3D-Map id=”5″]

Things to do along Great Tropical Drive

  • Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns
  • Enjoy a cocktail at Salt House, Cairns
  • Dine in one of the specialty restaurants, Port Douglas
  • Swim at Mossman Gorge
  • Enjoy sunset from Grassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown
  • Purchase locally grown coffee, Mareeba
  • Take the waterfall circuit, Atherton Tablelands
  • Soak in mineral hot springs in Innot Hot Springs
  • View Australia’s largest mosaic at Goldtower, Charters Towers
  • Visit the Queensland Museum Tropics, Townsville
  • Get insta-famous at the Cardwell Spa Pool
  • See a fairy-tale castle, Paronella Park
  • Explore the mysterious Babinda Boulders
Drive Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders both past, present and emerging; and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

© 2026 Drive Queensland. Images courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland and Drive Queensland Partners

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