Where To Explore Driving From Cairns To The Atherton Tablelands

Cairns is a great base for exploring lots of exciting activities and attractions in Queensland. While staying in Cairns, you may want to travel out to local wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Forest, or even the spectacular Atherton Tablelands. This is a slightly longer trip as it's about a 1.5-hour drive away (90 km), so why not make a few detours? Here are just a few of the places you could explore as you travel from Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands.

The Route

There are two main routes that you can take to get between Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands. You can either travel along the Gillies Highway into the mountains, or you could opt for the northerly Kuranda Highway. Both routes offer some great views and dazzling landscapes, so to decide which route to take, the best thing to do is to look at the different stops you can make along the way.

Gillies Highway

From glorious landscapes to magnificent beasts and beautiful boating tours, the Gillies Highway promises a range of activities to break up your journey and make you feel as if you've packed numerous trips into just one day! You might even decide to take the journey again if you couldn't fit everything in the first time. Here are some of the activities to consider:

Mountain Range

The Gillies Highway is an attraction in itself. It is widely known for its enormous 263 corners and 800 m elevation change in just 19 km. This is a popular route that many strive to complete, and taking your group on this road is certainly a great adventure. There are some breathtaking natural views and stunning mountain scenery to behold, which will make your drive pass by in a flash.

Horseback Tours

In Little Mulgrave Valley, you could enjoy an extraordinary treat about halfway through your journey. Mount N Ride rainforest horseback tours allow you to take a magical horseback trip with all equipment provided. You'll explore a range of scenery and terrain, riding through rivers, bush and rainforests. You can also choose the time of day that best suits you, whether you'd prefer an early morning ride or sunset views. You can even indulge in a meal and a hot drink while you’re there to ensure you're ready for the rest of your drive.

Crater Lakes National Park

Formed by volcanic eruptions, the two crater lakes at this national park have become a must-see attraction. They are known for their clear, blue waters and don’t have any links to other water sources. The lakes themselves are made up of rainwater and snow, which makes them the clearest kind of lake in the world.

There are walking tours around both Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine available, with the latter also hosting boat tours for a truly magical experience. If you're more adventurous, you could enjoy a spot of canoeing or kayaking and even head to Wrights Creek Falls.

Kuranda Highway

Taking the Kuranda Highway route offers you a rich selection of fun animal encounters, unique activities for the adventurous and an intriguing chance to learn more about local heritage.

Kuranda State Forest

Not long into your journey and only adding a few minutes to your drive is Kuranda State Forest. Take a moment to enjoy the marvel that is Kuranda village, located within the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest. There is plenty to enjoy here, from bird watching and hiking trails to the splendid shops and market stalls selling hand-crafted cards and souvenirs.

Take a ride on the Kuranda river boat and see crocodiles and turtles or visit the koala gardens for a cuddlier animal experience. There is also a butterfly sanctuary and a scenic railway to enjoy in the colourful village.

Davies Creek National Park

About halfway along the route, you will pass by Davies Creek National Park. It is worth stopping here to see the wonderful area and activities on offer. There are some great hiking and walking trails for you to enjoy as well as picnic benches, so why not plan your trip to include an outdoor lunch? If you are feeling more adventurous during your travels, you can also try mountain biking, four-wheel driving or swimming in Davies Creek for an unforgettable experience.

Mareeba Heritage Museum

If you enjoy culture and learning, the Mareeba Heritage Museum could be the perfect stop for you. At the museum, you can enjoy a range of interactive and fun displays to ensure an enjoyable time exploring over 6,000 items across 25 years' worth of collections. If you really want to understand the colourful culture, book a tour to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

How to travel between Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands

The best way to travel between the two and make the most of these additional sights is to hire a car in Cairns. Choosing to drive yourself rather than taking a coach trip will be much more fun and will allow you to pick and choose your stops. If you're not in a hurry, it makes sense to pack in as much adventure as you can!

So, to get your perfect road trip started and visit some of the attractions we've mentioned above, head to 1300 Meteor Rentals to find a ride. All that’s left to do is pick your favourite route and decide which of these wonderful locations you are going to enjoy along the way. You could even take one route there and the other one back, which means you could stop at all of the sights on our list!