Queensland’s most dazzling coastal road strings together two World Heritage icons in one easy adventure. The Great Barrier Reef Drive runs from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, where ancient rainforest meets luminous coral sea. Expect palm lined beaches, forested headlands, crocodile rivers and reef fringed islands in a compact route that keeps daily drive times short. Travel is typically best from May to October, when the dry season brings clearer skies, calmer seas and excellent visibility for snorkelling and cruising. Pick up your camper in Cairns and settle into a relaxed, tropical pace that makes time for swims, boardwalks, markets and unmissable reef days. 

  

Day 1: Cairns to Port Douglas 

Distance: 68 kms 
Travel time: ~1 hour  

Ease into the trip with one of Australia’s most scenic coastal drives. The Captain Cook Highway hugs the Coral Sea, lifting and dipping around headlands with constant ocean views on your left and rainforest clad ranges to your right. It is a sealed coastal highway suited to campers, but check for any roadworks or temporary restrictions and take it steady on the bends. 

Where to stop between Cairns and Port Douglas 

Trinity Beach or Yorkeys Knob for calm morning water and shaded esplanades. Palm Cove, a chic, palm fringed village about 30 km north of Cairns with laid back cafes and day spas. Ellis Beach, backed by rainforest clad hills with handy roadside pull offs that make easy photo stops. 

Things to do in Port Douglas 

With the reef on its doorstep and the Daintree to the north, Port Douglas is a perfect base for two nights. Stroll the long crescent of Four Mile Beach, browse boutiques in the village and time your visit for the Sunday markets at Anzac Park if it fits your dates. Wildlife Habitat is popular for close encounters with native animals. For sunset, many people head to Rex Smeal Park to watch the inlet framed by palms. 

Where to stay in Port Douglas 

Settle the camper at Tropic Breeze Caravan Park, an easy walk to Four Mile Beach and the village, with shady powered sites and a relaxed, tropical feel. Another solid option is BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park, a family friendly park with spacious sites and great facilities a short drive from town. 

 

Day 2: Port Douglas 

Distance: Up to 30 kms around town 
Travel time: ~0.5 hours of local driving 

Port Douglas rewards a full day. This is your chance to get out on the Great Barrier Reef or slow down and enjoy beach time and cafes without moving the camper. 

Things to do in Port Douglas 

 Make today your reef day. Outer reef catamarans depart from the Crystalbrook Marina and commonly visit the Agincourt Reef system, with platforms and guided snorkelling in clear, fish filled water. If you prefer a shorter trip, consider a Low Isles snorkel and beach day with a heritage lighthouse and coral gardens closer to shore. Back on land, wander the village for gelato and galleries, or rent a bike and cruise the hard packed sand of Four Mile Beach at low tide. 

Where to stay in Port Douglas 

 Stay a second night at your chosen Port Douglas holiday park so you can roll straight from reef boat to barbecue without packing up. 

 

Day 3: Port Douglas to Mossman Gorge 

Distance: 22 kms 
Travel time: ~0.5 hours  

Today is deliberately short so you can spend maximum time in the rainforest. A brief hop north brings you to Mossman, gateway to the southern section of Daintree National Park and the crystal creek corridors of Mossman Gorge. 

Where to stop between Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge 

Newell Beach for a quiet shoreline and views to Low Isles. Mossman township for supplies and a bakery treat. Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, where you park and board the frequent shuttle to the gorge. On Saturdays, the Mossman Markets for tropical fruit, local crafts and small town charm. 

Things to do in Mossman Gorge 

Walk beneath strangler figs and towering rainforest as the Mossman River tumbles over granite boulders. Elevated boardwalks and circuit tracks make it easy to immerse in the green world. Clear pools tempt a dip, but swimming is unsupervised and only advisable when conditions are safe. Always heed on site safety signage and local advice. For deeper cultural insight, join a guided walk with Kuku Yalanji guides to learn traditional uses of plants, stories of Country and the significance of this ancient landscape. 

Where to stay in Mossman 

Overnight at Mossman Pool & Caravan Park, a convenient council run park with powered sites, roomy grounds and easy access by short drive to the gorge shuttle. 

 

Day 4: Mossman Gorge to Cape Tribulation 

Distance: 70 kms 
Travel time: ~1.5 hours  

Forest thickens and life slows as you cross the Daintree River and enter one of the oldest rainforests on earth. Phone reception fades, bird calls rise and your day becomes all about lookouts, boardwalks and beach edged jungle. 

Where to stop between Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation 

Daintree Village for coffee and river views. Daintree River Ferry, a cable ferry that carries vehicles across crocodile country into the heart of the rainforest. Queues can form in peak times. Mount Alexandra Lookout (Walu Wugirriga) for sweeping views from rainforest canopy to coast. Daintree Discovery Centre for aerial walkways, a canopy tower and informative displays that bring this living museum to life. A local tropical fruit orchard for an ice cream tasting flight. Jindalba Boardwalk for lowland rainforest and fig trees, and Marrdja Boardwalk for mangroves, fan palms and strangler figs. 

Things to do in Cape Tribulation 

Arriving at Cape Tribulation, step straight onto Myall Beach or Kulki (Cape Tribulation) Beach, where the fringing reef sits just offshore and vines trail to the sand. Explore the Dubuji Boardwalk for a loop through swamp forest and paperbarks, keep an eye out for cassowaries on quiet sections of road and paths, and time a headland climb for low tide to look back along a staggering sweep of coastline. 

Where to stay in Cape Tribulation 

Park up at Cape Trib Camping, a beachfront campground with powered sites under the palms and easy access to Myall Beach. For a slightly more southerly base still within the rainforest, a caravan park at Diwan offers powered sites, fuel and a handy store. 

 

Day 5: Cape Tribulation 

Distance: Up to 40 kms on local roads 
Travel time: ~1 hour of local driving 

Keep the camper unhitched and spend a full day where reef meets rainforest. With the ocean at your feet and trails at your doorstep, you can choose a reef trip, a rainforest hike or a relaxed combination of both. 

Things to do in Cape Tribulation 

Join a small boat to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef just 25 minutes offshore at Mackay and Undine Reefs. Coral gardens here are shallow and vibrant, often with turtles and schools of reef fish. If you prefer to stay on land, fit hikers can tackle the Mount Sorrow Ridge track for sweeping views over the coast. Start early, carry plenty of water and allow around 5 to 6 hours for the 7 km return trail. For a cooling freshwater dip, visit Emmagen Creek and head well upstream from the road crossing. Conditions vary, so follow local guidance and signage and avoid estuarine areas. Another memorable option is a guided horse ride that winds from rainforest to Myall Beach at low tide. After dark, consider a guided nocturnal wildlife walk to spot glowing fungi, insects and the rustle of unseen mammals in the undergrowth. 

Where to stay in Cape Tribulation 

Stay a second night at Cape Trib Camping for beachside convenience, or remain at your Diwan base if you prefer a central spot for the boardwalks and fruit farms. 

 

 

 

Day 6: Cape Tribulation to Cairns 

Distance: 140 kms 
Travel time: ~3 hours 

Retrace your path through the Daintree and along the Captain Cook Highway, making time for the stops you missed on the way north. This is a relaxed finale, with options for croc spotting, Indigenous cultural tours and a last swim before city lights appear. 

Where to stop between Cape Tribulation and Cairns 

Thornton Beach for a coffee with ocean views. Noah Beach for a quiet shoreline stroll. Wonga Beach for a fun and informative catch and release barramundi experience. Cooya Beach, known for guided coastal walks with Traditional Owners who share mud crab hunting and cultural knowledge on the tidal flats. Port Douglas for lunch and a last look at Four Mile Beach. Palm Cove for a calm water swim in season or a walk under the leaning palms, then Trinity or Holloways Beach for a final toes in the sand moment closer to Cairns. 

Note that the road beyond Cape Tribulation toward Wujal Wujal is the Bloomfield Track. It includes unsealed and steep sections and is often unsuitable for 2WD campervans. Many rental agreements restrict travel on this route, so check with your provider before attempting it. Stick to the sealed route for a smooth return to Cairns. 

Things to do in Cairns 

Back in Cairns, cool off at the Esplanade Lagoon, browse the Night Markets and celebrate your trip with dinner overlooking the marina. If you have an extra day, consider a visit to the Cairns Aquarium or the Botanic Gardens. Otherwise, this is a convenient point to prepare for drop off. 

Where to stay in Cairns 

Round out the journey at Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, a resort style park with leafy sites, pools and excellent family facilities. Closer to the city, NRMA Cairns Holiday Park is a handy base near the Esplanade. You can also choose to return your camper to the Cairns branch today, subject to branch hours opening hours, and enjoy a final hotel night in town or head straight to the aiportT. 

Six days on the Great Barrier Reef Drive delivers a rare pairing of emerald rainforest and turquoise sea with minimal time behind the wheel. From reef snorkels at Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation to cool creek swims and croc edged ferry crossings, every day blends easy driving with unforgettable nature. The dry season sets the stage for calm water and blue sky days, but this route shines year round with its slow travel rhythm. Start and finish in Cairns for smooth logistics and the freedom to customise extra reef days or beach time. When you are ready to trade city noise for the hush of the Daintree and the shimmer of the Coral Sea, this coastal classic is waiting.