Driving North of Cairns

[RB]

Probably not the best time of year but we will be in Cairns in early Nov 2023. We are hiring a car for 12 nights and intend to travel north. Hoping that some locals or other posters that have done similar can provide a few tips. It is a lot of years since we were this far north but have done a couple of driving trips from Townsville the last few years. (No Cassowary Sightings for Us | Australian Frequent Flyer and Platypus, Beaches and Pies on the Whitsunday Coast | Australian Frequent Flyer ) and we are hoping to do something similar out of Cairns.
Appreciate any tips on spots to visit, places to enjoy casual dining and places to stay.

 

[marks]

Plenty of road trip options. I presume you are jumping between places to stay.
Tablelands, Joesphine Falls, Kuranda and Palm Cove are all highlights if you have a care.
You can drive to the Daintree river in a hire car but most don't allow you to cross and drive he unsealed road to Cooktown.

 

[luxury-lizard]

If I may add to @marks excellent suggestions - Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge (visit only), for a bit of luxury stay at Silky Oaks for a night or 2, from there a day trip to Cape Tribulation is a must (note you can cross the Daintree river in a hire car and the road is sealed to Cape Tribulation but not onto Cooktown). We have done a day trip to Cooktown ex-Cairns in a light plane - well worth it - not sure if it's still an option. From either Cairns or Port Douglas you should do a day trip to the outer reef.

 

[Cossie]

Plenty of road trip options. I presume you are jumping between places to stay.
Tablelands, Joesphine Falls, Kuranda and Palm Cove are all highlights if you have a care.
You can drive to the Daintree river in a hire car but most don't allow you to cross and drive he unsealed road to Cooktown.

We took a hire car over the river last year and drove up past the ice cream factory/shop. Mossman has a market each Saturday morning.
We did drive all the way to Cooktown on this road quite a few years ago, it was a rental 4x4, RAV4 from memory, then drove the highway back.

South of Cairns this year, we saw cassowaries near Mission Beach, a place I would recommend, very laid back!

 

[jastel]

As said you can usually go as far as Cape Trib in a 2wd rental car, some 4wd rentals let you do the Bloomfield Coastal Track from Cape Trib to Cooktown but not all companies do...dont think they wont know - the ferry driver gets $50 for everyone he dobs in. You can drive to Cooktown on the bitumen inland road in a 2wd easily...but even it floods in heavy rain.

So within 5 hours of Cairns by car are -

North is all the beach suburbs including Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Mossman and Gorge (you will want a swim in Nov), Cape Trib and maybe Cooktown.

West is Kuranda, (can also do by Skyrail Cable Car and Train) Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands, lots of waterfalls, lakes, hikes etc...further out W is Chillagoe Caves, Undara Lava Tubes, Cobbold Gorge, Georgetown etc old mining heritage towns...all can be done by normal car so long as not wet...check Undara/Cobbold usually shuts down at start of wet in late Oct early Nov.

South is Josephine Falls, Babinda Boulders, Innisfail, Tully and Mission Beach and Wallaman Falls and Ingham....then you go further and find that Brownsville Place...only good if the footys on.

East you will drown and not get your deposit back...dont go E.

You have your reef trips 1 day, Skyrail and Train 1 day, there is also scuba dive courses, skydiving, motobike/horse riding, bungy, fishing, wakeboard park, crocodile safaris, Tank Museum, Art Gallery, Local Museum, Botanic Gardens, Casino, Shops, Markets, restaurants etc.

Plenty to do here...in November it will be hotter and humid, rain is a 50/50 chance.