Self Drive Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Discover a touring experience like no other - you can start your day on the Great Barrier Reef, spend the afternoon in World Heritage listed rainforests, then sleep under a thousand stars of the vast Outback.
The 2000 kilometre (km) Great Tropical Drive is a world class self-drive route that will take you to some amazing places. The route maps out the region's iconic wonders - as well as its best kept secrets. be prepared for plenty of unexpected discoveries along the way.
- Explore the heard of the Great Tropical Drive - 900,000 hectares of the world's oldest tropical rainforest.
- Experience Australia's highest diversity of plants and animals, including many found nowhere else on earth.
- Strike a rich vein of history in the region's deserted goldfields and frontier towns like Charters Towers, Chillagoe and Cooktown.
- Dive into an adventure on the Great barrier Reef, raft white water rapids, trek Queensland's highest peak and drive over tropical plantations in a hot air balloon.
- Share bush tucker with traditional owners and indulge in the freshest tropical foods.
The drive passes through Townsville, Charters Towers, Atherton Tablelands, Cooktown,Daintree, Cairns, Innisfail, Mission Beach and Ingham.
Take your time and allow at least two weeks to experience the whole drive, or choose a shorter drive to suite - there are another 13 Discovery Trails from easy one-day drives to week-long 4WD and campervan adventures.
They are briefly described here, for detailed itineraries go to www.greattropicaldrive.com.au
Things to do in Self Drive Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Off Road Driving, Abseiling, Ballooning, Motorcycling, Mountain Biking, Quad Bike Riding, Trail bike riding, Birdwatching, Camping, Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Crabbing, Cruising, Cycling, Scuba-Diving, Fishing - Beach, Fishing - Estuary, Fishing - Fly, Fishing - Game, Fishing - Deep Sea, Fossicking, Fruit Picking, Gambling, Gliding/Hang Gliding/Paragliding, Prospecting, Golfing, Horseriding, Jet Boating, Jet Skiing, Kayaking, Seakayaking, Meditating, Motor racing, Para-Sailing/Para-Flying, Sailing, Scenic Flights, Shopping, Ice Skating/Roller Skating, Grass Skiing, Water Skiing, Skydiving, Snorkelling, Wind Surfing, Swimming, Swim with Fish, Swim with Sharks, Swim with Whales, Tennis, Train Ride, Animal Viewing, Self-Guided, Bushwalking, Guided Walks, Hiking/Trekking, Wilderness Walking, Wine Tasting,
