Say Gidday to North Queensland’s Best Road Trip Adventures

Anyone who has had the opportunity to experience the thrills, independence, and excitement of a road trip will tell you that there is simply no better way to get to know a location than by vehicle. A road vacation basically offers you free freedom to explore back roads, byways, and off-the-beaten-path locations that many visitors never get to see. This is especially true in Australia, a large, breathtakingly beautiful nation that is on many people’s bucket lists all around the globe. North Queensland, in the country’s north, is a stunning location for a road trip. Here are two fantastic ways that, like the Aussie way, are accessible yet still seem remote…

Follow the Canecutter Loop.

This route follows the pattern of a figure of eight, beginning in the lovely village of Innisfail, south of Cairns, and ending in some extremely stunning terrain. The scenic trip includes scenic coastline stretches as well as highways through famed sugarcane farming districts and cool woodlands.

You’ll ride on well-maintained sealed roads the whole way, with stops at magnificent Mena Creek Falls in Japoon National Park to enjoy a short, easy trek and cool down in the crystal-clear waters. After leaving the Table Top Ranges, you’ll go via Silkwood before returning to Innisfail via the sugar industry town of Mourilyan. The picturesque town of Babinda (eat a pie at their renowned bakery!) is the next stop before approaching the Wooroonooran National Park, which you should certainly allow time to explore. Finally, a night at the oddly called Flying Fish Point is the ideal way to round up our breathtaking journey.

This roughly 160km circle should take 3–4 days to complete.

The Lovely Tully to Mission Beach Route

If you just have a few days and want to see some of the most stunning scenery in Australia, the trip from Tully (which claims to be the wettest area in Australia) to Mission Beach is nothing short of breathtaking from every angle. The Tully Canyon National Park is the first destination, a beautiful wooded area teeming with animals and split through by the steep gorge that bears its name. It’s a great site to spend a night or two camping and trekking before travelling to the similarly impressive Murray Falls in Girramay National Park. After spending as much or as little time as you wish visiting the park, continue east towards the famed Cassowary Coast village of Mission Beach, with its wide, golden beaches and unique, bohemian culture. This is a vacation with two parts, but you won’t be able to choose favorites.

Allow 2 to 5 days for this roughly 220km journey.

Before You Go: Purchase Car Hire Excess Insurance.

Aside from packing sunscreen and doing some research on the North Queensland region, the most crucial preparation you’ll need to do before any of these road excursions is to make sure you have car rental excess insurance in addition to your usual travel insurance. While the roads are not especially difficult, accidents may and do occur, and if you have proper car hire excess insurance for your rental vehicle, you will not be saddled with any unexpected fees if you do have to make a claim.

Australia’s adventures are waiting for you, and a road trip is the greatest way to experience this vast and varied nation.

Plate with Author’s Name Sam Walker is an insurance consultant at LowerHire, a firm that provides low-cost single trip and yearly multi-travel car rental excess insurance packages. Travelers can relax knowing they are completely insured against any hidden hire vehicle expenses, and they can look forward to a stress-free rental experience.