Guide · Queensland drives ·
Cairns to Port Douglas drive: Captain Cook Highway stops
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Cairns to Port Douglas drive is a coastal run of about 70 km along the Captain Cook Highway, and it is one of the easiest scenic drives in Tropical North Queensland. The road leaves Cairns, crosses the Barron River and then follows the sea almost all the way to Port Douglas. At normal highway speeds it is roughly an hour behind the wheel, which is our own estimate rather than an official time. Add stops and it becomes a half day or a full day out.
This guide gives the route in order, the best places to pull over, and what to know about the season before you go.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Captain Cook Highway; Wikipedia, Port Douglas.
The short answer: distance and time
The Captain Cook Highway starts at the Bruce Highway in Cairns and ends at Mossman, a run of 75 km in all. Port Douglas Road branches off at 61.1 km from the Cairns start, and the town itself sits a few kilometres further on. Most guides put the whole trip from Cairns to Port Douglas at about 70 km, and Wikipedia describes the town as roughly 70 km north of Cairns. Treat 65 to 70 km as the safe range.
| Point on the route | Distance from the Cairns start |
|---|---|
| Barron River bridges | 6.9 km |
| Smithfield and Kamerunga Road | 12.1 km |
| Kennedy Highway turn-off to Kuranda | 13.1 km |
| Port Douglas Road turn-off | 61.1 km |
| Mossman, end of the highway | 75.4 km |
There is no other direct road along this coast, so you will not need to choose between routes. Wikipedia notes that the Captain Cook Highway is the only direct road into Palm Cove as well.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Captain Cook Highway (distances from its table of major intersections); Wikipedia, Port Douglas; Wikipedia, Palm Cove.
The route in order
The highway begins as part of the A1 and runs north through Cairns. Early on it crosses the south arm of the Barron River on the William Walter Mason Bridges. It then reaches Smithfield, where the Kennedy Highway turns west towards Kuranda. If you want the Kuranda hills on this trip, that is the junction to note, but the coast road carries on north-east.
From Smithfield the road is State Route 44. It passes through the beachside suburbs of Kewarra Beach and Palm Cove, and then follows the coast almost to Port Douglas. Wikipedia describes the highway as a scenic road that winds alongside the coast of the tropical seaside rainforest, with Daintree National Park further north.
Keep to the posted limits and take the bends at a relaxed pace. A winding coastal road is more enjoyable when you are not rushing it.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Captain Cook Highway.
First stop: Palm Cove
Palm Cove is the natural first stop. Wikipedia gives its location as about 27 km north of Cairns, and it is named after the palm trees that line the beach. The sea here is sheltered by Arlington Reef, which is about 30 km offshore and is the closest part of the Great Barrier Reef to Palm Cove. That reef shields the inshore water from the larger swells of the Coral Sea.
It is an easy place to stretch your legs. Joggers, walkers and cyclists use the palm-lined paths, and netted swimming enclosures are patrolled by lifeguards. The jetty is a well known fishing spot. Behind the village rises the Macalister Range National Park, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.
Palm Cove has a small shopping offer, and its nearest shopping centre is at Clifton Beach, so plan any bigger shopping before or after the stop.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Palm Cove.
The end of the road: Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a coastal town in the Shire of Douglas. It sits next to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The town was established in 1877 after gold was found at the Hodgkinson River, and it later grew into a tourist base.
The big draw is Four Mile Beach. Wikipedia notes that kitesurfing is popular at its southern end in winter, when the trade winds blow from the south. From the marina, many companies run day trips to the outer reef and the Low Isles for diving and snorkelling. The town is also known for its restaurants, walks and golf courses.
If you only have one day, a simple plan works well. Leave Cairns in the morning, stop at Palm Cove, reach Port Douglas for lunch and a beach walk, and drive back in the afternoon.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Port Douglas.
When to go and what to plan
Port Douglas has a tropical monsoon climate. Heavy rain falls mainly from January to March, and February is usually the wettest month. The sea averages 23.7 °C in July and 29.5 °C in January.
The busy season runs from May to September, when the town's population can double. If you drive in those months, book your lunch spot or any reef trip ahead and leave extra time for parking near the beach.
- Fill the tank in Cairns before you leave.
- Carry water and sun protection for beach stops.
- Check your reef trip booking and pick-up time before setting out.
- Allow extra time in the wet months, when rain can slow the drive.
Rules and conditions change, so check current road information before you travel.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Port Douglas (climate and visitor season).
Sources
- Wikipedia, Captain Cook Highway: en.wikipedia.org (version archived 23 January 2021)
- Wikipedia, Port Douglas: en.wikipedia.org (version archived 4 December 2020)
- Wikipedia, Palm Cove: en.wikipedia.org (version archived 1 December 2016)