Heading north along the Captain Cook Highway you will pass the Northern Beaches and the charming seaside villages of Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. The road to Port Douglas quickly meets the coastline. Sit back and enjoy one of Australia’s most spectacular highway drives.

Stop overnight at the famous seaside town of Port Douglas, where you can enjoy a village atmosphere and some great beachside dining experiences. There are more than 100 day tour options departing Port Douglas daily, including Great Barrier Reef diving, fishing and snorkelling expeditions - so take the time to explore this piece of paradise – why not stay a few extra days? Accommodation ranges from camping all the way up to five star beachfront spa resorts.

Today’s drive takes you up the Rex Range road to Julatten, a small Highlands township with a big reputation among birdwatchers. Leaving Julatten the landscape changes from lush green to the golden brown of the savannah. Stop at Mount Molloy, home to arguably the world’s best hamburgers!

Visit the Mareeba Wetlands, a non-profit, community wildlife reserve which boasts 300 acres of open water set in 5,000 acres of grassland savannah.

Don’t be surprised to smell the coffee roasting as you head into Mareeba, Australia's largest/premier coffee producing area. For a refreshing afternoon stop in at one of several freshwater lakes on the Highlands including Lakes Tinaroo, Eacham and Barrine. Overnight at the quaint village of Yungaburra. It has plenty of accommodation options and the monthly markets (fourth Saturday of the month) are a must.

The final leg of this trail is a short trip down the range, so take your time and spend an extra day (or three) exploring the Highlands before you go. Start with some early morning Platypus watching at the creek on the edge of Yungaburra, then continue to the massive 800 year old Curtain Fig Tree 3km down the road.

Take a short drive south through Malanda to Millaa Millaa for a 15km scenic circuit of three beautiful rainforest waterfalls.

Or head west from Millaa Millaa on a longer loop drive through through the heritage towns of Ravenshoe, Herberton and Atherton. Enjoy the fusion of ancient tropical rainforest and friendly farming communities before heading back to Yungaburra and down the coastal range.

For further detailed information visit one of the local Information Centres on the way, or one of the following.

Cairns:
Gateway Discovery Centre
51 The Esplanade, Cairns
Tel: (07) 4051 3588
www.tropicalaustralia.com

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