Everything you need to know about Australia’s first electric vehicle drive route

Running from south to north, the Tropical North Queensland Electric Vehicle Drive connects Mena Creek and the Atherton Tablelands with Cairns and north to the Daintree National Park in one neat road trip package.

Charging stations are conveniently positioned at six major Tropical North Queensland visitor attractions, so you can charge while you explore the likes of Paronella Park, Historic Village Herberton, Coffee Works in Mareeba, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.

How does it work?

You don’t normally hear about holidays being plug and play, but this one is, with six dedicated charging stations along this 500km stretch of tarmac.

Each one comes with two 7kW AC chargers, to power your electric wheels of choice – enough juice to let you travel the full 500km at no cost, leaving no dint on the holiday budget.

How to do the Electric Vehicle Highway

Start your holiday exploring the majestic Paronella Park, which sprawls for five hectares of Mena Creek. Within its gates, you’ll find the ultimate wedding present that Jose Paronella built for his wife, complete with castle, bridges, waterfall and over 7500 different tropical plants.

With your battery charged, follow the waterfall circuit towards Atherton Tablelands, before pulling up the handbrake at the Historic Village Herberton, where you can turn back the history pages to Australia’s early pioneering times. Explore its 16 acres, which houses over 50 restored period buildings, which speak of an era where transport was horse and buggies, not electric cars.

The only fuelling up you’ll do on this trip will be at your next stop, Coffee Works in Mareeba. The team who run Coffee Works have been perfecting their cup of joe since 1988. More than just coffee, Coffee Works is also a chocolatier, making over 50 different varieties on site. Kick back and see what grazing on the Atherton Tablelands is all about with a sweet treat, coffee or BBQ-style lunch at their courtyard café. 

Caffeinated and charged, wind your way down the Kennedy Highway through the rainforest village of Kuranda to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway where you can power-up while you explore the rainforest from new heights. Connecting Smithfield with Kuranda across 7.5km of cableway, glide with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway above the canopy taking in sights of Barron Gorge and Falls, the Coral Sea and Cairns’ CBD.

Further north with Port Douglas as your backdrop, you can meet Tropical North Queensland’s most famous animal faces at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. While this wildlife sanctuary might be best known for its snappiest residents, you’ll find plenty more here including quolls, cassowaries and koalas.

Make the resort playground of Port Douglas your jumping off point to discover the world’s oldest rainforest, by touring it with the world’s oldest culture. Swap your modern technology for an ancient kind taking a Dreamtime walk led by the team at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. While you’re learning about ancient culture and traditions, you can re-charge ahead of what adventures you’re planning next.

For more itinerary ideas, start planning your Tropical North Queensland Electric Vehicle Drive, by plotting your way between the charging stations with these other guides:

• 7 days in Cairns with the family
• Where to stay in Cairns 
• Best day trips from Cairns
• 48 hours in Port Douglas

Where else can you plug in around Queensland?

Good news for electric vehicle drivers: Queensland is home to the world’s longest charging network in a single state, known as Queensland’s Electric Super Highway. You’ll find re-charge stations from Coolangatta to Cairns so you can drive electric.

Grab your next holiday by the steering wheel and start planning your trip with this itinerary. For Spotify listeners, take your ears on the journey with this Electric Super Highway playlist, full of Queensland artists and road trip classics.