Grab your mates for this Cairns & Great Barrier Reef group getaway

If there’s one road trip you need to take with your best mates, it’s the triple-threat of coastline, rainforest and culture you’ll find in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.  

From Cairns to Cape Tribulation, into the Atherton Tablelands and south to sleepy Mission Beach, this group holiday is an adventurous highlights reel of our tropical north that’ll take you to seriously special nooks and crannies. It’s where you’ll snap more photos than kilometres clocked on the odometer. Where you’ll find a rich history that’ll leave you inspired, natural beauty that’ll leave you speechless, and great bars and restaurants where you can catch your breath afterwards.

Ready for the road trip of a lifetime?

Touch down in the tropics and you’ll be in holiday mode before you make it to baggage claim. 

Grab your rental car and head for some of Cairns’ biggest beauties. For something to stare at, you can’t beat dramatic Barron Falls in Barron Gorge National Park – just a 40 minute drive from Cairns Airport. For something to swim under, nearby Stoney Creek Falls is a lesser-known secret that’s been catching on; but it’s well worth the easy walk along the river to arrive at these crystal clear swimming holes. If you’d rather start with a bird’s eye view of your surrounds, make your way instead to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to take in the forest and falls from a new perspective.

This afternoon, stop by Rusty’s Market (open Fri-Sun) for local produce and pick up some goodies to fuel your next few days of adventure. If you need an energy boost, the Vietnamese iced coffee here is a local favourite.

Settle in, take a sunset stroll along Cairns Esplanade like the locals do, then really kick into holiday gear with beers by the water at Hemingway’s. Board a trawler tonight for a seafood dinner at Prawn Star, or you can take things up a notch with modern Aussie fare at Salt House.

Overnight: Riley is an eco-conscious oasis in the heart of Cairns with a stunning rooftop bar and pool to boot, while Bay Village Tropical Retreat offers Bali-inspired multi-bedroom apartments. If you’re after budget accommodation with a real buzz, you can't beat a backpacker hostel. Check out this Cairns accommodation guide to find the right digs for your crew.

Day 2: See the reef

You can’t venture this far north without experiencing the Great Barrier Reef, so leave the car parked today and jump on a trip into the Coral Sea. Cairns is the biggest gateway to the world’s biggest natural wonder, so there’s plenty of ways to see it – including some that are a little more wallet-friendly.

Whether you and your crew want to dive in beneath the surface or see it from above, you can’t go wrong with the eco-guides on board Passions of Paradise, the rich cultural experience of Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, or Sunlover Reef Cruises which offers an action packed day of activities from its Moore Reef pontoon.

Back on dry land, make your way to cheap eats at Cairns Night Market or take your pick from our favourite foodie stops.

Overnight: Keep it simple and book a second night at your chosen Cairns hotel.

Day 3: Cairns to Port Douglas via Palm Cove (70km)

It’s time to hit the road, so head north on Captain Cook Highway to begin the Great Barrier Reef Drive - one of the world’s most scenic drives - to discover beaches you’ll have all to yourself, rainforest that’s been thriving for millions of years, and the world’s oldest surviving culture.

Palm Cove is well worth the pit-stop to wander its trademark palm-lined beaches and dine with your toes in the sand at Nu Nu – decidedly one of Queensland’s best restaurants. This is a retreat you could easily spend a few days in, but tonight’s destination is only a little further up the road.

En route to Port Douglas, pull over and stretch your legs at Rex Lookout in Wangetti for views across magnificent blue Trinity Bay. It’s a great spot for a group pic, or to watch the paragliders launch on a clear day. For thrills that come a little closer, spend your afternoon at nearby Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures: wander the boardwalks, take a river cruise and count how many crocs and other tropical wildlife you can see.

Overnight: Check into Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel, go for self-contained apartment style accommodation at Reflections, or check out this Port Douglas accommodation guide.

Day 4: Port Douglas

There’s a sense of peace to mornings in Port Douglas. Soak it up with a walk from Trinity Bay Lookout along the beach to Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse, or settle in to your own slice of serenity on Four Mile Beach.

If you’re seeking a little therapy – retail or wellness – this is the place to indulge, with boutiques and markets and world-class spa treatments found all over town. But if nature is your cure, you can’t beat a side-trip to Thala Beach Nature Reserve. A private 145-acre reserve thrives where an unsustainable sugarcane plantation once stood, now home to 120 butterfly species and nearly 200 bird species. You can even dine amongst the treetops at Osprey’s Restaurant.

This afternoon, raise a glass and set sail on a sunset cruise on board Sailaway’s luxury catamaran. The scrumptious canapes will be just the right appetiser before following your tastebuds to the great restaurants along Port Douglas’s waterfront and Macrossan Street strip. There’s plenty to keep the night going here, too.

Overnight: Kick back for a second night at your chosen accommodation.

Day 5: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation via Mossman Gorge (90km)

Escape the seaside for a sacred rainforest that’ll feel as if you’re stepping through a history museum. Welcome to Mossman Gorge.

Here, crystal clear streams cascade over giant granite boulders within the Wet Tropics – one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests, surviving some 130 million years. The best way to see it? Through the eyes of the people who know it best: the traditional owners, the Kuku Yalanji. Dreamtime Walks depart from Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, and will impart a true sense of this sacred forest as you wander and learn local culture. 

Alternatively, Walkabout Cultural Tours offers full and half day tours with guided rainforest walks where you'll learn about bush tucker and bush medicine, before testing your skills in traditional hunting and gathering on the mudflats of Cooya Beach. Who in your crew will catch the biggest mud crab?

If you have any spare time left in the day, Mossman’s Janbal Gallery celebrates Aboriginal art and culture: you can even take a hands-on painting workshop.

Boarding the vehicle ferry to cross the Daintree River feels like you’re heading deeper into the wild outdoors. Keep an eye out for crocs as you cross: Cape Tribulation is waiting for you on the other side.

Overnight: Settle into Wildwood’s boutique cabins on this exotic fruit farm in the heart of Cape Tribulation. Set on 15 acres of private World Heritage rainforest, it's the perfect spot to explore or kick back and relax, catering up to 12 guests.

Here's other Daintree accommodation to consider.

Day 6: Cape Tribulation

Secluded and saturated with natural beauty, adventure lurks on every corner in Cape Tribulation. Kick off your day with Ocean Safari’s half day eco tour. Perfect for small groups (tours take a maximum of 25 guests) this is your chance to explore a new pocket of the reef by snorkelling the virtually unknown Mackay and Undine reefs. Swim with turtles and eagle rays amongst coral gardens, then pull up at your own private sand cay.

The Daintree is yours to explore this afternoon: so take a ride through the rainforest to Myall Beach with Cape Trib Horse Rides, or seek out solitude at Emmagen Creek for a wild swimming experience. Be sure to pull over for scenic stops and farm stands on your drive, and you can’t go wrong with a pitstop at Daintree Ice Cream Company, either. 

If you have a little extra time up your sleeve, stay a while longer to discover a few more incredible things to do.

Overnight: Your chosen Daintree/Cape Tribulation accommodation. 

Day 7: Cape Tribulation to Atherton Tablelands (220km)

In the verdant rolling hills outside of Cairns lies a feast for your eyes and stomachs: so hit the road early to allow plenty of time to explore the Atherton Tablelands.

What awaits? Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, a teahouse set on volcanic lakes that serve up seriously drool-worthy scones, the Yungaburra Markets (Saturdays 7:30am-12:30pm), and a chance for your group to say cheers at a local distillery. Plan your day with this food itinerary – and leave time to check out some of the landmarks that make this region a must-visit too, including the Curtain Fig, and the many waterfalls dotted through the World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforest, perfect for a dip.

Overnight: Set amongst 200 acres of rainforest in the cool Cairns Highlands, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat has two and three bedroom villa treehouses that cater up to six guests. You’ll also find several affordable accommodation options in Atherton. 

Day 8: Atherton Tablelands to Mission Beach (150km)

With less miles to clock today, take your time this morning to explore anything you missed yesterday: Millaa Millaa Falls and Zillie Falls are local favourites you’ll drive past as you head south, and a swim here makes the most refreshing wake up call to another day spent connecting with nature.

All passengers should keep their eyes peeled on the drive: this is one of the best spots to see cassowaries in the wild. Take the detour to Etty Bay and hopefully you’ll spot more than just a spectacular beach. Mena Creek Falls is also worth spending time at on the drive too, and you can get a great view of them from the ruins at Paronella Park, where you can throw out the rug for a picnic lunch. 

Your next stop? Mission Beach. This place defines hidden gem, and whether you’re wandering the beach or café-hopping through its artsy village, you’ll feel like you’ve been let in on one of Queensland’s best kept secrets. Settle in, and settle down: there’s no need to rush here.

Overnight: Treat yourselves to a beachfront escape at Castaways Resort and Spa.

Day 9-10: Mission Beach and surrounds

A true jewel of the tropics, you might never want to leave Mission Beach. And for the next few days, you don’t have to. It’s a nature lover’s playground, with miles of palm-fringed beaches and hiking trails to wander, organic cafes to feast through and national parks to explore.

Want to venture further afield? Why not mountain bike through Djiru National Park, hike or whitewater raft in dense Tully Gorge National Park, or take the water taxi to seek bliss on Dunk Island. You could even head back out to the reef with Mission Beach Dive: some of the most pristine pockets lie just off these beaches.

The slower pace you'll find here makes it the perfect place to kick back, recap and reminisce on the adventure: stories that you’ll retell over drinks for years to come.

Overnight: Castaways Resort and Spa.