drives TOP 5

Hit the road for these epic drive adventures of a lifetime.

WORDS: AMY MILLS

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Mission Beach Coast Road

Enjoy this cruisy drive between Clump Mountain National Park at the north and South Mission Beach in the south, via Clump Point. Keep your eyes out for cassowaries, take a beach walk on South Mission Beach and swing by local icon Bingil Bay Café for home-style meals and supremely relaxed vibes.

Drive distance: 20km

Old Telegraph Track

This one isn’t for the faint-hearted but those up for an off-road 4WD adventure will be in their element. This Cape York driving adventure provides a rough and ready experience on the way to the tip of Australia with scenic river crossings and white-knuckle moments galore –especially Gunshot Creek, with near-vertical descent into a cavity. BYO courage.

Drive distance: 150km

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Gillies Highway [aka Gillies Range Road]

Kicking off your road trip 35km south of Cairns, this drive, known for its 263 corners, winds over an elevation of almost 1000m through the mountain range to the Atherton Tablelands. Stop for a snap at Heales Lookout, which boasts vistas across the Goldsborough Valley and Walshs Pyramid, and explore the quaint town of Yungaburra and the Waterfall Circuit.

Drive distance: 60km

Savannah Way

If you have a bit more time, this drive adventure is one for the books. Traversing three states and territories, the entire Savannah Way, from Cairns to Broome, is a bit of a journey – and a scenic one at that. The Tropical North Queensland section in particular is an absolute stunner, with its limestone caves, rock art galleries and historic mining site of Chillagoe.

Drive distance: 3700km