Port Fairy to Cairns – best rout on asphalt – Accommodation

You would want to ensure your air con works well when you arrive in Cairns. It will be bloody hot, horribly humid and probably raining.. Provided the borders are open. Possible flooding around Ingham ( I,ve been caught out 3 times in 5 years. I,d be using caravan parks for sure...

Hi pleneham, not relating to your inquiry, you state you are from Port Fairy Vic. Just wondering did you realize that Port Fairy was renamed after the ship "Fairy" that bought many migrants to this country.
Port Fairy used to be named Belfast. Judy's family arrived at Belfast in the 1800's and then settled in a town now called Burra S.A,
Sorry to hijack your inquiry, but many people do not realize the the name change, except some of us oldies and family connections. We also had much family settle there.

Hi plenehan,

Any reason for going via Lightening Ridge?

Macca.

I would not think you'd have to book at Lightning Ridge in January. There are numerous sites just off the Highway people overnight a just before the Ridge. The main feature at the Ridge are the Grawlin diggings part way back to Walgett. Another option is the Hebel Pub.

As someone who lives in cairns and goes to the dubbo region regularly over the years, if "quick as you can " is a priority The Great Inland Way completely misses all the roadwork on the coast road and has good swimming holes and misses the humidity and is the shortest, ( time wise). Our real wet kicks in late January lately.

Ive done the north south north run more than a few times. That time of year the van parks aren't too busy as it can be diabolically hot and most travelers head south or stay at home.

Ensure your vehicles cooling system is up to the job and carry some spare water. Once the sun goes down the temperature drops and the low humidity helps you sleep at night, once you're on the coast you will be looking for somewhere to plug in that aircon.

I'd avoid Brisbane as the road works on the highway heading North are painful at the moment and joining the Bruce H/Way a long way north at either Rockhamption or Townsville will save you several hours.

As said, you can get stuck at Innisfail and Tully with flooding, but you should get more than sufficient warning and be able to avoid it. A mate got stuck in Broken Hill for christmas by flooding, so it can happen anywhere.

Heading North out of Charters Towers and into Cairns via Greenvale and Atherton might be an option for you. The road is all tared, usually pretty good condition and doesn't get the rain they get on the coast, its just the last down hill bit to Gordenvale or Cairns that is a bit narrow and steep.

Try this route