Best Route Canberra To Cairns

Gazza, when I went to cape in 99 route to cairns was . canb-Dubbo-narrabi ,moree , goondiwindi,moonie, miles . to banana. turn west to springsure, emerald clermont belyando xing,to charters towers. then go to greenvale and onto atherton and mareeba .then its down the mountain to cairns.
tarred road the whole way .not to much traffic.
another option is from banana go to rockhampton then up the coast.
not much difference either way kilometre wise but I prefer the inland run.
Have a good trip
Howard

Gazza, done this trip many times ie.melb. to Cairns and find the best way "up the coast" as we seem to be able to maintain 100kph for a longer period and have better passing opportunities

Hi, I did Melbourne to Innisfail in a Suzuki Sierra (970cc model) about 10 years ago. Second day I went from Parkes to Rockhampton in 17 hours, then Rocky to Innisfail in 12 hours.

Unless you wanna see the coast I'd recommend going Emerald to Cairns via Charters Towers. We did that in June and found it a good run (some single lane bitumen, but mostly wide road) as there wasn't much traffic or distractions, just lots of scrub. Just watch out for roos in the late arvo/evening/night.

Gazza.
further to earlier reply canb -cairns by route described is just under 2900 km.
we had no probs averaging 100 kph in diesel 60 series.not much traffic so overtaking not an issue.
3 days at just under 1000 kph day ie goondawindi, clermont , cairns is quite achievable for "Transport" run on blacktop.
we actiually toured up and stopped at undara lava tubes and detoured out to chilligoe caves so took longer.
After trip to cape came home in 3 days from Innisfail.down coast to Gladstone then back to Banana.
Real distance saver is avoiding coast road from gladstone south.
When are you planning on going north.
howard

We've done this trip three times. The best way is via Cowra and Dubbo, to Goondawindi IF you wish to go via Brisbane (14 hours). However, the far more interesting way, and not too demanding, is to go via Dubbo, then two developmental roads, through Muttaburra and then on to the Lava Tubes. Two long sections of gravel, with a few corrugations. This is the most direct in distance.