Hughenden to Cairns

Submitted: Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 00:20

ThreadID: 82614 Views:7205 Replies:5 FollowUps:15

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Member - Toby R (WA)

Hi everyone i am trying to find out the fastest route from Hughenden to Cairns is it quicker via the Kennedy development road or head straight to Townsville then up. I could look at maps all day but you cannot beat first hand knowledge especially from locals. Any other shortcuts are welcome as i am on a limited time frame for my trip next year. It will be my first trip east so any tips would be great.

Thank you Toby

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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 00:26

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 00:26

if coming from WA, why "Hughendon to Cairns" may i ask........

AnswerID: 436588

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 00:46

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 00:46

Hi Joe & Mel

I was looking at my map trying to work out a travel itinerary for my trip to the Cape next year and the Kennedy development road look like a shortcut however i have no idea & was looking for some tips.

FollowupID: 707940

Follow Up By: tdv - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 09:58

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 09:58

I agree, if coming from WA and you are looking for the short way it is quicker to Cairns to go from Mt Isa to Cloncurry then up to Normanton (via Burke and Wills Roadhouse) then across to Cairns...assuming you are coming through via the Isa.

FollowupID: 707954

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 22:39

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 22:39

Cheers mate i'll pull out my map & have a look at this route as well.

FollowupID: 708044

Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:02

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:02

hey Toby ..... as with TDV's follow up i would look at going that way, it is a good road and you may be able to by-pass Cairns altogeather to save time, if you need supplies get em at Isa ....... only really a days drive from Isa to Cairns if you can share the driving ...

FollowupID: 708050

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:25

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:25

I was going to ask if it was possible to get from Isa to cairns in one hit so cheers. Big k's dont bother me i drive down to perth regularly (1500k's) in one hit. When i finish the rough copy of my itinerary i might post it up and see if i can get it fine tuned with a bit of help from you guys. The west coast side to kununurra is fine the bit i need help with is kununurra to Cairns.

FollowupID: 708051

Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:40

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:40

look at going along the "Savannah Way" that will cut off some for you, it all is dependent on road conditions at the time but at least you can plan it eh ....
You can cut from Kunnanurra to Timber Creek, go up the Buchannan to Top springs and continue to the Stuart Hwy, cross it to Booraloola, past us at Doomadgee, give us a wave, to Burketown, accross to Normanton, and you can cut through from Karumba bypassing Cairns completely up to the Cape .......
And if we can get our hols off we will join ya from Doomadgee and come up to the Cape as we yet have to do it .... we will i think have 3 weeks off ..

In my books with long hours driving you can do Kunnanurra to Burktown in 2 days ... 2 1/2 hours to Karumba and dont know from there up ...

FollowupID: 708056

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 00:14

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 00:14

I''ll have to get the map out and check your directions out sounds good I could use these directions on the way there or on the way back however i have to go to Cairns no matter what as thats the meeting area for a couple of others on this forum and a few people on the Patrol4x4.com forum who are also keen to head to the cape. If you & the family would like to tag along that would be great i've posted the trip up in the Trips/Gatherings area if you would like to have a look. I am also a cape virgin so should be interesting.

FollowupID: 708060

Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 23:56

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 23:56

I am told it is 10 hours from Doomadgee to Cairns if you go right through .....
Have a look on the maps anyway and see what you think....

FollowupID: 708171

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Wednesday, Nov 24, 2010 at 00:27

Wednesday, Nov 24, 2010 at 00:27

10 Hours to easy. I know i am going to miss plenty of nice spots because i am rushing but i want to get as much time in the cape as possible i might take a extra week off work so can have a better look around on the trip home.

FollowupID: 708173

Reply By: chook2706 - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 03:30

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 03:30

Hi Toby

I, like you am from WA and did that trip in June this year. I went from Hughenden to Cairns via the Kennedy Development Road and then back via Townsville.

The KDR is a gravel road for most of it and when I did it there was a heap of roadworks on it. I am talking lots of little sections of roadworks, not one big lot.
Shaves off quite a few kms from the other way, but is a lot slower, more twisty and turny. There was also a couple of creek crossings, nothing major.

The road via Townsville is longer, less twisty and can get up more speed. However, it is extremely busy and there isn't much opportunity to overtake. There was also a heap of roadworks.

Personally, I found both roads took about as much time as each other. The KDR is very scenic, less traffic for much of it and definitely worth the drive.

One hint, if you do take the KDR make sure when you get to Atherton, you take the slightly longer road into Cairns via Mareeba and not the shorter route. It is much quicker.

Unfortunately I had to rush there and back, otherwise I would have liked to have spent a few days looking around Hughenden, Richmond, Cloncurry and a couple of the other towns on the way.

My 2.2 (inc GST) cents worth.

Cheers

Chook

AnswerID: 436593

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:33

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:33

Cheers for your input plenty of good info for me to use. Sounds like the KDR is a winner hopefully by the time i get there next year they have finished some of the roadworks.

Thank you Toby

FollowupID: 707948

Reply By: Member - Alan H (QLD) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:04

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:04

If you do go up to The Lynd from Hughenden be sure to check out Porcupine Gorge as you go by. This road currently has road works along it in patches as stated above. Going this way also gives you the Atherton Tableland which has lots of points of interest.

I also vote for for going one way and coming back an alternative route.

Alan

AnswerID: 436598

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:44

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:44

Cheers Alan unfortunately i think i am going to miss a lot of great spots along the way due to my tight schedule but if can squeeze it in i will go to Porcupine Gorge as ive been told it's worth a stop. Going one way and coming back an alternative route is also part of my plan.

Thank you Toby

FollowupID: 707949

Follow Up By: Member - Julie P (VIC) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 12:15

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 12:15

Porcupine Gorge - fantastic place - Image Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

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Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 22:40

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 22:40

WOW thats nice !!!

FollowupID: 708046

Reply By: Cruiser .- Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:58

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 08:58

Toby,

Google Maps shows 729K and 8 hrs 39 minutes via Townsville and 593K and 9hr 27 minutes via the KDR

Cheers,

Cruiser

AnswerID: 436601

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:27

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 23:27

I think i need to get with the times and check this Google maps out looks pretty helpfull

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Reply By: Stu & "Bob" - Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 09:23

Monday, Nov 22, 2010 at 09:23

The Kennedy Dev. Road is unsealed, with a few roadworks happening when we traversed it in july. It can be a good run, we were at highway speeds most of the way.

It is being sealed slowly, but they have started in the middle and are working towards each end. It would pay to check again closer to the date you will be travelling.

HTH

AnswerID: 436602