I’ll be in Cairns next week, I’m renting a van (no 4wd) and want to explore forests to see wildlife. Because it’s my first time there I won’t be bothered if the area is touristy with lots of easy walking tracks or paths, but I usually prefer to get deep in the bush whenever possible. What would be a good place to go which is within a few hours of Cairns city, and I will be allowed to camp in the van overnight? Also are there good maps of the forests available somewhere?
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Drive up the Gillies Highway south of Cairns and then see the Curtain Fig at Yungaburra and other sights in the area before heading down to the Palmerston Highway taking in the crater lakes en route and also the waterfall circuit. One crater lake has a walking trail all the way around and the other short trail to see large Kuari Pine.
Overnight I suggest Henrietta Creek. This is located on the Palmerston Highway between Millaa Millaa and Innisfail in the Wet Tropics. On the highway but not much traffic at night but in a rainforested location. The 6km round trip walk from Henrietta Creek to Nandroya Falls and past Silver Falls is magnificent, and also some chance of platypus spotting in the goologan creek dawn or dusk. Nandroya Trail head is over the other side of the creek form the camp spot at the end of the grassy area.Then other walks to other falls as well from the campsite as well. Best camping.walking combo in the region. About $5 to camp I think, not much.
This would be the best result for your request.
http://www.wettropics.gov.au/ttd/tdd_palmerston_parks.html
Nearby MaMu rainforest canopy walk – about $20.
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/mamu/index.html
Also along the way stop for some yoghurt at Mungalli Creek cafe –
Then go down to Innisfail and drive back to Cairns along the highway and stop at Josephine Falls. Go this direction as easier driving up the Gillies and down the Plamerston.
And/or
Drive north and park at Ellis beach campground and then drive to Mossman Gorge the following morning, about 1/2 hour but very scenic drive.. It is about $30 a night as oceanfront.
http://www.ellisbeach.com/camp.php
Maps
http://www.cairns.com.au/visitor-information/cairns-maps.html
edit. Mission beach hit hard with cyclone damge and forests not recovered yet.
Cape Tribulation is not great for hikes, mainly boardwalks. Nice place to stay though.
Mittagong Forest mait come ere!
Kuranda trails
http://www.kuranda.org/?s=2
Camping in Kuranda
http://www.kuranda.org/?p=18
Daintree walks and hiking trails.
http://daintree.info/ifwalks.html
Camping in the Daintree
http://www.daintreecoast.com/acc_list.ph…
Go cassowary spotting at Mission Beach (140km south). I’m not sure about free camping there but there is (or was 20 years ago!) a reasonable council camping ground. We had a dog when we were travelling up there so couldn’t really stay in the rainforest.
Re free camping: 30km south of Cairns is the iconic Gordonvale Rest Area, where camping is allowed. I have spent many a memorable night there, once when they were burning the cane field just next to it. Here’s a link – http://deanwormald.com/australia-vanroad-trip/free-camping-at-gordonvale-near-cairns/. I can’t vouch for the info in the link, but it was the one that popped up when I googled.
Queensland has quite a few of these free camping rest areas with toilets and showers. There used to be a map put out by RACQ.
Bon voyage!
PS, the rest area showers are cold water but wonderfully refreshing when you’ve been living like a feral!
All the above are great suggestions but be sure to include Cape Tribulation if you’re heading north of Cairns …
The road is sealed & the scenery spectacular…