Thread: Which way to Drive Melbourne to Cairns

Going from Melbourne to Gladstone I used go through Tocumwall, Dubbo, Goondiwindi, Biloela. You could then go to Rockhampton, then up to Cairns. Find a truck going to Cairns and follow it, if you can keep up. I did Melbourne to Gladstone in 2 days once in a 2A going this way.

Get a map and a ruler and all will be clear. Through Hillston to Bourke-Charleville-Augathella-Tambo. At Tambo make a decision whether to go to Barcaldine-Aramac-Muttaburra-Prairie/Hughenden or Aramac-Torrens Creek. Then decide whether to go to Cairns via The Lynd or via Charters Towers-Townsville. A lot of roads in Western & north Qld are wet and boggy or closed by creeks. Had a lot of rain this year. Need to check with the local councils and the RACQ as to road conditions.

North!!

Originally Posted by big guy

North!!

Up - the return journey will be cheap on fuel because it's down!

Seriously: I'd go as Brian suggested (or according to Google maps). It will be the quick journey up and you get to see some outback Qld then go the coast road home. Or that's what I did last trip except I started in Sydney and headed west first.
1. Head west on Bourke St towards Galleria Plza 700 m
2. Turn right at King St 850 m
3. Turn left at Dudley St 230 m
4. Take the 1st right on to Spencer St 800 m
5. Continue straight onto Dynon Rd 750 m
6. Turn left to merge onto Citylink Partial toll road 9.2 km
7. Continue onto Tullamarine Fwy 5.0 km
8. Take the exit onto Western Ring Rd 7.9 km
9. Continue onto Northern Ring Rd 1.3 km
10. Take the exit onto Hume Fwy 88.0 km
11. Take the exit towards Goulburn Valley Fwy 450 m
12. Keep left at the fork to continue towards Goulburn Valley Fwy and merge onto Goulburn Valley Fwy 15.9 km
13. Continue onto Goulburn Valley Hwy 7.6 km
14. Turn right to stay on Goulburn Valley Hwy 56.3 km
15. Slight left at Barmah Shepparton Rd 58.0 km
16. Continue onto Barmah St Entering New South Wales 14.6 km
17. Turn right at Cobb Hwy 58.1 km
18. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit and stay on Cobb Hwy Go through 1 roundabout 1.8 km
19. Turn right to stay on Cobb Hwy 240 m
20. Turn left to stay on Cobb Hwy 1.7 km
21. Turn left to stay on Cobb Hwy
Go through 1 roundabout 199 km
22. Turn right at Lachlan Valley Way 76.8 km
23. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kidman Way 254 km
24. Turn left at Barrier Hwy 500 m
25. Turn right at Louth Rd 650 m
26. Turn right at Kidman Way 159 km
27. Continue straight onto Mitchell Hwy 600 m
28. Turn right to stay on Mitchell Hwy 700 m
29. Take the 3rd left to stay on Mitchell Hwy 5.5 km
30. Turn right to stay on Mitchell Hwy Entering Queensland 246 km
31. Turn left to stay on Mitchell Hwy 3.7 km
32. Turn right to stay on Mitchell Hwy 276 km
33. Turn left at Landsborough Hwy 331 km
34. Turn right at Capricorn Hwy 240 m
35. Take the 1st left on to Barcaldine Aramac Rd 65.2 km
36. Continue onto Aramac Barcaldine Rd 550 m
37. Continue onto Barcaldine Aramac Rd 190 m
38. Continue onto Lodge St 850 m
39. Turn left at Booker St 950 m
40. Continue onto Muttaburra Aramac Rd 83.1 km
41. Continue onto Bridge St 550 m
42. Continue onto Bruford St 400 m
43. Continue onto Cramsie Muttaburra Rd 1.8 km
44. Continue onto Muttaburra Rd 35.7 km
45. Continue onto Hughenden Muttaburra Rd 170 km
46. Turn left at Flinders Hwy 2.5 km
47. Continue onto Kennedy Developmental Rd 266 km
48. Slight left to stay on Kennedy Developmental Rd 95.2 km
49. Continue onto Kennedy Hwy 160 km
50. Turn right at Atherton Malanda Rd 1.8 km
51. Continue onto Marks Ln 1.5 km
52. Continue onto Picnic Crossing Rd 1.7 km
53. Turn right at Gordonvale Atherton Rd
Go through 1 roundabout 48.9 km
54. Turn left at Bruce Hwy 23.2 km
55. Turn right at Draper St 750 m
56. Turn left at Spence St 600 m
57. Cairns QLD

2,842 km

It is always good to return via a different route as you get to see different things on the way.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Get a map and a ruler and all will be clear. Through Hillston to Bourke-Charleville-Augathella-Tambo. At Tambo make a decision whether to go to Barcaldine-Aramac-Muttaburra-Prairie/Hughenden or Aramac-Torrens Creek. Then decide whether to go to Cairns via The Lynd or via Charters Towers-Townsville. A lot of roads in Western & north Qld are wet and boggy or closed by creeks. Had a lot of rain this year. Need to check with the local councils and the RACQ as to road conditions.

Thanks everyone for replying. Made it to Bourke last week, and had to make a detour because the BMW was playing up, and needed to head towards Rockhampton, and civilization. Was caught in many closed roads due to flooding, and that was before the heavy rains. Ended up traveling an extra 1000k's during the detour('s) on that trip. I want to avoid any detours this time.

Thanks,
Ken

If you go to this link Road Conditions | Travel | RACQ it gives you a list of all current road closures in queensland
Cheers
Josh

I would be wary of anywhere inland north of Coonabarrabran with the front that is forecast to come through in the next few days. It is reported to be slow moving with high rainfalls expected. The Newell Highway is likely to be closed near Moree, and numerous closures west of the Newell are likely. The ground is already saturated everywhere, so there will be a lot of runoff if the rain is as heavy as forecast.

John

Drove this route last week. Had to detour towards the coast a little once I headed north from Coonabarabran as I was in a 2wd and concerned about unsealed roads. As it was I drove through a heap of water anyway, however no roads were closed.

Unless you're holidaymaking/touring/taking your time, Brian's route is by far the best way to travel. I'm heading up there again in December in my Disco and I'll be taking that route, easily cuts travel distance by 1000km.