40 days in Townsville North Queensland, Ravenshoe & Cairns Region Itinerary

Ayr is a town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.GeographyAyr is located 88km south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway and 12km away from the (smaller) town of Home Hill. Start off your visit on the 3rd (Thu): see the interesting displays at Ashworth's Treasures of the Earth and then explore the world behind art at Zaro Cultural Gallery. Here are some ideas for day two: take a memorable tour with Yongala Dive and then view the masterpieces at Ayr Nature Display.

To see maps, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Ayr journey planner.

Brisbane to Ayr is an approximately 5.5-hour combination of flight and car. You can also drive. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Brisbane in December, with highs in Ayr at 37°C and lows at 28°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Fri) so you can travel to Ingham.

Ingham is a town and locality in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, North Queensland, Australia. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Jourama Falls and TYTO Wetlands. Take a break from the city and head to Wallaman Falls and Absolute North Charters. Take a break from Ingham with a short trip to Lucinda Jetty in Lucinda, about 32 minutes away. There's still lots to do: make a trip to Mercer Lane Mosaic.

To find photos, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Ingham driving holiday planner.

Getting from Ayr to Ingham by car takes about 2.5 hours. December in Ingham sees daily highs of 37°C and lows of 28°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) so you can travel to Ravenshoe.

Ravenshoe is a town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Spy & Camera Museum and Herberton Mining Museum. Escape the urban bustle at Millaa Millaa Falls and Tully Falls National Park. Change things up with these side-trips from Ravenshoe: Irvinebank (in Herberton), Millaa Millaa (Zillie Falls & Ellinjaa Falls) and Wooroonooran National Park (in Topaz). Spend the 8th (Tue) exploring nature at Millstream Falls National Park. There's more to do: explore the activities along Tully River and get great views at Millaa Millaa Lookout.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read our Ravenshoe road trip planning tool.

You can drive from Ingham to Ravenshoe in 3 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sat) so you can drive to Cairns.

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

You'll get in some beach time at Nudey Beach and Yorkeys Knob Beach. Kids will appreciate attractions like Behana Gorge Waterfall and Foot and Body Massage. Get out of town with these interesting Cairns side-trips: Historic Village Herberton (in Herberton) and Ross and Locke Park (in Little Mulgrave). There's much more to do: admire the sheer force of Josephine Falls, look for all kinds of wild species at Centenary Lakes - Cairns Botanic Gardens, browse the eclectic array of goods at Rusty's Market, and take in the pleasant sights at Red Arrow Walk.

To find reviews, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Cairns online route planner.

You can drive from Ravenshoe to Cairns in 2 hours. In December, daytime highs in Cairns are 36°C, while nighttime lows are 26°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Mission Beach.

Gracing the coast along the Coral Sea, Mission Beach is a collection of villages that merged into one city.

Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Fishing Charters & Tours and Murray Falls. Step out of the city life by going to Skydiving and Kirrama National Park. Spend the 28th (Mon) exploring nature at Djiru National Park. Next up on the itinerary: surround yourself with nature on Croc and Wildlife Tours, trek along Kennedy Walking Track, take in the exciting artwork at Helen Wiltshire Gallery, and enjoy breathtaking views from Golden Gumboot.

To find ratings, maps, photos, and more tourist information, read our Mission Beach trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Cairns to Mission Beach takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Mon) to allow time to travel to Magnetic Island.

Family-friendly places like Geoffrey Bay and Balding Bay will thrill your kids. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Magnetic Island Time Cruises and West Point.

To see ratings, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Magnetic Island itinerary planner.

You can do a combination of car and ferry from Mission Beach to Magnetic Island in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and ferry; or do a combination of bus, train, and ferry. In December, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 28°C. You'll have a few hours on the 4th (Mon) to wrap things up before traveling to Townsville.

Tucked snugly beneath a steep, craggy mount--known as Castle Hill--the vibrant city of Townsville is as picturesque as its backdrop.

Visiting Little Crystal Creek and Texas Longhorn Tours will get you outdoors. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Jezzine Barracks and Queens Gardens Townsville. Explore Townsville's surroundings by going to Charters Towers (Zara Clark Museum, Charters Towers Venus Gold Battery, &more). And it doesn't end there: make a trip to Riverway, view the masterpieces at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, take some stellar pictures from Mount Stuart, and learn about all things military at Army Museum North Queensland.

To see reviews, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Townsville route maker app.

Ride a ferry from Magnetic Island to Townsville in an hour. January in Townsville sees daily highs of 37°C and lows of 29°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Mon) early enough to travel back home.