Support
Airlie Beach to Cairns Campervan Rental
Airlie Beach to Cairns One Way Motorhome Hire
Traveling from Airlie Beach to Cairns? Discover Queensland’s natural beauty in a one-way campervan rental. Compare available options with our tool to secure the best rates.
You can also rent a camper in the opposite direction: from Cairns to Airlie Beach.
Airlie Beach to Cairns One Way Itinerary
Day 1
Airlie Beach to Bowen, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 80 km (50 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1 hour
Things to See:
- Horseshoe Bay (beautiful beach and scenic views)
- Big Mango (famous giant mango landmark)
- Flagstaff Hill Lookout (panoramic ocean views)
Day 2
Bowen to Townsville, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 200 km (124 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 2.5 hours
Attractions Along the Way:
- Alva Beach (detour for beach and fishing)
- Ayr Nature Display (local wildlife exhibits)
- Castle Hill Lookout in Townsville (views over the city and Magnetic Island)
Day 3
Townsville to Ingham, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 110 km (68 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1.5 hours
Places of Interest:
- Paluma Range National Park (waterfalls, rainforest trails)
- Jourama Falls (scenic waterfall and swimming area)
- TYTO Wetlands in Ingham (wildlife sanctuary with walking paths)
Day 4
Ingham to Cardwell, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 55 km (34 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 45 minutes
Must-See Stops:
- Wallaman Falls (Australia’s highest single-drop waterfall, detour from Ingham)
- Hinchinbrook Island Lookout (scenic views of Hinchinbrook Island)
- Cardwell Jetty (great spot for views and fishing)
Day 5
Cardwell to Mission Beach, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 50 km (31 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 45 minutes
Highlights:
- Cardwell Spa Pools (natural blue swimming pools)
- Djiru National Park (rainforest walks and cassowary spotting)
- Mission Beach (beautiful beaches and palm-lined coastline)
Day 6
Mission Beach to Innisfail, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 40 km (25 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 40 minutes
Points of Interest:
- Paronella Park (historic castle ruins and gardens)
- Mena Creek Falls (picturesque waterfall near Paronella Park)
- Etty Bay (small beach where cassowaries are often spotted)
Day 7
Innisfail to Cairns, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 90 km (56 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1.5 hours
Things to Experience:
- Babinda Boulders (swimming holes and scenic rainforest walk)
- Josephine Falls (multi-level waterfall with swimming area)
- Cairns Esplanade Lagoon (public swimming area in Cairns)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start my journey in Cairns and travel one-way to Airlie Beach?
Yes, you can start your journey in Cairns and travel one-way to Airlie Beach. Use the comparison tool to find availability and fees.
Can I take my rental campervan on the beach?
Most rental suppliers in Australia restrict travel to sealed bitumen roads. Travel off-road on sand and beaches is expressly forbidden, and doing so will void your contract. You will also be liable for any damages incurred while travelling on the beach.
Do I have to pay a bond (security deposit) when renting my vehicle?
When renting a vehicle, it is standard to be charged a bond (security deposit), also known as ‘excess’, which is the amount the renter is liable to cover in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle.
The bond amount fluctuates based on the insurance package selected at the time of rental and is charged and debited on the renters’ credit or debit card.
Can a child seat or booster seat be fitted in a campervan?
Most campervan rental companies in Australia have vehicle options that allow child seats and booster seats.
While personal child restraints are welcome, they must be compliant with Australian standards.
In most cases, it is the responsibility of the renter to install the child restraint. Not all makes or models are compatible with child seats, so please check before booking if you need to use a child seat.
Can I rent a campervan if I’m under 21 years old?
Most campervan rental companies in Australia require the driver to be 21 years of age or older to rent from their full range of vehicles.
Some companies will rent to drivers between 18 and 21, but only certain models may be available. A couple of companies have higher age requirements: 23 (Leisure Rent) and 24 (Captain Billy’s). Enter the driver’s age into our search tool and we will filter available vehicles to match.
For young drivers, additional insurance may be required and special conditions may apply.
Other One-Way Routes
- Adelaide to Darwin campervan hire
- Adelaide to Melbourne
- Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Alice Springs to Darwin campervan hire
- Brisbane to Sydney
- Broome to Darwin
- Broome to Perth
- Cairns to Brisbane
- Cairns to Sydney campervan hire
- Gold Coast to Cairns campervan hire
- Gold Coast to Sydney
- Launceston to Hobart campervan hire
- Melbourne to Brisbane campervan hire
- Melbourne to Cairns campervan hire
- Perth to Adelaide campervan hire
- Perth to Brisbane
- Perth to Darwin campervan hire
- Perth to Melbourne
- Sydney to Melbourne
- Sydney to Perth
