How to Get Around Queensland

Fly between regions. Queensland is enormous — Brisbane to Cairns is a 1,700 km drive, around 20 hours, against a two-hour flight. Visitors consistently underestimate this.

A car is essential locally, especially in the far north. Note that a standard hire car is not insured on many unsealed roads; the Daintree crossing beyond the Daintree River and Cape York need a 4WD and, in the wet, often cannot be driven at all.

Reef access is by boat from Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach and Townsville. Trips are weather-dependent and cancelled outright in a blow, which is the argument for booking early in your stay.

Brisbane has trains, buses and CityCat ferries on a Go card; the coastal cities largely do not, and a car is the default.

In the wet, check road conditions daily — northern highways flood and close with little notice.