Best Stops on the Captain Cook Highway
If you are travelling between Cairns and Port Douglas by hire car, the stops along the Captain Cook Highway are half the reason to self-drive. The 67km route passes through beachside villages, tropical wildlife parks and clifftop lookouts that offer some of the finest coastal scenery in Queensland. Here are the stops in order heading north from Cairns.
Palm Cove - Refined Beachside Village
Palm Cove sits 25km north of Cairns and is worth at least 30 to 60 minutes of your time. The defining feature is the avenue of century-old melaleuca (paperbark) trees lining Williams Esplanade, creating a lush natural canopy unlike anywhere else in Queensland.
The beachside strip has excellent cafes, restaurants and boutique accommodation. The beach itself is calm and beautiful, considerably less crowded than Cairns Esplanade. Waterfront cafes serve good coffee and light meals from early morning.
Ellis Beach - Last Patrolled Beach Before Port Douglas
Ellis Beach at approximately 40km from Cairns is the last lifeguard-patrolled swimming beach before Port Douglas. A small beachside bar and kitchen serves food throughout the day - the fish tacos are well worth stopping for.
The beach is backed by rainforest with the highway close behind, giving it an unusually intimate feel for a patrolled beach. In dry season from May to October, swimming conditions are excellent with calm, clear water.
Rex Lookout - The View You Cannot Miss
Rex Lookout at approximately 50km from Cairns is the single best viewpoint on the entire drive and one of the finest coastal panoramas in Queensland. A roadside pullout off the northbound lane gives sweeping views south along the Coral Sea with the Great Dividing Range as a backdrop.
Allow 15 to 20 minutes, pull completely off the road into the designated pullout and walk to the viewing platform. Morning light heading north gives the best photography conditions. This stop is genuinely unmissable - even on a shuttle bus journey it is worth choosing an operator that includes a Rex Lookout stop.
All Stops Summary
| Stop | Distance from Cairns | Recommended Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Cove | 25km | 30 to 60 min | Coffee, beach walk, breakfast |
| Hartley's Croc Adventures | 40km | 2 to 3 hrs | Families, wildlife |
| Ellis Beach | 40km | 30 to 45 min | Swimming, lunch stop |
| Rex Lookout | 50km | 15 to 20 min | Photography, views - essential |
| Wangetti Beach | 55km | 15 to 30 min | Quiet beach, no crowds |