Welcome to part two of our awesome guide to the best attractions in and around Cairns in your car rental. In the first part of this two-part guide we ventured north of Cairns up to Port Douglas and the Daintree. Now we are going to look at trips that take us more south and west of Cairns and explore some of the most popular attractions in these areas.
If you’ve splashed out on a luxury Mustang hire in Cairns, the following trips will be right up your alley! So sit back, enjoy the ride and look forward to exploring the wonders of far north Queensland in your classic Mustang!
Hot air ballooning: For the early risers, why not start your day with a fabulous ride in a hot air balloon over the Atherton Tablelands? Take your car rental from Cairns to the Mareeba Heritage Centre, just an hours drive north to Kuranda and then south west down to Mareeba. This is a lovely drive through the countryside and state forests, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the smooth ride in your Mustang. You need to be at the centre by 5am, so it’s a really early start, but definitely worth the trouble as you watch the sun rise over the Tablelands. After your adventure, you can enjoy breakfast at one of the chic coffee lounges in Mareeba, before driving back to Cairns for a day relaxing by the pool or ocean.
Coffee Works: If you enjoy a good cup of coffee, you’ll absolutely love Coffee Works! This boutique roastery and chocolaterie has a few locations in far north Queensland, but it’s the Mareeba location that includes a wonderful drive and you can kill two birds with one stone – hot air ballooning and a great cup of coffee! Their café serves some of the best food you will ever taste and their coffee and chocolates are amazing. Definitely worth a trip! It’s worth remembering that the Mareeba site also offers an all-day tasting of unlimited coffee, tea, chocolate and liqueurs! So fire up your Mustang hire car and take the short drive from Cairns to Mareeba.
Mt Uncle Distillery: For people who want more than a good cup of coffee in their day, it’s time to hop in your car rental and take a drive from Cairns to the Mt Uncle Distillery in Walkamin. The distillery is just over an hour’s drive that takes you north to Kuranda, down through Mareeba and then to your destination at Walkamin. Their award-winning liqueurs and spirits are made from local ingredients and a tour around their site is well worth the time. The distillery is nestled at the foot of Mt Uncle and is set in beautifully landscaped gardens with a banana plantation on the grounds. Their tasting room is a joy to behold and they offer a variety of tasting menus that are sure to delight your tastebuds. Check out their Iridium Gold Rum, Botanic Australis Gin or their Platinum Cane Spirit, not forgetting their SexyCat Marsh Mallow Liqueur! There’s plenty of room in your Mustang’s boot, so you can fill up and enjoy the ride home!
Gallo Dairyland: Why not fire up your Mustang hire car and take an 85 minute drive south west from Cairns to Atherton? This is where you will find Gallo Dairyland, a working dairy that is a cheese lovers delight! The kids will love watching the cows being milked and then everyone can enjoy a wonderful meal in their café. Their wholesome menu includes lots of cheese and farm produce, as well as cakes, burgers, quiches, home-made meat pies and lots more. Don’t forget their handmade chocolates using their very own home-grown milk and cream. If you love cheese or have a sweet tooth, then grab your car keys and head off to the Gallo Dairyland in Atherton for a truly miraculous experience.
The Avenue of Honour: Located in Yungaburra, just over an hours drive from Cairns, the Avenue of Honour is a living memorial to the memory of Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terror in Afghanistan. The Avenue symbolises the final journey of the fallen, along the path of Commando Ben Chuck’s Gun Carriage on July 1st, 2010. Private Ben Chuck was killed in a helicopter crash in northern Kandahar and he was farewelled in his home town of Yungaburra. His body was carried to it’s last resting place on a gun carriage with a military guard of honour formed by his 2nd Commando Regiment. A plaque representing each of the fallen is placed on an Honour Board at the memorial, whilst the Avenue is lined by Illawarra Flame Trees to represent the cycle of life. If you want to pay your respects to these fallen soldiers, the trip takes you through some of our most beautiful countryside and National Parks.
Read Part One of our awesome car rental road trips from Cairns to the Daintree and look out for Part 3 – coming soon!
For more information on hiring a Mustang or Porsche in Cairns, call us on 0447 809 899, send us an email enquiry or book online.
