First Day in Australia: Collecting Our Campervan in Cairns
After a long flight from Bali, we disembarked at Cairns International Airport. After a short Uber ride to the rental company, we collected our pre-booked campervan for a whole week of fun exploring tropical North Queensland.
Collecting the Campervan
Our week campervanning around Cairns was going to be one of the highlights of our trip to Australia. The region is incredibly diverse and best experienced with your own vehicle - from rainforests to reef, mountains to beaches.
The "Let's Go Motorhomes" employees were very friendly and took plenty of time showing us through the campervan and explaining how everything works. They answered all our questions about our itinerary and gave us helpful tips for camping in the area.
First Stop: The Grocery Store
We were ready to set off! First stop: the grocery store. We filled up the fridge and bought enough food to last a few days. Campervanning meant cooking our own meals, saving money, and having the freedom to eat wherever we parked.
Bone-weary from the night flight, we took our first nap in the van. What a luxury - a bed on wheels!
Heading North to Port Douglas
We woke feeling rested and refreshed and headed north to the lovely and charming township of Port Douglas. The scenic coastal drive took about an hour along the Captain Cook Highway, consistently rated as one of Australia's most beautiful coastal drives.
Port Douglas would be our base for exploring the region - close to the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and Mossman Gorge.
Have you campervanned in Australia? Did you explore the Cairns region? Which campervan company did you use? What was your favorite campervan experience? Share your Australia road trip experiences below!
Campervanning in Cairns
- Let's Go Motorhomes: Friendly service, thorough vehicle walkthrough. Book campervan in advance, especially during Australian winter (June-Sept) when it's peak season in tropical North Queensland.
- Campervan rental: Varies by season and vehicle size. Budget $60-150 AUD/day. Include insurance. One-way rentals possible between major cities.
- Campgrounds: Tropic Breeze Caravan Park in Port Douglas is convenient. Most towns have caravan parks with powered sites ($30-45/night), showers, laundry. Free camping available in some areas.
- Port Douglas: Charming resort town, great base for Daintree, Mossman Gorge, and Great Barrier Reef. More relaxed than Cairns. 1 hour north via scenic Captain Cook Highway.
- Stock up on groceries! Cooking in the campervan saves money. Supermarkets in Cairns before heading north - Port Douglas shops are pricier.
- Campervans have: bed, small kitchen, fridge, storage. Perfect for exploring at your own pace. Wake up in rainforest, drive to reef, sleep by beach!
Note:
Our Australian adventure had begun! Collecting the campervan was exciting - a week of freedom to explore tropical North Queensland awaited. Tomorrow: Mossman Gorge and the ancient Daintree Rainforest.