Travel Inspo

Gold Rush Towns, Rainforest Falls, One Tank of Fuel

None of the best stops on this route are on a bus timetable. There's no shuttle to a 268-metre waterfall in the middle of a rainforest, and no tour company running day trips to a gold rush town. Hire a car at Townsville Airport and all of the whole route is yours to string together.

Minyon Falls

Charters Towers: a gold rush town with real stories

About 1.5 hours west of Townsville, Charters Towers was once Queensland's second-largest city, built on one of the richest goldfields in the country. At its peak it had its own stock exchange and more pubs than the population could reasonably justify. Wander the heritage streetscape, duck into the old Stock Exchange Arcade, and if you time it right, catch a show at World Theatre. It's a proper contrast to the coast, and a comfortable half-day trip, in and out before dinner.

Paluma Range National Park: rainforest, minutes from the highway

Creek under Joullaman Falls at Paluma National Park


Around 90 minutes north of the airport, Paluma Range National Park marks the southern edge of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and the change happens fast. One minute you're on open highway, the next you're winding up through rainforest so dense the temperature actually drops. Paluma village makes a good base for picking a walking track, and Birthday Creek Falls is an easy stop if you're short on time.

Ingham and Wallaman Falls: go the extra hour

Arial view of Wallaman Falls and surrounding cliffs


If you've got a full day up your sleeve, push on to Ingham, around two hours from Townsville, and detour into Girringun National Park for Wallaman Falls, At 268 metres, it's Australia's tallest permanent single-drop waterfall, and the lookout is only a short walk from the car park. It's the kind of view a phone camera never quite captures, the scale just doesn't come through, but it's worth every minute of the drive to see for yourself.

Plan it your way

Charters Towers works well as an easy half-day out and back. Paluma and Ingham sit on the same northern route, so you can combine them into a full day if you're up early. Whichever you choose, fuel up before you leave Townsville. Servos thin out once you're off the highway. 

Want to build this into a bigger trip? Plan your itinerary here for more North Queensland road trip ideas.

Ready to hit the road?

Pick up your rental at Townsville Airport, and start the drive before the day gets away from you. Book online at townsvilleairport.com.au/transport/car-rentals.

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