Like many who live in the south of Australia, getting away from the cold to Australia’s north is somewhat of an annual tradition. It’s also good if your luggage accompanies you!

Getting to Port Douglas in Far North Queensland from Adelaide involves approximately 4.5 hours of flying , across 2 flights. A direct flight other than by a budget carrier isn’t  available. 

Once in Cairns it’s an hour’s drive north, along the picturesque coast to Port Douglas. It’s nearly 3,000 kilometres by road from our home in Adelaide. That’s a solid 32-hour drive — long enough to remind you just how vast and varied Australia really is.

To put it in perspective: a 4.5 hour flight from London would land you in Athens, Corfu, Venice or Lisbon. For us, it’s simply a journey to another state that just happens to share a border with South Australia—albeit at the far end of it.

That’s part of the charm of Australia. It’s huge, and every corner is different.

Adelaide was a chilly 7C when we arrived at the airport for our early morning flight; Port Douglas greeted us with a humid 28°C. No wonder Far North Queensland is such a magnet during the winter months.

While I do enjoy a good road trip, a four or five day drive to get there isn’t something I’d put myself—or my favourite person—through willingly. So, we fly. This time, via Sydney, which, despite the hassle of transferring through an eastern seaboard hub, remains a pretty efficient way to travel around the country.

It’s good for your luggage to accompany you!

However, one thing a driving holiday does have in its favour: your luggage stays with you.

Continue reading →