Cairns is usually thought of as an aviation gateway.

Visitors fly in, check into a hotel and book trips to the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda and the rainforest.

But there is another Cairns tourism economy operating every day.

It arrives on four wheels.

Caravans and motorhomes are particularly well suited to Far North Queensland because Cairns isn't merely a destination. It is a base from which travellers can explore an extraordinary collection of places spread across the region.

Palm Cove.

The northern beaches.

Kuranda.

Port Douglas.

The Atherton Tablelands.

The Great Barrier Reef.

And, for those continuing north, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree region.

For the motorhome traveller, Cairns can become headquarters for an entire tropical expedition.

Getting to Cairns is part of the holiday

Driving to Cairns is not something to undertake casually from southern Australia.

It is a substantial journey.

But that is precisely its attraction for many caravan and motorhome travellers.

Instead of regarding the distance as an inconvenience, road travellers make the journey part of the holiday.

Towns become overnight stops.

Beaches become lunch breaks.

A destination that an airline passenger crosses in a few hours becomes a journey lasting days or weeks.

Once Cairns is reached, however, the travelling changes.

The distances between many of the region's attractions become relatively manageable.

Cairns has a substantial holiday-park network

Motorhome and caravan travellers have numerous accommodation choices around Cairns.

Large resort-style holiday parks cater for families and longer stays, while smaller parks provide bases for travellers primarily interested in exploring the region.

The accommodation market extends from Cairns itself through the northern beaches.

That geographical spread matters.

Someone wanting convenient access to central Cairns may make a different choice from somebody intending to spend most of the holiday exploring beaches and attractions north of the city.

A holiday park can become the resort

The modern caravan traveller doesn't necessarily sacrifice resort facilities.

Some Cairns holiday parks have pools, children's facilities, camp kitchens and extensive recreational amenities.

That reflects the broader transformation of Australian caravan parks.

The caravan or motorhome provides the bedroom.

The park supplies much of the resort.

For families, that can create an attractive combination: independent accommodation and transport combined with communal recreational facilities.

Palm Cove offers another experience

Continue north and the character changes.

Palm Cove provides the opportunity to stay close to one of Tropical North Queensland's best-known beaches while retaining the caravan or motorhome lifestyle.

It also places travellers between Cairns and Port Douglas.

That makes the northern beaches particularly useful for visitors who want to explore rather than remain in the city.

The Tablelands change everything

One of the great advantages of having your own vehicle in Cairns is access to the Atherton Tablelands.

Within a relatively short journey, tropical coastline gives way to elevated countryside.

Waterfalls, rainforest, lakes, agricultural communities and small towns create a completely different touring environment.

For caravan travellers undertaking a longer journey, the Tablelands can become another stage rather than merely a Cairns day trip.

Park the motorhome and take the train

Having a motorhome doesn't mean driving everywhere.

Kuranda is a good example.

Travellers can leave their vehicle safely at their accommodation and experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail rather than treating every attraction as another driving exercise.

The same principle applies to the reef.

Your motorhome cannot take you to the Great Barrier Reef.

But it can provide your accommodation before and after the journey.

Park it.

Take the boat.

Return home that evening.

That combination is one of the strengths of Cairns as a motorhome destination.

Port Douglas extends the journey

Travellers with time can continue north along the coastal road towards Port Douglas.

It is one of Australia's memorable drives, with the Coral Sea on one side and tropical ranges on the other.

For motorhome travellers, Port Douglas can become either a day excursion or another stop on a longer Far North Queensland itinerary.

The road holiday keeps expanding.

Think about the tropical climate

Caravan travel in Cairns requires some seasonal planning.

The tropical summer is hot, humid and wet, while the drier months are traditionally attractive to visitors escaping southern winters.

Travellers should also remember that Far North Queensland conditions differ markedly from southern Australia.

Cyclones, heavy rainfall, flooding and road conditions can affect travel at certain times.

A motorhome provides flexibility, but that flexibility should be accompanied by sensible planning.

Don't arrive without thinking about where you will stay

The freedom associated with motorhome travel sometimes creates the impression that accommodation can always be found at the end of the day.

Popular destinations don't necessarily work that way.

During busy periods, desirable caravan and motorhome sites can be heavily sought after.

A little spontaneity is part of the experience.

Having absolutely no plan during peak periods can be less enjoyable.

Cairns is where several journeys meet

Perhaps that is what makes Cairns particularly suited to caravan travel.

It can be the destination at the end of a long Queensland road trip.

It can be the starting point for exploring Tropical North Queensland.

It can be somewhere to park while travelling to the reef.

And it can be the point from which another journey begins towards the Tablelands or further north.

The motorhome changes Cairns from a city you visit into a region you explore.

The Cairns Times View

There are many ways to experience Cairns.

Flying in and staying at a resort is one of them.

Arriving with your accommodation behind you — or driving it — creates something entirely different.

The caravan or motorhome gives travellers the ability to turn Cairns, its beaches, rainforest, Tablelands and surrounding towns into one connected journey.

In Tropical North Queensland, sometimes the road between the attractions is part of the attraction.