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I agree. They're tops - even when driving a 1.3 litre carby Suss-uki with cheap tyres (it all proves that my Suzuki is an ok handler).

I too agree . I had the pleasure of being in Cairns earlier this year and was able to drive the roads mentioned above. They sure are good driving roads. Unfortunately, I was driving a Toyota Camry, but all I could think about when driving the roads was \"I wish I was in the MX5!\"

They look like fun.........ponders........can I get to Cairns and back in a 3 day weekend.........

Garry wrote:They look like fun.........ponders........can I get to Cairns and back in a 3 day weekend.........

Fly up there and hire an MX5... There was a blue NB8B in a hire car place at Port Douglas when I was up there

idb000 wrote:

Garry wrote:They look like fun.........ponders........can I get to Cairns and back in a 3 day weekend.........

Fly up there and hire an MX5... There was a blue NB8B in a hire car place at Port Douglas when I was up there

There was a red SE in a hire place near the airport.
Make sure you come and say ullo to Brucey.

There was a red SE in a hire place near the airport.

An SE! I couldn't possibly risk someone seeing me driving one of those

Garry wrote:They look like fun.........ponders........can I get to Cairns and back in a 3 day weekend.........

driving???...........in a word, NO

It's in the small dinky hire place on the airport-side of the Hwy. Red with the bodykit, and the tiny intercooler in the mouth.

I was up in Cairns for the recent Anzac day long weekend.

I picked up a brand spanking new Corolla from Hertz (only 45km - yes Forty Five Kilometres - on the clock)

I drove up to Port Douglas via the Captain Cook Highway and it was just amazing. I truly wished I had my NA6 up there with me at the time.

One thing I noticed in the four days I was driving in Northen QLD was that I didn't encounter ONE traffic light when I got out of Cairns.

And you didn't come to visit me !!

The Kuranda Rd now has a 60kph limit for it's entire length, & is being very heavily policed. So if the tourists don't slow you down the cops surely will. The Pt Douglas Rd has also got a permanent police presence, & lots of tourists. The quietest range is the Rex Range, from Mossman to Julaten, but it's also the shortest (8 klm) with the worst cambered corners (badly engineered). The funnest range is the Gillies. I've ridden or dríven it every sunny day I can, for the past 37 years. So I know every bump & ripple of it's 260 bends. But I still treat it with a ton of respect. Especially when it's wet. But in my opinion it's the best 19 klms of twisty mountain road in Australia. & I've dríven/ridden most of the other roads mentioned here.

I spent some time in FNQ 10 years ago, and drove the Cairns-Port Douglas Road a couple of times. When I bought the MX5 9 years ago, I promised myself I'd do that road with the roof down, so 7 years ago the then GF (now wife) packed up the 5, and drove from Brisbane to Port Douglas for NYE. It rained almost the whole way from Brisbane to Tully, and fined up just south of Cairns, so the afternoon drive up to PD was done with the late afternoon FNQ sun shining, the roof down, and Jack Johnson crooning.

Perfect

Garry wrote:........can I get to Cairns and back in a 3 day weekend.

I was co driver in a Ford ute on a trip from Sydney to Cairns last year.
Took us two days to get there. Sydney to Roma on day 1 and Roma to Cairns on day 2 .
But you could probably do it in a day driving an SP.

The further north you go, especially in Qld, the worse and narrower the roads get. The road toll is extremely high in Qld as it appears a favourite past-time to kill yourself driving, so I urge you guys not to speed.

Nth Qld roads are no more dangerous than the rest of Australia, & a hell of a lot better than when I first moved here 38 years ago. I also think that blaming accidents on speeding is a gross generalisation & simplification of a complex problem, Inappropriate speed, in inexperienced hands, is definitely a killer. As are tight, narrow, badly made roads; especially if it's your first drive on them. But an experienced driver, in a well sorted sportscar, on a well known road, is neither a danger to themselves or any other road user. Despite what years of govt propaganda have indoctrinated us to believe.
So yes, if you are a novice driver (what are you doing with an MX5?), or are unfamiliar with the roads. Take it easy, till you familiarise yourself (or become a better driver). These range roads are tricky & dangerous, & no place for idiots. But if you're as good a driver as the average 5 pilot, & know the road well. Live a little, & have a bit of fun. I do.