Descending the Atherton Tablelands

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Descending the Atherton Tablelands

Greg 1 · Guru

When we were over that way in 2019 we were wanting to head west out of Cairns through Atherton but avoided the Gillies Hwy out of Gordonvale.

Chose the climb up through Kuranda which was a much better route. Far shorter climb and much less bends and not as narrow.

I don't think the climb out of Gordonvale is impossible with a large van on but the Kuranda route is far less nerve racking.

Kebbin · Guru

It's a doozy the Gillies have been up & down it only in a car wouldn't be towing down or up for that matter. There are quite a few locls dive it for work in Cairns & Gordonvale.
The Gillies would be good on a motorbike but I image these days on weekends it would be madness with all the boy racers scaring the life out of car drivers.

86GTS · Guru

We've spent a huge amount of time photographing the wildlife of the Atherton Tableland & the Cairns coastal area on many occasions.

We fly up from Melbourne & hire an SUV, staying in lodges/cabins.

We've found every route between the sea level area up to the tableland challenging due to impatient idiot commuters.

I'd hate to tow a caravan along any of them.

Good luck & my advise is use your gears & don't look in your rear view mirrors, ignorance is bliss.

yobarr · Guru

Interesting opinions! I've done both routes in my 6800kg GCM car and van, as well as one time racing, in my then car, a chap who was driving a Mitsubishi Turbo from Malanda down the Gillies to Gordonvale. Ridiculous time which probably wouldn't be believed! Both ranges are a walk in the park if you're careful, although coming down the Gillies you must be careful to look after your brakes by using your gears. Going up, they're both easy, in my opinion. As Greg says, Kuranda Range is the better of the two, with fewer bends and more overtaking lanes. Good stopping areas and scenic viewpoints on both, however. The photo illustrates the dangers of towing big vans with small cars, as this driver discovered on the Kuranda Range. No sympathy for clowns like this. Sorry. Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 13th of October 2022 08:18:16 AM

Possum3 · Guru

Oops.

spida · Guru

I unwittingly went up the Gillies Highway many years ago, towing the van. At least 6 stops for roadworks so Handbrake starts, nowhere to get off to let traffic pass me. But very happy to have made it to the top in one piece :)

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Exactly Spida we would also have gone that way unwittingly just for the fact that it was shorter on the map.. Luckily i was able to talk to a few Tablelanders who suggested we should save ourselves some stress by going another way. There are plenty of truck drivers and people towing vans up and the Gillies all the time and seem quite happy doing it - after driving it a couple of times I,m not going to be joining them..

If you are ever up this way and not sure which way to go invest some time and take your car for a run up to Yungaburra pub for lunch maybe go to the Aghanistan Walk of Honour then decide whether you want to do it with a large van on the back. Everyone will have their own opinion depending on their belief in their own ability and that of their rig.

BB

Whenarewethere · Guru

Been up & down a few times on the Gillies Hwy in a car only. Very tiring all those bends. I think it would be better to use the other routes which are less exhausting to drive.

Possum3 · Guru

Went that way twice (1 ea way) back in 2010 with Jayco Discovery on back of Patrol - It is a very scenic way to go although on the return trip the LH Lane was blocked by tip truck broken down - That was hairy trying to overtake on the climb, handbrake and clutch got a good workout - haven't gone that way ever again.