Pair rescued from flooded Qld river

A couple left stranded on the banks of a swollen river in north Queensland overnight when their car was carried away by floodwaters have been rescued.

They were trying to cross the Starcke River north of Cooktown on Sunday afternoon when their 4WD, boat and trailer were washed away.

A helicopter was unable to reach them on Sunday night but they were picked up on Monday morning, a Cairns water police spokesman told AAP.