Tropical North Queensland
…escape the Kiwi winter and head to the winterless north of Queensland
With winter just around the corner, it’s time to look at options for a mid-winter getaway, and head for the sun! And what better place to start the search than Queensland’s Tropical North? It really is the winterless north, with average temperatures from June till August sitting at a very pleasant 26c.
Home to two of the world’s greatest natural wonders, World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, as well as some of Australia’s best beaches, this tropical region is a paradise waiting to be discovered.
Start exploring from Cairns, a city energised by nature and the place to soak up the tropical lifestyle. Discover an exciting city that takes pride in its cultural heritage and where time seems to last a little longer. Swim at the Esplanade lagoon, sample local produce at a farmer’s market, enjoy free entertainment, shop for a summer wardrobe or cruise around the marina.
Take a tip from the locals and enjoy a cool dip at a secluded freshwater swimming hole, jump on a bike for a sightseeing tour along the city’s network of cycle paths, marvel at tropical plants in the Botanic Gardens, and browse the shops and galleries.
After dark choose a lively bar for drinks, taste local seafood at an award-winning restaurant, party on a dance floor, discover treasures at the markets or watch a local cultural show. This compact city is easy to get around and has the reef, rainforest and outback on its doorstep.
Trinity Beach is a relaxed beachside suburb, only a 15-minute drive north of Cairns Airport. Its central location on the Cairns northern beaches makes it an ideal base for a holiday in Tropical North Queensland.
Enjoy a barbecue on the beach, join the locals for a beer at a hotel with the best water views in town, cast a line from the shore or build a sandcastle with the kids. A range of fun activities are nearby, including a tropical zoo, go karts, cable skiing, a world-class golf course, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
If you haven’t seen the rainforest from above before, then Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is an absolute must! A unique rainforest experience, taking you on an unforgettable journey over and through Australia’s World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforests from Cairns to Kuranda.
Spanning 7.5 kilometres in the Barron Gorge National Park, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway glides just metres over the canopy, its comfortable six-person gondola cabins providing spectacular views of the rainforest, tropical Cairns, the Coral Sea and lush Cairns Highlands. Your adventure includes time at two mid-stations, where you can alight from the cableway and learn more about this fascinating environment from the forest floor.
At Red Peak Station, Skyrail’s rangers provide guided boardwalk tours sharing their knowledge on these ancient tropical forests, amongst giant buttress roots, ancient Kauri Pines and climbing wait-a-while palms. Barron Falls Station has pathways and lookouts over the Barron Gorge and Falls, historical displays and a Rainforest Interpretation Centre… and don’t miss the new Diamond View Gondola with glass floors!
Step off the gondola and into the picturesque mountain retreat of Kuranda Village. It is a vibrant little town surrounded by World Heritage Rainforest. Kuranda has come a long way from its initial origins as a centre for those choosing an alternative lifestyle in the late 1960’s.
Kuranda’s shops and markets with their exotically handcrafted goods, Aboriginal artifacts, restaurants and coffee shops make it a well known day destination, but to truly enjoy the ambience this village has to offer you have to stay a night.
Take the time to visit some of Kuranda’s many first class nature based tourist attractions, which include koalas, butterflies, native and exotic birds, kangaroo and reptiles. There are wonderful walking tracks, which meander through magnificent rainforest, which are breathtaking when in flood.
Head back into Cairns with the Kuranda Scenic Railway. It is a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls. This famous railway winds its way on a journey of approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was constructed between 1882 and 1891 and even today is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. Hundreds of men were employed to build the 15 hand-made tunnels and 37 bridges and it stands as a monument to the pioneers of tropical North Queensland who lost their lives while working on the railway.
Easily accessible from Cairns is Green Island; a coral cay the island boasts an unspoilt rainforest, stunning beaches and surrounding reef... so close that you can snorkel directly off the beach.
Green Island is perfect for day-trippers from Cairns, but if you’d like to spend more time there, then you have the option to stay at the luxurious Green Island Resort. Stroll through the lush cool rainforest; laze on white coral sands or lie by the inviting swimming pool.
Or head to Fitzroy Island, which is a tropical paradise of rainforest and coral beaches within the calm sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Australia, located only 29 kilometres off Cairns.
Just 45 minutes by Fast Cat, the affordable Fitzroy Island Resort offers guests the opportunity to intimately discover the magic and diversity of the Great Barrier Reef from land and sea, making it the perfect accessible base for snorkelling, diving and exploring the reef and rainforest. The walking tracks through the rainforest, up to the summit and to the lighthouse offer a 360 degree view over the Great Barrier Reef.
Further north, lies the laid-back beach community of Palm Cove, just 30 minutes from Cairns. Relax under a coconut palm, paddle around a Great Barrier Reef island, enjoy a spa treatment or delight in a fusion of tropical delicacies. It is all part of life at Palm Cove, an intimate slice of paradise.
With its long sandy beach lapped by the Coral Sea and a backdrop of rainforest-clad mountains, Palm Cove offers ultimate tropical serenity in a postcard setting. It’s the perfect place to relax with a book while enjoying the sun or to discover summer fashions after an early morning dip in the ocean.
This sophisticated beachside hub boasts award-winning restaurants, peaceful day spas and exceptional resorts along its picturesque esplanade where ancient melaleucas define the relaxing atmosphere. The sheer variety of dining experiences at Palm Cove means your palate can take a trip around the world, discover tropical produce at its best or reminisce with fish and chips by the sea.
A firm favourite with Kiwis, Port Douglas is a picturesque seaside village located just 70 km north of Cairns International Airport along a spectacular scenic coastal drive. The relaxed seaside village is set alongside the spectacular Four Mile Beach and holds a vibrant atmosphere of tropical style and sophistication. Port Douglas holidaymakers relish the natural beauty and warm, balmy climate that attracts visitors at any time of the year. It captures visitors by the heart and has made Port Douglas a favourite international destination.
Nestled at the end of a peninsula, the tranquil waters of a natural harbour on one side of the village embrace the lively Port Douglas Marina. Along the other side of the peninsula stretches the breathtaking sandy sweep of beautiful Four Mile Beach.
A great base for exploring all the region has to offer, Port Douglas offers a wide range of activities to suit all tastes …Soak up the sunshine on Four Mile Beach, stroll Macrossan Street among the village shops, galleries, historic buildings and the seaside Port Douglas Sunday market. Play a round of golf, visit a rainforest wildlife centre, relax over sun downer drinks at a boardwalk café, or dine on a delicious tropical dinner at one of the many fine restaurants.
Port Douglas is the closest town and departure point to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, with 12 tours departing daily to the outer reef and Low Isles inner reef areas. There is a Port Douglas diving or snorkelling tour to Port Douglas reef locations available to suit everyone, whether you are a certified or novice diver, snorkeller or non-swimmer, with several different reef destinations to choose from.
Experience one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the amazing Great Barrier Reef. It is sure to be a holiday highlight for every visitor and an experience many will only ever dream of.
Low Isles: is a coral island located 15 km (8 nautical miles) off the coast of Port Douglas and is an ideal spot for an inner reef adventure, if you wish to travel only a short distance. There is an abundance of sea life and coral and is the home of a large population of turtles. Low Isles is made up of two islands, Woody Island an uninhabited coral/mangrove island and Low Island, a sandy coral cay typical of the Great Barrier Reef. Here you can come ashore, swim in the lagoon bay and see the active lighthouse. Low Isles has also been a research station since the late 1920’s and is still the site of significant research for the Great Barrier Reef.
Daintree: The Daintree National Park is the site of the oldest living rainforest on earth, the Daintree Rainforest. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage-listed sites meet, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people are the Traditional Owners of Daintree National Park. They welcome you to their country and ask that you respect their special place.
The Daintree National Park is comprised of two sections easily accessible to visitors, Mossman Gorge in the south and the localities of Daintree Village and Cape Tribulation in the north. The crystal-clear waters of the Mossman River cascade over granite boulders in Mossman Gorge while Cape Tribulation features rainforest-clad mountains that sweep down to long sandy beaches.
Consisting of nearly 900 000 hectares, vegetation is primarily tropical rainforest, but also includes open eucalypt forest, wetlands and mangrove forests. This area meets all natural criteria for World Heritage listing including the area’s exceptional natural beauty and the importance of its biological diversity and evolutionary history, including habitats for numerous threatened species.
Mossman Gorge: Located 20 minutes north of Port Douglas, the Mossman Gorge is a popular section of the Daintree National Park around a steep-sided valley on the Mossman River. Estimated at 60 000 years old, this lush tropical rainforest surroundings and creek scenery is an ideal spot for a day swimming, exploring walking tracks, watching bird and wildlife and enjoying the dedicated picnic areas. It is a site of Aboriginal heritage significance, with guided walks from the native Kuku Yalanji Mossman Gorge Community.
Daintree Village: A short 30 minute drive north of the Mossman Gorge is the Daintree Village, on the southern banks of the Daintree River. Daintree Village is known for its unique bird life and crocodile spotting tours, which are a must do for any visitor. But if that is too adventurous for you, why don’t you get pampered in a rainforest spa, check out the local shops and art galleries or just sit back and relax amongst your rainforest surroundings. There is a range of Daintree Village accommodation to suit all types of traveller from a resort, private and secluded B&B’s, holiday houses and camping sites. And don’t forget to try a famous Croc Burger!
Cape Tribulation: The ancient Daintree Rainforest is contained within the area between Daintree Village and Cape Tribulation. At an estimated 140 million years old, it is the oldest living tropical rainforest on earth. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage listed sites meet, the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. There is a fully sealed road to Cape Tribulation where you can experience the many walking tracks, take guided tours by day and night and go swinging through the treetops. If you wish to venture further north, you can explore the rugged rainforest territory in a 4WD, visit pristine freshwater swimming spots and experience places of special significance to the native Aboriginal people.