Cairns and Tropical North Queensland

Cairns is the heart of Tropical North Queensland and Australia's primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns is a vibrant, eclectic city framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea.
The Cairns Esplanade is the city's main attraction with a lovely oceanfron......[More]

Cairns and Tropical North Queensland

Cairns is the heart of Tropical North Queensland and Australia's primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns is a vibrant, eclectic city framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea.
The Cairns Esplanade is the city's main attraction with a lovely oceanfront promenade and saltwater swimming lagoon.

You'll find numerous restaurants, bars and hotels lining the Esplanade...all offering beautiful waterfront views. Thousands of visitors flock to the Esplanade to enjoy the alfresco dining and relax in the beautiful surroundings of this modern city.
Almost a century of architecture is reflected in the city streets - a comfortable blend of traditional Queensland style and contemporary designs.

Make sure to visit the Reef Casino to view its unique rainforest simulation and wander through the Cairns Regional Gallery to see exceptional art and exhibitions that focus on Indigenous works.

Cairns is an adventure-lovers paradise with numerous tours and adrenalin activities on offer. From white water rafting to bungee jumping and skydiving, you'll find the perfect activity to suit your penchant. And with hundreds of tours visiting the Great Barrier Reef each year, you're sure to find one, or a couple, to try.

Enjoy one of Australia’s most scenic drives along the Captain Cook highway north from Cairns. You will pass beautiful Ellis beach, Palm Cove, Kewarra beach and an hour later arrive at Port Douglas, a holiday town favoured by American presidents and celebrities.
This tropical town retains the flavour of a quaint seaside village, yet offers resort hotels, international golf courses, gourmet restaurants and the spectacular Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas provides easy access to both the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest.

Whether it's an indulgent break or a life changing adventure, this stunning region offers you a magical and unforgettable experience.

Few places on earth can boast such unique natural attractions with the Great Barrier Reef offering an underwater treasure trove of dazzling coral and sea life, and superb World Heritage listed tropical rainforests within easy reach.

The Daintree region is undeniably spectacular and is uniquely accessible to travellers. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth, and is a site of exceptional beauty and significance as the region that contains the most species of plants and animals in Australia.

Cruise down the Daintree River and take in the sights of jungle homes of birds, animals and reptiles including large crocodiles and pythons. The region is recognised for its superb wildlife, and eco-tourism operators provide itineraries offering fascinating insights into the creatures that inhabit this remote and beautiful river-system.

Daintree Village, perched on a bend of the Daintree River, is just further on from the turn off to the Daintree Ferry. An abundance of birdlife flourishes on the Daintree River and its banks. The area's most infamous inhabitants are the estuarine crocodiles.

The only cable ferry in tropical Australia, the Daintree Ferry provides the southern access into the lowland Daintree Rainforest. It's a vehicle ferry operating from 6am to midnight each day

Atherton is the 'capital' of the lovely Tropical Tablelands, a land of beautiful lakes, waterfalls, rich red soil and tropical rainforest.

Here the temperature is cooler, the pace is slower and there is a feeling of relaxation in the air.

The rich Tableland area is famous for producing peanuts, maize and potatoes.
The area also has a number of natural attractions such as the Curtain Fig Tree, Millaa Millaa Falls, crater lakes and amazing rock formations.

Palm Cove offers a serene holiday experience. Set amidst an idyllic stretch of beach and luxurious resorts just north of Cairns, Palm Cove is a haven for the indulgent.

Palm Cove offers a variety of activities for you. Spend your days lazing away on the beach or take a stroll along the esplanade through the many boutique shops and cafes.

And when evening comes, there's a plethora of fine-dining restaurants and bars for you to enjoy late into the night.

Spoil yourself with a relaxing massage or be more adventurous and participate in one of the tours that visits the Great Barrier Reef and nearby islands.
Accommodation options range from luxurious resorts to boutique villas. So come visit Palm Cove and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Only 20 minutes north of Cairns this beach community provides the perfect coastal town experience. A stroll along the beachfront esplanade past al fresco dining and luxury resorts and spa’s is the perfect end to a day.

Palm Cove is also developing a reputation as the spa capital of Australia. The town has multitude of award winning spas for you to try each with there own special signature treatment.

Mission Beach is a relaxed, yet vibrant beachfront town with over 8 miles of magnificent golden sandy beaches.

Here two World Heritage areas, The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, come together to form a tropical paradise.

In many places, the rainforest literally fringes stretches of pristine golden beach, giving the destination reputation as an ideal natural holiday choice.
Less than 3 miles offshore, Dunk Island and Bedarra Island make up an aquatic playground that is renowned along the east coast of Queensland.

The Great Barrier Reef is only 23 miles away making Mission Beach the closest mainland access to the Reef, just an hour or so by boat. This means more time experiencing the wonders of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef when you stay at Mission Beach. There are four villages that are collectively known as Mission Beach: South Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, North Mission Beach and Bingil Bay.

Eight miles of palm-fringed beach connect these four small townships, from Kennedy Bay in the south, to Garners Beach in the north, a favourite spot for naturalists. The Edmund Kennedy walking track at the southern end of the beach is part beach, mangrove and rainforest.

Several creeks empty their waters at Mission Beach and locals can often be found fishing for barramundi and mangrove jacks. Good fishing is also to be had at Clump Point jetty and the rock wall at Clump Point boat ramp. And for absolute seclusion, try Brooks Beach or Garners Beach at the northern end. It's quite likely that you'll catch a glimpse of the endangered Southern Cassowary in the rainforest around Mission Beach.

At Mission Beach, you will find a tranquil and very friendly tropical holiday township ideally suited to those who desire a true break from everyday life.

Arrival in Cairns is simple, with several domestic and international flights arriving each day. And once you're in Cairns, stop by the Gateway Discovery Centre on the Cairns Esplanade. The centre will help you find plan your ideal, tropical holiday.

Information sourced from www.destinationqueensland.com
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