Destination Tropical North

Destination Tropical North

Tropical North RegionTropical North Queensland is where life enhancing tropical moments await ... a place combining the natural wonders of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, Australia's Tropical Rainforests and accessible Outback.

Cairns is a vibrant and liveable city with a unique, broad appeal for all visitors, with so many remarkable natural attractions and activities at its doorstep. Take advantage of your time in Cairns and cool off in the Esplanade’s saltwater lagoon or take a stroll through one of the many galleries or shopping boutiques.

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is essential and on must-do lists of divers from around the world. The reef can also be enjoyed from the sky in a scenic flight, as you plummet to the ground sky-diving or from the safety of a glass-bottomed boat. Sail between the islands of the region, select between exclusive or rustic accommodation, and have a once in a lifetime experience. Be sure to visit the northern beach communities of Palm Cove and Port Douglas for a relaxing retreat filled with spa treatments at luxurious resorts.

Just a little further north you’ll enter into the Daintree National Park where you can experience the stunning Mossman Gorge and the beauty of Cape Tribulation. Further north still is the vast Cape York Peninsula, known as Australia’s last frontier. Then there’s the Outback and Gulf Savannah which covers the remote land to the west from the base of the Great Dividing Range to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Just inland from Cairns is Kuranda. This area encompasses rainforest to dry scrubland; it’s an area that is as diverse as it is enchanting. Take the Kuranda Skyrail gondola ride at the rainforest treetops or take a historic train ride on Kuranda Scenic Railway with beautiful views of the Barron Gorge.

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Exploring islands

Exploring islands

The coral waters are dotted with islands. Lush Green and Fitzroy Islands are a day trip from Cairns. Popular Dunk Island is only minutes from Mission Beach, and exclusive Bedarra, Hinchinbrook and Orpheus Islands lie dreamily nearby.


Idyllic island escapes

Idyllic island escapes

In the reef's tropical northern waters, lush Green and Fitzroy islands are a day's excursion from Cairns. Popular Dunk Island is only minutes from Mission Beach, just north of Cairns, and Bedarra, Hinchinbrook and Orpheus islands lie dreamily nearby.


Southern delights

Southern delights

The Great Green Way linking Cairns and Townsville is home to some dramatic national parks, some more challenging to explore than others. The twin peaks of Queensland's highest mounts Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker survey a tropical coastal fringe where rivers meet mangroves. Lush rainforest thrives in the Tully Gorge National Park where rafters thrill on whitewater. On the edge of the Coral Sea, the Eubenangee Swamp National Park is home to a lowland rainforest-fringed swamp.


The amazing reef

The amazing reef

Australia's most famous natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef, will stun you with its magnificence. It's as big as the total combined area of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and contains more than 1,000 islands, from sandy cays to rainforest isles. The beauty of the waters and the prolific life it supports enraptures visitors. You can reach coral sites by air and water taxi to scuba dive or snorkel for intimate reef views. Or choose comfortable accommodation on some secluded reef islands.  more


Experiences/Activities

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander:
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  • Island:
  • Marine:
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  • Outback:
  • Rail:
  • Rainforest:
  • Reef:
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  • Wildlife:
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  • Art and Craft:
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  • Bushwalking:
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  • Crabbing:
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  • Fruit Picking:
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  • Jet Boating:
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  • Meditating:
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  • Off Road Driving:
  • Para-Sailing/Para-Flying:
  • Prospecting:
  • Quad Bike Riding:
  • Rock Climbing:
  • Sailing:
  • Sandboarding:
  • Scenic Flights:
  • Scuba-Diving:
  • Seakayaking:
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  • Shopping:
  • Skydiving:
  • Snorkelling:
  • Swimming:
  • Tennis:
  • Trail bike riding:
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  • Water Skiing:
  • Wind Surfing:
  • Wine Tasting:

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Tropical North Queensland Townsville The Whitsunday's Mackay Rockhampton & Capricorn Gladstone Bundaberg and the Coral Islands Fraser Coast and South Burnett The Sunshine Coast Toowoomba & Golden West Brisbane The Gold Coast Southern Downs Western Downs Outback Queensland Queensland Northern Territory Western Australia South Australia New South Wales Australian Capital Territory Victoria Tasmainia

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