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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
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
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.
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