CAIRNS & TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
CAIRNS & TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
Cape Tribulation
Daintree Mossman Port Douglas
Oak Beach
Atherton Tablelands
Lizard Island
Palm Cove Kuranda
Cairns
Great Barrier Reef
Reef
Green Island
Mission Beach
Fitzroy Island
Palm Cove
Where rainforest meets reef and nature reigns supreme
Cosmopolitan Cairns is the bustling heart of North Queensland and your stepping stone to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest . If you crave the urban jungle then buzzing Cairns will lure you with its innovative eateries , on-trend bars , stylish boutiques and galleries . A popular hang out is the Esplanade , with a swimming lagoon and waterfront boardwalks . A short drive from Cairns brings you to Palm Cove , a place of barefoot glamour brimming with beautiful boutique hotels and resorts . It ’ s somewhere you walk or bike instead of taking a car , can indulge at an award-winning spa , browse art galleries , play golf or paddle out on a kayak , before feasting at award-winning restaurants or enjoying beachside fish ‘ n ’ chips . Renowned for its palm-fringed Four Mile Beach , Port Douglas is an activity seeker ’ s heaven , with diving and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef , bush walking , fishing or mountain biking . The town has a distinct village feel with numerous cafés , pubs , restaurants and bars plus great malls and boutiques . Discover also hidden gems like Mission Beach with its miles of golden sands , and more tranquil Oak Beach which has an inner coral reef on the doorstep . Island idylls include Green Island with its unspoilt rainforest , stunning beaches and surrounding reef ; exclusive Lizard Island , a luxurious haven of seclusion , indulgence and relaxation ; and Fitzroy , a national park island . Away from the coast , there ’ s nowhere better to disconnect than the Daintree Rainforest . This raw , wild , ancient environment resembles a real-life Jurassic Park where you can imagine dinosaurs emerging from the lush undergrowth . Despite its untouched nature , the Daintree is easily accessible and you can join guided walks , cruise along the Daintree River to spot prehistoric crocodiles , or for thrills galore , zipline through the canopy . Within the Daintree is scenic Mossman Gorge , where visitors can join the traditional Aboriginal landowners on guided rainforest walks . The remote headland of Cape Tribulation is a quiet haven of World Heritage listed rainforest and coral reefs . Stepping straight onto the beach from the rainforest is a very special experience . Don ’ t miss the Atherton Tablelands , a vibrant green land of dramatic mountains , untouched rainforest , delicious produce and jaw-dropping waterfalls . At nearby Kuranda absorb stunning rainforest views as you ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway or take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway .
Getting there : Cairns is about 21 hours from the UK ( with a stopover ). From Cairns , it ’ s a 30 minute drive to Palm Cove or an hour ’ s drive to Port Douglas .
Best time to go : The subtropical climate brings warm summers and mild winters . Most rainfall occurs January-March , although is usually brief , but heavy , showers .
UNMISSABLE CAIRNS & TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND EXPERIENCES Get more out of your stay . Prices are per person
BEST OF FITZROY ISLAND COMBO from £ 92 ( includes lunch ) Travel from Cairns by catamaran to the tropical paradise of Fitzroy Island for a day of snorkelling , exploring and a glass bottom boat tour .
SKYRAIL & KURANDA SCENIC RAIL from £ 95 ( includes lunch ) Depart Cairns for the funky rainforest village of Kuranda where you journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway , explore Kuranda village and visit Rainforestation Nature Park . After lunch , return to Cairns via the Rainforest Cableway for a bird ’ s eye view of pristine World Heritage rainforest .
TULLY RIVER WHITE WATER RAFTING from £ 119 ( includes lunch ) Depart Cairns for the Tully River for an awesome day rafting grade 3-4 rapids over 5 hours .
DREAMTIME SNORKEL CRUISE from £ 119 ( includes lunch ) Sail from Cairns for a full day of Indigenous stories and snorkelling at two premium outer reef sites .
CHILLAGOE CAVES & OUTBACK from £ 125 ( includes lunch ) On this full day tour from Cairns travel by 4WD to Skybury Coffee Plantation , before a National Parks cave tour at Chillagoe . Visit Balancing Rock and stop at Granite Gorge to see wallabies .
DAINTREE , CAPE TRIBULATION & BLOOMFIELD TRACK ( inc lunch ) from £ 125
Travel from Cairns to Daintree where you cruise the Daintree River in search of crocodiles . Stop at the Alexandra Lookout then take a guided National Park boardwalk tour . After a BBQ lunch head along the 4WD Bloomfield Track to pristine Emmagen Creek for a refreshing swim . At Cape Tribulation beach , stroll the beach and boardwalk to see where the Rainforest meets the Reef .
OUTER BARRIER REEF CRUISE from £ 162 ( includes lunch ) Travel from Cairns or Port Douglas and onward by catamaran to Agincourt Reef . Here , swimmers and non-swimmers can explore the reef from a semi-submersible , an underwater observatory or by snorkelling . There ’ s also an informative talk by a marine biologist .
HOT AIR BALLOONING from £ 229
Depart Cairns or the Northern Beaches pre-dawn to your launch site . Fly gently above the Atherton Tables and enjoy the picturesque landscape .
50 AUSTRALIA visit your local travel agent or call 08444 937 900