Tropical North Queensland

ABOUT THIS REGION Wild, unspoilt, and adventurous by nature, Tropical North Queensland is home to two World Heritage-listed natural wonders. In this sun-burnt corner of Australia, a deep connection with the reef and our ancient rainforests lures adventurers and un-winders from near and far to experience one of the world’s last remaining patches of untouched wilderness. The laid-back, tropical centres of Cairns and Port Douglas are major gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and natural starting points for expeditions to the Gulf of Savannah and Cape York’s remote wilderness areas. This is the ultimate diving destination even for the novice, as some of the world’s best diver training facilities found in Cairns and Port Douglas include courses from beginner to open water, advanced and specialist diving accreditation. Enjoy an array of exciting water sports or nature walks at Fitzroy, Green, Bedarra, Lizard, Double, Hinchinbrook, Orpheus, Franklin and Poruma Island, one of the islands in the Torres Strait. The Cape York Peninsula begins north of Cairns and extends almost 1000kms to the geographical tip of Australia in the north and covers some of the most spectacular and rugged scenery in the country. Cape York is an under-explored paradise with thousands of species of tropical birds, flora, fauna, beautiful water falls and basking crocodiles. North of Port Douglas is Cape Tribulation, the Mossman Gorge and World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. Cape Tribulation spoils the visitor with pristine white sand beaches unspoilt rainforests, picnic areas, rainforest walks, 4WD safaris, reef trips, mangrove and crocodile watching tours, ocean kayaking and horse trekking. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving tropical rainforests on earth, estimated at 135 million years, it is a site of exceptional beauty and scientific significance as the region contains the most species of plants and animals in Australia. The Daintree Rainforest contains 30% of frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, and 65% of Australia's bat and butterfly species. 20% of bird species in the country can be found in this area. And it all lives in an area that takes up 0.2% of the landmass of Australia. Immerse yourself in the living museum that is Australia’s Tropical Rainforests. Cairns the heart of this tropical destination is a modern sophisticated city with boutique shops, exciting night life and soak up the atmosphere of al fresco dining in the tropics. The Cairns Esplanade is the perfect spot to immerse in the tropical lifestyle. The Esplanade is lined with restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes and galleries and a variety of accommodation options taking advantage of the sweeping views across Trinity Inlet. The Cairns Seaport is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and facilitates departure for the 2000 passengers travelling to the Great Barrier Reef and Islands each day and 185 international and domestic cruise ship movements each year. Palm Cove combines the charm of a seaside village with resort-style luxury and multi-award winning spas. Palm Cove and other northern beaches are popular for their laid-back feel and range of apartment, luxury and guest house-style accommodation, all within a short drive from the international airport. These quiet picturesque getaways are popular for family holidays and give visitors the opportunity to mingle with the locals. Travelling north of Cairns on a beautiful scenic drive there is the resort town of Port Douglas. Rainforest on one side and the ocean of the other, this journey provides many opportunities to pull over and stroll along a deserted beach or sit under a shady tree and watch the waves roll ashore from the sparkling blue ocean. Once there, Port Douglas spoils the traveller with a selection of accommodation from 5-star to budget, art galleries, Sunday markets and award-winning dining experiences. This region offers many Indigenous experiences. Discover Aboriginal ancestral paintings modern artworks, ochre body painting, authentic artefacts, indigenous knowledge of bush tucker and medicines, customs and festivals of the Aboriginal, Thursday Islander and Torres Strait Islanders. The quaint village of Kuranda situated in the rainforest at the top of the Great Dividing Range is popular for street markets, cultural theatres and nature displays. Kuranda also gives visitor access to the Barron Gorge and tours by the local aboriginal tribe who share their tropical rainforest region and its cultural heritage. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Regional Tourism Website : Queensland Tourism Research and Statistics : Tourism and Events Queensland Local Councils : QLD Councils CREDITS Information Source : Wikipedia Information Source : Queensland Tourism Image Credit : Mosman Gorge Centre : Tourism and Events Queensland Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda