Things to do
Camping
Waking up in paradise
Camping is about slow sunrises melting the last tendrils of night; the cicadas’ symphony heralding sunset; it’s the sense of discovery delving off the beaten track and living with nature’s slower rhythm. Unzip your fly net for moments less travelled and set your compass for a direct encounter with Tropical North Queensland nature at its most intimate and beguiling.
Whether your idea of camping is a beachfront cabin with a dose of luxe or a remote wilderness experience, the region has endless swoonworthy camping locations. The common theme? Waking up in paradise. If water is what floats your boat, glamp beachfront at Australia’s most northerly camping ground at Punsand Bay, or head to palm-fringed Dunk Island. Just arriving by water taxi makes you feel like this is the start of an adventure movie.
Or camp in a cattle station. Try Goshen Station, where the first season of Australian Survivor was filmed, or fall asleep to the lullaby of a cascading waterfall on Woodleigh Station. With campers keen to swim, fish and kayak, the hundreds of kilometres of creek and riverfront sites throughout Cape York make for memories you’ll relive again and again.
With plenty of extinct volcanoes in the area, sleeping next to a geological wonder may be more your thing. Camp by the Undara lava tubes, the longest on the planet, near a crater lake at Lake Eacham, or near 1700-million-year-old Cobbold Gorge. Or head to Gulf Savannah country and pitch a tent at Lawn Hill Gorge on the edge of the rugged Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park or at Karumba at the mouth of the Norman River. Wherever you choose, you’ll be a happy camper.
Camp on the islands of the Great Barrier Reef
Pitch perfect
Why sleep five-star when you can lie out under a billion?
Great places to go camping near Cairns
Are your campsites better described as camp palaces, or do you just roll with the bare essentials? Whether you’re at one end of the spectrum or the other, lace up your hiking shoes, load up your 4WD (or hatchback) and string your fairy lights around these camping sites near Cairns.
Cape York is calling: Planning a trip to The Tip
Ready to tackle one of Australia’s most remote landscapes, Cape York? Just you, a car and 1,200km of untamed, World Heritage-listed, 180 million year-old rugged rainforest beauty – aka The Tip.
8 Island Campsites on the Great Barrier Reef
Unleash your inner Robinson Crusoe by camping on the Great Barrier Reef! Have you ever dreamed of escaping from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives? Where life is simple, revolving around the rising sun and falling tide? Yep, so have we! Here’s Eight island campsites where you can unleash your inner Robinson Crusoe.
5 Family-friendly camping spots near Cairns
Whether it’s time spent outdoors, the excitement of exploring a new landscape or just sleeping under the stars, my time camping as a kid has meant a desire to share similar experiences with my own children.
Sleep tight in paradise
Rest your head easy on a visit to Tropical North Queensland. From sleeping on a luxury island to pitching a tent on the beach, here’s your guide to an unforgettable stay in the tropics.
Cape York’s big three national parks
If you’re looking for the ultimate national park experience, there’s no better place in the world than the tip of Australia. With ten national or regional parks to choose from, here’s a closer look at three of the most popular.
Why the Undara Lava Tubes should be on your must-see list
Some adventures are off the beaten track and others, like the Undara Lava Tubes, are underneath it. You’ll need to dip below the earth’s surface, to explore these famous 190,000-year-old lava tunnels that point to an explosion when 23 cubic kilometres of lava flowed for 160 kilometres, carving a natural playground south-west of Cairns.
Explore Camping
