TNQ Writer
Travel in Tropical North Queensland can be transformative. As you experience natural wonders and iconic adventures, you will be left with a feeling that stays with you long after you leave the tropics. Don’t miss these incredible experiences in Tropical North Queensland.
Seeing the reef for the first time
There are some moments in life that remain in your mind like a prized painting and the time you first lay eyes upon Great Barrier Reef is the Monet of those moments.
As you delve beneath the surface into one of the seven wonders of the natural world, you are greeted with a kaleidoscope of colourful corals, a symphony of sounds and a myriad of marine life. Exploring this environment makes you feel a part of it, so much so that you are likely to leave the Great Barrier Reef with a legacy to protect it.
For Quicksilver Cruises Marine Biologist Hayley Brien, who first saw the reef when she was seven years old, this moment was the one that shaped the rest of her life. Fast forward twenty years and Hayley inspires the next generation of Marine Biologists as a guide on the Great Barrier Reef.
Getting up close to local wildlife
Making a connection with an animal transcends all barriers and helps you to cement a bond with the natural world. At Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, you can interact with Australian species that you may not be lucky enough to see in nature.
As you lock eyes with an endangered Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, or learn about the endemic Southern Cassowary, you gain a deeper appreciation of just how unique and beautiful Australian wildlife is, particularly endemic species you won’t see anywhere else on the planet.
Although the keepers at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas interact with the resident wildlife every day, they continue to be inspired by their own relationships and connections with these animals.
Discovering the oldest surviving rainforest from the canopy
Imagine a place where you can travel back in time to a land where dinosaurs once roamed. Exploring the Wet Tropics Rainforest is like entering a living and breathing museum, where you can discover flora and fauna that date back 130 million years.
Soar over a sea of endless green rainforest canopy with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway then immerse yourself in the rainforest at ground level for a multi-sensory experience encompassing the sights, sounds and smells of the ancient rainforest. Once you slow down and become fully present, you experience the rainforest in its whole spectrum, which is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Ranger Euon shares the enchanting Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest with guests every day and invites you to explore the earth as it once was with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
Finding Freedom on the Great Barrier Reef
Freedom isn’t just for birds in flight , you can also find it underwater on the Great Barrier Reef. This ecosystem is the largest coral reef system in the world and spans over 345,700 km², so when you explore the parts that are off the beaten boat-path, you may just find yourself feeling as free as a sea turtle.
Coral Expeditions travels to the parts of the reef that you won’t see on your everyday itinerary. Wake up on a boutique luxury ship with endless sea to the horizon, before heading to private sand cays, world-renowned dive sites and remote tropical islands. Your new-found bond with this incredible ecosystem will be cemented when you assist with reef conservation as part of the Eye on the Reef project and assist volunteers at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef Drive
If you thought that a drive couldn’t possibly be inspiring, you obviously haven’t driven the Great Barrier Reef Drive. This road to paradise between Cairns and Cape Tribulation is flanked by palm-fringed beaches and World Heritage Rainforest and offers endless views to take your breath away. Think untouched rainforest, stretches of coral-lined coast and crystal-clear rainforest rivers.
The stretch of utopian road also acts as a springboard to get out and explore nature and to experience the incredible attractions in the Port Douglas and Daintree area. Drift serenely down a jungle stream with Back Country Bliss Adventures, hunt for mud crabs with Traditional Owners and discover rainforest critters below a thick canopy of umbrella palms.
But don’t take our word for it, Jason from Back Country Bliss Adventures drives this coastal stretch every single day and it still gives him goosebumps!
Indulging in nature's luxuries on the Tropical Coast
In Tropical Coast Queensland, spa days are not just for those staying in five star luxury. As a matter of fact, the best spa experiences are found outdoors in Mother Nature. When you float your day away in the turquoise blue Cardwell Spa Pool, or dive under the crystal clear waters at the Babinda Boulders, you are left feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and inspired.
Mission Beach & the Cassowary Coast also offers an abundance of places to fill your lungs with fresh, salty air. Stepping onto one of the many secluded beaches, or finding your own spot of sand on one of the tropical islands, is a moment that will stay with you for life. Delve into the big blue to explore one of the most breathtaking ecosystems on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef. Or if you feel like meeting locals on land, keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Southern Cassowary, which can only be found in Tropical North Queensland.
Whether you choose to catch your own dinner on a fishing trip, or simply enjoy dining al fresco with your toes in the water, your open air experience awaits you in Tropical Coast Queensland.
Reaching new heights with an adrenaline rush
There’s nothing that stays with you like the moments that get your heart racing and at Skypark Cairns, there’s a level of adrenaline suitable for every member of the family. Those looking for the ultimate hit can leap off the 50m tower on Australia’s only bungy jump. Whether you choose to go head first or backwards, you will take the plunge above a deep natural lagoon surrounded by lush rainforest.
Or if you think the best things in life are served shared, opt for the Giant Swing, and soar 120km per hour with 2 or 3 of your mates through the stunning rainforest canopy. You can even walk to the top of the bungy tower without stepping off the edge and simply enjoy the incredible view over Cairns. Or if you fancy a little bit of adrenaline with your feet still firmly planted on the ground, the new Walk the Plank experience sees you stepping out onto a plank 140m above sea level.
If you’d rather relax and watch other people brave the bungy, Skypark Cairns is also a great place for lunch and drinks.
