This is a region of Queensland that caters for both the adrenalin rush holiday maker as
well as those who prefer their holidays in armchair comfort.
The
region consists of lush, heritage listed rainforests, cool elevated
plateaus, the warm tropics that surround Cape York and of course, the jewel
in the crown is the Great Barrier Reef which lies just off-shore.
Cairns is the point of entry for visitors arriving by air and is one of the
major jump-off centres for visitors to the Great Barrier Reef.
The town is one of Australia's major dive centres with numerous dive and
charter operators catering to visitors.
Some of the most popular Great Barrier Reef locations are off-shore from
Cairns.
Sailing and cruising,
sport fishing, scuba diving, jet boating, hot-air ballooning, white
water rafting, sea kayaking and canoeing, rainforest eco tours and 4WD
adventures are all possible on a visit to Cairns.
A
Cairns rental car is recommended to reach all the attractions. The
region and surrounding areas can be seen in this
Cairns highlights locality map. Holiday activities in the Cape York
and gulf savannah regions are usually supervised 4WD safari style tours
lasting from a few days to a few weeks.
These tours typically include aboriginal
cultures and lifestyles, wildlife, fishing, goldrush relics, Lawn Hill National Park and
off road adventures. This region boasts some of the world's best fresh water and ocean fishing.
Places To Go &
Things To See In Tropical North Qld
Cairns
is the major centre of the Tropical North. It's a
great town for reef dive trips, cruising and sailing centres and is the
jumping off point for most tours and holiday activities in the area.
Tours are available to the fringe reefs around Fitzroy
Island and Green Island as well as the
outer reef. Cairns is at one end of the famous
Kuranda Scenic
Railway.
Cairns to Ingham is the Cassowary Coast
that lies
south of Cairns and home to the sugar towns of Ingham and Innisfail. The rainfall at Tully.
White-water rafting the Tully, Barron and North Johnstone rivers. Dunk
& Hinchinbrook
Islands in Rockingham Bay.
The
Northern Beaches is an area of tropical, sandy beaches and tiny coves a
few minutes north of Cairns. Choose from Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and Yorkeys Knob.
Take your choice from several
world class resort golf courses.
Port Douglas and the Daintree provides an opportunity
to explore the World Heritage listed Greater Daintree and
Cape Tribulation national parks. This is where the Barrier reef meets
the
rainforest. Take one of the many available day trips, cruise the Daintree river,
enjoy a mountain bike tour or involve yourself in an eco tour. If you
plan to stay at Port Douglas, then allow for
airport transfers to and from Cairns
airport.
The Atherton Tablelands is a cool, volcanic plateau
sitting above the coastal strip and is the home of rainforests,
rich pastures, thriving agriculture, crater lakes and waterfalls. Join
the locals at the
Mareeba rodeo, visit the limestone caves at Chillagoe, the crater lakes at Yungaburra
and cool off in the swimming holes at the
Malanda and
Milla Milla falls.
Kuranda Village is at end of the magnificent Kuranda Scenic Rail
tour between operates Cairns - Kuranda - Cairns. This is one of the
oldest railway lines in Queensland and traverses 34 kms of
dense rainforests, waterfalls, spectacular views and testimony to the pioneering spirit. Take the train up to Kuranda and the cableway
back down to Cairns.
See the
Barron Gorge, the Barron Falls, the worlds largest butterfly sanctuary,
the Kuranda markets and aboriginal dance theatre.
Cape York Peninsula is 4WD
country and most commonly visited as part of tours from Cairns lasting 7
days or more. This is an area of Aboriginal
reserves and rock art, huge Gulf country cattle stations and several
premier national
parks.
Bauxite mining at Weipa, pearlers at Thursday Island, prawn fishing in the Gulf of
Carpentaria and the Torres Strait Islands. "Beware Crocodile" signs are for
real.
Gulf Savannah region is all about aboriginal art, the Lawn
Hill National Park, goldrush relics from a bygone era and the unique wildlife.
Try you luck with the famous
barramundi (in season). Visit the Undara lava tubes. The "Beware Crocodile" signs are still
for real.
Try two unique train tours for a nostalgia trip. Take one of Australia's
last frontier adventures with a trip on the "Savannahlander"
between Cairns - Forsayth - Cairns
through the remote heart of the savannah country. The second tour is the "Gulflander",
also known as the "tin hare", a grand old railmotor which carries a
limited number of passengers through the Gulf country on a Normanton - Croydon - Normanton
tour.
Places To Go &
Things To See In Tropical North Qld