travel north queensland

Magnetic Island: Bays, Beaches and Boulders

Beyond mount garnet: national parks camping:, cobbold gorge: gorgeous outback oasis, undara: spectacular volcanic lava tubes, boonmoo station: camping in the outback, things to do in cape tribulation.

New to Travel NQ? Get started by reading some of our most visited and shared posts: There are several posts about individual camping spots on Travel NQ but these two have lists so they are a good overview…

Visit the Reef

The top priority for most visitors to north Queensland is to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Here’s what to expect on a snorkeling trip.

Festivals/Events

Most of North Queensland’s festivals and events occur in the dry season between May-October when the weather is cooler. Here’s a list of…

Cairns Tablelands

Things to do in the atherton tablelands.

by Elaine Seager | October 21, 2018 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

40+ ideas for things to do and see

Granite Gorge: Rock-Hopping Heaven

by Elaine Seager | July 3, 2018 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

Great family camping near Mareeba

Grand Barron Lodge: Kuranda’s Best Kept Secret?

by Amanda Cranston | November 30, 2017 | Cairns Tablelands , Kuranda | 0 Comments

River views and stunning sunsets over the Barron River

Marvellous Mareeba: Things to Do in Mareeba

by Amanda Cranston | January 1, 2017 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

There’s a lot more explore in Mareeba than most people realise

Hot Air Ballooning: Watching the Sunrise Over Mareeba

by Amanda Cranston | December 8, 2016 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

An awesome way to appreciate the outback

Outback Stargazing: Mareeba’s Night Sky Secrets

by Amanda Cranston | November 2, 2016 | Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

Head into the bush to learn about the stars

Authentic Kuranda: Riverboat Cruise and Rainforest Tour

by Amanda Cranston | October 17, 2016 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands , Kuranda | 0 Comments

Forget the souvenir shops behind and head for the Barron River

Offroad Adventures: 5 Wilderness Road Trips in FNQ

by Paul Curtis | September 23, 2016 | Cairns Tablelands , Roadtrips | 0 Comments

Exploring the backroads of the Tablelands

7 Things You Don’t Expect to Find in North Queensland

by Elaine Seager | September 18, 2016 | Blog , Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

There’s more to tropical FNQ than reef and rainforest

Paddock to Plate: A Foodie Tour of the Atherton Tablelands

by Amanda Cranston | June 21, 2016 | Cairns , Cairns Tablelands | 0 Comments

Sampling gourmet foods produced in the food bowl of the north

by Paul Curtis | October 5, 2019 | Cairns Outback , Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

Exploring virgin national parks south of Mount Garnet

by Elaine Seager | September 30, 2018 | Cairns Outback , Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

North Queensland’s unexpected outback gem

by Elaine Seager | September 22, 2018 | Cairns Outback , Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

Exploring the volcanic remains of the Gulf Savannah

Travelling in Cape York: A Low Impact Guide

by Elaine Seager | July 26, 2018 | Camping , Cape York , Cape York | 0 Comments

How to minimise your impact in the remote wilderness of Cape York.

Places to Camp Overnight Near Townsville

by Elaine Seager | March 29, 2018 | Camping , Townsville | 0 Comments

Overnight camping spots close to Townsville

by Jodie Maynard | September 15, 2017 | Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

The serenity of bush camping on cattle station.

Coastal Camping: Tropical Beach Escapes in FNQ

by Paul Curtis | September 7, 2016 | Beach Camping , Camping | 0 Comments

Scenic beaches and rugged headlands – the best of FNQ’s coastal camping

Bush Camping Etiquette: How to Minimise Your Footprint

by Elaine Seager | July 28, 2016 | General Camping Stories | 0 Comments

How to ensure ‘happy camping’ for yourself and others.

Camping at Wetherby Station

by Elaine Seager | July 17, 2016 | Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

Get away for some remote bush camping near Cairns

Cattle Station Camping: Pitching Your Tent in Outback NQ

by Amanda Cranston | July 16, 2016 | Cairns Outback , Camping | 0 Comments

A list of cattle stations where you can camp in FNQ

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AUSTRALIA , Oceania

16 amazing destinations to discover on your north queensland holidays.

With lush green rainforest meeting the Great Barrier Reef and coconut palm-lined beaches meeting turquoise, tropical waters, your quintessential North Queensland holidays are bound to be framed by some gorgeous landscapes.

Now add in a UNESCO World Heritage site or 2 and plenty of history and culture, and your North Queensland holidays are bound to be just as interesting and unique as they will be beautiful and breathtaking.

Having travelled this stretch of Australia extensively as part of the great road trip around the country, we’ve definitely got some ideas about the best places to explore up there.

So here’s our list of 16 amazing destinations to discover on your North Queensland holidays to help inspire your next trip!

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#1 Mission Beach

Home of the elusive cassowary – a giant flightless that only exists in this part of Australia – Mission Beach is a great place to tick this crazy-looking animal off your bucket list!

It’s also a wonderful place to enjoy jumping out a plane with skydiving companies here promising epic overhead views of the Great Barrier Reef, complete with a tropical beach landing every time.

If both of these activities sound a bit much for your adrenaline levels, as they did mine (!), then kayaking and snorkelling are also high on the agenda at Mission Beach, as are some great day trips to nearby Dunk Island.

Alternatively, if even this sounds like too much activity for your North Queensland holidays, you can simply enjoy a spot of beach strolling or sunbaking on the fabulous stretches of sand here.

When it gets too hot, savour delicious coconuts straight from the tree or sample some yummy grub from one of the town’s many delightful cafes instead.

For more ideas, check out my post that gives you 21 great things to do in Mission Beach.

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#2 Tully Gorge & Babinda Boulders

Just behind Mission Beach are 2 areas of natural beauty well worth checking out as part of your North Queensland holidays. I’ve included them together as they’re fairly near each other and could be enjoyed in a single stay.

First up is Tully Gorge, renowned for being the white water rafting capital of Australia, with its grade 3 and 4 rapids provide the perfect experience amid world heritage listed rainforest.

There’s also mountain biking opportunities to get involved in here as well as some epic hiking and camping fun too.

The Babinda Boulders offer a more sedate experience in the form of a beautiful natural swimming hole set in front of Queensland’s highest peak.

Coming down from the mountain, the water here is always cool, which makes this the perfect refreshing spot for a swim on a hot afternoon. There’s also a great free camp nearby if you want to stay the night, otherwise Cairns is not far away either.

#3 Normanton

Right up in north Queensland’s Gulf Country, lies the town of Normanton, most famous for its massive life-size sculpture of Kyrs the Croc, which has featured in many a good selfie!

Krys was the largest crocodile ever captured and you can imagine, when you see the size of his statue, that he grew to be quite an impressive beast before his fatal demise!

Normanton’s other famous landmark is the Purple Pub, which is a classic Outback watering hole.

Stop in at Normanton to get a glimpse of what life in the Queensland bush is really all about or ride the wonderfully quaint tourist train, the Gulflander, to learn more about the area’s fascinating history!

Not far from Normanton, lies the even smaller destination of Karumba.

The fact that this is the only town along the Gulf of Carpentaria accessible by 2wd, makes a Karumba a popular stop for those on their North Queensland holidays.

Coined as the town where the bush meets the beach, Karumba is also famous for its prawns and its sunsets.

So, why not combine both by enjoying an evening at the Sunset Tavern, like we did! From here you can watch the giant red orb of the sun disappear beneath the horizon as you munch on some yummy prawns (well those of us who aren’t veggo munched on the prawns!)

#5 Cooktown

Almost at the top of North Queensland is the quaint little community of Cooktown, which is the main access point and service area for Cape York.

You’re getting really into the wild out here, but nevertheless we couldn’t believe how much there was to see and do in this small town and wished we’d had time to stay a bit longer!

From incredible 4wd tracks to awesome lookouts, beautiful beaches to one of the best museums in the state, Cooktown is definitely worth a visit.

Steeped in history, with remote and incredible scenery all around, check out my list of the 10 best (and cheap) things to do in Cooktown if you’re looking any more reasons to visit!

#6 Elim Beach

Located just outside the aboriginal community of Hopevale in Cape York, Elim Beach is little more than a remote campground owned by a community elder.

But what a campground!

Set on the beach with a spectacular backdrop of coloured sand cliffs, silica white sand and green mangroves, this place is a dream if you’re looking to fully disconnect as part of your north Queensland holidays.

Only an hour’s drive north of Cooktown, you can sense on your way here that this is going to be a seriously special spot!

Isolated, iconic and 100% instagrammable, Elim Beach easily made the highlights list of our great budget 4wd around Australia.

#7 Cape Tribulation

Just below Cooktown, the town of Cape Tribulation, also set within the Cape York Peninsula, is little more than a hamlet of hotels and hostels stretched along a beach.

With the rainforest as green as it is and the beach every bit as beautiful as you’d expect from this remote location however, Cape Tribulation is well worth stopping to enjoy.

You have to catch the Daintree car ferry to get to Cape Tribulation from the south, or undertake the infamous Bloomfield 4wd Track like we did to get here from the north, but put in the effort either way and you’ll be rewarded with a famously remote and idyllic destination.

Cape Tribulation is the perfect destination to get away from it all, so definitely schedule in a few unhurried days here as part of your North Queensland holidays.

5 ESSENTIAL PACKING ITEMS FOR AUSTRALIA

#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in Australia and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous country justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000 , which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!

#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Australia – from cities to national parks! Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers . Perfect for stylish strolling, I love mine.

#3 Good Guidebook – I’m still a massive fan of the Lonely Planet Guidebooks and do think their Australia edition is well put together.

#4 Good Water Bottle – Travelling in hot old Australia can be thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because tap water is drinkable… and free!

#5 Good Sun Hat – And there’s no denying you’ll need a good sun hat for protection in Australia too. In my opinion you can’t go past this Hello Sunshine one, which is both gorgeous and ideal for keeping the rays off your face.

Still the number 1 North Queensland holidays spot, Cairns sits at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and is most famous for its extensive offering of snorkelling and diving trips that regularly take guests out to this amazing marine masterpiece.

If you’re not ready qualified to dive yet, then Cairns is also the perfect place to get yourself qualified, with tons of schools offering PADI courses to the novice.

Failing that, there’s always a good party to enjoy at night in Cairns and The Esplanade to relax at during the day.

With shops and cafes aplenty too, Cairns is the central hub for your North Queensland holidays’ action.

#9 Wallaman Falls

When it comes to Australia’s tallest waterfall, I’ll just let the picture do the talking!

#10 Kuranda

Tucked behind Cairns in the hinterland rainforest, the town of Kuranda is most commonly accessed via the steep windy road, known as the Kennedy Highway, that takes you high into the hills above the coast.

This is actually a fantastic drive in itself, with tons of great lookouts to enjoy from beneath the rainforest canopy, which we really enjoyed.

Once you reach Kuranda, there’s then tons of great attractions to keep you amused for a day or too.

From the magnificent Baron Falls to the fabulous Kuranda markets, this alternative town also has plenty of colourful characters to keep you entertained too!

#11 Mareeba

The largest town in the Cairns hinterland, Mareeba’s best attractions are its excellent boutique coffee producers and its fascinating heritage museum that adjoins the visitor centre.

There’s also some great hot air ballooning activities to enjoy from here.

The town also has some stunning natural surrounds that are well worth exploring as part of your North Queensland holidays.

From the local Wetlands to the delightful Granite Gorge, there’s plenty of nature to marvel at in these parts and also a plethora of great campgrounds so you can enjoy sleeping in the great outdoors too.

Our pick of the bunch?

The excellent Ringers Rest campground, situated only 10 minutes drive from the town centre.

This is basic, budget camping at its best.

#12 Atherton

From incredible rainforest walks, through to drives along rolling hills, I really think the Atherton Tablelands is area is one of the prettiest in the whole of Australia and, unsurprisingly, the town of Atherton sits right in the heart of the action!

This cute historic town is surrounded by tens of crashing waterfalls and delicious boutique producers only too happy to showcase their local treats which range from cheese to chocolate – one of them is even a biodynamic producer!

There’s also national parks a plenty here – from the Curtin Tree Fig to Mount Hypipamee – as well as Queensland’s highest town – Ravenshoe – just around the corner. Oh and who could forget the delightful Lake Eacham!

Make sure you allow plenty of time when it comes to spending your North Queensland holidays in the Atherton area.

We grossly underestimated how much there is to do in this area and regretted it!

If you’re on a budget, then why not check my list of the 10 best free things to do in the Atherton Tablelands , it will give you plenty of ideas!

#13 Boodjamulla National Park

Ah, Boodjamulla National Park, one of my all-time favourites!

Seriously, this one of the most incredible places in the whole of Australia and a definite must-see if you’ve even remotely near this far-flung destination as part of your North Queensland holidays.

Set around a spring-fed creek, this impressive gorge boasts year-round water which is perfect for kayaking or swimming in.

There’s also some epic hikes to undertake, wildlife to spot, waterfalls to cool down in and views to gaze at and /or photograph.

When it comes to accommodation, you can either choose from a great national park campground or the nearby resort of Adels Grove.

Either way, you definitely want to stay a few nights here in order to explore everything in this top Queensland national park.

We stayed for 4 days and loved it!

For more info, check out my ultimate guide to Boodjamulla National Park .

#14 Croydon

Maybe an unconventional pick, but we seriously loved Croydon when we swung by this cute town on our way from Georgetown to Normanton!

Brimming with history, Croydon boasts a fascinating heritage trail that allows visitors to easily explore many of its beautifully renovated old buildings and its general store, which claims to be the oldest in Australia!

Originally a bustling gold rush town, but now little more than a peaceful collection of houses and a caravan park, this is a great place to stop for a day or 2 on your North Queensland holidays.

#15 Gregory Downs

As the second largest town in its shire, you’d expect Gregory Downs to be more than a pub and a tiny shop.

The fact that it’s not however, only adds to its charm and is indicative of just how remote you are if you choose to pass some of your North Queensland holidays in this part of the state.

The main attraction that brings people to Gregory Downs in the nearby Boodjamulla National Park and the UNESCO Riversleigh fossil site, both of which are definite bucket list destinations.

However, good old Gregory also deserves at least a night of your time, if only to enjoy an evening and a few drinks in the wonderfully traditional and locally-owned old pub!

#16 Port Douglas

Probably the prettiest town in North Queensland, the beachside resort of Port Douglas is loved by almost anyone that goes there!

From the great swimming beach, to the lovely cafes and even the awesome market, Port Douglas is a classic North Queensland holiday favourite.

Days here are spent largely on the beach, not least because Port Douglas offers one of the few safe ocean swimming spots in these parts  – aka there’s no crocs!

There’s also morning yoga classes to enjoy on the sand, or reef snorkelling trips to enjoy in the water.

Oh and don’t miss a walk up to Port Douglas’ lookout either, this is the best spot in town for some great photos.

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

So there you have it, my list of 16 amazing destinations to discover on your North Queensland Holidays.

Have you been to any of these destinations?

Which was your favourite?

Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

4 thoughts on “ 16 Amazing Destinations to Discover on Your North Queensland Holidays ”

Wallaman Falls looks really beautiful! Australia seems like such a unique place. So many wonderful things to do outdoors!

That’s exactly right Meghan, especially up in Queensland! Wallaman Falls are breathtaking – I highly recommend them!

Hi, I Like Your Post… thanks for share it

Great to hear, thanks 🙂

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Home Travel Destinations Queensland 50 things to do in Tropical North Queensland

50 things to do in Tropical North Queensland

1. Dive with the famous potato cod, weighing up to a whopping 30kg (if you didn’t know, it’s a fish!), at Lizard Island’s Cod Hole.

2. Visit the historic wilderness of Mossman Gorge and enjoy a guided walk with a local Aboriginal expert.

3. Watch the sun rise or set at Mt Cook, named after Captain James Cook of HMB Endeavour .

4. Bike part of the Great Tropical Drive through palm-fringed beaches, rainforests and Tropical North Queensland’s golden outback.

5. Soak up Aboriginal culture and experience Dreamtime stories on one of the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks .

6. Learn more about flying foxes at BatReach , a bat and wildlife care centre at Kuranda.

7. Make a stop at Mission Beach, a cosy, laid-back beachfront village.

8. Cruise to Green Island with Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises to swim in the warm waters, snorkel and dive, or just relax on the white sandy beaches.

9. Head to Emerald Creek to witness the creek tumbling over granite boulders. You might even catch a glimpse of the largest dragonfly in Australia.

10. Calling adventure lovers: ride rapids while traversing through World Heritage-listed rainforest, numerous waterfalls and basalt formations with RnR White Water Rafting .

Image credit: TEQ

11. Four-wheel-drive one of the best routes in Australia on the Cape York Peninsula .

12. Trek the ruggedness of Cape York, retracing the earliest explorers and ghost towns with a pack donkey and Wilderness Expeditions .

13. Hike the Goldfield Trail to experience lush tropical rainforest and creek crossings at Wooroonooran National Park.

14. Explore the limestone caves, which were once a mining site, at the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park .

15. Float over the Atherton Tableland and rainforest with Hot Air Balloon Cairns .

Image credit: Mark Watson

16. Make a quick stopover at the Hou Wang Temple in Atherton. This is the only remaining building of the original town during the gold rush era, when it was the hub of the local Chinese community.

17. The Curtain Fig Tree is one of the Atherton Tableland’s best-known attractions. See the 15m-long curtain of aerial roots for yourself!

18. Set up your tent alongside the crater lakes at Danbulla National Park.

19. Try something different with a homestay at Alkoomie Station, an 18,000ha working cattle property.

20. Spread out that picnic blanket at one of Mount Lewis National Park’s creek crossings. You might even spot the rare white lemuroid ringtail possum.

21. Step into a fantasy at Paronella Park where one Spanish man built his castle and many couples today say “I do”.

22. Spot the southern cassowary at Djiru National Park, which protects some of the last remaining lowland rainforest in the Wet Tropics.

23. Picnic at the longest single-drop waterfall in Australia at Millstream Falls National Park.

24. Take the time to visit the vibrant town of Kuranda, the village in the rainforest, just 25km north-west of Cairns.

25. Wander through the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary at Kuranda; it’s the largest butterfly aviary and exhibit in Australia and is home to 1500 tropical butterflies.

26. Ride horses along white sandy beaches or tackle bushwalking trails through lush rainforest at Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas meet.

27. See waterfalls , including the spectacular Barron Falls, among the ravines, rugged mountains and rainforests of Barron Gorge National Park.

28. Dive into the pristine waters of Agincourt Reef to see a kaleidoscope of coral and marine life.

29. Picnic beside a volcanic pipe thought to have been created by a massive gas explosion at Mount Hypipamee National Park.

30. Get up close and personal with cuddly critters and observe a huge range of flora and fauna at the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas.

31. If you want to see crocs , head to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures off the Captain Cook Highway at Wangetti.

32. Sweet tooths be sure to visit the Australian Sugar Industry Museum.

33. View the dramatic body of ancient Quinkan rock paintings in the town of Laura – definitely worthy of a World Heritage listing.

Image credit: Mike McCoy/Australian Geographic

34. Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway through Australia’s World Heritage-listed tropical rainforests from Cairns to Kuranda.

35. Fossick for gems such as topaz, aquamarine and quartz, and see how gems are cut at The Gem Den.

36. Experience the rainforest from a unique perspective on land or water, watch a traditional dance performance and discover tropical fruit species at Rainforestation Nature Park near Kuranda Village.

37. Take some friends and hire a kayak at Babinda , nestled in a valley between two of Queensland’s highest mountains.

38. See the black granite boulders at Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) National Park, known as ‘place of spear’ by the local Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.

39. Take a walk among the treetops of the world’s most ancient rainforest at the Daintree Discovery Centre.

40. Witness ‘Killer’, a giant 35kg Māori wrasse that expects to be fed, and ‘Dopey’, the resident turtle at Turtle Bay Dive Site.

41. Take a refreshing dip in Lake Eacham, a crater lake formed by volcanic explosions.

42. Head to Gone Fishing in Cooktown to try some lure-casting, fly fishing or live-baiting.

43. Brave the popular shark-feeding location and explore one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world at Osprey Reef.

44. Enjoy the short walks and lookouts around Blencoe Falls but be wary because it is remote!

45. Visit Birdworld Kuranda, home to the largest single collection of free-flying birds in Australia (some 500 of them!).

46. Relax at Wonga Beach, a quiet refuge north of Mossman without all the trappings of a beach resort.

47. Stroll through the forest to a secluded beach or climb Mt Kootaloo on Dunk Island for scenic views of the reef and mainland.

48. Learn about the diverse history of Cooktown – including the gold rush, various local Aboriginal histories, the mining times and its Chinese legacy – at one of its museums.

49. Step back in time to Australia’s pioneering days at Herberton’s historic village, which boasts more than 50 original buildings that date from Herberton’s founding years.

50. Enjoy the remoteness of one of Flinders Group National Park’s seven islands.

Travel blogger Vivien Trinh has studied in Japan, visited New York, worked in a Cambodian orphanage and spent time in the isolated mountains of north-western USA, but nothing compares with the luxury of reading apocalyptic novels while sipping homemade smoothies on the Sunshine Coast’s secluded beaches that she calls home.

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Weather & Seasons

When to plan an adventure to Tropical North Queensland

The climate is one of the best things about Tropical North Queensland – you can have a great holiday at any time of year. But the weather can be very different from what you’ll find in other parts of the country, so you’ll need to know what to expect.

In the tropics, you’ll enjoy warm days all year. Regular rainfall over summer and autumn keeps the days pleasant (with the mercury only just tipping 30ºC on average) and decorates the landscape a rich green. The rainforest is at its most lush and waterfalls are full and spectacular. Although rain and storms are more common throughout this period, it very rarely rains all day and you’ll usually enjoy sunny days with a storm in the afternoon or evening.

In winter and spring, experience the further reaches of Tropical North Queensland like Cape York and The Savannah Way, or ‘lax by the beach with typically drier days, while temperatures hover around the mid-twenties and rarely dip below 17ºC along the coast.

Find out what makes each season so special below.

Summer (Dec-Feb)

Average Cairns temperatures: 23.6ºC / 31.4ºC

Summer in the tropics is when nature comes alive. Like a time-lapse before your eyes, the landscape can quickly transform from the warm tones of spring to fresh green tones of summer with warm, therapeutic rain.

Local tropical produce including sweet mangoes and tangy lychees fill markets; and with native fruit in abundance, so is the incredible and unique wildlife.

Due to lower winds and calmer seas, water clarity on the Great Barrier Reef is amazing through summer.

Autumn (Mar-May)

Average Cairns temperatures: 21.6ºC / 29.2ºC

Let summer live on in Autumn in Tropical North Queensland. The landscape is lush, the creeks and rivers are full and waterfall chasing is spectacular. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see Barron Falls at its most iconic.

Get the adrenaline pumping rafting down rivers surrounded by ancient rainforests, or visit an outback painted green by the regenerative rain, giving you a new perspective on this Aussie icon.

Winter (Jun-Aug)

Average Cairns temperatures: 17.5ºC / 26.2ºC

Welcome to the place where your typical idea of winter doesn’t really exist. Daytime temperatures hover in the mid-twenties, the beach is the place to be and camping is a favourite winter pastime. 

Make the pilgrimage to “The Tip”, Australia’s most northerly mainland point, or head west along the Savannah Way to discover ancient geological wonders and the tropical outback.

Spring (Sep-Nov)

Average Cairns temperatures: 20.5ºC / 29.5ºC

Kickstart your summer early with a tropical spring. Sunny days call for relaxing in cool waters; bright flowers bloom and with them, flocks of colourful birds feeding on their nectar arrive; and the reef comes alive at the annual coral spawning.

Tropical North Queensland gives you that traditional summer feeling, just that little bit early.

Whaley cool experiences

During June and July, you’ll find the only known aggregation of Dwarf Minke Whales in the world on the Ribbon Reefs north of Port Douglas.

Freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls vary in levels across the year. For the most spectacular waterfall chasing, visit during summer and autumn.

Discover the Great Barrier Reef

Often when it’s raining on the coast, it’s sunny and clear on the Great Barrier Reef as the mountain ranges surrounding Tropical North Queensland draw the rain.

What’s on

There are many fantastic events throughout the year, from spring racing carnivals to sporting events, concerts or markets. Check out our calendar for all the info.

Discover more

Things to do through the seasons.

Why you should visit the tropics in summer

From cosy rainforest retreats to once-in-a-lifetime Great Barrier Reef reef events, epic waterfalls to spectacular outback scenery, this is why you should put the green light on your summer holiday.

The Ultimate ‘Only in Tropical North Queensland’ guide

It might be a well-known fact that Tropical North Queensland is the only place in the world where two natural World Heritage sites collide, but there’s more first and only’s to this destination than its reef and rainforest.

Luxury places to rest your head

Escape to luxe island hideaways, indulgent outback retreats or tranquil ancient rainforests. Kick off your shoes, take some much needed R&R and discover the unique landscape of Tropical North Queensland.

10 waterfalls to chase on the Atherton Tablelands

Hit the famous waterfall circuit, uncover those lesser known or stretch a little further and take a dip in Australia’s widest, single-drop waterfall on the Atherton Tablelands.

Mudcrab to mangoes: your guide to eating local in Cairns

From earthy bush tucker and exotic fruits to ocean-caught seafood and a biodynamic dairy farm, Tropical North Queensland offers up a menu with a unique ingredients list.

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.

Things to do in Port Douglas

Don’t let its flop and drop reputation fool you, there are many things to do in Port Douglas. From hunting with Traditional Owners & exploring the Great Barrier Reef, to river floats & wildlife parks. Here’s how to spend your time in Port Douglas.

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.

Swim with dwarf minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the only place in the world that you can swim with dwarf minke whales: an experience so exclusive it only happens for two months of the year and only in Tropical North Queensland.

Savannah Way – An Outback Adventure through Gulf Country

From sculptural gorges, to bird-filled wetlands, experience 1,099kms of pure outback adventure as you drive Queensland’s Savannah Way.

7 great reasons to head to the Atherton Tablelands

The Atherton Tablelands are the kind of place you want to take at your own pace. Jump in a car and head inland to tick off these must-do experiences.

Food trail highlights on the Atherton Tablelands

Foodies take a deep breath and prepare your tastebuds for tantalisation. Here’s how to get your foodie fix on the Atherton Tablelands.

Guide to Cairns Beaches

A chain of relaxed seaside villages lay just north of Cairns, each boasting their own unique features. Find out more about each of Cairns’ beaches and which tickle your fancy.

Not to miss

Everything changes from season to season, find out more about these highlights.

Chase waterfalls

Great barrier reef, drive cape york, eat & drink seasonal produce.

See the seasons change

The Wet Tropics Rainforest the perfect place to witness the seasons change.

Privacy Overview

Accessibility, accessibility modes, online dictionary, readable experience, visually pleasing experience, easy orientation.

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement

• tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
• October 22, 2024

Compliance status

We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email

Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.

Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Disability profiles supported in our website

• Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
• Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
• Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
• ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
• Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
• Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

• Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
• Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
• Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
• Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
• Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
• Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
• Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

Browser and assistive technology compatibility

We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

Notes, comments, and feedback

Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to

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Cairns, Queensland

Guide to Cairns

Aboriginal name:  Gimuy (pronounced Gee-moy)

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• Getting to Cairns
• When to visit
• Accessibility

The gateway to Queensland's tropical north, Cairns is a laid-back city best enjoyed outdoors.

The region of Cairns is home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, but the city of Cairns itself is also a must-visit. You'll find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches nearby. Relax by a resort pool or spend your days exploring this tropical oasis.

The Gimuy-walubarra yidi are the Traditional Owners of Cairns and the surrounding district.

Today, Dreamtime stories are still woven through both land and sea experiences throughout Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef . 

• Traditional name: Gimuy (pronounced Gee-moy)
• Indigenous Peoples: Gimuy-walubarra yidi 
• Traditional languages: Yidiny language 

Cairns Airport (CNS) is the main gateway to Tropical North Queensland making this the perfect starting point for your tropical holiday. 

• Cairns Airport (CNS) is 5.5km (3.5mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
• Car hire, taxis, rideshares and transfer services are available to book prior to your arrival, or on the day

The city centre is fairly flat, so getting around is easy, even on foot. However, Cairns offers a wide range of transport options, including a network of buses and taxi services. Unless you are joining an organised tour, car hire is recommended for reaching nearby attractions such as the Daintree Rainforest.

Cairns' weather  is one of the best things about this stunning tropical destination, and there are benefits to visiting any time of the year. Different to Australia’s southern regions, Queensland's north has only two seasons: a summer season and a dry season. While the dry season boasts great weather and even migrating whales, you should expect larger crowds. The summer season is characterised by tropical weather, including summer showers.

• High season: Dry season (May to October)
• Low season: Summer season (November to April)
• Don’t miss:  Taking a dip with dwarf minke whales  (June and July)

Cairns is the perfect hub for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, and you’ll find accessible options for accommodation  and attractions . 

• Arrival: Special assistance is offered at Cairns International Airport for those with visible or hidden disabilities . 
• Getting around: You can organise for a qualified carer to accompany you as a tour companion with Out There Travel Care , and wheelchair-accessible vehicle hire is available with Wheelies Van Rental .
• Accessible experience highlights: Sail atop the Great Barrier Reef on a Reef Magic catamaran and explore the Daintree Rainforest on wheelchair-friendly trails through Mossman Gorge .
• Helpful resources: Find itineraries and inspiration for your trip with this accessible travel guide .

Top things to do in Cairns

Best restaurants in cairns.

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Discover cairns.

Where to stay

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The Daintree Rainforest

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4 days in Cairns

14-day Tropical North Queensland drive

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The ultimate trip to Australia

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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