cairns & great barrier reef adventurous by nature

Cairns & Great Barrier ReefAdventurous by nature

cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au

Great Barrier Reef


Adventurous by nature, Cairns

& Great Barrier Reef mixes the

excitement of new discoveries

with the enchantment of exotic

experiences.

The only place where two World

Heritage-listed areas are side by

side, you can dive the depths of the

Great Barrier Reef or soar above the

world’s oldest tropical rainforest.

Spectacular tropical landscapes

are matched with superior natural

encounters where you can step out

of your comfort zone or retreat to

indulge in modern luxuries.

Test your nerve at rafting rainforest

rivers, be at one with nature in the

vast Outback, jump 20,000 feet

to an unspoilt beach, find your

inner artist learning Aboriginal

handicrafts, taste ocean-fresh

seafood or lose yourself in an

island daydream.

The warmth of the tropics is

reflected in engaging activities that

deliver exhilarating experiences

and peaceful escapes to discover

the adventurer within.

WelcomeCairns & Great Barrier Reef

EncounterThe Great Barrier Reef


Take the plunge into one of the

Seven Wonders of the World and

discover why the Great Barrier Reef

is the largest, most spectacular coral

reef system on earth.

Diving, snorkelling, sailing, cruising

and island hopping are all part

of everyday life in Tropical North

Queensland, the gateway to the

Great Barrier Reef. Fly to a deserted

sand cay to marvel at an aerial view

of the Reef, dive with minke whales

for a really big adventure, parasail

from an island for an adrenalin rush

or spy on baby turtles making their

first dash for the freedom of the

Coral Sea.

Departing daily, a variety of tours

offer snorkelling, introductory

or certified scuba diving and

live-aboard dive courses with

multilingual, professional tutorage.

For those who prefer to stay dry,

semi-submersible and glass-

bottom vessels provide popular

introductions to the Great Barrier

Reef, while helmet dives and

motorised underwater scooters are

the fun way to get to the bottom

of the ocean without getting your

hair wet.

Escape to a secluded tropical island

in the middle of the Great Barrier

Reef where your days and nights

can be spent exploring a colourful

underwater world, dining with the

Coral Sea lapping at your toes,

discovering marine birdlife or gazing

at the ocean from a luxurious spa.

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ExploreWorld Heritage Rainforest


Immerse yourself in the living

museum of Australia’s World

Heritage-listed Wet Tropics where

ancient, evergreen rainforests are

parted by waterfalls tumbling into

cool waterholes and giant kauri

pines reach for the heavens.

From Cardwell to Cooktown, the

sheer majesty of nature is evident in

Tropical North Queensland’s pristine

rainforest which is home to a third

of Australia’s mammal species, a

quarter of its frogs, a third of the

freshwater fish and nearly half of

Australia’s birds.

There are three key areas where the

tropical beauty of the rainforest is

best revealed.

The iconic Daintree region is where

the World Heritage rainforest

meets the World Heritage Great

Barrier Reef. Relax in cosy bed

and breakfast accommodation

then explore serene volcanic lakes

and spectacular waterfalls on the

Atherton Tablelands, while Mission

Beach is as famous for its rainforest-

clad, secluded beaches and

offshore islands as it is for adrenalin

activities such as skydiving and

white water rafting.

At night the Wet Tropics rainforest

puts on a spectacular show with

mammals emerging for midnight

feasts, bush turkeys hosting

noisy parties and frogs providing

the rainforest chorus. Or let the

Indigenous people of the rainforest

take centre stage with a magical

evening of entertainment beneath

the stars.

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DiscoverThe Outback & Gulf Savannah


Escape to the vast landscape of

the Gulf Savannah and uncover

the quintessential spirit of Outback

Australia only a few hours from the

coast. Hidden gorges, rodeos and

country races, mining relics, hot

springs, limestone caves, World

Heritage fossil fields, lava tubes

and wetlands abounding with

birdlife are all part of the region’s

enormous diversity.

Whether you want to rough it and

follow in the footsteps of explorers

in a 4WD vehicle, join a luxury

coach tour to explore underground

marvels, hop aboard a rail

adventure through cattle lands and

country towns or swoop in from the

air to remote eco-resorts, there’s an

Outback adventure sure to appeal.

Activities are just as varied. Crack

a whip at a working cattle station,

fossick for gold and gemstones,

canoe beneath rugged sandstone

cliffs, boil the billy on a campfire,

enjoy the dance of the jabiru, relax

with a cold drink in an historic hotel,

discover a complete rainforest

ecosystem hidden in a lava tube,

be mesmerised by opera in a

spectacular natural setting or hook

a giant barramundi in a mighty river.

The only thing more colourful than

the characters and experiences

of this Outback region is the

spectacular pink and orange hue

of the sun as it dips into the

waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria

each evening.

Cairns BeachesFind your own stretch of sand...

Find your own stretch of sand,

jump on a jet ski, kayak to an

island or sip cocktails as the sun

goes down. From cosmopolitan

Palm Cove to laidback Holloways

Beach, there’s a beach with the

right holiday mix for your tropical

adventure. The 26km of sandy

beaches to the north of Cairns

each have their own character but

all share one thing - no crowds - so

they are the perfect place to unwind

after a day adventuring in Tropical

North Queensland.

Enjoy a BBQ with a beachside

view at Trinity Beach, have a beer

with the locals at the Ellis Beach

Surf Life Saving Club, cast a line

at Machans Beach as the running

tide brings the barramundi out from

the Barron River, build a sandcastle

at the Clifton Beach playground,

watch the boaties return to shore

at the Yorkeys Knob marina or dine

right on the beach at Kewarra.

The Cairns Beaches are close

to some of Tropical North

Queensland’s iconic experiences

including Skyrail Rainforest

Cableway. Take the adrenalin

up a notch with bungy jumping,

experience local wildlife at the zoo

or test your drive at a world-class

golf course.

The beaches are a perfect base

for a different self-drive adventure

each day. Then return in time for

a refreshing ocean dip before

dinner at one of the many beach

restaurants.

Accommodation choices are

varied with luxurious resorts and

waterfront apartments popular,

but you’ll also find caravan parks,

bed and breakfasts, family-friendly

units and some very special private

homes to rent.


CairnsTropical adventures...

Combining the allure of the

tropics with the sophistication of a

cosmopolitan city, Cairns is Tropical

North Queensland’s gateway to the

World Heritage-listed Great Barrier

Reef and Wet Tropics rainforest.

One of Australia’s busiest cruise

ports and only 15 minutes to the

Cairns International and Domestic

Airports, Cairns is the perfect entry

point for your tropical adventure.

With world-class shopping, dining,

entertainment, sporting events,

cultural facilities and more

than 600 tours departing daily,

your Cairns holiday will be

naturally adventurous.

Discover a vibrant city that takes

pride in its cultural heritage and

where time seems to last a little

longer. Swim at the Esplanade

lagoon, sample tropical produce

at a farmer’s market, enjoy free

entertainment, shop for beach

wear or cruise around the marina.

After dark choose a lively bar for

drinks, taste local seafood at an

award-winning restaurant, party on

a dance floor, discover treasures

at the markets or watch a local

cultural show.

Choose from a wide range of

accommodation including five-

star international hotels, luxurious

resorts, waterfront apartments,

family-friendly motels and fun

backpacker hostels. Then, with

the city as your base, set out

on your Tropical North

Queensland adventure.

Travel from the city’s Reef Fleet

Terminal to the Great Barrier Reef

and its islands, join a tour to the

ancient rainforests, step back in

time with a train ride to Kuranda or

treat your tastebuds to one of the

many food and wine trails on the

Atherton Tablelands.

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Mission BeachFrom action to relaxation...

The serene beauty of Mission

Beach hides another side to

this friendly beachside retreat...

adrenalin-pumping adventure!

Skydive from a plane on to the

beach, head into the heart of the

rainforest for white water rafting

or explore the area on a jet ski or

mountain bike.

Boats leave the Clump Point jetty

daily for the Great Barrier Reef or

travel only 4km to Dunk Island to

try resort activities and explore the

national park. Join a kayaking tour

or hire a dinghy and take a picnic to

the tiny uninhabited islands.

Lush rainforest touches the shores

of Mission Beach which has the

largest population of the illusive

southern cassowary. Look for

these majestic creatures on easy

rainforest walks frequented by the

brilliantly blue Ulysses butterfly,

another local icon, and be sure to

include the majestic licuala fan

palm forest.

Nearby is the spectacular Misty

Mountains Trail, a series of long-

distance walking trails through

high-altitude rainforest. Several

of the walking tracks follow the

ridgelines long used by the area’s

traditional owners, the Jirrbal and

Ma:mu Aboriginal people.

Mission Beach has 14km of sandy

beaches overlooking Great Barrier

Reef islands, so it is easy to find a

quiet place to relax with a book or

check into the couple’s treatment

room at a day spa with fabulous

beach views.

Luxurious resorts or elegant hill-top

and beach houses are favourites

for those wanting to escape

from their busy lives, or choose

from family-friendly apartments,

beach caravan parks and popular

backpacker hostels.


Palm CoveUltimate tropical serenity...

Relax under a coconut palm, paddle

around a Great Barrier Reef island,

enjoy a spa treatment or delight

in a fusion of tropical delicacies. It

is all part of life at Palm Cove, an

intimate slice of paradise boasting

a plethora of holiday experiences.

With its long sandy beach lapped

by the Coral Sea and a backdrop

of rainforest-clad mountains,

Palm Cove offers ultimate tropical

serenity in a postcard setting. It’s

the perfect place to relax with a

book while enjoying the sun or to

discover exquisite fashions after an

early morning dip in the Coral Sea.

Dangle your legs over the jetty

while the locals hook a fish or stroll

along the shady tree-lined paths to

experience the welcoming village

atmosphere which earned Palm

Cove the title of Queensland’s

Cleanest Beach.

This sophisticated beachside hub

boasts award-winning restaurants,

peaceful day spas and exceptional

resorts along its picturesque

esplanade where ancient

melaleucas define the relaxing

atmosphere. The sheer variety of

dining experiences at Palm Cove

means your palate can take a trip

around the world, discover tropical

produce at its best or reminisce

with fish and chips by the sea.

Accommodation options are just

as varied whether you prefer the

luxury of a resort, the convenience

of an apartment or want to pitch

your tent at the caravan park right

on the beach.

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Port DouglasThe place to get away to...


Favoured by A-list celebrities as the

place to get away, Port Douglas has

the charm of a laidback seaside

village and the sophistication

of a modern resort town. The

former fishing village is an hour

north of Cairns along the Captain

Cook Highway, a spectacular

coastal drive with rainforest-clad

mountains on one side and the

Coral Sea on the other.

Port Douglas is the gateway to the

World Heritage-listed Daintree and

Cape Tribulation rainforest where

you can jungle surf through the

rainforest canopy or explore it from

the ground in a 4WD or on foot.

The Great Barrier Reef is just as

close with vessels departing daily

from the marina in the heart of town.

Visit Low Isles where you can

snorkel from a sandy beach or

travel to the outer Great Barrier Reef

where the colour and variety of the

fish and coral are astounding.

Swim at beautiful Four Mile Beach,

wander down the main street for

boutique shopping with a tropical

twist or dine with the birds at a

wildlife park.

Restaurants are many and varied

with exquisite interpretations of

local produce, tastes from around

the world or counter meals at

a gorgeous Queenslander pub

among the choices, or visit the

Sunday markets to sample tropical

fruits fresh from the farm.

While luxury is definitely a highlight

of Port Douglas with magnificent

resorts, elegant homes and superb

apartments the holiday choice of

the well-heeled, backpackers and

families are equally well catered

for in the relaxed tropical

atmosphere of Port.

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Daintree & Cape TribulationWhere the rainforest meets the reef

A truly special place where the two

World Heritage areas of the Wet

Tropics rainforest and the Great

Barrier Reef meet, it is no wonder

the Daintree and Cape Tribulation

region excites passion in many.

The earth’s oldest surviving tropical

rainforest is a world of contrasts

where primitive species which

existed 150 million years ago

survive alongside modern eco-

resorts, where the green landscape

is interrupted by the flash of a blue

Ulysses butterfly and where the

majestic cassowary can be spied

from easy-to-access boardwalks.

Home to the Kuku Yulanji people,

you too can experience their

culture through dreamtime stories,

bushwalks looking for Indigenous

foods, learning to paint and hunt

or feeling the healing powers of an

Aboriginal spa treatment.

Cruise the Daintree River to spot

prehistoric crocodiles, explore

mangrove landscapes, immerse

yourself in a forest of fan palms,

surf through the jungle canopy

or cool off in a rainforest stream.

Leave the green for the blue and

marvel at empty beaches where

driftwood and shells wash up to

form natural sculptures. Take a

high-speed trip to a sand cay to

snorkel among the fish, feel the

wind in your hair as you ride a horse

along the beach or pitch your tent

beside the Coral Sea.

Luxury also lies within the

rainforest with discreet eco-resorts,

amazing tree houses, blissful day

spas, and backpacker resorts.

Exclusive wildlife-spotting tours

offering another perspective of this

precious part of the world. Make

your own mark and join the locals

planting trees for a lasting memory

of an eco-friendly adventure.


CooktownA place of history...

Best known as the site where

Captain James Cook spent

several weeks repairing the Bark

Endeavour in 1770, Cooktown is

the largest town on Cape York

Peninsula. Each June, marks the

landing of Captain Cook with a

re-enactment ceremony as part of

the three-day Discovery Festival.

Indigenous, European and Chinese

history come together in this once-

bustling town where there is still

plenty of evidence of Cooktown’s

prosperity from the gold rush

era. Wide streets with impressive

handmade stone guttering, quaint

buildings that were once the hub of

commercial activity and graceful,

well preserved Queenslander

architecture give a hint of days

gone by.

Monuments, gold town ruins

and museums with carefully

preserved relics are reminders of

the town’s rich history, while the

well-maintained cemetery bears

testament to the hardships endured

more than a century ago. History is

even evident in Cooktown’s Botanic

Gardens which were gazetted in

1878 and feature 62 hectares of

native and exotic plants.

Join an Aboriginal family for a yarn

and a meal at their home, tour the

Arts and Cultural Centre at the

nearby Indigenous community of

Hope Vale or take a guided tour of

the rock art sites high in the hills.

It’s bitumen all the way if you

travel the 330km inland along the

Mulligan Highway from Cairns, or

take a 4WD for a fun adventure

along the coastal route crossing

rivers and creeks through World

Heritage-listed rainforest and rejoin

the highway at the mysterious pile

of rocks known as Black Mountain.

Cooktown has a regional airport

with regular flights and a range of

accommodation from camping to

four-star hotels.


Cape York & Torres Strait IslandsAdventure abounds...

Adventure abounds in Cape York

Peninsula, Australia’s last wild

frontier and the step-off point for

the exotic Torres Strait Islands.

From red Outback roads to

wetlands brimming with birds

and fish or from gold town ruins

to camping spots beside pristine

waterfalls, Cape York Peninsula

promises a mighty slice of

Australian history and an insight

into modern life in remote areas.

Magnificent national parks,

Aboriginal and Islander

communities, cattle stations and

tiny towns can be visited, each

with its own story of adventure

to tell. Watch for a flash of red

as a palm cockatoo takes flight,

admire Aboriginal artists at work on

internationally-commissioned art or

join a helicopter cattle muster.

This region is renowned as the

site of the world’s largest body of

prehistoric rock art painted in caves

by Aborigines some 15,000 years

ago. Wander in from the road for a

glimpse or join an Indigenous guide

for a unique cultural insight.

At the very tip of Cape York where

the South Pacific Ocean and the

Arafura Sea mix their currents

are the 274 islands of the Torres

Strait, including Thursday and Horn

Islands. This unique tropical region

is home to the indigenous Torres

Strait Islanders whose culture is

rich in the arts and whose lifestyle

has evolved from the sea and its

abundance of wildlife.

Step back in time to discover a

diverse history spanning World

War II and the pearling industry,

vibrant headdresses and colourful

dance, ancient carving and modern

printmaking plus a welcoming

people who live simply in paradise.

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Atherton TablelandsNaturally beautiful...

Breathtaking waterfalls, deep

crater lakes, a colourful tapestry

of farmlands and wildlife-rich

savannah plains set the scene

for a variety of fun adventures

throughout the varied landscape of

the Atherton Tablelands.

Situated above Cairns, this

naturally beautiful part of Tropical

North Queensland offers cooler

temperatures and diverse

experiences. Whether your

passion is fishing or water skiing,

bush walking, bird watching,

gourmet food, the Tablelands is

the refreshing place for leisure

activities.

Tropical food and wine is plentiful

with a network of self-drive trails

highlighting the best the region has

to offer. Or pack a picnic and follow

the waterfall circuit, stopping to

swim in rainforest-clad crater lakes

or marvel at the majestic curtain fig.

Lake Tinaroo is the place to catch

whopping barramundi or tasty

red claw, whiz behind a speed

boat on skis or spend lazy days

aboard a houseboat exploring the

calm waterways.

Step back in time at a restored

historical village, discover relics

from World War II, visit a restored

Chinese temple, have a classic

Aussie meal at a country pub

or buy fresh produce at a

farmers’ market.

Platypus, tree kangaroos, wallabies

and colourful finches are among

the varied wildlife commonly seen,

or spend some time at a bird hide

to see how many of the area’s 230

species you can identify.

Bed and breakfast accommodation

is popular on the Atherton

Tablelands with luxurious tree

houses and family homes among

the choices. There are also caravan

parks, camping grounds, motels

and farm-stays where you can

interact with the animals.


KurandaThe village in the rainforest...

Colourful, quirky Kuranda in the

World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics

Rainforest has daily markets and a

quaint main street lined with shops,

galleries and wildlife experiences

perfect for close encounters.

The village in the rainforest has

earned a reputation as the arts

and crafts nexus of Cairns &

Great Barrier Reef and is a popular

destination in conjunction with

journeys on the Skyrail Rainforest

Cableway and Kuranda

Scenic Railway.

Kuranda’s cool, tropical mountain

climate makes it perfect for

rainforest walks along the Barron

River or around the village itself

where majestic fig trees are home

to yellow fig birds and colourful

parrots. Follow a tunnel of green

rainforest along Barron Falls Road

to see the spectacular Barron Gorge

and its mighty waterfall which

powers a hydro-electric station.

Experience the culture of the

Djabugay Aboriginal people who

have lived around Kuranda for

more than 10,000 years by visiting

a gallery with local indigenous work

or learn to play the didgeridoo

Surround yourself with colourful

butterflies, listen to a noisy

chorus of birds, cuddle a koala,

get up close to Australia’s unique

creatures or hang about with a bat

at one of the wildlife exhibits in the

heart of Kuranda.

See the rainforest from a different

perspective with an army duck tour

that takes you on water and land to

see snakes, birds and an array of

Australian wildlife. For something

exotic dine with a pride of lions and

marvel at a collection of wildlife

from around the world.

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Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Quick FactsLOCATiON TempeRATURe/SeASONS DRive Time & DiSTANCeS

SeAWATeR Temp

RememBeR

AiRpORT DRive TimeLAGO N/eSpLANADeO

5(Ǧ)�)/(Ǧ7�7(50,1$/

,17(51(7�$&Ǥ(6Ǵ

7$;,6�6+87ǵ/(�%86

CAR HiRe/DRiviNG

%$1.��6+23Ǳ,1*�+2856

Size

pOpULATiON

HiSTORy

Cairns is located on the north east coast

of Queensland; a two-hour flight from

Brisbane or three-hour flight from Sydney.

Spring/Summer (Sept-March)

> Daytime 31oC/Evening 28oC

AuTumn/WinTer (April-August)

> Daytime 28oC/Evening 21oC

CAirnS To pAlm Cove> 20 minutes/25 kilometres/16 miles

CAirnS To KurAndA> 30 minutes/38 kilometres/15 miles

CAirnS To CAirnS HigHlAndS> 1 hour/60 kilometres/40 miles

CAirnS To porT douglAS> 1 hour/60 kilometres/40 miles

CAirnS To dAinTree> 1.5 hours/80 kilometres/68 miles

CAirnS To CooKToWn> 5 hours/200 kilometres/146 miles

CAirnS To miSSion BeACH> 1.5 hours/110 kilometres/87 miles

CAirnS To CArdWell/HinCHinBrooK> 2.5 hours/145 kilometres/110 miles

Average seawater temperature 26oC

When swimming in Australia it is

recommended you swim at beaches

patrolled by lifesavers and to swim

between the flags. Also wear sunscreen

and appropriate swimming togs.

AirporT To CAirnS: 10 minutes/7km

Stretching 2.5km along the foreshore

of Cairns CBD, the Esplanade has bike

and foot paths, as well as children’s

playgrounds, skateboard park, volleyball

courts, exercise areas, barbeques and the

Cairns Lagoon.

Located at the southern end of the

Esplanade, this is the primary departure

point for trips to the Great Barrier Reef.

Internet cafes are available throughout

the CBD and open from 8am to midnight.

Wireless internet access is available at

various internet cafes and coffee shops

with prices varying.

All of these services are available in and

around the region.

Driving is on the left side of the road in

Australia. Cars may be hired at the airport or

areas around the CBD.

Banks generally open from 9am to 4pm Mon

to Fri. ATMs are available 24 hours/7 days.

General shopping centre hours are 9am to

5.30pm Mon to Sat; 10am to 4pm on Sun.

Independent shops are often closed Sat

afternoon and all day Sun, with most shops

closed on Public Holidays.

Cairns is the hub of Tropical North

Queensland, which is 400,000sq km,

equal to the combined size of California and

Oregon or Spain and Portugal. Cairns also

has the closest access to the Great Barrier

Reef, which is the largest reef in the world,

measuring 2011km in length and 72km

across at its widest point, also making it the

world’s largest World Heritage Area. There

are an estimated 1500 species of fish, 300

species of hard, reef-building corals, more

than 4000 mollusc species and around 400

species of sponges on the Reef.

150,000 people within the

Cairns Regional Council area.

Aboriginal tribes lived in the Cairns region

for thousands of years before the first

white settlers arrived 100 years after

Captain James Cook discovered Cairns in

1770 when his ship HM Bark Endeavour

ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. The

discovery of gold in the region saw the town

officially founded in 1876 and named after

the State Governor of the day, Sir William

Cairns. As the gold rush died out, settlers

discovered sugar cane, fishing and pearling

as the region’s major industries. In 1984, the

opening of the international airport ushered

in major tourism as the region’s primary

industry and continues to meld the city into

the international hub it is today.

20 cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au

cairns & great barrier reef adventurous by nature

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