Cairns, Port Douglas and Far North Qld
Cairns, Port Douglas and Far North Qld
Things to do in Cairns & Far North Queensland
Cruising the Outer Barrier Reef: A day spent discovering the beauty and splendour of the reef is one that will stay with you forever. Snorkelling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef is, quite simply, the adventure of a lifetime. From the stunning natural destination - the world's largest marine park - to the superbly comfortable vessels, the genuinely friendly crew and professional organisation of the daily reef trips, your reef adventure will surely match and exceed your expectations. Naturally, you can snorkel or scuba dive with equipment provided and a trained crew on hand to assist, but you can also view the aquascape from the comfort of a semi-submersible or underwater observatory, or even from above on a helicopter scenic flight from a reef moored pontoon! Whatever your style or budget, there is a reef cruise designed just for you, and memories waiting to be captured in the crystal clear waters of the Coral Sea.
There is no better way to experience the romance of the sea than an extended ocean cruise on our Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is fortunate to attract both international cruise liners and regional cruise companies who present a range of holiday options. A new emerging cruising destination in the style of the Carribean is the Great Barrier Reef and the region of the Arafura Sea, bounded by northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. If you love the idea of a cruise but want to do it on your own, there are vessels available for private charter in Cairns to suit your style and your pocket - simply contact the experts who specialize in local boats and boat charters.
Reef Islands: There are over 1,000 islands in the Great Barrier Reef, but the best are easily accessible from the main centres of Cairns and Port Douglas. The reef islands are in fact two distinct types of formations - vegetated coral cays and mountainous continental islands which were once part of the mainland. Both styles have diverse vegetation including rainforest, and are encircled by coral reefs.
Lizard Island is a resort island renowned for deep sea fishing, some 80kms north of Cooktown. The Low Isles, 15kms off Port Douglas, is a picturesque destination for day visitors and the location of one of the most famous lighthouses on the coast. Palm Cove's appealis enhanced by nearby Double Island, the site of a small exclusive resort.
Green and Fitzroy Islands are the closest to Cairns, and easily accessible on day tour excursions via a catamaran cruise. Green Island is a small 12 hectare coral cay and features a low rise resort, an underwater observatory and Marineland Melanesia. The major natural attractions of nearby Fitzroy Island are the rainforest and island walks, including a guided tour of the clam farm.
The Frankland Islands are a group of five islands protected as a National Park within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, accessible to visitors via a day cruise. Popular Dunk Island appears to be only metres from the township of Mission Beach. It is, in fact, a five minute boat ride but seems a million miles away from the mainland. Beyond Dunk are the exclusive hideaways of Bedarra and Orpheus Islands, which feature villas and bures set amidst tropical greenery and private beaches approaching perfection.
Adventure Touring: If you're idea of the perfect holiday is less relaxation and more excitement, then you've come to the right place. Here, you can float over the Atherton Tableland at sunrise in a hot air balloon, or dive in the depths of the Outer Barrier Reef at midnight in November to watch the coral spawning. Rappel down a ravine, raft a foaming river or race across the outback into the setting sun on a wilderness trailbike safari. Join one of the many 4WD excursions for a day or a week exploring the rainforest or the outback; naturalists will love the evening spotlighting tours to see the nocturnal native fauna. There is a tremendous choice of excellent day tours also. Choose the ones that best suit you and ask for information that relates to your field of interest. Whatever you can imagine, chances are you can do it in the Tropical North. Our tour operators are some of the most innovative and professional in the world!
Indigenous Tourism: Whatever your experiences of cultural tourism, prepare to be captivated by the sheer quality, professionalism and enthsuiasm exhibited by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of the Far North. From the phenomenal impact of a multi-award winning Aboriginal Dance Theatre, through the compelling displays of indigenous outdoor performance troupes to the award winning business acumen of the local arts and craftspeople, this region has pioneered a new and dynamic style of cultural presentation which has become a benchmark for indigenous Australians. Visitors can now choose from a range of cultural experiences including theatre, dance, boomerang and spear throwing, bush tucker presentations and even more to come with the planned opening of a new Aboriginal cultural theme park in mid 1996.
Fishing: The Tropical North is a fishing and boating paradise. The thrill of the catch and encounters with great sportsfish such as giant black marlin and sailfish have long enticed recreational anglers to the azure waters of the Coral Sea and the quiet estuaries of the coast. Quite simply, your expectations of a fishing adventure are sure to be realised because the calibre of our local fishing guides and charter operators is world renown, and the superb natural environment and weather conditions lift the experience into a class of its own. Fishing here is an all year round pastime, and all classes and angling preferences are catered for with the balanced management of recreational fishing being a subject dear to the hearts of many locals.
Precious Gems: Gemstones pssess a fascination like no other precious commodity. There are many excellent, reputable gemstone retailers in and around Cairns and you will enjoy talking to them and gaining an insight into the best buys in this region. Australia is famous internationally for producing the world's finest opal - a treasure likened to a magical looking glass reflecting nature's own fireworks. Only a very small percentage of all opal found is precious opal and this rarity is much greater than is generally appreciated.
Australia's rich mineral deposits yield a wide range of other precious stones such as sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds and from the surrounding seas, natural and cultured pearls. There is a pearl farm situated off Cairns at Arlington Reef which has daily guided tours and enables visitors to see a fascinating pearl-seeding demonstration. If gem collecting is of interest, then investigate a fossicking permit for the Tablelands or the Gulf Savannah.
Tropical Dining: One of the great experiences that define any holiday is dining out, whether it be a formal, fine dining affair or an al fresco sunset picnic. We are blessed with an abundance of local delicacies; fresh seafood from the oceans and rivers, tempting exotic tropical fruits from the hinterland plantations, and piquant flavours of native Australian cuisine. The world class restaurants of the city and its surrounding regions reflect the cosmopolitan nature of both its residents and visitors, with nearly all making a special point of presenting thier own variation of local delicacies such as succulent prawns, delicate barramundi, mud crabs, reef species like the famed coral trout and red emperor, and the subtle indigenous flavours of kangaroo, emu and crocodile. Be adventurous and you'll be rewarded by the very special experience that is the taste of the tropics!
