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Far North Queensland This vast area from Cairns and north to Cape York has much to offer the visitor. There are multiple national parks which range from Cape
Tribulations' mangroves, rainforest
and flower studded peaks to the recently discovered
Chillago limestone caves and
Australia's widest waterfall, Millstream Falls.
Aboriginal theatre, white water rafting,
ballooning and marlin fishing can be enjoyed in this area. Cairns
Weather
The Atherton Tablelands border the city to the West with a fringe perimeter of mountain
rainforest. Owing to the high rainfall cascading water falls and running creeks with crystal
clean waters running through the area add to the magic of this beautiful country. With the
Barrier Reef off the coast to the East the diversity of the outstanding natural features all
within striking distance is difficult to parallel anywhere in the world. For some insight into the interesting history of the region visit the Cairns Historical Museum which tells the story of the town's growth after gold was discovered inland in 1876. There is also a Regional Art Gallery, but Cairns' principal attractions are natural ones. Take a walk through the century-old Botanic Gardens which lies adjacent to the Mount Whitfield Environmental Park or venture into the coastal mangrove swamps along the specially constructed boardwalks. The focal point of Cairns is the Esplanade where you can walk, swim and picnic or enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee at one of the many restaurants. If you happen to be there on a Saturday don't forget the morning market where you will find anything from crafts to fresh produce.
The town has been in and out of favour throughout the following 100 years for various
reasons both geographic and political but it's final full potential was fully exploited with the
ease of modern day travel.
Beyond the Tropic of Capricorn Queensland grows ever greener, increasingly wetter and more tropical.
It is here that you can experience Australia's rich rainforests and the magnificent diversity of the
Great Barrier Reef lying off the Queensland coast. More information about Cairns>> The Cassowary Coast South of Cairns is the tranquil Cassowary Coast. Here you can enjoy quiet seaside villages, days of fishing and beach lounging if you prefer the laid-back style. From Innisfail or Mission Beach you can organise trips to the Great Barrier Reef, and if you tire of the salty waters you might want to try some fun on the white water, riding the Tully, Mulgrave or Beatrice rivers.
Cape York Peninsula is located in northern Queensland, Australia, where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet. The peninsula contains some of the wildest and least-developed land on the continent. The region experiences heavy precipitation almost year-round, supporting rain forests on its eastern slopes and flooded swamps in the western lowlands. Cape York is a wilderness of rainforests, grasslands and swamps, rich in wildlife and adventure. Much of the peninsula can only be accessed by 4X4, but tours and wildlife safaris can be arranged from Cooktown. This town marks the place where Captain James Cook first set foot on Australian soil.
Port Douglas was once a sleepy little tropical town with no industry. With the advent of
International flights into Cairns (70klms south) it has become the up market destination for
all who want to explore the natural wonders from the comfort of resort accommodation.
Port Douglas is surrounded by the splendours of the rainforest which next to the beautiful
pristine white sands of Mission Beach make it a perfect destination. Ecologists have
developed many facilities to showcase the flora and fauna of the region. The
Great Barrier
Reef is on the doorstep combining these ecosystems. This rare phenomenon does not
occur anywhere else in the entire world so this adds the final touch of magic. A great day trip begins early at "Breakfast with the Birds" at The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary. This is an artificial rainforest offering a sneak preview of life within a tropical environment. Champagne breakfasts are served daily from 8am to 11am, but be prepared to share your meal, as the birds are quite comfortable dropping in for a bite! After breakfast you can take a one hour tour and experience life in a tropical forest at bird's eye level. You can observe native wildlife from treetop walkways and view a multitude of wildlife, including birds, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and crocodiles. The rainforest aviary is one of the highlights of the tour, but don't expect to whiz through the Habitat Sanctuary, as it has over 1600 animals of 200 different species. Our advice is to give yourself at least half a day here.Another great tour is on The Lady Douglas Paddle wheeler, cruising on the Port Douglas waterways. The boat travels deep within the mangrove-lined Dixon Inlet where the captain explains many of the unique secrets of the ecosystem. Saltwater crocodiles, marine fish and an array of bird life are among the many creatures that surround the Lady Douglas as she plies the inlet. A delicious Aussie BBQ lunch of seafood, chicken, salads and damper is included in the trip. There's also a licensed bar if you're feeling thirsty. The Lady Douglas 2˝ hour Aussie BBQ Cruise departs from Marina Mirage every day except Sunday. Cooktown Cooktown is somewhat of a frontier town, the last taste of civilisation before the wilds of Cape York. It is a fully equipped holiday town and a place of mysterious beauty. A four hour's drive from Cairns, Cooktown is the quintessential Queensland town. The main street is wide and lined with mango and frangipani trees, and features colonial architecture and stately Queenslander homes. It's also a place brimming with history. You could call this the first ever Australian tourist resort, for it was here that Captain Cook stayed for 46 days in 1770, repairing damage to his ship Endeavour. Over 100 years later, gold was discovered at the nearby Palmer River, and Cooktown became a boom town. In its heyday, there were 94 hotels in town and 35,000 people had passed through the port en route to the gold fields. In 1874, Cooktown was the second biggest town in Queensland. Today, there is a population of around 1340 and only three pubs. Much of the surrounding countryside remains pretty much as Cook discovered it over 200 years ago. The first thing most visitors do when they arrive is drive up Grassy Hill for the breathtaking 360 degree views of the town and the river. Another good place to visit is the James Cook Museum, which has displays of local memorabilia including the anchor from the Endeavour. Tony was fascinated by one of the first drawings of a kangaroo as seen by western eyes. This was created by one of Captain Cook's crew while they were encamped at Endeavor River. This museum is currently undergoing renovation and will be totally revamped next year. Torres StraitBeyond Cape York, barely 200km of sea separates Australia from New Guinea: the Torres Strait is an obstacle-strewn stretch named after Luís Vaez de Torres, who navigated the waters in 1606. Prior to European contact, the Strait's islands had developed trade links with Australia and highland New Guinea, which supplied outrigger canoes - no suitable trees grow in the Strait - in exchange for oyster and trochus shell, and heads. Warfare between islands pervaded all aspects of life, and the eastern cult of Malo required human jaws as tribute. The early nineteenth century saw the first trade with Europeans, who soon discovered the Strait's rich bęche de mer (sea cucumber) and pearl beds and occupied the islands as bases for the industry, decimating the Islanders through violence and disease. Then on July 1, 1871, the London Missionary Society landed on Darnley Island. Once Islanders realized that the mission protected them from the more piratical whites, they converted to Christianity at a speed that amazed even the missionaries. The advent of Christianity (known here as the Coming of the Light) stabilized communities but also heralded the end of traditional life, as cults were undermined and wages and stores replaced the barter network. The church created island councils, but Queensland held the real power with its segregation laws, which prevented emigration to the mainland. The only job in the Strait was pearling (for mother-of-pearl), and white boat-owners would have lost their labour pool if Islanders went south. Until World War II the islands made the best of it, but army service overseas gave returning recruits a better understanding of what they deserved from the government, and pressure removed some barriers to migration. The advent of plastics led to the collapse of the mother-of-pearl industry, and the unemployment that followed forced the government to drop all protectionist policies, with the result that by the mid-1970s half the Strait's former population was living on the mainland. The remainder formed a movement to establish an Islander Nation, which bore its first fruit on June 3, 1992, when the Mabo Decision acknowledged the Merriam as traditional owners of Murray Island, thereby setting a precedent for mainland Aboriginal claims and sending shock waves through the establishment. Ferries cross regularly between Cape York and Thursday Island, the Strait's administrative centre - which, even on a brief visit, offers a fascinating glimpse into an all-but-forgotten corner of Australia. In theory, travel beyond Thursday (except to neighbouring islands) is forbidden to casual travellers, but the rules are occasionally relaxed.
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Cairns
Gateway to The Far Far North
Tropical capital of far north Queensland. Key destination for international flights for visitors
wishing to access Cape York to the north and the closer charms of the Daintree region.
North of Cairns is the Daintree. This is an extensive area of beautiful rainforest some 1200
sq km in size and boundaried by the ocean. The terrain is
mountainous and well vegetated. Spilling out onto the broad white sandy beaches it stretches out as far as the
eye can see culminating in the perfection of Cape Tribulation.
ocean below where The
secrets hidden here can be discovered if
you travel slowly and stop frequently to enjoy the views. The two most complex ecosystems
in the Reef and Rainforest, come together in a unique marriage that will not be found anywhere else in the world.