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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland’s Tropical North, Cairns is a modern, sophisticated and stylish city which is
renowned for its relaxed and laid back atmosphere. The city itself has an abundance of world class accommodation, shopping,
dining, arts and cultural activities. The lush, meticulously maintained Boardwalk, Esplanade and Lagoon are well loved, with Port
Douglas and the northern beaches at their doorstep. Cairns Northern Beaches is a 10 minute drive from Cairns CBD. For
visitors staying at one of Cairns Northern beaches there are facilities to meet everyone’s needs. The region offers shopping, a
rainforest skyrail adventure, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and an extensive range of restaurants.

Palm Cove is located 30 minutes’ drive from Cairns. A beautiful palm fringed beach with lots of cafes & health spas, known as the
spa capital of Australia.

Port Douglas is approximately 70 kilometres north of Cairns. With a vibrancy that combines top class resorts, restaurants,
boutique shopping with the appeal of world class golf courses, a relaxed pace and a myriad of sightseeing at your doorstep. The
region offers rainforest walks, pampered days by the pool or strolls along unspoilt beaches. Explore the Great Barrier Reef; travel to
a pontoon on the outer edge of the reef, dive straight from the back of the boat or swim out from an island to see some of the
1500 species of fish, 4000 species of molluscs and 400 types of coral that live in this diverse ecosystem. Try an introductory dive
to see the reef and its colourful marine life up close or learn to dive so you can complete multiple underwater adventures as a
certified diver. The enormous variety of diving experiences includes plummeting Coral Sea wall dives, diving alongside giant potato
cod, joining reef sharks at night or witnessing the annual coral spawn. Diving, snorkelling, sailing, cruising and island hopping are
all part of everyday life in Tropical North Queensland, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Events Must see & do

Month Event Name Location • G reat Barrier Reef Cruise – The world’s largest, most spectacular coral
Cassowary Coast
March March Feast of the Senses Port Douglas reef. Tours depart daily from Cairns, Mission Beach and Port Douglas with
Cairns many operators available – some with pontoons, others just off the back of
May Port Douglas Carnivale Cairns the boat so budgets & experiences to suit all
Port Douglas
July Cairns Indigenous Art Fair • R ainforest – Be enchanted by the beauty, life and tranquility of earth’s

September Cairns Amateur Carnival oldest surviving tropical rainforests. Over 97% of land in Cairns and the
Great Barrier Reef is protected including areas in the Daintree and Cape
November Great Barrier Reef Marathon Tribulation Rainforests to the north, the tropical Atherton Tablelands to the
Festival west and Mission Beach to the south

• Markets – Great places to sample the local atmosphere, art, food,

music and lifestyle. Regular markets including the famous Rusty’s and
Port Douglas Sunday Markets, the Esplanade Markets in Cairns and
Yungaburra and Kuranda Rainforest Village Markets on the tropical
Atherton Tablelands are not to be missed

• Tropical Food and Wine – The region is home to an eclectic array of tastes

and gourmet produce which combine to create a tropical fruit bowl full of
fantastic food and wine experiences for you to savour

• Beaches – Beautiful palm tree lined beaches caressed by warm tropical

waters. The northern beaches stretch for 26 kilometres along the coastline.
They begin just north of Cairns beyond the Barron River Bridge with
Machans Beach followed by Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity
Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach

• Adventure – why not go rafting or hot air ballooning options available with

Raging Thunder

• Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – A chance to observe up close a huge range

of flora and fauna as birds fly and roam free. Perhaps try breakfast with the
birds option

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