Cairns

In recent years, the tropical city of Cairns on picturesque Trinity Bay has grown from a small provincial town into a large, lively tourist centre. It is an ideal base for cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches north of the city and along the mainland coast, and for excursions into the rainforest of Cape Tribulation.

Lively Cairns is a popular starting or finishing point for a self-drive tour along Australia’s east coast. Just a few kilometres north of the city, the glorious beaches of Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach beckon. Cairns is also an ideal base for snorkelling and diving trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Green Island and Fitzroy Island lie 45 minutes from Cairns by boat and are perfect for unwinding and exploring the underwater world. Follow the Great Barrier Reef Drive north from Cairns and you will discover countless palm-fringed beaches. This road runs along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world – the 35 km section between Palm Cove and Port Douglas is particularly spectacular.

The Cape York Peninsula in the far north of Queensland is one of the largest and oldest virtually untouched rainforest regions in the world. Its breathtakingly beautiful landscape is easy to explore on a guided excursion or on your own.

The immediate hinterland of Cairns is mountainous. As well as waterfalls such as Milla Falls, a visit to the village of Kuranda in the Atherton Tablelands is highly recommended. You can get there either on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway or on the Skyrail cableway, which glides right over the rainforest canopy. The area around Cairns is also the ancestral home of numerous Aboriginal peoples. To gain a better understanding of their culture and history, visitors can book tours led by Aboriginal guides.

The rainforest and Cape Tribulation National Park

Cape Tribulation National Park begins just beyond the Daintree River. Here you can explore the rainforest and its rich flora and fauna on an exciting hike. Various lookouts offer magnificent views of the sea and the mouth of the Daintree River.