From Reef to Rainforest—the Ultimate Guide to Queensland’s Tropical North

Located in Australia’s north east, Tropical North Queensland is the gateway to one of the world’s most famous landscapes — the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the largest coral reef system in the world, spanning more than 1,430 miles in the Coral Sea. Travellers can set off on diving and snorkelling excursions on the reef or journey into the nearby Daintree Rainforest — part of the Wet Tropics Rainforest — which has been standing for more than 180 million years. But beyond these extraordinary landscapes, there are plenty of ways for travellers to explore the region’s distinct history and culture — from seeking out Indigenous artwork along inland rock crevices to celebrating the cultural heritage of the remote Torres Strait. Here’s how to see the best of Australia’s tropical north.

What to Know

Queensland’s tropical north is the only place in the world where two Unesco-listed landscapes exist side by side. The Daintree Rainforest, part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland Heritage Site, harbours 18% of Australia’s birdlife and 30% of the country’s reptile and frog species, plus towering kauri trees, many of which are more than 1,000 years old. The rainforest neighbours the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to coral gardens, colourful reef fish and larger creatures such as manta rays, sharks and turtles. However, these famous natural wonders are just a few of the region’s must-visit sites.

Beyond the coastline and the region’s biggest city, Cairns, travellers can explore the thriving communities in Queensland’s countryside. The vast cattle farms, orchards and sugarcane fields that stretch to the horizon are vital to the region’s culinary scene. Areas including the Atherton Tablelands, which is home to nearly 2,000 farms, grow seasonal produce used daily by the region’s renowned chefs. Travellers can try fresh fruits, locally grown coffee, tea and more at the Atherton Tablelands’ Yungaburra Markets. In Cairns, Rusty’s Markets features stalls selling everything from just-ripe mangoes to spicy samosas. Renowned spots such as Nu Nu Restaurant in Palm Cove and Epicurean Port Douglas proudly showcase produce sourced from across the region’s rainforests, reef and Outback. Keeping food local is the norm here, and travellers will taste that freshness in every meal.

Where to Go

The coastal city of Cairns makes a fitting start for any trip to Tropical North Queensland. From Cairns Marlin Marina, travellers can head out on diving, snorkelling and sailing excursions on the Great Barrier Reef. This unique ecosystem faces stresses from coastal development and climate change, but there are opportunities for travellers to make a positive impact. Passions of Paradise’s Be a Marine Biologist for a Day package invites visitors to support the research team’s reef monitoring work while on snorkelling and diving tours. Travellers will see how these efforts help prevent the spread of destructive pests such as the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish and drupella snails. Additionally, Reef Magic’s pontoon tours offer Reef Restoration Days. Alongside a qualified Master Reef Guide (a term used for guides who have been nominated, trained and accredited for their reef interpretation skills), visitors can reattach broken hard corals propagated in cyclone-affected areas, helping to accelerate reef recovery.

One of the best ways to explore the neighbouring Daintree Rainforest is to drift along the Mossman River on an inflatable raft tour with Back Country Bliss. For a different view on this ancient landscape, take a guided Ngadiku Dreamtime walk through the Mossman Gorge. Led by local Indigenous guides, these one-and-a-half-hour tours combine ancient storytelling traditions from the Kuku-Yalanji (one of the region’s Aboriginal Australian people) with fascinating titbits on the flora and fauna.

Operating between Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation, Walkabout Cultural Adventures teaches travellers about bush medicines and seasonal bush tucker (a term used for native plants, fruits, seeds, insects and animals used for food by Australia’s Indigenous people). Along the way, visitors can keep an eye out for bowerbirds and the endangered southern cassowary, a large, flightless bird species most closely related to the emu.

In the Laura Basin, Indigenous-owned Jarramali Rock Art Tours takes visitors on hikes to caves that harbour secret rock art galleries laden with 2,000-year-old paintings showcasing ancient stories from the Kuku-Yalanji people.

The Torres Strait is a collection of 274 islands that lies between the northern tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea. On Thursday Island, the strait’s administrative capital, Island Stars offers dance and storytelling performances that bring together two of the world’s oldest living cultures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Island Stars’ Art Gallery provides an opportunity to pick up locally made artwork and jewellery while also supporting this important place for generational storytelling. On nearby Horn Island, Torres Strait Tours lead guided walks in the footsteps of the only Indigenous Battalion created by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Strait Experience also allows visitors to explore the Torres Strait alongside Indigenous guides. Travellers can engage with local artists at the Badu Art Centre or immerse themselves in Maluyligal culture on Boigu, Australia's northernmost inhabited island.

When to Visit

With average daytime temperatures ranging from 26C in winter to 31C in summer, Tropical North Queensland is a great year-round destination. Travellers visiting the Great Barrier Reef can enjoy calm seas and excellent visibility during the winter months from June to October. The Daintree is undoubtedly at its peak during summer (November to May), when waterfalls become dazzling cascades in the surrounding hills and vegetation is at its most verdant. Those sticking close to the coast are most likely to spot minke whales in June and July, while humpback whales are typically seen between July and September. The Torres Strait Islands are best visited during winter, since ferry services to the islands from operators in mainland Australia run from March to December.