Things to do in Far North Queensland
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On the Inlet
At this restaurant jutting out over Dickson Inlet, tables spread out along a huge deck where you can await the 5pm arrival of George the grouper, who comes to feed most days. Take up the bucket-of-prawns-and-a-drink deal for $18 from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, or choose your own crayfish and mud crabs from the live tank. Great service, cool atmosphere.
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Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
At 7.5km long, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is one of the world’s longest gondola cableways and provides a bird’s-eye view over the tropical rainforest. The journey takes about 90 minutes. It includes two stops along the way and features boardwalks that have interpretive panels and passes Barron Falls (which is reduced to a small stream in the Dry). The last departure from Cairns and Kuranda is at 3.45pm; transfers to and from the terminal (15 minutes’ drive north of Cairns) and combination deals (Scenic Railway and Skyrail) are available. As space is limited, only day packs are allowed on board.
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Poseidon Reef Trips
The family-run Poseidon Reef suits fast day divers.
The unrelenting surge of visitors to the Reef off Port Douglas has impacted on its general condition, and although you'll still see colourful corals and marine life, it has become patchy in parts. Reef trips generally include reef tax, snorkelling and transfers from your accommodation, plus lunch and refreshments. Add around A$200/around A$180 for an introductory/certified dive.
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Ochre Restaurant
Red Ochre’s certainly creative with its dishes: expect goodies such as emu and vermicelli spring rolls, Australian antipasto, crocodile wanton and salt-and-native-pepper crocodile and prawns. It sounds good and it is good. The Australian game platter is $48 per person, while a slice of amazing wattleseed pavlova or quandong pie with macadamia crumble costs $14. Not sure if it’s Australian, but chocolate slut is also on the menu.
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Cairns Foreshore Promenade
The undisputed highlight of the Cairns Foreshore Promenade is the 4800-sq-m saltwater swimming lagoon, a feat in landscape architecture bringing the beach-cum-swimming experience to the heart of the city. Fitness enthusiasts blade, cycle or just walk the 3km Esplanade Walking Trail, and travellers meander lazily up and down the Esplanade, popping into restaurants and shops until the wee hours.
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Rainforest Habitat
For wildlife up close, head to Rainforest Habitat at the Cooktown Hwy turn-off. Free guided tours leave half-hourly and take you past cassowaries, black-necked storks, crocs and tree kangaroos and give you the chance to handfeed the kangaroos. Try an interactive eating opportunity at Breakfast with the Birds or Lunch with the Lorikeets.
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Pier
The Pier’s fires burn brightly on the wooden deck that surrounds this waterfront bar-restaurant. The ice machine mesmerises as it moves ice along a perspex pipe above the bar, but if you can focus your eyes on the menu you’ll find a smattering of snacks, finger foods, pizza and fish. There’s a band every Sunday night from 8pm.
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Nautilus
A hidden pathway leads through tropical gardens to intimate white-clothed tables amid tall palms at this decades-old fine-dining institution. Seafood is a speciality, such as wok-tossed mud crab with kaffir lime and lemongrass laksa. The pièce de résistance is the six-course chef's tasting menu ($110; $160 with paired wines). Children under eight aren't accepted.
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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Port Douglas
by Viator
Experience the rainforest beauty of Far North Queensland on a scenic day trip from Port Douglas. Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and choose from a vari…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$158.08 -
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Day Trip from Port Douglas
by Viator
Enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest as you soar above the canopy aboard the Skyrail on a day trip to Kuranda from Port Douglas. Choose from a variety of opt…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$158.08 Advertisement
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Salsa Bar & Grill
In a white Queenslander, Salsa is a stayer on Port's often fickle scene. Try the Cajun jambalaya (rice with prawns, yabbies, crocodile and smoked chicken) or the gingerbread-dusted kangaroo with polenta.
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Java Blue
With a long coffee menu, free-range eggs, a main street location and good service, this one is popular with the locals.
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Mount Sorrow
The Mount Sorrow ridge trail provides opportunities for fit and experienced bushwalkers to take in spectacular views from an elevation of 680m. The trail starts in a lowland rainforest valley, full of trees with large buttress roots and a canopy woven with large woody vines. As the ridge ascends, feather-leafed palms become more common.
On the ridge, the vegetation is dominated by acacias (wattles). The wind-sheared forest canopy becomes lower and more open towards the mountain summit. From the lookout, you can watch spangled drongos and small flocks of topknot pigeons in the air, while a variety of butterflies drift around on the wind. On a clear day, the beautiful Daint…
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Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns
by Viator
Enjoy five hours of snorkeling or diving at two outer Great Barrier Reef locations on a premium cruise from Cairns. You'll be served a typically Aussie barbecue…
Not LP reviewed
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Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
Varies (Departs Cairns, Australia)
by Viator
Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green Island, with plenty o…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$77.09 -
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
by Viator
Experience the rainforest beauty of Far North Queensland on a scenic day trip from Cairns. Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and choose from a variety of…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$143.44 -
Myall Beach
With spectacular views of Mt Sorrow in the background, areas of fringing reef on Myall Beach are exposed at low tide, allowing swimmers to explore the rock pools. The mangrove boardwalk on the way to the beach has a seat where you can sit and listen to the crabs popping - cute! At the southern most end, you can explore the Myall Creek mouth.
At the northern point of the beach you can climb out on to the Cape Trib headland. Don't try and go around it - vertical cliffs make this impossible. Half way to the headland is Mason Creek: check out the sheltered nook in the mangroves, a popular spot for birdwatching.
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Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour
10 - 11 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas, Australia)
by Viator
Take a day trip from Cairns along one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads to Daintree National Park. Along the way you'll visit the Rainforest Habitat Wild…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$155.15 -
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour and Cruise
9 - 10 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove and Northern Beaches, Australia)
by Viator
Hit the rails, the rainforest, the sky and the reef in an action-packed day trip from Cairns! You'll take the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns, go shopping in…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$389.34 -
Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Tour and Cruise from Cairns
Varies (Departs Cairns, Northern Beaches and Palm Cove, Australia)
by Viator
Fly and cruise the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the world. You'll take a scenic helicopter tour from Cairns over the stunning Great Barrier R…
Not LP reviewed
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Quicksilver
Major operator with fast cruises to Agincourt Reef. Offers helmet dives ($142), plus scenic helicopter flights from the pontoon on the reef ($148, minimum two passengers).
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Synergy 2 Reef Trips
Outer reefs tours and limo transfers are included in this upmarket tour which takes a maximum of 12 passengers.
Although the unrelenting surge of visitors to the Reef off Port Douglas has impacted on its general condition, you'll still see colourful corals and marine life, but it has become patchy in parts. Reef trips generally include reef tax, snorkelling and transfers from your accommodation, plus lunch and refreshments. Add around A$200/around A$180 for an introductory/certified dive.
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Tjapukai Cultural Park
Allow at least three hours at this Indigenous-owned cultural extravaganza, incorporating the Creation Theatre, which tells the story of creation using giant holograms and actors, a dance theatre and a gallery, as well as boomerang- and spear-throwing demonstrations and turtle-spotting during a canoe ride on the lake. A fireside corroboree is the centrepiece of the Tjapukai by Night dinner-and-show deal.
The park is about 15km north of the city centre, just off the Captain Cook Hwy near the Skyrail terminal; transfers are available for an extra charge.
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Haba Reef Trips
The unrelenting surge of visitors to the Reef off Port Douglas has impacted on its general condition, and although you'll still see colourful corals and marine life, it has become patchy in parts. Reef trips generally include reef tax, snorkelling and transfers from your accommodation, plus lunch and refreshments. Add around A$200/around A$180 for an introductory/certified dive.
Haba Reef carries a glass-bottom boat and ventures to two sites. Maximum 80 passengers.
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Tallarook Reef Trips
Tallarook Reef sails to Tongue Reef in just under two hours (maximum 25 passengers).
The unrelenting surge of visitors to the Reef off Port Douglas has impacted on its general condition, and although you'll still see colourful corals and marine life, it has become patchy in parts. Reef trips generally include reef tax, snorkelling and transfers from your accommodation, plus lunch and refreshments. Add around A$200/around A$180 for an introductory/certified dive.
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