Tourism Activities
For many visitors to coastal Queensland, the tourism fleet is their primary means of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. There are approximately 820 operators and 1500 vessels operating in the Marine Park.
There are a diverse range of tourism operations in the Great Barrier Reef including day tours, overnight and extended tours, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing charters, long range roving tours, aircraft or helicopter tours, bare boats (self-sail), glass-bottomed boat viewing, semi-submersibles and educational trips, cruise ships, beach hire and water sports, passenger ferries, whale watching and swimming with dolphins and also including bungy jumping.
The dry season therefore is a much more comfortable time to visit the area. The months of July, August and September are the best when temperatures average a very pleasant 20 degrees Celsius - slightly warmer in the north than in the south.
There are a diverse range of tourism operations in the Great Barrier Reef including day tours, overnight and extended tours, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing charters, long range roving tours, aircraft or helicopter tours, bare boats (self-sail), glass-bottomed boat viewing, semi-submersibles and educational trips, cruise ships, beach hire and water sports, passenger ferries, whale watching and swimming with dolphins and also including bungy jumping.
The dry season therefore is a much more comfortable time to visit the area. The months of July, August and September are the best when temperatures average a very pleasant 20 degrees Celsius - slightly warmer in the north than in the south.
Great Barrier Reef Day Trips
A trip to the Tropical North would not be complete without experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Day Trips operate from Cairns and Port Douglas with transfers available from Palm Cove and surrounds. Excellent choice of vessels from small high speed luxury catamarans, mid size sailing to large catamarans that have their own platforms on the outer reef.
Great Barrier Reef Cruises
One of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is by joining a small or mid sized cruising ship. With a variety of ships sailing Australia's most picturesque coastline you can share this wonderful voyage. A variety of vessels are on offer including the Santa Maria, Coral Princess and Coral Sea Dreaming - offering journeys from 2 to 7 days in length.
Hinterland and Outback Tours
A choice of tours is yours. Take a scenic flight to Cooktown over World Heritage Areas, a remarkable way to see the diverse and vast Australian Outback. Or try a day tour by vehicle from Cairns that takes you from tropical rainforests to the Atherton Tablelands and into the Gulf Savannah Plains of the Outback returning via Kuranda Range. See this unique region of tropical north Queensland.
Hot Air Ballooning Tours
What better to experience the beauty of North Queensland than by taking an exhilarating Hot Air Balloon trip over the Atherton Tablelands with spectacular views to the ocean. Watch the inflation process before hopping into the basket and taking off into the big blue yonder. The perfect addition to any North Queensland holiday!
Island Day Trips
Whether a day trip to explore the reef and rainforest on Green Island Reef island, discover the uninhabited Frankland Island or perhaps a scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef before landing on Green Island. There are several tour operators departing from Cairns that offer a memorable day trip to a reef island.
Daintree Rainforest Tours
The world heritage listed Daintree Rainforest located north of Cairns and Port Douglas provides visitors to the region with a chance to explore a unique tropical area. Rainforest tours depart from Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas and travel as far as Cape Tribulation and Bloomfield Falls. Many tours also include a cruise along the Daintree River. Variety of tour operators including small 4wd, minibuses and luxury coaches are available.
Reef Dive Courses & Liveaboard Diving
Whether you're a diving novice looking to scuba for the first time or an experienced diver the options for diving the Great Barrier Reef are endless. Liveaboards duration varies from overnight to 7 days cruising as far North as Lizard Island to dive the Cod Hole or to the outer reef and the Coral Sea. Excellent opportunity to experience the world's best reef diving and snorkelling.
Scenic Flights
Enjoy amazing aerial views flying over the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands. Or follow the coastline and see the beautiful beaches from Cairns to Port Douglas. Helicopter or aircraft is the choice with a variety of different itineraries available. Excellent opportunity for photos.
Tourist Attractions
The tropical North Queensland region is renowned for operating some of Australia's best tourist attractions including the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the Kuranda Wildlife Experience. Day tours from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas include several different tourist attractions in one tour.
White Water Rafting
White water rafting is popular in the tropics with a number of rivers surrounding Cairns and offering visitors an opportunity to try rafting. Tully River, Barron River and Russell River all have rapids from grades 1 to 4 (seasonal). Looking for something new and adventurous, like to try something different, spend a day out with the family or see parts of this region that you might normally not get to see - all great reasons to try white water rafting in tropical Queensland.
4wd Safaris
Tropical North Queensland has some of the world's most amazing wilderness areas. One of the best ways to see and experience the area is to join a 4WD Safari. Visit Cooktown in the North, see the Daintree Rainforest and experience Aboriginal culture. A 4WD Safari tour provides a unique opportunity to see Australia's distinctive wildlife.
A trip to the Tropical North would not be complete without experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Day Trips operate from Cairns and Port Douglas with transfers available from Palm Cove and surrounds. Excellent choice of vessels from small high speed luxury catamarans, mid size sailing to large catamarans that have their own platforms on the outer reef.
Great Barrier Reef Cruises
One of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is by joining a small or mid sized cruising ship. With a variety of ships sailing Australia's most picturesque coastline you can share this wonderful voyage. A variety of vessels are on offer including the Santa Maria, Coral Princess and Coral Sea Dreaming - offering journeys from 2 to 7 days in length.
Hinterland and Outback Tours
A choice of tours is yours. Take a scenic flight to Cooktown over World Heritage Areas, a remarkable way to see the diverse and vast Australian Outback. Or try a day tour by vehicle from Cairns that takes you from tropical rainforests to the Atherton Tablelands and into the Gulf Savannah Plains of the Outback returning via Kuranda Range. See this unique region of tropical north Queensland.
Hot Air Ballooning Tours
What better to experience the beauty of North Queensland than by taking an exhilarating Hot Air Balloon trip over the Atherton Tablelands with spectacular views to the ocean. Watch the inflation process before hopping into the basket and taking off into the big blue yonder. The perfect addition to any North Queensland holiday!
Island Day Trips
Whether a day trip to explore the reef and rainforest on Green Island Reef island, discover the uninhabited Frankland Island or perhaps a scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef before landing on Green Island. There are several tour operators departing from Cairns that offer a memorable day trip to a reef island.
Daintree Rainforest Tours
The world heritage listed Daintree Rainforest located north of Cairns and Port Douglas provides visitors to the region with a chance to explore a unique tropical area. Rainforest tours depart from Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas and travel as far as Cape Tribulation and Bloomfield Falls. Many tours also include a cruise along the Daintree River. Variety of tour operators including small 4wd, minibuses and luxury coaches are available.
Reef Dive Courses & Liveaboard Diving
Whether you're a diving novice looking to scuba for the first time or an experienced diver the options for diving the Great Barrier Reef are endless. Liveaboards duration varies from overnight to 7 days cruising as far North as Lizard Island to dive the Cod Hole or to the outer reef and the Coral Sea. Excellent opportunity to experience the world's best reef diving and snorkelling.
Scenic Flights
Enjoy amazing aerial views flying over the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands. Or follow the coastline and see the beautiful beaches from Cairns to Port Douglas. Helicopter or aircraft is the choice with a variety of different itineraries available. Excellent opportunity for photos.
Tourist Attractions
The tropical North Queensland region is renowned for operating some of Australia's best tourist attractions including the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the Kuranda Wildlife Experience. Day tours from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas include several different tourist attractions in one tour.
White Water Rafting
White water rafting is popular in the tropics with a number of rivers surrounding Cairns and offering visitors an opportunity to try rafting. Tully River, Barron River and Russell River all have rapids from grades 1 to 4 (seasonal). Looking for something new and adventurous, like to try something different, spend a day out with the family or see parts of this region that you might normally not get to see - all great reasons to try white water rafting in tropical Queensland.
4wd Safaris
Tropical North Queensland has some of the world's most amazing wilderness areas. One of the best ways to see and experience the area is to join a 4WD Safari. Visit Cooktown in the North, see the Daintree Rainforest and experience Aboriginal culture. A 4WD Safari tour provides a unique opportunity to see Australia's distinctive wildlife.