TRAVEL:
With its amazing seascapes, World Heritage sites and lip-smacking food trails, Tropical North Queensland has it all and is perfect for a short break, writes
Queensland’s scenic splendours
World Heritage sites on the left, World Heritage attractions on the right. Scenic drives don’t get much better than this. The 67 kilometre stretch between Cairns and Port Douglas is nothing short of spectacular. On one side of the road there’s that famous icon, the Great Barrier Reef, in all its glory and on the other side you will see the Wet Tropics Rainforest, where waterfalls tumble and plants and trees thrive.
The dramatic, photogenic roadway twists and turns, enticing visitors to stop and explore, whether it’s a barefoot ramble along a pristine beach, a dip in the blue sea – where you may well spot dolphins – or pulling into laid-back seaside villages to discover gourmet gems.
Highlights along the way include the Skyway Rainforest Cableway, near Smithfield, where you can take a 7.5km ride over the forest canopy up to the Barron Falls and Kuranda, and the Rex Lookout, favoured by paragliders who seem to dance across the sky. It’s also a great photo opportunity with its sweeping vista looking back towards Cairns.
Trinity Beach, a favourite swimming spot for locals, is well worth a stop to cool off, and Ellis Beach, halfway along the drive, is known for its lively Sunday music sessions and great burgers and $1 oysters at the Ellis Beach Bar And Grill. Just north of
Ellis Beach you will find strange rock cairns, piled high.
Don’t miss Palm Cove, named after its beachside palm trees. The one-time fishing village has a reputation for its
“Ramble barefoot on a pristine beach, take a dip in the blue sea.”
chilled style, smart resorts, upmarket restaurants and indulgent spas.
As good as the drive is, make sure you top and tail it with stays at both Cairns and Port Douglas. To get a feel for Cairns, stroll along the famed Esplanade and take a trip out to the Great
Barrier Reef. Eco-lovers will enjoy a visit to the new Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre, where you are taken on a 2.5-hour interactive journey from the rainforest to the reef, through 10 North Queensland ecosystems and 71 habitats. Scalloped hammerhead sharks can be seen safely from a 360-degree, five-metre-deep viewing platform at the Oceanarium, while the Deep Reef exhibit, an Australian first, is a replica of the reef ecosystem showcasing marine life usually only seen when scuba diving.
There’s also plenty happening at Port Douglas, which transformed from a sleepy coastal town in the 1970s into a haven for both celebrities and holiday makers in the 1980s. It is known for its impressive blood red sunsets, turquoise waters, white silky sands and blue skies. Wander down Macrossan Street for boutique shopping with a tropical twist, stop at Four Mile Beach for a swim and visit Mossman Gorge, a spectacular freshwater swimming hole. Stock up on tropical fruit and homemade treasures at the Port Douglas
Sunday markets, then hire a bike or kayak and go exploring.
Further afield, drive out to the village of Daintree and cross on the ferry to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef.