From Ned Kelly to yoga
THERE’S always something new to do in Far North Queensland. Whether it’s a new tour, a new event, or a new hotel that has sprung up, DANIEL BATEMAN has found nine of the latest and greatest in the region.
1 SUCH IS LIFE
Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series will be on display at Cairns Art Gallery from March 6 to June 14 as part of a national tour of the Australian masterpieces. Cairns is the only Queensland venue hosting the 1940s paintings from the National Gallery of Australia Collection.
2 IN LIKE FLYNN
Affectionately referred to as the Crystalbrook Collection’s social butterfly, the five-star hotel Flynn is taking bookings ahead of its March 31 opening. Situated opposite the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk, Flynn features two glass pools overlooking the Coral Sea, 311 stylish rooms and suites, three levels of restaurants and bars, the Eléme Day Spa, a 24-hour gym, and meeting spaces for up to 120 people. The hotel’s ground-level restaurant, Boardwalk Social, is already proving a hit, cementing its place as the stomping ground for locals and tourists alike.
3 A SALUTE TO FRUIT
An expanded rare and tropical fruits display and a food trail taking in the Cassowary Coast’s best food producers are part of the Feast of the Senses festival on March 26-29. Celebrity chef Jo Whitton from Quirky Cooking will show her skills at the Australian Bananas River Feast in Innisfail on March 29, the market day featuring food vendors, local producers, art, artisan products, music and entertainment.
4 TANKS FOR THE TOUR
Watch the underwater and coastal worlds come to life after dark at Aquarium by
Night, a guided Cairns Aquarium experience giving a glimpse into the behaviour of the region’s nocturnal creatures.
Corals glow, predators hunt and reptiles emerge from their burrows. Complete your evening at the Aquarium’s Dundee’s Restaurant for a dining experience with a sealife backdrop.
5 WELLNESS ON THE WATER
Sunrise yoga on Sudbury Cay, drift snorkelling over giant clams at Lizard Island, and learning about traditional Aboriginal healing at Cooktown, are all included in the seven-night Revitalise on the Reef wellness voyages with Coral Expeditions. Departing Cairns in September 2021, the
Outer Great Barrier Reef expeditions are curated by wellness expert Kris Abbey, who will join guests on-board for one-on-one consultations.
6 CHART YOUR ART
Cairns Regional Council has launched a Cairns Arts and Culture Map showing where to see public art on display, including paintings in the Cairns Courthouse, light projections in the city, and indigenous prints etched into the glass of the Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
7 FULL OF STOCK
The Indigenous Stock Workers display has opened at the Normanton Visitor Information Centre, recognising the indigenous men and women who opened their land to agriculture and provided loyal service as stock workers. Funded through the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program, the display highlights the cattle industry in Normanton.
8 DIGGIN’ PORT DOUG
Relax on a penthouse terrace with views of the Daintree rainforest at the newly refurbished Saltwater Luxury Apartments. The inviting outdoor couches and sun lounges are perfect for chilling out at the end of the day with a drink, or curling up with a book. Located in the heart of Port Douglas, and just a short stroll to the beach and the marina, the fully self-contained apartments have one, two and three-bedroom options.
9 SCIENCE IT UP
The first Great Barrier Reef day and night citizen science program, aligned with the Australian school curriculum, has been launched by Sunlover Reef Cruises. The Marine Biologist for a Day and the Astronomer for a Night program involves a daytime guided snorkel safari, and night-time camping in deluxe swags on the Moore Reef Marine Base to study the stars.