THE WET TROPICS
When to go
November to April is the Wet, when the waterfalls and rivers run high and full. The days at this time are hot and steamy: humidity often climbs above 60 per cent and average daily temperatures can regularly reach above 30oC, although they are usually tempered by a cooling storm in the evening. The ‘dry’ winter months are more temperate but also much busier.
Getting there
From Cairns, it’s a 90-minute drive to Atherton and the southern tablelands via either Gordonvale or Mareeba. To the south, Tully is two hours drive and Cardwell two and a half hours drive.
Where to stay
This large region has all manner of accommodation. In cosmopolitan Cairns, the Double Tree by Hilton is centrally located on the waterfront and close to all amenities.
Five and a half hours drive south-west of Cairns on the Tableland, the Big4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park at Atherton has single and multiroomed cottages and villas, plus caravan sites and camping, all in a tropical rainforest setting.
On the Cassowary Coast, the Cardwell Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park offers motel rooms, villas and camping areas, all on the waterfront.
Points of interest
1 Behana Gorge 2 Yungaburra
3 Babinda Boulders 4 Mount Hypipamee NP 5 Nandroya Falls
6 Mamu Tropical Skywalk 7 Tully Gorge
8 Fan Palm Walk 9 Cardwell Forest Drive Blencoe Falls
More information
Queensland parks www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/
Tourism Tropical North Queensland www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
Wet Tropics Management Authority www.wettropics.gov.au/exploring