Christmas in the Far North
Where to celebrate outdoors
CHRISTMAS Day doesn’t need to be spent indoors, sitting around a dining room table.
If you are looking for a festive environment to spend this Tuesday, look no further than these following tropical destinations:
CRYSTAL CASCADES
When the weather is hot and humid, there is no better place to be than being immersed in the rainforest, with a freshwater creek flowing past a picnic ground. One of the best places for this, within easy driving distance of Cairns, is Crystal Cascades in the Redlynch Valley. The jungle is exploding with life, and there is something quite magical about sitting on a boulder, with crystal clear water cascading next to you, watching electric-blue Ulysses butterflies dance among the emerald-green leaves of the forest.
FITZROY ISLAND
Why not head to a Great Barrier Reef island for the ultimate tropical Christmas? Ferries are running to and from Fitzroy Island on December 25, and the resort is putting on a deluxe Christmas buffet with all the trimmings: heaps of seafood, roast turkey, leg ham, and desserts. Stroll the island up to the lighthouse, or don a stinger suit and go for a snorkel around Nudey Beach and check out the Christmas tree worms embedded in corals.
CAPE TRIBULATION
World-renowned for where the rainforest meets the reef, Cape Trib is a great place to celebrate the holiday season. Despite the Daintree attracting thousands of visitors each year, chances are there will be minimal amounts of people on the white sand of Cape Tribulation and Myall beaches. There is also opportunities to (safely) swim at Mason’s swimming hole, and upstream at Emmagen Creek. You might even be lucky enough to spot a cassowary strolling the beach.
EMERALD CREEK
It’s not Christmas unless everyone in the family can celebrate — even your four-legged friends. Sure, you could take your best mate to pup paradise at Goomboora Park, but why not take the whole family to Emerald Creek, near Mareeba, one of the rare freshwater creeks in the Far North where dogs are actually allowed to visit? There are some beautiful picnic spots along the creek, well under the shade. Use the wood-fired barbecues to cook up a Christmas feast.
CHRISTMAS CREEK
Yes, there is actually a creek named after December 25, and locals are known to adorn the creek sign on the Bruce Highway with tinsel. It’s just north of Townsville, and flows to the beautiful Toomulla Beach. The beach itself is one of the sandier beaches within the Townsville area, and a great spot for birdwatchers and family outings. It has a designated free tent and vehicle camping area, and views across the ocean.