Fly to Cairns

Snorkeling, cruising, island-hopping – however you want to discover it, you'll soon see why the spectacular Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's seven natural wonders. There's a whole raft of adventures on the menu here, from seaplane joyrides to diving with minke whales. Parasail off remote island beaches, watch baby turtles make their first dash into the Coral Sea or book a tour that includes introductory scuba and snorkelling courses and motorised underwater scooters.

Jump aboard a gondola on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and you'll be suspended high above the jungle canopy of Australia's World Heritage–listed rainforest. This is a world first in environmental tourism. You'll glide across the treetops in Barron Gorge before descending to explore the rainforest up close. While you're there, go exploring the rainforest village of Kuranda, famous for its markets, cafés and wildlife.

For a slice of resort life, Palm Cove is less than half an hour north of Cairns. It's a peaceful, tropical patch with pristine beaches and a picturesque main street of interesting stores and knockout restaurants. Keep going a bit further north and you'll hit the boutique streets of Port Douglas with its cafés, galleries, lush landscape and waterfront resorts. Chill out on palm-fringed Four Mile Beach or soak your cares away in the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea.