Cairns

Dive, snorkel, take a personal submarine or cruise in a glass-bottomed boat. Whatever your preferred discovery mode, you’ll soon see why the spectacular Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Seaplane joyrides, diving with minke whales, parasailing off remote island beaches, viewing baby turtles make their first dash into the Coral Sea – you’ll find adventure at every turn. Tour operators depart daily from Cairns, Mission Beach and Port Douglas, offering introductory scuba and snorkelling courses, motorised underwater scooters and more.

Tropical North Queensland is home to the Daintree Rainforest – the oldest rainforest in the world, and Mossman Gorge is the gateway to it. These ancient evergreen rainforests are steeped in Indigenous heritage. The cascading waterfalls, shimmering waterholes and stunning rock formations are home to a quarter of the country’s frog population and nearly half the nation’s birdlife, so you can imagine how magical Mossman Gorge is. Take part in a Dreamtime Walk to really absorb the Indigenous history then wander at your own pace.

Discover the coastal villages of Palm Cove and Port Douglas. Palm Cove is quiet and relaxing with ancient paperbark (Melaleuca trees) lining its esplanade, a tropical getaway in serene yet sophisticated surrounds. Port Douglas is a tropical oasis, an hour north of Cairns, offering worldly comforts with a disarming friendly village atmosphere. It’s a place of transformation, where people come to refresh, restore and revitalise in the aquamarine waters of the Coral Sea, the crystal creeks of Mossman Gorge and the palm-fringed golden sands of Four Mile Beach.

Venture deep into the forest onboard the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. A world first in environmental tourism, the cable-operated gondolas will have you suspended for either a 90-minute (one way) or 2.5-hour (return trip) tour above Australia’s World Heritage-listed rainforest. You can start or end your journey at the Caravonica or Kuranda. Better still, the Skyrail can be combined with other attractions (including the Kuranda Scenic Railway) for the ultimate half- or full-day regional tour.

Skypark by AJ Hackett offers 16 different jump styles including the Minjin Jungle Swing – a user-controlled contraption that allows for three people to jump and swing through the jungle, travelling 45 metres every 3.5 seconds at a speed of up to 120km per hour. There’s a bar and viewing deck for those who’d prefer to sit this one out.