Experiences You Can Only Have In Tropical North Queensland

Boasting spectacular reefs, rainforest, rivers and rare wildlife, Tropical North Queensland is as tough as it is awe-inspiring. Even tropical cyclones can’t keep it down.

The tropical north of Australia was hit hard in December 2023 by Tropical Cyclone Jasper which brought with it much damage and extraordinary heartache. While the community rallied immediately to support those who needed it most, widespread visitor cancellations only added to the economic strife. Some areas bounced back quickly in true Queensland style, while others in the north have only recently reopened after a lonely and costly few months. Now all are throwing open their hospitable arms with gusto.

Here we’ve rounded up seven excellent reasons to head north to experience its delights, escape the winter chills and support Aussie-owned businesses. That’s a win win win.

A bucket-list stay in Cairns

The international entrance to Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is the gateway to the reef. From backpackers to five-star stays, like the spacious Pullman near the waterfront or spirited Crystalbrook Riley where it’s all about fun, accommodation choices abound.

an aerial view of a woman relaxing by the pool at Crystalbrook Riley, Cairns

Soak up the tropical heat by the pool at Crystalbrook Riley.

Foodies can toss back oysters and nibble ceviche and rainbow trout tostadas in the vibing Calypso Club rum and seafood bar or share Middle Eastern bites from on high at rooftop bar Rocco. Drop into The Chambers Café to discover why the locals keep coming back for the Bubble & Squeak Croquettes, head to waterfront Salt House for seafood and cocktails or Miss Chief Bar & Eatery for modern Asian fare with flair.

Devour Mediterranean dishes at Rocco by Crystalbrook. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Fancy a drink? Tucked down an alley, Three Wolves serves up whiskey and bourbon-inspired drinks and delectable bites, while straight across the lane light-hearted Wolf Lane Distillery is the place for handcrafted tropical gins and liqueurs and more excellent cocktails.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway delivers views of tropical rainforest and waterfalls. (Image: Queensland Rail Travel)

Add some art and culture at the expansive Cairns Art Gallery with an impressive calendar of exhibitions and Indigenous art, and don’t miss the Kuranda Scenic Rail trip, wending through forest and past waterfalls to Kuranda, 40 minutes out of town.

friends walking through the Original Rainforest Markets in Kuranda

Find everything from local arts to delicious eats at Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland/James Vodicka)

Foodie trails in the Atherton Tablelands

The food bowl of the region, the Atherton Tablelands is a living mosaic of fertile fields laced with creeks and bushlands, bursting with fruits and nuts. There’s no better way to take in its spectacle than by drifting over the plains with a Hot Air Balloon as the sun rises, followed by bubbles and brekkie to start the day.

Hot Air Balloons in flight in Atherton Tablelands

Welcome a new day while drifting over the plains of the Atherton Tablelands. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Back on the ground, why not sample the foodie delights borne of the rich, volcanic soils, like freshly roasted coffee and chocolate treats at Coffee Works, the flavours of agave and rum at innovative boutique distillery Mt Uncle Distillery or wines made from red mangoes at Golden Drop Winery, the world’s first commercial mango winery. Beyond bevvies, snack with water views at historic Lake Barrine Teahouse, check out the cheeses at Gallo Dairyland and finish with tropical fruit treats at Emerald Creek Ice-Creamery.

Stop by Mt Uncle Distillery for a tasting. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Don’t panic if food’s not your thing. Instead, you could take a dip in a volcanic crater at Lake Eacham, wander the quaint village of Yungaburra, delve into the area’s significant military history at Tolga Museum or marvel at the magical Curtain Fig Tree.

Make time for swim in a volcanic crater at Lake Eacham. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Unbeatable entertainment at Savannah in the Round

In an event set to rock the Cairns hinterland, the Mareeba Rodeo Arena will come alive from 11-13th October with Savannah in the Round, an exhilarating three-day and night country music and camping festival.

Revellers gather at Savannah in the Round. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Featuring soulful Nashville-based Kip Moore as well as Aussie music legends like Lee Kernaghan, Hoodoo Gurus, Living Legends, Jon Stevens and indie pop band Sheppard, the event has dozens of artists lined up to perform on multiple stages over the long weekend.

Nashville-based Kip Moore is one of may outstanding acts lined up for 2024.

Got your own van, tent or swag? There are sites for that, or you can Rent a Tent in the pop-up village. If you prefer your music camping festivals with a bit of luxury, pre-set up glamping bell tents with comfy beds, furnishings, linen and lighting supplied may be the go.

Stay onsite for all the action a stone’s throw away. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Loads of onsite food options will be available so no one goes hungry and bars will keep the revelling going. More information and tickets are available online now.

Reef and rainforest at Cape Tribulation

Land of the Yalanji people, Cape Tribulation is the only place on earth where two world heritage-listed sites directly connect—the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Only here can visitors explore the untouched 135 million-year-old rainforests and the next minute embrace the magic of the fringing reef. Add in isolated beaches, 4WD adventures, wildlife spotting and mountain hikes and it’s truly bucket list material.

Cape Tribulation is home to some of Australia’s most stunning beaches. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Don’t miss the opportunity to ride a horse through forest and along the beach on a guided tour with Cape Trib Horse Rides and cool down in Mason’s (croc-free) swimming hole.

A horse ride along the beach in Cape Tribulation is a must-do. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

To get the adrenalin rushing, a thrilling speed boat ride with Ocean Safari out to the reef for a half-day eco-tour with snorkelling may be the ticket. Ever eaten a soursop or rollinia? (Hint: they’re tropical fruits). A tour with Cape Trib Farm will introduce you to these and more. Stay longer at Safari Lodge cabins or campsite so you’ve got time to take it all in.

Find all kinds of tropical fruits on offer. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

After the cape was cut off completely for three months, thankfully the connecting decimated roads have recently re-opened (with some restrictions) and visits are back on. Check with suppliers for updated road and tour information.

The wonders of the Great Barrier Reef

What’s a trip to Tropical North Queensland without taking in the wonders of the reef? Spanning over 2,300 kilometres down the coast, there’s a multitude of locations and ways to see it. Departing from Cairns, Reef Magic operates day trips to the outer reef where guests can snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon taking in the colours and critters of the reef in the water, in a glass-bottomed boat or at the underwater viewing aquarium. Marine biologists as well as cultural guides are on hand too.

Woman and man snorkel with a turtle on the Great Barrier Reef

Nowhere on earth is quite like the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Of course, the reef isn’t just about snorkelling and diving. For something special, Nautilus Aviation can deliver guests to the pontoon by helicopter for a dramatic entrance and spectacular views on the way, and they also provide a range of shared scenic flights in the area. You can even ride an underwater scooter, travel in a mini-submarine or sleep under the stars on the reef.

The Milky Way above the Great Barrier Reef as seen from Reef Sleep

Reef Sleep gives guests an unbeatable experience of the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One-of-kind wildlife encounters

From crocs to cassowaries, flying foxes to frogs, wild creatures are in abundance in the tropics. In fact, the Daintree is home to more than 3,000 species of plants, nearly half of Australia’s bird species and a third of our mammal species, 13 of which are endemic. Some you might want to get close to, others not so much.

It’s best to keep your distance if you spot a cassowary in the wild. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

At Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas an eco-certified wildlife sanctuary, you can interact with Aussie animals in five spacious created natural environments, feed wallabies or spot tree kangaroos. In the heart of Kuranda, visitors are guaranteed an experience with the region’s famous Ulysses and Cairns Birdwing butterflies at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with over 1500 butterflies in its enclosed dome.

Marvel at over 1500 butterflies inside the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Family-run FNQ Nature Tours offer fabulous opportunities to meet the local wildlife on small-group day and nocturnal tours accompanied by expert guides who know the best places for wildlife spotting, and lots more besides. Never spotted a platypus in the wild? With a 90 per cent success rate at spotting wild platypus, take a tour with these guys and the odds are with you. Bird-watchers and photographers are catered for with part or multi-day tours with like-minded seekers.

Tropical delights in Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge

Relaxed tropical Port Douglas is the perfect launch pad to explore this Queensland region. With an abundance of accommodation options, world-class dining, boutiques, funky bars and hip cafes, there’s a lot to keep you busy and thoroughly sated in town and a world of adventures and natural delights just beyond.

Start the morning with local fave The Little Larder or Whileaway Books & Café if you fancy books with breakfast, lunch on freshly-caught barramundi at Choo Choos at the Marina and sup on seafood, sangria and Spanish-inspired snacks at Seabean Spanish Bar & Tapas, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Silky Oaks Lodge provides treehouse luxury or chill out in 58 hectares of private forest at Thala Beach Nature Reserve.

Unwind at Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest.

With millions of years of ancient history to uncover, Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre at the entrance to the Daintree is an excellent place to get your bearings. Your Indigenous guide on a Dreamtime Walk will reveal some of the secrets of the forest and their own relationship with it or you soak up its wonders yourself on a self-guided walk.

a woman sitting on a huge rock at Mossman Gorge

Experience the magic of Mossman Gorge. (Image: Silky Oaks Lodge)

For more inspiration read our guide to visiting Tropical North Queensland.

From must-eat tropical delights to blink-and-you’ll-miss-it destinations you’ll only find up in North Queensland, these are the best places to eat, drink and be merry in Port Douglas.

The tropical seaside paradise of Port Douglas is wedged between two magnificent World Heritage Sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – and surrounded by fruit farms, reef fishing hot-spots and growers of great regional produce. When it comes to where to eat in Port Douglas, we’ve made it simple: these are the best restaurants and cafes to put at the top of your itinerary.

The shortlist

Best outdoor dining: Treehouse Restaurant, Silky Oaks Lodge
Great for special occasions: Zinc
Most Instagrammable: Nautilus
Hottest new opening: Jungle Fowl
Fine dining gem: Harrison’s

Breakfast

Grant Street Kitchen

Sip on iced lattes in a relaxed outdoor seating. (Image: Grant Street Kitchen)

Cuisine: Bakery
Average price: $
Atmosphere: Relaxed
Location: Shop 4/5, Corner Grant Street and Macrossan Street, Port Douglas

Flaky almond croissants and succulent pies (creamy prawn and coral trout, anyone?) are handmade onsite by the owners at this buzzy bakery that sits beneath umbrellas at one of the town’s busiest intersections. Come for breakfast or lunch – there’s an all-day cafe menu, too – or pick up pastries to enjoy with an aptly iced latte. Pro-tip? The duo behind the bakery also sell their goods at Port Douglas’ Sunday market, so you can enjoy the deliciousness in store or at home.

St Crispins

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Atmosphere: Relaxed cafe
Location: 9 St Crispins Avenue, Port Douglas

Located on the sugar-cane-centric Bally Hooley railway line, which was used to transport sugar from the now-defunct Mossman sugar mill and down to the wharf at Port Douglas, this all-day eatery enjoys views over the water and greens of the Mirage Country Club golf course. Tuck into cinnamon French toast with chargrilled local bananas or a crispy fried chicken burger (elevated with Thai-inspired chilli mayonnaise, thank you very much), and pair it with a Bloody mary, sparkling mimosa or strong flat white. Four-legged friends are welcome, too. 

Lunch

Nu Nu

This beachside restaurant offers panoramic views of the ocean. (Image: Nu Nu)

Cuisine: Modern Asian-Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed, tropical
Location: 1 Veivers Road, Palm Cove

Technically in Palm Cove, a 40-minute drive south of Port Douglas, this beachside restaurant is a must-do if you’re in the region. Ask for a table outside, where you’ll be shaded by coconut palms and serenaded by the gentle waves while overlooking Double Island. The eatery is open from 7am to 10pm, off and on, but a leisurely lunch is the best time to experience the tangy signature thin slice of caramelised duck wrapped around a cube of pineapple, followed by spicy butter-poached reef fish with salted cucumbers and tall, glistening glasses of blood orange gin sours in true tropical spirit. Take the flavour to go, too, with a scoop of white-chocolate-and-macadamia gelato from Numi Ice Creamery (by the same folks), just down the road. 

Salsa Bar & Grill

The light-filled Salsa Bar & Grill has a wraparound verandah with views of Market Park and Dicksons Inlet.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$ / $$$
Atmosphere: Casual and fun
Location: 26 Wharf Street, Port Douglas

An institution in Port Douglas for thirty years (just look at the signed plates stacked into the ceiling above the bar), this all-day eatery buzzes as loudly at lunch as it does at dinner. Diners on the wraparound verandah will enjoy sparkling views over Market Park and Dicksons Inlet. Wherever you sit, you’ll be amongst the hustle and bustle of experienced local waitstaff ferrying generous plates of linguine “pepperincino” with local tiger prawns, a jambalaya with chunks of crocodile sausage, and a lunch-friendly tropical cocktail, such as the “Gone bananas”, which features Bacardi, banana liqueur, coconut cream and fresh banana. Save room for dessert: the tasting platter is a sweet (and shareable) note to end on. 

Melaleuca

The menu at Melaleuca champions local and regional produce.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Location: 22 Wharf Street, Port Douglas

When freshly baked bread comes out in a paper bag, still warm, and is followed by thin, crispy slivers of pig ear, you know you’re in for a special kind of evening. The latter is perhaps a nod to the Scottish roots of Melaleuca’s head chef, but the remainder of the menu is a thoroughly Australian affair, championing local and regional produce across dishes such as seared Tassie scallops with smoked bacon, pan-seared Daintree barramundi with a cauliflower puree, and homemade gnocchi with a creamy, nutty mushroom and pumpkin treatment. Sit outside – beneath soft festoon lighting and swaying palms – to make the most of the warm breeze, or settle under cover; either way, the indoor-outdoor dining experience here epitomises the Port way of life.

Afternoon Delights

Zinc

Share hearty meals and cocktails on a Friday arvo. (Image: Zinc)

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Smart casual
Location: 53-61 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas

Grab a table on the outdoor deck at this long-time eatery on one of Port Douglas’ main thoroughfares, where the cocktail list is extensive and the dishes – generous bowls of luscious pasta with fat prawns, whole barramundi fillets in a coconutty curry, and the signature eye fillet from Queensland’s Darling Downs – are piled high. It’s a family-run operation with roots in the local community, and you can find flavour from 2pm until the late evening. The Smoking Mandarin cocktail combines tequila and mezcal with zesty citrus to create a perfect complement to whatever is on your plate.

Wrasse & Roe

The ocean-centric eatery is a seafood haven. (Image: Wrasse & Roe)

Cuisine: Seafood
Average price: $$$ / $$$$
Atmosphere: Casual dining
Location: Coconut Grove Complex, 9-11/56-64 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas

It’s only fitting that you embark on a seafood expedition while you’re up in Tropical North Queensland; if hopping on a fishing charter isn’t on your agenda, then this relatively new ocean-centric eatery should be. Tuck into buckets of chilled locally-trawled prawns or a bowl of rich, tomatoey seafood marinara packed with calamari, mussels, clams and more, then cap off the afternoon with a suitably tropical passionfruit parfait. Seats outside are perfectly placed for people watching and making the most of languid summer afternoons.

Dinner

Nautilus

Nab an open-air table beneath a canopy of palms at Nautilus. (Image: Toby Stanley)

Cuisine: Modern Australian / Seafood
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Rainforest retreat
Location: 17 Murphy Street, Port Douglas

Dishes of blushing pan-seared scallops and succulent kingfish tartare look especially appealing when they’re ferried out to open-air tables beneath a canopy of palms at Nautilus, a Port Douglas institution and locally recommended must-visit dining destination. It’s been here since 1954, so the street cred is legit, and the menu puts tropical produce on a pedestal. The five-course degustation menu (available in vegetarian, pescatarian and seafood-free variations, too) gives you a little taste of everything, but you’ll want to add the signature crispy-skinned whole coral trout, which comes out vertical atop a pool of sticky, sweet, oh-so-moreish caramel sauce.

Jungle Fowl

The menu at Jungle Fowl features homegrown ingredients from their kitchen garden. (Image: Chrissie Cosgrove)

Cuisine: Modern Thai
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Youthful, fun and funky
Location: Shop 2/28 Wharf Street, Port Douglas

The fun factor is turned up to 100 at this Thai restaurant, where the bright, colourful murals keep pace with the vibrant dishes. Happy hour runs from 5-6pm and includes $12 cocktails such as the makrut lime-spiked mojito or zesty Thai-twisted margaritas alongside $10 ginger-topped beef-brisket bao. The rest of the time, you’ll find pinchable portions of prawn-topped betel leaf and shareable chilled squid salad keeping pace with spicy green curry and Angus laced with snake beans on a menu that features homegrown ingredients from the kitchen garden out back. (The six-course banquet menu, at $83 per person, is a great way to get a taste of everything.) 

Seabean

Seabean is within a short walking distance of Wharf Street. (Image: Catseye Productions)

Cuisine: Spanish
Average price: $$ / $$$
Atmosphere: Lively
Location: Shop 3/28 Wharf St, Port Douglas

Open Thursday to Sunday, this tapas-centric restaurant turns out pintxos and paella to deliver a trip to Spain without the jetlag. Consider the perfectly portioned terracotta bowls of grilled Spanish chorizo with poached pears, fishcakes made with local barramundi served with spicy tomato jam, or classic patatas bravas dusted with paprika, then order them all. Bite-sized pintxos change regularly, the paella is generous and piping hot, and dessert – Crema catalana served in a coconut half – is unmissable. Plus, it’s all within walking distance to both the water and the downtown action. 

Knock-Outs

Bam Pow

The signature pineapple dish at Bam Pow. (Image: Supplied)

Cuisine: Vegan / Asian
Average price: $$ / $$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed
Location: 79 Davidson Street, Port Douglas

Neon lights and board games help this vegan eatery pump up the fun – but the funk is innate in the menu as well. Beyond the happy hour specials (refreshing $12 margaritas in shades of watermelon, spicy and classic, $7 beers and a banh-mi-and-beer combo for $24), the menu straddles the Asian fusion brief to produce flavour-packed dishes of chilli-topped dumplings, crispy eggplant tempura and a zesty papaya salad topped with a crunchy cassava crackle. With cuisine this creative, you won’t miss the meat at all.

Harrison’s

Find an idyllic spot to dine on the lagoon-side deck. (Image: Harrison’s)

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Poolside elegance
Location: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas Rd

While it’s now located within the massive 147-hectare Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, this eatery has been a part of the fabric of Port Douglas since 2007. It moved over here in 2017 and has been turning out luxurious degustation dinners and a la carte plates of citrus-cured reef fish, whole Queensland crayfish dressed in brown butter, and Hervey Bay scallops tossed in XO sauce ever since. The lagoon-side deck is the place to be on a balmy Queensland evening, where your meal’s backdrop will include lush palm fronds and the symphonic sounds of crashing waves from the beach further afield. 

Treehouse Restaurant, Silky Oaks Lodge

The Treehouse Restaurant boasts lush views of the rainforest.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Tropical luxury
Location: 23 Finlayvale Rd, Finlayvale

Technically in Finlayvale, still in Douglas Shire, this exceptional eatery enjoys stunning views over a private stream of the Mossman River with tables nested within a cavernous open-air dining room serviced by a capable, passionate culinary team. The menu changes regularly but makes a point of featuring local produce artfully presented with flair. Lunch is a set affair, with options for a two- or three-course selection including dishes such as fluffy smoked potato raviolis with pork ragu, kingfish cured in macadamia milk, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with kunzea and black lemon. Settle in for the afternoon and let the gentle soundtrack of the river guide you between courses.

Discover the best places to stay in Port Douglas

These are experiences you can only have in Tropical North Queensland