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Getting There | Local Attractions / Services | What's On | Accommodations

On the Reef:
The brilliant colours and fascinating life-forms of The Great Barrier Reef are within easy reach of Cairns and its northern beaches. Several day trips head out to the pontoons anchored adjacent to reef outcrops, providing safety for those wishing to snorkel, swim ,or scuba dive. For those who don’t want to get their feet wet, there are also semi-submersible reef viewing vessels and glass bottomed boats.

Rainforest Delights:
Walk under the lush rainforest canopies and discover the rainforest’s ancient secrets. Visit Cape Tribulation where two World Heritage areas merge in a mix of white sandy beaches, rocky headlands, blue sea, coral gardens and jungle clad mountains. Lakefield National Park at Cape York is a naturalist and birdwatchers dream. It contains 90 percent of all the species of birdlife found on the Peninsula.

Kuranda:
A Kuranda Scenic Rail ride up the range west of Cairns will take you over bridged ravines, through tunnels and past the Barron Gorge waterfalls, arriving at Kuranda, famous for its markets. Alternatively, you could take a 7.5 kilometre trip to Kuranda above World Heritage rainforest on Skyrail , the world’s longest gondola cableway. The Skyrail experience includes the amazing rainforest canopy and spectacular views of the mountains, cane fields, beaches and the Coral Sea.

Gulf Savannah - Outback by the Sea:
Queensland’s legendary Outback extends west of Cairns from the Great Dividing Range to the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Known as the Gulf Savannah, it also features wetlands, winding rivers and an abundance of wildlife . Fossick for gemstones, fish for barramundi or explore the astonishing Undara Lava Tubes near Mt. Surprise

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture:
Quinkan Reserve west of Cooktown is known for its breathtaking split rock galleries and contains one of the largest displays of Aboriginal Rock Art in the world. The tip of Australia is a traditional hunting, fishing and camping ground and visitors can enjoy guided tours to historical locations with native guides. The world famous Tjapukai Aboriginal Dance Theatre , tells the story of Aboriginal culture in song and dance at its Cultural Park outside of Cairns.

Adventure:
Action seekers have their appetites well fed. Experience the exhilaration of sightseeing in a Tiger Moth aeroplane, or a bungy jump over the spectacular rainforest at Kuranda. Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise or a helicopter ride that flies low over spectacular waterfalls or out to tropical islands. Enjoy a 4 wheel drive safari through rugged outback country. Scuba divers and those chasing big game fish love to visit this region.

Things to see and do

Agate Creek Mineral Reserve - located at Agate Creek	Australian Butterfly Sanctuary - located at Kuranda
Australian Sugar Industry Museum - located at Mourilyan	Ben Cropp’s Shipwreck Museum - located at Port Douglas
Birdworld Kuranda - located at Kuranda	Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes - located at Edge Hill
Cairns Crocodile Farm - located at Gordonvale	Cairns Museum - located at Cairns
Cairns Night Zoo - located at Palm Cove	Cairns Regional Gallery - located at Cairns
Camp 119 - located at Normanton	Chillagoe Heritage Museum - located at Chillagoe
Cooktown Museum - located at Cooktown	Croydon Historic Village - located at Croydon
Cumberland Chimney - located at Georgetown	Fascinating Facets & Crystal Caves - located at Atherton
Freshwater Connection Historic Railway Station - located at Freshwater	Granite Creek Gorge - located at Mareeba
Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm - located at Cairns	Herberton Historical Village - located at Herberton
Heritage Rainforest Markets - located at Kuranda	House of 10,000 Shells - located at Cairns
Johnstone River Crocodile Farm - located at Innisfail	James Cook Historical Museum - located at Cooktown
Karnak Playhouse - located at Miallo	Kuranda Markets - located at Kuranda
Lake Barrine Rainforest Cruise and Tea House - located at Yungaburra	Marineland Melanesia - located at Green Island
Mareeba Heritage Museum & Tourist Information Centre - located at Mareeba	Morning Glories - located at Burketown
Normanton Railway Station - located at Normanton	Outback Opal Mine - located at Clifton Beach
Paronella Park - located at Mena Creek	Port Douglas Court House Museum - located at Port Douglas
Rainforest Habitat - located at Port Douglas	Rainforestation Nature Park - located at Kuranda
Royal Flying Doctors Service Visitors Centre Cairns - located at Edge Hill	Skyrail - located at Smithfield
Split Rock Art Site - located at Laura	Tallaroo Hot Mineral Springs - located at Mount Surprise
The Beck Museum - Aircraft and Military Collection - located at Mareeba	The Old Coach Road - located at Mount Surprise
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park - located at Smithfield	Tolga Woodworks - located at Tolga
Undara Lava Tubes -located at Mt Surprise	Undersea World - located at Cairns
Underwater Observatory - located at Green Island	Wildworld Australia - located at Palm Cove