Increase Your TNQ IQ

  1. Mt Mulligan – An abandoned mining town, Mt Mulligan gets its name from the
    awe-inspiring sandstone escarpment 10 times the height of Uluru and 18km long that overshadows it. The town’s cemetery is a tragic reminder of the massive coal dust explosion in 1921 that killed 75 miners. Mt Mulligan is a two-hour drive west of Cairns. 
      
  2. Green Island – Green Island is the only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef to have rainforest. There are more than 130 native plant species on the 12ha cay which is a short boat ride from Cairns. The world’s oldest Underwater Observatory and Marineland Melanesia Aquarium, Museum and Crocodile Habitat are located on the cay.
  3. Tropical Highlands - An hour’s drive west of Cairns will take you into the Tropical Highlands, a plateau standing some 1000m above sea level and encompassing more than 20,000 sq. km. Boasting national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, the Highlands is perfect for nature lovers. The rich volcanic soils mean the region is the food bowl of the Tropical North with exotic fruit, dairy and coffee farms dotted around the landscape.
  4. Undara Lava Tubes - Formed some 190,000 years ago when a major volcano erupted, the Undara Lava Tubes are a series of long running lava tunnels, one up to 160km long. Vegetation and native animals have taken over parts of the tube where its roof has collapsed providing an insight into the ecology of the area. Undara is 275km inland from Cairns.
  5. The Hou Wang Temple – The Hou Wang Temple in Atherton was constructed in the 1800s as the social and religious heart of Atherton’s Chinese community. Today it is the only remaining structure of the original town and is a rare example of temples in overseas Chinese settlements. Most of the fittings of the temple, including the elaborate carvings, bell and metal vessels were made in China. Hou Wang Temple is about an hour’s drive west of Cairns.
  6. Jungle Surfing - Jungle Surfing gives a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest. Gliding 20m high through the forest canopy on steel cables, you are treated to a unique rainforest experience. Operating on a private reserve on Mt. Walsh near Cape Tribulation, Jungle Surfing was once exclusive to scientists but is now open for the public to enjoy.
  7. Port Hinchinbrook – Halfway between Townsville and Cairns, Port Hinchinbrook forms the southern most border of Tropical North Queensland and is the gateway to Hinchinbrook Island. Surrounded by World Heritage-listed rainforest, the port sits right on the Great Barrier Reef’s doorstep and is famous for its great fishing and boating opportunities.
  8. Walsh’s Pyramid – The highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world is found 15 minutes south of Cairns. This natural phenomenon, known as Walsh’s Pyramid, is often mistaken as man-made due to its almost perfect shape. Used for hiking, the Pyramid is 922m high and takes three hours to ascend. The 360 degree view from the top make the hike worth it.
  9. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – A world first in environmental tourism, Skyrail is a cableway that stretches over 7.5km of pristine rainforest. This attraction will glide you just meters above the rainforest canopy in six-person gondola cabins, past the mighty Barron Falls from Caravonica to Kuranda. Along the way you can stop off to explore the rainforest and Skyrail’s interpretation centre.
  10. Kuranda Railway – The Kuranda Scenic Railway is an amazing journey. Constructed between 1882 and 1891, the railway takes you through dense rainforest, over steep ravines and beside picturesque waterfalls from Cairns to Kuranda. The Railway is a great way to experience the region’s World Heritage-listed rainforests and access the village of Kuranda. 
  11. Cape York – The tip of Cape York is an essential destination for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts and wilderness buffs. Cape York Peninsula is a remote part of Tropical North Queensland with isolated cattle stations, Aboriginal communities, great fishing and the famous Old Telegraph Line which travels up the centre of the Peninsula. 
  12. Bamaga – This small town of 885 people is 40km from the very tip of Cape York Peninsula and 983km north of Cairns. It is the gateway to The Torres Strait and offers tours of Horn Island, Badu Island and the Somerset Ruins. Thursday Island and Boigu Island, which are the northern-most destinations of TNQ, are also also accessible from Bamaga. 
                                                                                                                          
  13. Kuranda and the Barron Falls – When the annual monsoon arrives in tropical North Queensland, the Barron Falls are the most spectacular and easily accessible falls that demonstrate the might of the region’s river systems. These thundering falls can be accessed from Kuranda, the village in the rainforest overlooking Cairns. The village is well known as the destination for the historic Kuranda train, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and is a great shopping destination with colourful markets shops selling local arts and crafts.
  14. Cooktown – Historical Cooktown, 250km north of Cairns, is where Captain James Cook beached The Endeavour in 1770. The Palmer River Gold Rush in 1870 saw 47 hotels established in the thriving town. Today, Cooktown is home to Australia’s oldest Botanical Gardens, the James Cook Museum and is renowned for its annual Discovery Weekend festival. With great inland waterways and the Great Barrier Reef  nearby, Cooktown is great for fishing enthusiasts.
  15. AJ Hackett Bungy – The Cairns Bungy Tower has a function centre, bar, jungle swing and purpose-built bungy tower overlooking the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. AJ Hackett is the only bungy service in the world with a Jump Menu offering 16 different styles of bungy jump. Named after a legendary cat-like creature, the Minjin swing is said to bring good luck to those who enjoy the 120km/h ride.
  16. Great Tropical Drive – The Great Tropical Drive is a self-drive touring route that winds its way along palm-fringed beaches, through ancient rainforests and into the Outback. It takes in the six unique regions of Tropical North Queensland and some of Australia’s best known attractions including the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree, Hinchinbrook Island and The Undara Lava Tubes.
  17. Chillagoe – A booming mine town from the 1800s, Chillagoe takes you back to the gold rush days of Tropical North Queensland. Spectacular limestone caves, amazing rock formations, historic smelters, Outback wildlife and Aboriginal rock paintings are just some of the attractions of this historic community. About 200km west of Cairns, Chillagoe can be reached with a conventional vehicle.
  18. Paronella Park – The first eco-friendly attraction in Queensland, Paronella Park at Mena Creek, south of Cairns, is a breathtaking attraction. Opened in 1935, the Park has the ruins of a Spanish-inspired castle that was made by hand in the early 1900s. The building is part of a romantic love story and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Its grounds boast the region’s first hydroelectric plant, tennis courts and a theatre all ravaged by time and the elements but still showing a fascinating insight into the determination of one of Tropical North Queensland’s early immigrants.
  19. The Daintree rainforest – 110km north of Cairns, the Daintree is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of Mother Nature in the world. This World Heritage-listed rainforest is home to the largest range of plants and animals on Earth and offers great bird-watching opportunities. The area also contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare or threatened with extinction. The Daintree has everything a wilderness lover could possibly ask for.
  20. The Great Barrier Reef – One of the wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Boasting more than 600 islands and 3000 coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef covers 300,000 sq. km and is abundant with marine life including dugong, green turtles, dolphins, whales and more than 1500 species of fish and 200 species of birdlife.
  1. Mission Beach and Dunk Island – Rainforest clad beaches home to cassowaries and the Ulysses butterfly are the highlight of picturesque Mission Beach. This is a great place to unwind. There are no crowds, just wide open beaches, quiet rainforest walks and accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Dunk Island is so close to the mainland you could paddle there yourself and the Great Barrier Reef is not far from shore either.
  1. Savannah Way – This adventure drive takes you west from Cairns through the Savannah country to the Outback. The ancient Undara Lava tubes, historic towns such as Georgetown, the hidden gorges of Lawn Hill and the last camp site of explorers Burke and Wills are just some of the interesting sights along the way.
  1. Karumba – If you love fishing then your wildest dreams will come true at Karumba. Located in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the port town is home to the region’s prawn fleet. Spectacular sunsets over the ocean, enormous barramundi, quirky characters and saltwater crocodiles are all part of life in this frontier town.