Tropical Coast

Queensland

Tropical Coast (Townsville to Port Douglas)

The Tropical Coast stretches from Townsville in the south with its world famous river rafting to Port Douglas in the north where two World Heritage areas merge on this tropical paradise.

Fishing for Black Marlin, diving on the Barrier Reef or relaxing on a tropical Island are all within easy reach. Take a cruise up the Daintree River into the world acclaimed Daintree Rainforest National Park or visit the Atherton Tablelands, with World Heritage listed areas of rainforests, rivers, spectacular waterfalls, and lakes in extinct volcanoes.

South of Cairns

The character of the coast gradually begins to change beyond Townsville: just an hour to the north the arid landscape that has prevailed since Bundaberg is transformed into dark green plateaus shrouded in cloud.

There’s superlative scenery at Wallaman Falls, inland from Ingham, and also near Cairns as the slopes of the coastal mountains rise up to front the Bellenden Ker Range. Forests here once formed a continuous belt almost to Cooktown but logging has thinned them to a disjointed necklace of plantations and national parks.

Even so, it seems that almost every side-track off the highway leads to a waterhole or falls surrounded by natural jungle – this is where it really helps to have your own vehicle.

There is also a handful of islands, including the wilds of Hinchinbrook Island, as well as Dunk Island and Bedarra Island in the Mission Beacha area between Tully and Innisfail, where you might find regular work on fruit plantations or further opportunities to slump on the sand.

North of Cairns

The Daintree and Cape Tribulation, tamed fringes of the Cape York Peninsula, are only a couple of hours’ drive north of Cairns on the Cook Highway. The highway initially runs in sight of the sea to Port Douglas and Mossman, a beautiful drive past isolated beaches where hang-gliders patrol the headlands. North of Mossman is the road to the Daintree, Australia’s largest and the world’s oldest surviving stretch of tropical rainforest.

World Heritage listing hasn’t saved it from development: roads are being surfaced, land has been subdivided, and there’s an ever-increasing number of services in place, undermining the wild and remote image depicted in the brochures. While this disappoints some visitors, the majestic forest still descends thick and dark right to the sea, and you can explore paths through the jungle, watch for wildlife, or just rest on the beach. The government has, however, recently allocated funds to buy back and restore the land so there is some hope that developments will stop where they are now.

Day-tours from Cairns will show you the sights, but you really need longer to take in the rich scenery and atmosphere. For once it’s not essential to have a vehicle: Coral Coaches (tel 07/4031 7577) runs a daily bus between Cairns, Cape Tribulation and (weather permitting) Cooktown, which allows multiple stopovers. It’s well worth a few extra dollars to go with Tropics Explorer (as far as Cape Trib tel 07/4055 4555) who include several detours for swimming, croc-spotting and sampling the local produce, all with an enthusiastic and informative commentary. If you want to arrive with panache, Quicksilver’s (tel 07/4031 4299) speedy catamaran plies between Cairns and Port Douglas, and also zooms to the outer reef.

For more regional information on the Tropical Coast, go to:

Maps

North Queensland, from Mackay to Cape York

Tropical Northern Queensland

Greater Area around Cairns

Townsville Area (Tropical Coast)