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Northern Queensland

Northern Queensland includes the Tropical North Queensland, Townsville and The Whitsundays. North Queensland is a lush and beautiful region home to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed Rainforest. Snorkel, dive, swim with sea turtles and explore the Daintree Rainforest.

In Tropical North Queensland, visit Cape Tribulation beach and explore Indigenous rock art sites. Palm Cove, Cairns and Port Douglas are the main hubs for a beach holiday.

From the Atherton Tablelands, which is a delightful hinterland destination with lovely views and local food, to a 4WD trip along the Savannah Way or Cape York, Northern Queensland is the place for adventure.

What are the main cities in northern Queensland?

Townsville and Cairns are the main cities in the northern part of Queensland. Cairns is the hub of Tropical North Queensland and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville is a fast-growing regional city and the gateway to the SS Yongala wreck and Orpheus Island.

What is the population of Cairns?

Cairns is a small tropical city with a population of 162,451. It’s a city with a relaxed vibe and a warm and sunny climate. It may be compact but there are plenty of things to see in Cairns.

cairns to cooktown
A road trip from Cairns to Cooktown is a driving adventure that you won't forget. The 327km drive takes four hours and is a world of nature, history and fascinating outback characters. Why visit? With a beautiful harbour, warm climate and historical significance as the first European settlement in Australia, Cooktown’s buildings...
Toasting the sunset on magnetic island things to do
She’s more a state of mind than any island. Sounds corny, I know, but then you didn’t spend a winter there. It just doesn’t seem right to talk about Maggie like she’s a destination, even though there are plenty of things to do on Magnetic Island. Magnetic Island is the...
atherton tablelands
Head inland from Cairns and discover the many attractions of the Atherton Tablelands, where the climate is cooler and there are interesting and quirky villages and towns to explore. Here are the best things to do on the Atherton Tablelands. While there are a number of things to do in Cairns,...
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Freshfield Station, field of sunflowers, Cairns
The Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Kuranda Scenic Railway are both attractions worth doing. Of course, you can't do these two without eating and shopping your way around Kuranda Village itself. Experience a World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest, artisan markets of romantic Kuranda Village and ride on a stunning century-old historic...
Low Isles
A Low Isles snorkelling tour in Tropical North Queensland is a good chance to swim with sea turtles and see other marine life in calm waters. It’s a glorious day with perfect blue skies and glistening aquamarine waters as we sail from Port Douglas on a luxurious Lagoon 500 catamaran,...
Green Island jetty, Great Barrier Reef, North Queensland.
Green Island and Fitzroy Island are two islands on the Great Barrier Reef close to Cairns. Just 25 to 30 km offshore, a catamaran or ferry takes just under an hour from the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns. Of all the places to visit in Queensland, if you want to...

BEST OF QUEENSLAND