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.

Castle Hill Lookout has a top view of townsville
Sandwiched between the outback and the reef, Townsville is a tropical Queensland city with a cool vibe. As the gateway to Magnetic Island and one of the top shipwreck diving sites in the world, there are plenty of things to do in Townsville that you won't find anywhere else....
As a child, I totally loved horror movies, even though they scared me no end. After many a sleepless night, I still couldn’t get enough of anything to do with Dracula, vampires or Transylvania. Facing my fears I challenge myself to a visit to the Tolga Bat Hospital Visitor...
If you're a keen diver, the Yongala dive in Queensland is a diving adventure you won't want to miss. It was 6 pm on the 23 March 1911. The weather worsened as the 3664-ton steamer, the SS Yongala, travelling to Townsville unknowingly headed into a cyclone as it passed the...
Cairns Aquarium Colourful lunar wrasse
On a beautiful sunny day in the Cairns Aquarium, I am surrounded by crystal clear water. Rays of light reflect off the body of a large hammerhead shark as it swims above me, while, in close pursuit is a black tip reef shark, followed by a cow tail ray...
Paronella Park Tour

Paronella Park

Paronella Park is a unique Cairns tourist attraction.  While on a road trip to Cairns and Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef between Mission Beach and Innisfail, a sign for Paronella Park passes us by. A quick search on Trip Advisor raises our curiosity so we decide on a...
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas airlie cassowary
The award-winning Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas is five minutes from Port Douglas on the main highway north of Cairns. It's an interactive sanctuary that offers every opportunity to see, experience and photograph the most amazing and at times rare North Queensland Australian wildlife. As a hobbyist wildlife photographer, I love...

BEST OF QUEENSLAND