Leaving no stone unturned in Far North Queensland (Part 1 of 2)

Cairns is a city in tropical Far North Queensland (FNQ) and just one of the many places to visit when travelling around North-Eastern Australia. I am lucky enough to have travelled around this region extensively and lived there for a few months too, back in 2013. More recently, I visited my old stomping ground in 2020 to find new developments, a modernising city centre yet all the original charm of the wet tropics remains unchanged.

I have toured or lived in Cairns as a backpacker, a work-goer, a weekend away and most recently simply for pleasure. Every time I have been I fall in love a little more. As a Brit, spending Christmas in the tropics was a little strange, but I definitely made the most of it! FNQ boasts luscious rainforests, pristine beaches, wild rivers and waterfalls. I have certainly developed a love for the region and for just getting good and lost in order to find new places. If you have a passion of flora and fauna, breath-taking panoramas or adrenaline activities you will be heading to the right place.

Millaa Millaa Falls, Atherton Tablelands Cairns is surrounded by natural beauty and is in fact the only place in the world to have 2 world heritage listed areas side by side. These are of course the Great Barrier Reef the Daintree Rainforest. Any area with one of these destinations on it's doorstep would be well worth visiting, but to have two makes FNQ truly special.

Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing visible from space. The world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef stretches almost 2,260kms into the Pacific from the tip of Queensland. Cairns is considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef amongst many other awesome adventures. The reef is very easily accessible from a little further north in Port Douglas too. You receive all the guided information, food and water, tea and coffee included as well as all of the snorkelling/diving equipment. I can help book these places.

Green Island and Fitzroy Island Both of these islands are great to visit and you can even stay on the island camping or in the hotel. My personal favourite between the two is Fitzroy purely because of how utterly beautiful it is, especially Nudey beach (not full of nudes, it’s just a name although that may have inspired a giggle on the trip). If you want to snorkel and see lots of colours of marine life I would still suggest doing the outer reef platforms. The islands are tropical resorts encompassing island life.

My recent adventure to the reef was with the tour company Great Adventures. They are recognised by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as a High Standard Operator and all of their tours are accredited with Advanced Ecotourism and Climate Action Innovator Certification. The tours ensure guests have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate this most important World Heritage area. As part of the Quicksilver Group, they are committed to sustainable environmental practices and ongoing conservation for future generations to enjoy

This trip was out of Cairns and the boat ventured to Green Island first to drop off visitors there (some staying overnight on the island) and then onto the outer reef platform. This time around I snorkelled and I can honestly say that was ideal. I swam with over 100 different species including napoleon fish, white tip reef sharks and following a beautiful young sea turtle for quite some time. I hope he/she didn’t mind!

Fitzroy Tips Take a hike to the lighthouse via a very steep service road (concrete wheel tracks) that begins from the north-east end of the camping area. A lookout on the windy north side of the island offers views of Green Island on a clear day. From the lighthouse you can enjoy expansive views of the ocean, and in winter you may be lucky enough to spot an occasional migrating humpback whale.

For 360 degree views of Fitzroy Island take the nearby Summit Track. This boulder-strewn track climbs for 600m through woodland to the summit. From here you can enjoy magnificent views over the island, surrounding reefs and mainland, which make this difficult walk well worth the effort! From the summit, the track then descends for 1.4 km through woodland and open heathland, returning to the north-east end of the camping area. Fitzroy also hosts Cairns’ Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC) which is a voluntary non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles.

Tjapukai Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park tells the stories of indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with music and dance. A couple of years ago I hired this venue to support a work event and the history and stories I heard were simply fascinating. This museum and show truly immerses you in the Aboriginal way of life.

Cairns Esplanade Lined with bars and restaurants, the esplanade or the ‘Espy’ has a swimming lagoon and lots of space to sunbathe, BBQ or simply hang out with friends. When visiting this year I noticed some major redevelopments of the esplanade including an upcoming hotel and entertainment complex that will be sure to attract people the world over. You can easily walk between the esplanade, the port and the shopping that Cairns city has to offer.

Botanical Gardens, Cairns I really love this part of the city. The Cairns Botanical Gardens are a tropical paradise, renowned as one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia. It separates into various different ‘zones’ and each one contains certain species from all over the globe. My favourite part is the Chinese garden and lake - so serene! I would often be found here just getting lost in thought and hours passing by. It’s also completely free to enjoy which makes it even better when on a budget, which most of the time, I am!

Shopping and Markets For a taste of FNQ shopping, you can either choose between various markets, the Cairns Mall or the Harbour area. Loads of bohemian clothing, your typical Australian souvenirs and luxury can all be found. You won’t be short of a shop to visit.

Please check out part 2, where I pick up from Kuranda, the rainforest village and areas such as the more luxurious Palm Cove and Port Douglas. As always, get in touch if you want to discuss your next adventure!