You’re being watched: steely eyes under a tall, greyish helmet follow your every move. He’s only five feet tall, but his voice resembles distant thunder and he’s armed with two 12 centimetre long spikes that he’s not afraid to use. Faced with this formidable character, you’re relieved to know that he lives mainly on fruit and the odd dead marsupial. The cassowary is definitely an odd bird, but not the only strange creature you’ll meet in Queensland’s Tropical North. Head to Mossman, 75 kilometres north of Cairns and enter the Daintree, a World Heritage rainforest covering around 1200 square kilometres that’s home to an unbelievable number of marsupials, frogs, insects, plants and birds, including your new friend, the cassowary. Take a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest structure made by living organisms, and you’ll find an incredible diversity of species including thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, six species of turtle and the not-so-pretty dugong. On top of all of the incredible natural heritage, you’ve got to love the consistently warm temperatures (even in mid-winter, 17 degrees is a cold day!) and the accompanying outdoor lifestyle. You only need to spend a little time in this region to appreciate why it means so much to the locals.
Tropical North Insider Insights “Swing through the rainforest and feel as though you are flying! One, two or three people can enjoy the Minjin Jungle Swing together in hang-gliding harnesses, suspended with stainless steel cables. Gravity provides the charge, and wooosh! You’re swinging above the rainforest faster than Tarzan ever did” Jody Manning “Pack a picnic and take a 30 minute drive from Port Douglas to the beautiful Mossman Gorge. Wander through the bush and take a refreshing dip in the waterhole which is also popular with the locals” Rachel Ervine “Glide over the tropical rainforest in a gondala at Kuranda Skyrail. Make sure you have a good look around at Kuranda there is a really amazing Butterfly Sanctuary and some great little shops to browse” Lisa Whittaker “If you love hiking then Devil’s thumb in the Whyanbeel Valley is an ideal day trip to appreciate the beauty of the region from above” Janine Keys
Tropical North Highlights The Rainforest Habitat near Port Douglas is an excellent attraction where you can see more birdlife than you would in the forest with over 180 species! enjoy the surrounding rainforest, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands. Choose a unique experience of either Breakfast with the Birds or Lunch with the Lorikeets – which includes entrance to the Rainforest Habitat. Experience an evening of candlelit dining in the rainforest with Aboriginal storytelling and music with ‘Flames of the Forest’. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of theworld and Reef Encounter offers an outstanding opportunity to spend one or more nights right on the Great Barrier Reef. There is simply no better way to see the Great Barrier Reef and avoid the crowds. Dive and snorkel packages are available and all include chef prepared lunches. A Golfer’s Paradise – tee off with your own clubs at localcourses or hire a buggy and clubs and experience a championship course. Pro Dive specialises in dive education and live aboard dive adventure trips. They offer PADI Learn to Dive courses, advanced courses for divers of all levels. Tropical North Queensland is the perfect place to learn to dive in tropical warm water. View the spectacular Tropical Tablelands as the sun’s first rays lighten the sky on a Hot Air Balloon. The scenery and views are breathtaking and the experience is unforgettable! A day on the Tropical Food Trail Tour is an indulgence for your taste buds. Enjoy coffee, macadamias, tropical fruit wines and chocolate. Meet the farmers, tour plantations and taste local produce.
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Our regions are broken down into four categories: Asia: All Asian countries excluding Japan and Bali(China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India) Australia/Pacific: South-West Pacific including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Bali and Norfolk Island Worldwide: Any journey including USA, Japan, Africa and the Middle East or where you travel across multiple regions Europe: All European destinations, such as Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom
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