The Tropical North Queensland city of Cairns is the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites sit side by side. The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest have both been recognized by UNESCO for their unique features, and in Cairns, travellers can visit both — they border each other. Cairns’ natural beauty, picturesque coastal and rainforest villages and five-star hotels make it a tempting destination for travellers seeking unforgettable experiences.
From hiking, sailing and snorkelling in the blue waters of the Coral Sea and immersive guided experiences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to a vibrant food scene focused on fresh, local cuisine, Cairns is an easy sell. And with its no-tipping culture, affordable lodging and year-round flights from Vancouver connecting through Brisbane and Sydney – “A movie and a snooze, and you’re here!” as locals say – it’s a great time to sell packages designed to surprise and delight. Here’s how to plan your client’s unforgettable trip to Cairns.
Immersive activities in spectacular landscapes
Travellers eager to experience the Far North Queensland region will love visiting the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, an award-winning ecotourism facility located at the entrance to the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. Clients can do self-guided tours or join a guided Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk – Ngadiku means ‘stories and legends’ – led by a local Aboriginal elder to learn more about the Kuku Yalanji land, culture, traditional plant use and bush food.
Mossman Gorge, Daintree, Australia (Photo Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)
“Feel the forest; it’s more spiritual than physical,” our guide Levi tells us as we make our way through the lush rainforest along bubbling streams. “This is a sacred red cedar; we believe you’re born into a tree.”
Wildlife enthusiasts should stop into Hartley’s Crocs, a 70-acre former mining site in Wangetti Valley – the heart of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area – that was transformed into a refuge for local animals in 2002. Here, clients will see crocodiles and other colourful reptiles in a natural melaleuca wetland lagoon, giant cassowary birds, kangaroos and emus, and koalas and wombats.
No visit to Cairns is complete without a half- or full day at the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors can board the Quicksilver charter boat for a 90-minute ride to a large reef platform. Here, guests can learn about conservation and take part in interactive reef-science activities with the onboard marine biologists, go for a guided snorkelling adventure, wander through the underwater observatory, walk on the ocean floor while helmet diving or tour the reef in a semi-submersible boat to see the exquisite coral and marine life up close. Clients can also book 20-minute helicopter tours.
Another way to discover the ancient tropical rainforest is on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where travellers board the circa-1891 Kuranda Scenic Railway to ride between the coastal plains of Cairns up 328 metres to Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest. Along the way, clients can take a guided ranger tour and spot local wildlife.
Travellers with a creative spirit can head to Janbal Gallery for an Aboriginal art workshop to make a souvenir piece to take home. Artist Brian “Binna” Swindley shares stories and songs while teaching participants about his culture’s symbols, colours and line work.
End the day with a scenic Tropical Trike Tour between Port Douglas and Mowbray to catch spectacular panoramic views from Flagstaff Hill lookout overlooking Four Mile Beach.
The lobby of the Hilton Palm Court, Cairns, Australia (Photo Credit: Hilton Palm Court)
Elevated properties offer the ideal home base
Located at the edge of the Coral Sea an hour from the Cairns International airport, the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Port Douglas is set on 147 hectares of lush gardens. With 295 rooms and suites, 130 villas, an 18-hole golf course plus seven onsite restaurants and bars, the property is a great fit for luxury travellers.
For a sleek, elegant stay, the 311-room Crystalbrook Riley is a five-star luxury resort with a 270-degree rooftop terrace located at the northern end of Cairns’ gorgeous Esplanade waterfront just 10 minutes from the airport. And new luxury product is coming: the 140-room Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa, formerly the Grand Chancellor, is set to open in June, and the all-inclusive luxury lodge Ever Bloomfield, which can only be reached by helicopter or boat, will have 14 upscale bungalows set between the reef and ancient Daintree rainforest – an ideal setting for clients seeking the ultimate nature experience.
Culinary delights straight from the land and sea
Dining al fresco in Palm Cove, Tropical North Queensland. (Photo Credit: Tourism Australia)
Book a beachfront lunch at one of Cairn’s most popular restaurants, Nu Nu, in Palm Cove. Tucked among coconut palms with beautiful sea views, chef Nick Holloway serves up modern Australian cuisine that showcases the region’s amazing bounty of lush, fresh produce from the rainforest, the reef and outback cattle stations.
Other must-try eateries include Salsa Bar & Grill, an open-air restaurant located in Port Douglas overlooking the Dickson Inlet that features a fusion of global culinary delights and local fish such as pan-fried gold band snapper and Moroccan-spiced yellowfin tuna; and Silky Oaks Lodge for a riverside al fresco meal under a leafy canopy that includes tiger prawns and Daintree barramundi fish.
Learn more about this one-of-a-kind destination with TravelPulse Canada’s Australia travel guide.
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