Beyond the beauty of Tropical North Queensland’s most iconic attractions awaits a rich diversity of destinations and experiences for you to explore. Discover uncrowded national parks, extinct volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, charming small villages and some of Australia's richest agricultural lands in the Cairns Highlands, all within an hour west of Cairns.

Cape York Peninsula

Located on the northernmost tip of Australia, Cape York Peninsula is a wild and sparsely populated wilderness area that is only accessible during the dry months from April to December. Cape York's rugged coastline points towards Papua New Guinea while the eastern side of Cape York is fringed by the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef.

The seemingly undeveloped land of Cape York will surprise and delight. The dusty tracks contrast dramatically with the abundant rivers, crystal clear creeks and spectacular waterfalls. This is a vast area of unexplored wilderness, magnificent national parks, sacred Aboriginal sites, unexplored rainforest, rugged mountains and swampy marshlands. This is a land of climatic extremes where the creeks run dry or ten feet high. If you love bushwalking, four-wheel driving, wildlife, fishing, birdwatching or camping then Cape York is the place for you. The Cape York region is one of the largest wilderness areas in the world that remains relatively untouched, maintaining its original beauty and diversity. You'll be amazed by the 40,000 year old tradition and culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - Australia's Indigenous people. See the unique wildlife including kangaroos and the unusual dugongs. With all this untamed beauty the area offers an escape from the manmade pressures of the city.

Daintree and Cape Tribulation

The township of Daintree, perched on a bend of the Daintree River, is just further on from the turn off to the Daintree Ferry. Lunch on freshly caught barramundi at one of the local restaurants, browse the art and craft shops, and enjoy the ambience of this laidback village. Wildlife of every kind flourishes on the Daintree River and its banks. The area's most infamous inhabitants are the estuarine crocodiles. There are a number of river cruises where, from the safety of a boat, you can watch crocodiles sunning themselves on the mangrove lined banks or gliding through the water. The only cable ferry in tropical Australia, the Daintree Ferry provides the only southern access into the lowland Daintree Rainforest. It's a vehicle ferry operating from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

Cape Tribulation is a small village in Tropical North Queensland where the frontier of the north really begins. Once you cross the Daintree River by ferry, you've entered into 4WD only country. You'll soon pass through lowland and tropical rainforest to the road junctions for Cape Kimberley and Cow Bay. Make sure to take some time and explore these areas as they have excellent coastal lookouts where the reef literally meets the rainforest. If you continue to follow the Bloomfield Track (the major coastal highway) north you'll drive alongside the coast and through the canopies of the Wet Tropics rainforest to the more isolated towns of the northern frontier.

Many people make day trips to Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas and Cairns, but there are camping spots and accommodation options available for those who would like to spend a little more time exploring the area.