The Best Tropical North Queensland Holiday Destinations + Itinerary
If you want to see fairytale waterfalls and swimming holes, the best parts of the Great Barrier Reef, and the oldest rainforest in the world, you need to visit the best Tropical North Queensland holiday destinations we are sharing here.
Queensland is known for the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and so many other amazing travel destinations. Any Australia bucket list should have Queensland and specifically Tropical North Queensland (also called Far North Queensland or shortened to TNQ) on the list.
Our TNQ itinerary was packed full of amazing places - some we had visited before and some were brand new for us. We swam with sea turtles, found a new favourite TNQ waterfall, took a sunset cruise in Port Douglas, and discovered paradise on a thin stretch of sand known as Mackay Cay. Here are our 10 best Tropical North Queensland holiday destinations for your bucket list (with our itinerary and a map to help you plan your trip!).
#1: The Great Barrier Reef
How can the Great Barrier Reef not be number 1 on our list? It’s one of the top bucket list destinations in the world, and a trip to Australia needs to include a visit to the GBR.
We did a tour with Passions of Paradise from Cairns on a big beautiful boat that supports eco-tourism and conservation. It was one of the best diving boats I’ve ever been on. It’s a massive yacht looking boat and the best boat I’ve ever been on for a reef tour. Plus, they take you to the best reef there - Milln Reef.
The weather started out not so good with rain and cloudy skies in Cairns. The crew assured us it would clear, and they were right. By the time we got to the reef, we had blue skies and sunshine to really show off the colours of the reef.
The water in this area is insane. It is so blue and the reef is incredible. There are so many fish and so much coral. I can’t really explain it - it’s something you have to experience yourself. It’s the best reef I’ve ever seen though, and I highly recommend taking the full-day tour with Passions of Paradise like we did.
The part of the reef we visited was honestly thriving. We didn’t see one bit of bleaching, and it made it easy to see why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. You really need to see it with your own eyes.
However, there are parts of the reef that are not thriving. Some areas are majorly impacted by coral bleaching. We need to do our part to protect the reef for future generations, and you can find out more about how you can do your part to save the reef here.
#2: Cairns
We used Cairns as our base to explore the first few days of our trip, staying at Flynn, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel. The hotel is one of the newer ones in the area, only a month old when we visited. We enjoyed our stay there and would recommend it to anyone coming to the area.
Our first night we had dinner on a retired fishing trawler that was converted into a seafood restaurant called Prawn Star. We were excited about enjoying fresh seafood, and it did not disappoint. Everything was so fresh and so good. We ended up splitting a massive platter of seafood.
We also ate dinner at Dundee’s another night at the Cairns Aquarium. The restaurant has the largest tank within a restaurant in all of Australia with its 70,000-litre saltwater marine aquarium. It makes for a magical dining experience to sit and watch the sea life swim by while you eat. The food is delicious too which makes it the perfect special night out in Cairns.
Rusty’s Market is another must in Cairns. It’s an incredible market that is the perfect spot for breakfast. They have so much tropical fruit and lots of little stalls selling jewellery and trinkets too. It all smells amazing!
We knew we wanted to try the coconut bowls at The Grateful Coconut and some Vietnamese iced coffee at Annee’s Caphê Sua Da, but other suggestions we got for Rusty’s Market were for vegetarian samosas from Govinda’s Yummies, sugarcane juice at the northern side of Sheridan Street, and Gyiorgi’s Delights near the sugarcane juice stand.
I feel like all we did is eat there, but Cairns was our base for our trip to the reef with Passions of Paradise. It was also our base to explore the Atherton Tablelands and waterfalls there. There is plenty to see and do in Cairns as well if you have time to explore more of the area.
#3: Atherton Tablelands
We spent one full day of our trip up high in the Atherton Tablelands. It took about an hour to get there from Cairns, but the rest of the day was spent exploring the waterfalls and lookout points.
The waterfall circuit is another 35 minutes or so, but then you get to stop and see Millaa Millaa Falls, Zille Falls, and Ellinjaa Falls all within a 10-minute drive from each other. It’s also an easy walk from the car park to each waterfall, so everyone can enjoy them.
Millaa Millaa Falls was our first waterfall of the day and is iconic. It looks so beautiful and the sound of the waterfall and surrounding nature make it soothing and relaxing to be there.
Our next stop was our favourite waterfall and one we had never seen before. Zillie Falls is an epic waterfall with the water gushing over the edge and surrounded by mossy trees. We felt like we had stepped into the pages of a fairytale. We were the only ones there, so it made it super special and I loved being there.
The third waterfall on the Cairns waterfall circuit is Ellinjaa falls. Because the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit is only 17km and the waterfalls are all close together, it’s a great day trip from Cairns.
Next we went to Tully Falls and Tully Gorge. We hiked out to the falls in the rain, but it was actually really nice because it kept us cool. These falls only have water if the wet seasons is really wet, but the gorge is still worth the short hike even if the falls aren’t running. Tully Falls Lookout is about a 55-minute drive from the rest of the waterfall circuit.
Our last stop was the Millaa Millaa Lookout for an amazing view of the landscape before heading back to Cairns. This lookout is about an hour from Tully Falls or 20 minutes from the waterfall circuit if you skip Tully Falls and is worth a stop to take in the stunning view. If you want a stop for a great photo op (and some tea) on the way back, stop at Nucifora Tea.
#4: Palm Cove
Palm Cove makes for a great stop on the drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation. It’s only 40 minutes outside of Cairns, and it’s a beautiful, quiet, relaxing place with so many palm trees lining the white sand beaches.
We got an early start and stopped in Palm Cove for breakfast. I was literally dying over our breakfast view. It’s just palms on palms on palms. We had a tropical fruit breakfast overlooking the palm trees and beach. Not a bad breaky spot at all!
#5: Mossman Gorge
Another day and another beautiful swimming hole. Located in the southern part of the Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge is one of the biggest tourist attractions in TNQ. It was our first time visiting, and it did not disappoint.
Our photos don’t do it justice. It’s a must-visit in TNQ with the freshest and clearest water that is so refreshing.
Make sure to obey all the signs and warnings here though. The water conditions can be unpredictable, and water levels can rise quickly. There is a swimming hole, but the current in the main part of the river is strong and there are hidden boulders.
#6: Port Douglas
Like Cairns, Port Douglas is a great spot to use as a base to explore the surrounding areas. You can take day trips to Mossman Gorge, the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and Cape Tribulation for example.
This time we stayed at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas Resort where we had the best view of the huge lagoons and a massive room with a balcony overlooking the lagoons as well. We could have easily stayed a few extra nights here!
While we were in Port Douglas, we did a sunset cruise with Sailaway Port Douglas. The boat was incredible, and we just sat with our legs hanging over the side drinking bubbles. It was a great way to end a relaxing day in Port Douglas.
If you want an evening out in Port Douglas, check out Barbados Port Douglas. This cocktail bar also serves food, and this is my way to dine! You are basically lying down in your own lounge area with sunset views and views of the surrounding landscape.
For a beach day, make sure to visit Four Mile Beach for some seriously tropical vibes. Port Douglas is a great base, but it was also the perfect place for us to relax a little after being so busy exploring for most of the trip. We highly recommend just spending a day relaxing here if you plan to use it as a base.
#7: Fitzroy Island
We actually didn’t visit Fitzroy Island this trip, but we have in the past and couldn’t leave it off of our list. It’s a tropical island paradise and the perfect spot to get away and relax.
We love spending time at Nudey Beach and snorkelling, diving and swimming on the island reefs. You can do sailing trips or hike to the summit of Fitzroy for a view of the island and surrounding blue waters.
For more on our visit to Fitzroy Island, check out this post about another trip we took to Tropical North Queensland a few years ago.
#8: Mackay Reef & Mackay Cay
Paradise on earth. That’s really the only way to describe Mackay Cay, a little stretch of white sand in sparkling blue water. I know I use paradise to describe a lot of places in Australia (it really is an amazing place to call home!), but a bumpy 30-minute boat ride was all worth it when we saw the Cay and the reef.
It was insane. Mackay Cay is 18 kilometres off the coast of Cape Tribulation beach. The fringing reef around the Cay has some of the best coral I have ever seen. It blew us away.
We saw about 10 turtles on MacKay Cay on our half-day tour with Ocean Safari. Mackay Cay is known for being one of the best snorkelling sites on the Great Barrier Reef and we could see why. This place is turtle heaven, and we got to see Nemo too. The rainforest meets the reef here, and my eyes almost couldn’t handle the beauty of it. Make sure to put this on your Australia bucket list!
#9: Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Rainforest is part of the Daintree National Park. The rainforest is the oldest living rainforest on earth, over 180 million years old.
We spent a couple of nights hidden away in the rainforest at Mist at Cape Trib. Everything there is run by solar panels, and it’s such a cute place to stay. Everything was in one big room, but it included a little kitchen, a large living room area, and a massive king size bed. There is also a massive deck overlooking the rainforest.
It was honestly so peaceful to be surrounded by the rainforest. We even had a little tropical blue hole right out the back of our accommodation. It was perfect for cooling down after a long humid day.
While you are in the area, try out the Marrdja Botanical Walk, a raised walkway through the rainforest. Stop at Cow Bay Beach for a beach day too (we stopped on our way to Daintree). There is a rope swing on a palm tree there, but trust me, it’s scarier than it looks (you can watch my TNQ highlights on Instagram for proof!).
Our favourite thing we did in Daintree National Park was visiting Emmagen Creek. Emmagen Creek is another place with fairytale vibes. There is a beautiful tree along the edge with a rope swing, and I think I must have swung off of it 100 times or more. It was just what we needed after a busy trip trying to see everything.
#10: Hinchinbrook Island
Hinchinbrook Island is the largest island national park in Australia. We didn’t have time to visit it this time but have in the past. Located off the coast a few hours south of Cairns, this island is also the biggest island in the Great Barrier Reef and is uninhabited. Camping is allowed, but only 40 people can stay on the island at one time.
To take in the island, try hiking or kayaking. There are lots of trails you can hike including Thorsborne Trail, a 32 km trail that is rated as one of the top 10 walks on Earth. Kayaking around the edge of the island gives you a different view of the mangroves and beautiful sandy beaches.
Tropical North Queensland Map + Itinerary
Here is a map of our trip that you can save to your Google Maps to use for your own road trip. We’ve also included a detailed itinerary below to help you decide how much time to spend in each place.
Day 1:
We flew into Cairns and picked up our car hire from Avis. After checking in at Flynn, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, we enjoyed dinner on the Prawn Star.
Day 2:
We spent our second day in the Atherton Tablelands. After breakfast at the hotel, we drove about an hour via the Gillies Range to the Atherton Tablelands.
Then it was another 35-minute drive to the Waterfall Circuit where we stopped at Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, and Ellinjaa Falls. From there it was another 55-minute drive to the Tully Falls Lookout and then an hour drive to the Millaa Millaa Lookout.
The drive back to Cairns took about an hour and a half. Once we got back to the hotel, we got ready and had dinner at Dundee’s at the Cairns Aquarium.
Day 3:
Day 3 was our big reef day with Passions of Paradise. We did the Full Day Great Barrier Reef Tour before having dinner at Rocco by Crystalbrook.
Day 4:
We checked out of Flynn that morning and drove a little less than 3 hours to Mist at Cape Trib.
On the way from Cairns to Cape Trib, you might want to make a few stops. We stopped at Palm Cove and Cow Bay, but you can also stop at Ellis Beach, Rex Lookout, Thala Beach Nature Reserve, and Alexandra Lookout.
Our dinner that night was at Whet Restaurant in Cape Trib.
Day 5:
Our fifth day included our half-day tour with Ocean Safaris to MacKay Reef. We had the afternoon free, so some options for the area included Emmagen Creek and Marrdja boardwalk which were the two we chose.
Other options include ice cream at Daintree Ice Cream Co, sunrise at Myall Beach or Cape Trib Beach, Dubuji or Jindalba boardwalks, Mason’s Cafe and swimming hole, Cape Trib fruit farm, or a wildlife tour at night to spot rare animals like tree kangaroos.
That evening we had dinner at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge.
Day 6:
Day 6 was our day to head to Port Douglas and spend the day there before our sunset cruise with Sailaway Reef and Island Tours and dinner at Barbados. We stopped at Four Mile Beach and spent part of the day there before checking in to Sheraton Grand Mirage and relaxing in a cabana.
Day 7:
We spent our last full day in TNQ visiting the Mossman Gorge before taking in the sunset at Rex Smeal Park and enjoying one last TNQ dinner at Salsa Bar and Grill.
Day 8:
On our last day before checking out of the Sheraton Grand Mirage and fly home, we stopped by Thala Beach Reserve to take some last-minute photos beneath the palm trees. Really cool spot for some photos. Hopefully this convinced you to see more than just the Great Barrier Reef when visiting Tropical North Queensland. With so many great options, you’ll want at least a week to explore the best Tropical North Queensland holiday destinations!
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