Fun for all
If you’re looking for the ultimate family holiday, Tropical North Queensland should be at the top of your list. From the hundreds of golden beaches fronting onto the calm waters of the Coral Sea to the lush green rainforests and national parks, there’s always something to do outdoors. You can explore from a kayak, canoe or paddleboard, race around on mountain bikes or hike up to secret lookouts.
Splash around in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, go waterfall chasing in the Atherton Tablelands, spot cassowaries at the Djiru National Park and feed a big reptile at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.
There’s a large selection of resorts with great facilities for families, like huge swimming pools, playgrounds and special kids’ menus. If your family needs more space, self-contained apartments are a great option or you can check in to one of the excellent caravan parks in the region, many of which have pools and even waterslides.
Bonding time
Capitalise on quality family time with these family-friendly activities.
Things to do near Cairns these school holidays
It’s that time of year again! School’s out and kids all over the country are begging to get out and explore. From wildlife to waterslides and everything in between, this is your ultimate guide to the school holidays near Cairns.
What to do in Cairns With Kids
Looking for what to do in Cairns with kids? This natural adventure playground is jam-packed with activities that are perfect for the whole family.
Ideas for a rainy day in Cairns with kids
Kids restless and suffering cabin fever? Let them release that pent-up energy by ziplining over a crocodile, exploring underwater coral gardens or venturing through the Southern Hemisphere’s largest butterfly sanctuary.
8 reasons to take the kids to the reef with Quicksilver
Riddle us this: what is the most complex natural system on earth, World Heritage-listed, and found in Tropical North Queensland?
Things to do with little travellers at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
When you want to see Australian natives up close, it pays to visit an animal sanctuary who have perfected up close and personal experiences for more than eight decades, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.
Why Port Douglas is the perfect spot for a family holiday
Port Douglas is the perfect getaway for kids and parents alike, with everything from adrenaline-filled rainforest adventures and awe-inspiring wildlife tours to top-end eateries and bustling local markets.
8 Free ideas for family fun in Cairns
Outdoor loving families will have a tonne of fun in Tropical North Queensland and the best part about holidaying in the tropics is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy yourself. Here are our top 8 free things to do as a family in TNQ.
5 places to spot animals in Kuranda
Kuranda, the picturesque village on the Atherton Tablelands, is home to many of our tropical wild friends, so where better to go animal-spotting than at one of Kuranda’s many wildlife gardens and sanctuaries.
6 reasons to see the rainforest with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Welcome to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, an aerial experience through Australia’s most famous rainforest, the Wet Tropics.
Palm Cove: a family affair
Make beautiful memories with a stay at this chic, laidback village just north of Cairns. Here’s 10 reasons why kids and grown-ups love Palm Cove.
5 Family-friendly camping spots near Cairns
Whether it’s time spent outdoors, the excitement of exploring a new landscape or just sleeping under the stars, my time camping as a kid has meant a desire to share similar experiences with my own children.
Six family-friendly mountain biking trails
If you have children in tow on your next Tropical North Queensland adventure, add these family-friendly trails to your itinerary.
Dive into this guide of swim-out hotel rooms
Walk in: swim out. For that added splash of luxury to your weekend getaway, family holiday or romantic retreat the following hotels will get you as close as you can to the most convenient and luxurious pools in the region.
A wildlife warrior’s 3 day guide to the tropics
Love animals? Love nature? Love khaki? If you answered yes, this guide has your name written all over it, and we’re calling you a wildlife warrior from now on. Trek to the tropics for three days of nature in the north with this itinerary.
The Wet Tropics’ Famous Five Precincts and a guide to exploring them
If you’re looking to connect with nature and discover a rainforest that’s the oldest, longest and largest in Australia, go behind the foliage with this guide to the five precincts of the Wet Tropics.
5 things you didn’t know about crocodiles
They may have a reputation as one of the planet’s most powerful creatures, but crocodiles are equally as fascinating as they are fearsome.
Things to do in Port Douglas
Don’t let its flop and drop reputation fool you, there are many things to do in Port Douglas. From hunting with Traditional Owners & exploring the Great Barrier Reef, to river floats & wildlife parks. Here’s how to spend your time in Port Douglas.
8 unmissable Indigenous events in Tropical North Queensland
From Cairns to the Cape, you’ll find an annual program of Indigenous events that bring to life a culture 60,000 years in the making. Your ticket not only grants you entry, but a backstage pass to the stories and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.
10 things near Mareeba worth the drive from Cairns
If your ideal holiday involves roaming from providore to providore, seeing 400-million-year-old rock cave formations and exploring waterfalls in between, there’s a town on the Atherton Tablelands you’ll want to get to know.
Itineraries
Take a roadtrip with the family
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camping
The Savannah Way
Cairns to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park
The Savannah Way is an epic, two-state, one-territory, 3,700km journey across the top of Australia. You can take a section of the drive in Tropical North Queensland between Cairns on the coast and Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park close to the Northern Territory border – a distance of about 1,700km.
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adventure
Adrenaline adventures in TNQ
Cairns
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beaches
The Great Tropical Drive
Cairns to Cairns
Get ready to discover the very best of Tropical North Queensland on the Great Tropical Drive. Some 26 different routes make up the drive, taking you from coast to Savannah, islands to the outback, rainforest to reef.
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beaches
EV Road trip from Cairns to Cardwell
Cairns to Cardwell
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atherton tablelands
3 Day Atherton Tablelands Adventure
Cairns to Yungaburra
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caves
Lava Tubes, Gems and Gorges
Undara to The Lynd Junction
Discover real Australia and find a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes and the powerful forces of nature as you travel from Undara to the Lynd Junction along the Savannah Way.
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beaches
The Great Green Way
Townsville to Cairns
Stretching between Cairns and Townsville, this under-the-radar route can be completed in four hours, but is best enjoyed over a couple of days so you can soak up the region’s spectacular natural assets and relaxed friendly vibe.
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cairns northern beaches
Tropical Family Getaway: 7 Days in TNQ on a Budget
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camping
The CREB Track
Daintree to Cooktown
The CREB Track is one of the country’s most challenging four-wheel-drive adventures, traversing spectacular World Heritage-listed rainforest as it weaves its way north from Daintree village to Cooktown.
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atherton tablelands
EV Road trip from Cairns to Atherton Tablelands
Cairns to Millaa Millaa
Take those electric feels all the way from Cairns to Millaa Millaa on this electric vehicle road trip through the Atherton Tablelands.
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Mini Road Trips
Tropical North Queensland
Discover local specialties and hidden gems on a mini road trip through Tropical North Queensland with these one day wonders. Here are eight itineraries to get you out and about.
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caves
The Wheelbarrow Way
Mareeba to Chillagoe
Stretching from Mareeba to Chillagoe, the Wheelbarrow Way travels through verdant crop-producing farmlands, cattle country, wooded savannah and friendly little towns with impressive histories.
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camping
Kirrama Range Road
Cardwell to Undara
The Kirrama Range Road is stunning drive across the ranges from Cardwell to Undara, with plenty to see and do, and spectacular scenery including lookouts, waterfalls, heritage-listed rainforest and swimming holes.
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atherton tablelands
Road Trips From Cairns
Tropical North Queensland
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daintree cape tribulation
Ev road trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation
Cairns to Cape Tribulation
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adventure
Cairns to Cape York
Cairns to Cape York
Got a heightened sense of adventure and want to take it all the way to the top (of Australia)? Jump into a 4WD and head off on an unforgettable journey from Cairns to Cape York.
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cassowary spotting
The Canecutter Way
Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail
Discover the unique delights of the Cassowary Coast region as you pass historic towns and sugar-cane fields on the Canecutter Way from Kurrimine Beach to Innisfail.
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arts culture
The Bloomfield Track
Cape Tribulation to Cooktown
Drive the beautiful and wild Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown – a bucket-list drive for all 4WD enthusiasts.
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creeks rivers streams
The Waterfall Circuit
Cairns to Atherton Tablelands
It’s time to hit the road, from Cairns into the Atherton Tablelands and towards today’s destinations along the Waterfall Circuit.
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arts culture attractions
The Great Barrier Reef Drive
Cairns to Cape Tribulation (return)
Welcome to the loveliest little drive in Queensland. Short but oh-so-sweet, the Great Barrier Reef Drive covers just 140km in a straight line north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas.
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Family Activity & Attractions
With countless activities on offer, here are some of the best places to take your family.
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accessible
Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
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Birdworld Kuranda
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Rainforestation Nature Park
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Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
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accessible
Cairns Botanic Gardens
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accessible
Kuranda Koala Gardens
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accessible
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
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accessible
Tropic Wings Cairns Tours and Charters
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accessible
Mamu Tropical Skywalk
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accessible
Quicksilver Cruises
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camping holiday parks
Paronella Park
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accessible
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
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accessible
Wildlife Habitat
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accessible
Calypso Reef Cruises
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accessible
Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience
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cairns northern beaches
Fitzroy Island Adventures
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adventure
Kur-Cow Barnwell Farm
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accessible
Reef Magic Cruises
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eco certified
Wavedancer Low Isles Cruises
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accessible
Sunlover Reef Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Down Under Cruise and Dive
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eco certified
Undara Lava Tubes
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cairns northern beaches
Ocean Free – Sail to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef
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accessible
The Crystal Caves
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accessible
Daintree Discovery Centre
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aquariums
Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery Karumba
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accessible
Historic Village Herberton
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cairns northern beaches
Passions of Paradise
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accessible
Frankland Islands Reef Cruises
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adrenaline activities
Bad Fishy Jet Boating Cairns
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accessible
Kuranda Scenic Railway
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accessible
Cairns Aquarium
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Culture & indigenous attractions
Walkabout Cultural Adventures
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daintree cape tribulation
Ocean Safari
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adrenalin activities
Cairns Kart Hire, Lasertag and Escape Rooms
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daintree cape tribulation
Hook-A-Barra
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bird watching
Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises
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accessible
Cairns Lagoon
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art galleries
Mareeba Heritage Museum
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bird watching
Back Country Bliss Adventures
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adrenaline activities
Cairns Wake Park and Aqua Park
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accessible
Snapping Tours
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accessible
Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel
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boat tours
Wavelength Reef Cruises – Full Day Outer Reef Snorkel Tour
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daintree cape tribulation
Daintree Ice Cream Company
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atherton tablelands
Atherton Herberton Historic Railway
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daintree cape tribulation
Daintree Siesta Restaurant
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art galleries museums
FNQ Aviation Museum
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