TNQ Writer
Rest your head easy on a visit to Tropical North Queensland. From sleeping on a luxury island to pitching a tent on the beach, here’s your guide to an unforgettable stay in the tropics.
Island life
Fitzroy Island
Get away from it all at Fitzroy Island Resort, just a 45-minute fast cat ride from Cairns. Stay in a bungalow, beach cabin, studio room or suite and spend your days snorkelling, kayaking and hiking in the surrounding national park. Walk to the summit, the historic lighthouse at the eastern end of the island, which was a military base during World War II, or to the two main beaches, Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach.
Recently named the best beach in the country, Nudey Beach is a secluded stretch of pristine sand, backed with protected rainforest. The resort has a beachfront bar Foxy’s, a restaurant called Zephyr and a pool with a swim-up bar. Kids will love the arcade games room, movie theatre and playroom.
Under canvas
Tent with a view
Pitch a tent between the palm trees metres from the sand at Ellis Beach Oceanfront Bungalow & Leisure Park. On a 6 kilometre-long beach halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas and just five minutes’ drive north of Palm Cove, the park has a range of beachfront campsites with views across the water to Double Island.
Stock up on bread and milk, hire fishing rods and buy bait from the general store and head across the road to Ellis Beach Bar and Grill for bistro-style meals and live music on some Sunday afternoons. If glamping is more your thing, Ellis Beach also has bungalows and budget cabins.
With the birds
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Doze off among the treetops at Thala Beach Nature Reserve, a bush-covered property criss-crossed with paths taking you through native forest to secluded coves. The family-owned beachfront eco-retreat between Cairns and Port Douglas has 83 bungalows, including the treehouse-like Coral Sea Bungalows, which are built on stilts. Relax on your private timber deck and take in the views over Oak Beach as wallabies, possums and sugar gliders go about their business in the trees around you.
Complimentary guided wildlife walks with onsite rangers are available, as well as bird watching tours, tree planting and stargazing. The retreat’s Osprey Restaurant is perched high on a hill, offering modern Australian cuisine with panoramic views across the Coral Sea and north to Cape Tribulation as gentle breezes keep diners cool.
In the lap of luxury
Lizard Island
Splash out with a trip to the northern-most accommodation on the Great Barrier Reef, the luxurious Lizard Island Resort. A one-hour flight from Cairns, the property was designed in harmony with nature. Take a guided tour to the research station, hike to the top of Cook’s Look or indulge in a treatment at the Essential Day Spa. Order a picnic hamper and get dropped off by boat at one of the island’s 24 beaches for a private lunch.
At night, soak up the 180-degree views from Salt Water Restaurant or liaise with the chef on a menu for a seven-course degustation dinner on a private beach pavilion at Anchor Bay.
