Taste of the tropics
Diversity and abundance make Tropical North Queensland unique as a food-producing region. Some of it is familiar but flag flyers for the tropics include mangoes, bananas and sweet, sun-ripened pineapples, reef fish and wild-caught prawns. Less well-known are the rainforest nuts, fruits and native spices that Aboriginal people gathered from this land for millennia, and today appear in local markets and on restaurant menus.
In the highlands of the Atherton Tablelands, you’ll find coffee and tea plantations and cattle farms, biodynamic dairies producing milk, cheese and yoghurt, aquaculture farms and distilleries. Grab a map and DIY a bespoke food trail, or join an organised food tour to talk and taste bush food with an Indigenous expert.
A wander around the markets at Yungaburra or Rusty’s Market in Cairns also offers the opportunity to see, smell and taste the tropical north. If you prefer your produce plated up rather than hunted and gathered, a melting pot of cultures and the region’s proximity to Asia ensure that Tropical North Queensland’s dining scene is a vibrant, multicultural smorgasbord – from Italian cafes to Balinese diners.
Other restaurants proudly showcase their local roots, with native Australian produce like kangaroo, emu and crocodile on the menu and some of the best seafood in the country, caught locally. With a profusion of experiences and produce, whatever your interests and appetite, you’re unlikely to ever go hungry up here.
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Enjoy beach front dining at Nunu in Palm Cove
Enjoy beach front dining at Nunu in Palm Cove
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Head to the Atherton Tablelands for local produce
Head to the Atherton Tablelands for local produce
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Check out Cairns' laneway bar scene
Check out Cairns' laneway bar scene
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Seafood lovers will find plenty of options in Tropical North Queensland
Seafood lovers will find plenty of options in Tropical North Queensland
Bring your appetite
Food trails, bush tucker and eating out in Tropical North Queensland.
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Mudcrab to mangoes: your guide to eating local in Cairns
From earthy bush tucker and exotic fruits to ocean-caught seafood and a biodynamic dairy farm, Tropical North Queensland offers up a menu with a unique ingredients list.
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Your guide to the Cairns Esplanade Dining Precinct
The iconic Cairns Esplanade has had a major makeover. Enjoy a new and improved esplanade dining experience by visiting the Cairns Esplanade Dining Precinct.
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Bars & breweries to check out in Cairns CBD
A big part of travelling is finding the perfect spot to have a cold drink at the end of a day adventuring. Here’s where to quench your thirst in Cairns, whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur, beer buff, gin junkie or simply love a glass of wine with a view.
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Food & drink events to sink your teeth into
Eat and drink your way through 2022 with these tongue-tingling Tropical North Queensland food and drink events.
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Port Douglas breakfast & brunch spots to tuck into
If your holiday hobbies include eating and thinking about the next time you’ll be eating then this list of bucket list breakfasts is worth waking up for. From mouth-watering breakfasts to boozy brunches, brekkie in Port Douglas is anything but your standard bacon and eggs.
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Eat your way through these Palm Cove Restaurants
Taste the flavours of the north in the seaside village of Palm Cove, where restaurants take pride in local produce, fresh flavours and providing a warm tropical welcome served with an icy-cold drink.
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Your guide to vegetarian & vegan friendly restaurants in Cairns
You’ll find most cafes and restaurants around Cairns include quality meat-free dishes. The following eateries however, hero plant-based food. Here’s where to eat vegan and vegetarian food in Cairns.
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Taste your way along the Cassowary Coast
Tasting your way along the Cassowary Coast’s bountiful tropical food trail will satisfy any food lovers appetite. From orchards laden with exotic fruits to seafood buffets on tropical islands, you’ll be making all sorts of stops along the way. So pack your hampers and make room in your car boot, we’re taking you foraging!
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Food trail highlights on the Atherton Tablelands
Foodies take a deep breath and prepare your tastebuds for tantalisation. Here’s how to get your foodie fix on the Atherton Tablelands.
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These avocado toast dishes in Cairns will gauc your world
In wake of Australia’s avocado oversupply it’s time to start smashing avos – literally. Avo great start to the day with these avocado toast dishes in Cairns.
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10 Cafes in Cairns for great coffee
With such a vibrant foodie culture, finding the best cafes in Cairns can be overwhelming. Fuel your caffeine addiction with these local favourites for a guaranteed quality cup of coffee.
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Stunning waterfront bars in Tropical North Queensland
Beaches and bars are a match made in heaven – especially in the tropics, where any excuse to down a cool beverage is welcomed. Here are some of the coolest waterfront and beach bars Tropical North Queensland has to offer.
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It’s a locavore life
Flanked by the coral sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria and tropical rainforest, boasting vast differences in climate and altitude, Tropical North Queensland has arguably the greatest variety of fresh produce in Australia.
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Flavour on the menu
From exotic fruits to craft beers, homegrown chocolate to spectacular seafood, Tropical North Queensland is a food lover’s paradise.
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Seafood lovers’ guide to Cairns
As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is teeming with an abundance of restaurants offering fresh, local catches and exceptional seafood. Find the stand-out seafood dishes in Cairns below.
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Market Day
Celebrated Palm Cove chef Nick Holloway adores iconic Rusty’s Markets in Cairns. Kerry Heaney joined him for a tour of the stalls.
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Top spots to picnic around Cairns and the tropics
Dining al-fresco is a way of life up here in the tropics and with a plethora of picture-perfect spots in our backyard, there’s no need to book into a swanky restaurant. Pack a blanket and hamper and head to one of these picnic spots in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland.
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Mango is on the menu in Cairns this summer
With tropical fruit in peak season, summer is the ideal time to indulge in local produce including the summer favourite, mango. Here’s where you can get a mango fix in Cairns.
Explore, Eat & Drink
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Spirit of Cairns
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Flames Of The Forest
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Wharf One Cafe
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Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Cairns and Northern Beaches
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Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Port Douglas
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Sailaway Port Douglas
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Coffee Works
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Vivaldis Restaurant
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Oak & Vine
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Wolf Lane Distillery
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Flynn’s Italian by Crystalbrook
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Code Cairns
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CC’s Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook
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Jaques Coffee Plantation
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Mungalli Creek Biodynamic Dairy and Farmhouse Cafe
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Osprey’s Restaurant, Thala Beach Nature Reserve, Port Douglas
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Salsa Bar and Grill
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Daintree Sensations
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Brett’s Kuranda Day Tours
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Emerald Creek Ice Creamery
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