Things to do

Bird Watching

Calling all Twitchers

Nearly half of all Australian bird species call Tropical North Queensland home, making it something of a birders’ paradise. You don’t have to look too hard to find them, either. Even a walk down Cairns Esplanade will bring you face to face with waterbirds such as pelicans and spoonbills, black swans and black-necked storks.

Venture just a little further afield and you’ll be rewarded with more spectacular specimens. Take a stroll through Mossman Gorge or hike the wetlands and grasslands of the Atherton Tablelands and you may spot birds found nowhere else in Australia, including the golden bowerbird, the bridled honeyeater, the Australian king parrot and the boobook owl.

Some of the most exotic birds are found in our Wet Tropics Rainforest, including the Victoria’s Riflebird. One of just four species of birds of paradise found in Australia, the male Victoria’s Riflebird engages in spectacular mating displays, arching his wings high over his head. Other birds to keep an eye out for include vibrantly coloured kingfishers and the imposing southern cassowary, which grows up to 2m in size.

Cape York is considered one of the country’s best birding locales, home to exotic species like the black-throat finch, golden-shouldered parrot, black-backed butcherbird, palm cockatoo, red goshawk and eclectus parrot.

The Southern Cassowary is endemic to Tropical North Queensland

Close encounters of the bird kind

From kingfishers to cassowaries, meet our eye-catching feathered friends.

rose gums wilderness retreat
Atherton Tablelands
Retreat Hopping on the Atherton Tablelands

Pack the mini-break bag and head for the hills for a long weekend of retreat hopping on the Atherton Tablelands.

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lumholtzs tree kangaroo
Wet Tropics Rainforest
Endemic species of the Wet Tropics to tick off your list

The Wet Tropics is a living museum, home to a myriad of animals; furry, feathery and scaly, some of which can be found no where else on the planet. Here’s the endemic species that you can only see in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest.

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lorikeet at birdworld in kuranda
Cairns & Northern Beaches
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.

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punsand bay termite mounds cape york
Cape York
Cape York’s big three national parks

If you’re looking for the ultimate national park experience, there’s no better place in the world than the tip of Australia. With ten national or regional parks to choose from, here’s a closer look at three of the most popular.

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atherton tablelands canopy treehouses
Atherton Tablelands
7 great reasons to head to the Atherton Tablelands

The Atherton Tablelands are the kind of place you want to take at your own pace. Jump in a car and head inland to tick off these must-do experiences.

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Kuranda
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.

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Waterfalls in the Wet Tropics
Uncategorised
Jewel of the tropics

Tropical North Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a landscape of astonishing beauty and biodiversity. Immerse yourself in this national treasure, the oldest tropical rainforest on earth.

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