Far North Queensland · Australia
The world's largest coral reef system and the world's oldest tropical rainforest, side by side, with a laid-back tropical city as the gateway to both.
Photo: Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on earth, stretching about 2,300 km along the Queensland coast, made up of almost 3,000 individual reefs and around 900 islands. It is visible from space, home to thousands of species of fish, corals, turtles and other marine life, and was inscribed by UNESCO in 1981. Cairns and Port Douglas, in Far North Queensland, are the main gateways to its northern section.
The reef is under pressure. Rising sea temperatures have caused repeated mass coral bleaching events in recent years, and parts of it are damaged, but large areas remain healthy, particularly on the outer reef, and it is still one of the world's great natural experiences. Choosing reputable, eco-certified operators and visiting the outer reef rather than the inner fringing reefs helps to see the best of it.
Beside the reef, the Daintree Rainforest, part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, is thought to be around 180 million years old, older than the Amazon. At Cape Tribulation, the rainforest meets the reef. Cairns itself is a relaxed tropical city, with a free lagoon pool on its waterfront, and the base for trips to Kuranda, the Atherton Tablelands and the islands.
Why visit
It is one of the few places in the world where two great natural World Heritage areas sit next to each other.
Snorkel or dive among coral gardens, tropical fish, turtles and reef sharks.
Walk through the Daintree, with cassowaries, tree kangaroos and giant ferns.
Reef trips and rainforest walks are within a few hours of each other.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail cross the rainforest.
Warm weather, beach towns and relaxed dining.
Main attractions
A reef day, a rainforest day and a scenic day cover the main experiences.
Day boats leave Cairns and Port Douglas for reefs such as Agincourt, Norman and Moore, about 1.5 to 2 hours offshore. Pontoons and boats offer snorkelling, diving and glass-bottom viewing.
Tip Choose a smaller boat, or a reef with fewer visitors, if you can.
A coral cay about 45 minutes by boat from Cairns, with a beach, rainforest walk and snorkelling right off the sand. Easier and shorter than the outer reef.
Tip Good for families and shorter trips.
The Daintree River, boardwalks and beaches north of Port Douglas, crossed by a short ferry. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef, and crocodile and cassowary warnings are on the signs.
Tip Go with a guide, and never swim in rivers or the sea without a safe area.
A heritage railway built in the 1880s climbs from Cairns to the village of Kuranda through gorges and waterfalls, and a cable car (Skyrail) crosses the canopy. Together they make a classic day.
Tip Take the train up and the Skyrail down, or vice versa.
A small resort town with a long white beach, restaurants and a Sunday market, and the departure point for many reef and rainforest trips.
Tip Stay a night if you want a quieter base.
A free, saltwater swimming lagoon on the waterfront, since the seafront itself has mudflats and stingers.
Tip It is patrolled, and popular in the evening.
Things to do
The area combines water and forest activities, and it is best to plan around the weather.
Book a day trip with a reputable operator, for coral, fish, turtles and sometimes reef sharks.
Tip Bring a stinger suit in summer.
No experience is needed for a supervised dive, and dive schools offer courses.
Tip Book ahead.
The Daintree is home to these large, rare flightless birds.
Tip Keep your distance.
A boat trip along the river spots saltwater crocodiles, birds and tree snakes.
Tip Go at dawn or dusk.
Kuku Yalanji guides at Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation share stories of the rainforest.
Tip Book in advance.
Rapids on the Barron and Tully rivers, an adventure activity in the wet season.
Tip Best from December to April.
Local food
Far North Queensland's food is tropical, with seafood, fruit and Australian bush foods.
The famous northern fish, grilled or pan-fried with lemon and salad.
Where to try it Waterfront restaurants in Cairns and Port Douglas.
Sweet, flat-headed lobsters and large prawns.
Where to try it Seafood restaurants.
Mango, lychee, custard apple and black sapote, sold at roadside stalls and markets.
Where to try it Rusty's Markets in Cairns and the Tablelands.
Atherton Tablelands coffee and Australian-grown tea.
Where to try it Cafés in Cairns and Kuranda.
Native ingredients such as lemon myrtle and wattleseed on modern menus.
Where to try it Restaurants in Port Douglas.
Accommodation
Choose Cairns for convenience, Port Douglas for style, or a rainforest lodge in the Daintree.
Transport
Cairns is in Far North Queensland, about 1,700 km north of Brisbane.
A hire car is best for the Daintree, and tours are simple for the reef.
When to go
The dry season from May to October is best, with clear water and cooler weather. The wet season from November to April is hot and humid, with stingers and cyclone risk.
Warm, dry, low humidity and calm seas, with clear water for snorkelling.
Hotter and more humid, with stingers arriving.
Heavy rain, storms and cyclones, and marine stingers in the water.
Drying out, with green landscapes and fewer visitors.
Worth planning around: January to March, when cyclones, flooding and stingers are most likely.
Itinerary
A day on the reef, a day in the rainforest, and a day of scenery.
A gentle start.
A day on the water.
Rainforest and river.
Rail and cable car.
Travel tips
A few tips make the reef and the rainforest safer and better.
FAQ
At least one day for a reef trip, and four days if you include the Daintree and Kuranda.
Yes. Parts have been damaged by bleaching, but large areas remain healthy and spectacular, particularly on the outer reef.
June to October, the dry season with clear water and few stingers.
Yes. Do not swim in rivers or the open sea in the north without local advice, and wear a stinger suit in summer.
Yes. Snorkelling, glass-bottom boats and semi-submersibles let you see the reef without diving.
Cairns is the practical base with more transport, and Port Douglas is quieter and more upmarket, closer to the Daintree.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Cairns and the Reef, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Queensland, central coast, Australia
A group of tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef, with Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, sailing, snorkelling, reef trips and the resort island of Hamilton.
Don't miss Hill Inlet at low tide, where swirling sand and turquoise water form patterns you can see from the lookout.
Explore Destination — The WhitsundaysNew South Wales, east coast, Australia
Australia's largest city: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, the Botanic Garden, Bondi and Manly beaches, cliff walks, ferries and a lively food and café scene.
Don't miss A ferry across the harbour at sunset, with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge lit gold behind you.
Explore Destination — SydneyNorthern Territory, tropical north, Australia
Australia's largest national park, a UNESCO site for both nature and culture, with Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art, Yellow Water cruises, Jim Jim Falls and Litchfield, reached from Darwin.
Don't miss Sunset from Ubirr, looking over the floodplains after a walk past thousands of years of rock art.
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