Tropical Treasures
The tourism capital of Queensland’s far north sits on the western bank of Trinity Inlet, a meandering tidal estuary flowing into the Coral Sea sprinkled with yachts and flanked by green mountains. To its north lies the World Heritage Daintree, the world’s oldest rainforest, while to its east is another World Heritage wonder in the sprawling and technicolour Great Barrier Reef.
Such abundant natural beauty has made Cairns a launchpad for a plethora of tours, from island cruises to white-water rafting, Indigenous cultural experiences and even a historic railway. But while reef and rainforest often dominate the story here, there are other lesser-known treasures worth exploring.
“There is something magical about a bird that stands up to two metres tall, has a horn on its head, flouncy
