No prizes for guessing what kind of trees line the white sand of Palm Cove, a beachside suburb 25-minute drive north of Cairns. Tucked directly behind those oceanfront palms, The Reef House Adults Retreat is an elegant oasis that provides the services of a poolside butler to guests and offers punch with canapés every evening. Take your relaxation to the next level with a facial and scalp massage at the day spa then make the most of the retreat’s extensive pillow menu, sleep support guides, meditations and curated playlists to drift into bliss.

It’s quite a drive – six hours – from Cairns inland to Cobbold Gorge, but you’ll be ticking off part of the famed Savannah Way road trip, which stretches from Queensland all the way to the Kimberley. Access to the gorge, which meanders through multi-coloured sandstone walls just two metres apart in places, is available only by guided tour onboard an electric boat or paddleboard and you’ll need to book ahead. A glass bridge also spans the canyon so you can go under, on and even over it with a scenic helicopter flight.

In summer and autumn when rainfall in the area is at its heaviest, Barron Falls is transformed into a mist-shrouded force to behold. See it from above, along with views out towards the Coral Sea, on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway just 15 minutes’ drive north-west from Cairns. Then descend to the Red Peak pocket of rainforest below and get among the climbing palms and butterflies with a complimentary ranger-guided boardwalk tour. You can combine your ticket with the Kuranda Scenic Railway Rainforest Experience, a thrilling train journey through the trees.

Take your Cairns adventure to new heights at the stylish Pullman Cairns International. Book via Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save up to 36% and you’ll also get daily buffet breakfast for two guests, guaranteed room upgrade to a Superior King Room, 30% off with Via Spa voucher (conditions apply). Book two nights for two adults from $550 (and earn 1650 Qantas Points).^

The colours of Far North Queensland make it look like a vivid paint-by-numbers landscape when seen from above. Take a 30-minute scenic flight with Mission Helicopters and you’ll appreciate how vibrantly verdant the rainforest is, before taking in the azure surrounds of the Family Islands, with its spectacular fringing reefs and tidal flats. The 60-minute flight provides an aerial view of turquoise-spotted coral reefs further offshore, with manta rays and sea turtles visible against the bright white sand.

 Stand still and watch in wonder as the 1200 resident butterflies flutter around you at Kuranda’s Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Wander the boardwalks then join a tour to visit the breeding labs, learn about the creatures’ food sources, look through a microscope at the tiny interlocking “feathers” of iridescent butterfly wings and find out what it’s like to see through their eyes in a UV-lit room.

Drive south from Cairns and in less than two hours you’ll be at Mission Beach – one of the country’s most glorious strips of sand. Take your position on a sunlounge by the clifftop pool at luxury resort The Elandra Mission Beach or see if you can summon the energy for a spot of tennis before tackling the neighbouring four-kilometre coastal Kennedy Walking Track. Lookouts along the way provide the ideal opportunity to spot dolphins, turtles and dugongs and if you’re lucky, you might also see cassowaries, parrots, kingfishers, wallabies and frogs.

Explore more of Tropical North Queensland and you’ll be rewarded with stunning nature, wildlife encounters and adventures in the wild. Start planning your trip now.

The Daintree Ice Cream Co. operates under a “tree to cup” philosophy, harvesting organically grown tropical and exotic fruits to create small-batch sorbet, ice cream and gelato. Tickle your tastebuds with frosty treats such as yellow sapote, star fruit or rollinia, which tastes a little like lemon meringue pie. Each serve is made up of four flavours that change according to what’s in season and once you’ve licked it clean, your cup will then be composted to help grow even more fruit.

More than 700 types of vertebrates call the Wet Tropics home and at least 88 of those exist nowhere else on earth, such as the slightly odd-looking Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo. Hard to spot in the wild, these nocturnal tree-dwellers can be found at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas.  Six different habitats house a wide variety of creatures including the world’s largest living reptile, the saltwater croc. Brave visitors can even get in the water (safely) with these 4.5-metre prehistoric giants.

 Anchored 90 minutes by catamaran from Cairns, the Reef Magic pontoon provides an ideal base to explore the reef below, hovering one to 25 metres underneath the surface. A day trip gives you about five hours on the (pram-friendly) structure – enough time to snorkel, scuba dive, take a glass-bottom boat tour, try a sea trek helmet (it looks like an old-fashioned diving headpiece), enjoy a buffet lunch and even book a scenic helicopter flight to catch the oceanic action from above.

Locals love the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and rightly so. Built on the town’s waterfront, it’s a 4800 square-metre saltwater swimming pool that’s free and lifeguard-supervised, with fountains, lockers, electric barbecues and an unobstructed view of the ocean. It’s open every day until 9pm. If that still hasn’t worn the kids out, head a kilometre further north along the Esplanade and let them loose in Muddy’s Playground – it houses a splash play area, rope bridge and flying fox.

The Kuku Yalanji Rainforest Aboriginal people have passed down their history and traditions to generations across some 50,000 years. Juan Walker has spent the past 20 of those showing visitors around his people’s land, sea and waters, sharing their connections and stories. On a half- or full-day tour with Juan’s Walkabout Cultural Adventures, you might catch a mud crab, try your hand at spear throwing and sample bush tucker, or explore the unique wilderness of Cape Tribulation – where the mighty Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.

Immerse yourself in thousands of years of history and tradition in the Daintree Rainforest. Start the journey at qantas.com

With its emerald forest, white-sand beaches and dazzling turquoise water, the heavenly appeal of Fitzroy Island begs to be explored. There is a family-friendly resort on the island (which also offers a swim-up bar in the pool), but you’ll still be well served by a day trip – it’s just 45 minutes by ferry. Snorkel, swim, explore walking trails or book through the resort for a talk at the island’s own Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, run by volunteers.

If adventuring while lying down sounds more your speed, the Mossman Gorge Adventure Day with Back Country Bliss means you’ll spend the morning drifting along the river on a blow-up mat as you soak up your unique surroundings. After lunch, take part in a traditional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, then head on a guided walk to learn more about the world’s oldest rainforest.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are usually off-limits to little ones but Cairns Aquarium is filled with underwater experiences that don’t involve getting wet. The behind-the-scenes Marine Life Encounter gives you the chance to hand-feed cownose stingrays and check on rescued marine turtles at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Tours at night or by twilight let you sit down for a two- or three-course dinner alongside nocturnal reef predators such as sharks, rays and groupers gliding amongst the vibrant coral colours.

Hiking around Cairns is best attempted in the early morning, when you’ll be greeted by the sight of the sun’s rays inching across the water (if you pick the right spot) and then be home before the sweltering heat of the day sets in. The walk to the summit of Earl Hill, near Trinity Beach, is steep but worth the effort – at the top you can see all the way to Double Island and Cape Kimberley in the Daintree.

A 6am wakeup call feels a little different in Cairns. Make the most of every minute on your Tropical North Queensland escape. Find great fare deals here.

^ Qantas Frequent Flyer members will earn 3 Qantas Points per A$1 spent unless otherwise specified, for hotel stays booked through qantas.com/hotels, except Classic Hotel Rewards and Airbnb bookings. Points Club members will earn 25% more Qantas Points, and Points Club Plus members will earn 50% more Qantas Points. Qantas Points will be credited to your account at least 8 weeks after check-out. Qantas Points can be earned on cash only purchases and the cash component of Points Plus Pay purchases on eligible bookings and will not be earned on cancelled or refunded bookings. Qantas Points may be earned by the member in whose name the booking is made. Members will not be able to earn points on additional charges paid to the accommodation provider for extras (including cots, breakfasts and other incidentals) on check-in or check-out (as applicable). Deposit Pay is available on selected properties that offer a free cancellation window that is 21 days or more in the future from the date of booking. Visit our FAQ page for more.

Hotel Offers

Pullman Cairns International Offer ends 11:59pm (AEDT) 31 January 2024, unless sold out prior. Valid for stays from 16 November 2024 to 30 April 2025. A 2 night minimum stay applies. Blackout dates apply. From price available for stays 16 November 2024 to 30 April 2025. Surcharges may apply to other dates. Offer is subject to availability, which may be limited during weekends, school holidays and major events. Flights and transfers are not included. Booking cancellations and changes are permitted up to 24 hours prior to check in, after this time, you will be charged the rate for all nights unless you are entitled to a refund or other remedy under the Australian Consumer Law. This offer may be extended, changed or cancelled without notice. Prices correct as at 16 November 2024.

Peppers Beach Club & Spa Offer ends 11:59pm (AEST) 20 December 2024, unless sold out prior. Valid for stays from 16 November 2024 to 30 September 2025. A 3 night minimum stay applies. Blackout dates apply. From price available for stays 24 November 2024 to 20 December 2024 , 16 January 2024 to 04 April 2025, 27 April 2025 to 01 May 2025. Surcharges may apply to other dates. Offer is subject to availability, which may be limited during weekends, school holidays and major events. Flights and transfers are not included. Booking cancellations and changes are permitted up to 7 nights prior to check in, after this time, you will be charged the rate for all nights unless you are entitled to a refund or other remedy under the Australian Consumer Law. This offer may be extended, changed or cancelled without notice. Prices correct as at 16 November 2024.

Pullman Palm Cove Offer ends 11:59pm (AEDT) 20 December 2024, unless sold out prior. Valid for stays from 16 November 2024 to 30 September 2025. A 3 night minimum stay applies. Blackout dates apply. From price available for stays 16 November 2024 to 30 September 2025. Surcharges may apply to other dates. Offer is subject to availability, which may be limited during weekends, school holidays and major events. Flights and transfers are not included. Booking cancellations and changes are permitted up to 14 nights prior to check in, after this time, you will be charged the rate for all nights unless you are entitled to a refund or other remedy under the Australian Consumer Law. This offer may be extended, changed or cancelled without notice. Prices correct as at 16 November 2024.