Top Things to do in North Queensland
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What to do and see in North Queensland, Queensland: The Best Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in North Queensland, Australia including Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Four Mile Beach, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Muddy's Playground, Sunday Market Port Douglas, Josephine Falls, Cairns Botanic Gardens, Esplanade Boardwalk, Cairns Aquarium.
Restaurants in North Queensland
1. Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,076 reviews
Situated at Port Douglas, Queensland, the award winning Wildlife Habitat is a leader in eco-tourism and conservation. This immersion wildlife exhibit has five distinct Habitats - Woodlands, Wetlands, Rainforest, Savannah and Nocturnal, which are set over 8 acres of land to provide an interactive, and educational native wildlife experience. Meet an abundance of Australian animals including koalas, emus and the endangered Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo and Southern Cassowary. Hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos and cuddle a koala. Enjoy Breakfast With The Birds or Lunch With The Lorikeets and enjoy a sumptuous buffet meal and meet some feathered friends.
Reviewed By Dcarno
Fantastic experience, great customer service and quite a range of Australian animals, with superb facilities.
2. Four Mile Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,022 reviews
Reviewed By PaulBartleyW - Lichfield, United Kingdom
We stayed at The Peninsula Boutique Hotel, at the far end of this awesomely serene Beach (just off Main Street, at the town end). The hotel, sits back but next to the beach and is ideally scenically located for the beach. Four Mile Beach is a Stunning view to see & a pleasure to explore.. Its wide; clean and the sand is not grainy underfoot.. Yes, there can sometimes be jellyfish in the water - BUT, you can swim in the safe / secure netted area (at the one end of the beach), snorkel & see the sea life very safely.. There’s also a lifeguard here, should you get into distress - again, adding to the safety of this lovely beach.. Additionally, you can cycle down this beach easily and safely - as well as enjoying a gentle stroll???? Just, don’t forget the sunscreen - whatever your doing on the beach????
3. Kuranda Scenic Railway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,667 reviews
Kuranda Scenic Railway is the original scenic rail journey to Kuranda. This spectacular experience travels over bridges and through tunnels hand-made by North Queensland's pioneers over 100 years ago. Traversing the World Heritage listed rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park, this is one of the world's great railway journeys.
4. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,647 reviews
Escape the heat at one of Cairns' best known landmarks, the Esplanade Lagoon. Set on the Cairns foreshore overlooking Trinity Inlet, the 4800 sq metre saltwater swimming lagoon offers locals and tourists a year round safe swimming location. Saltwater is pumped from the inlet and filtered through a state of the art filtration and chlorination system, to meet Australian Standards. The kids can enjoy the sandy edges, build sand castles and play in shallow water. On the other side of the Lagoon, visitors can lounge on the timber decks in moderate shade. Shady trees, landscaped gardens and open spaces all contribute to the leisurely atmosphere on the Esplanade The Lagoon is open 6am-6pm Thursday - Tuesday, Midday-6pm Wednesday all year round.
Reviewed By nikkichutney - Melbourne, Australia
Absolutely fabulous definitely recommend if you are holidaying in Cairns and near the Esplanade you’ve got to swim in the lagoon at least once a day to cool off. The people of Cairns are very lucky to have this lagoon here.
5. Muddy's Playground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,419 reviews
Muddy's playground is open every day of the year between 9am and 7pm (including public holidays and weekends). Sections of Muddy's are closed for maintenance on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until noon. Even when maintenance works are being carried out, Council aims to have at least half the playground available for use. Muddy's is a modern, fun, safe, splash playground and parkland. It incorporates active, passive, interactive and educational facilities with a combination of play equipment. Muddy's playground is themed "Life in Trinity Bay" and the playground includes water play areas plus a flying fox, sound chimes, track ride, rope bridge, slides, play houses, story telling areas, see-saw, trick track and puzzle games. Please note that the disabled-use Liberty Swing uses the MLAK national keying system. For access please ask at Muddy's cafe. Muddy's has two toilet facilities one at the north end of Muddy's near the cafe and one at the southern end of Muddy's. Muddy's has barbecues, picnic tables and an on-site cafe.
Reviewed By KittyO25
This place is just fantastic. Well maintained and just great for kids of all ages. Would most definitely recommend to all families
6. Sunday Market Port Douglas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 701 reviews
Reviewed By jjballina - Ballina, Australia
Excellent markets with lots of variety, friendly stall holders and in a lovely shady park with a tropical backdrop that is amazing. Well worth a visit.
7. Josephine Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 494 reviews
Reviewed By emmmjones
Even though the navigator said the road to the parking area is unpaved, it actually was covered. Very easy to access with an RV. Easy parking, with toilets right before you step on the paved walking path to the falls. Leave most of your belongings in the car, I'd say. People who visit the falls doubtfully are there to steal your things, but you never know! I would recommend leaving your shoes in the car, you won't need them here. There are several different swimming spots, at the bottom, in the middle and at the top, but the top was actually closed from public for safety. We walked about 5 minutes from the parking area to the bottom pool, all of it paved so you can access it with strollers even (wouldn't recommend it, though people with babies carried them in chestbags), with the path ending at a sort of a small balcony with a few stepps. From the balcony you open a metal gate, which then leads you to the big rocks. This is where it gets tricky. The rocks -most of them- are dry and not slippery, but there is not actually any path to the water or good spots to leave your belongings, so leave them in the car! We left our cellphones, expensive sunglasses and car keys under our hats and clothes on one of the rocks and they were fine. We could keep an eye on them the entire time, though had someone decided to steal them, there is no easy, fast access out of the water. You have to climb over big rocks to even get near the water, and then carefully sit and find your step because there are some big slippery rocks right beneath the surface (don't fall!). So if you have any movement disabilities, accessing the water might be extremely difficult! It is not until you get more towards the middle of the pool that you can swim freely, because it does get deep. But it is absolutely clear, refreshing water and just a delightful experience, one of the best on our two week roadtrip! During our visit it was 33 C and sunny, so the swim was perfect! After accessing the water, you can climb up the rock surface on the other side of the water, since the water fall has made it really smooth, and sunbathe, or slide down the water fall back in. Definitely the highlight of our Cairns visit!
8. Cairns Botanic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,904 reviews
The Cairns Botanic Gardens are a tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture. The Gardens are open from 7.30Am to 5.30Pm every day of the year and entry is free. The Botanic Gardens includes several spaces used for demonstrating the diverse plant life that can be found within a tropical climate. The Cairns Botanic Gardens include: Flecker Garden Centenary Lakes - Saltwater and Freshwater The Rainforest Boardwalk Mount Whitfield Conservation Park The Gondwanan Heritage Garden
Reviewed By Y9976NNdavidw - Petersham, Australia
Visited this as part of tour very well cared for by volunteers we'll set out easy to get to the tour guide gave us a talk on the gardens history @ about the various tropical plants very worth while visiting this attraction allow about 1hr to see without hurrying you will enjoy
9. Esplanade Boardwalk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,973 reviews
The Cairns Esplanade is a picturesque 2.5 km stretch of foreshore in the heart of Cairns that is managed by Cairns Regional Council. The parklands, playgrounds, boardwalk, lagoon and recreational facilities are all free entry. Come along and enjoy this stunning facility.
Reviewed By auzzigirls
Love to walk along the Board walk down to the main hub, where you will find the large open green park that surrounds the free and open pool area. There are also childrens play areas and a skate park along the walk which extends from North Cairns to the departure point where the ferries leave to the islands.
10. Cairns Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,373 reviews
Set in the heart of Cairns, the Cairns Aquarium provides a world-class venue for seeing and interacting with the incredible animals and eco-systems found only in Australia’s Tropical North Queensland, a region which borders two World Heritage-listed environments: The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Explore over 71 different habitats, playing home to over 16,000 animals. Enjoy daily animal talks, shark feeds, and get your hands wet in the marine touch tank! Visit by day and add on a delicious lunch at Dundee's Restaurant, take the plunge as you Dive with the Sharks, or for an exclusve nocturnal experience join us for Aquarium By Twilight with an after-dark guided tour, canapes and drinks in the oceanarium and main with dessert in Dundee's.
Reviewed By fl0ssy138
The aquarium layout is fantastic. Every exhibit is set out so that you can see everything. Not one creature was hidden from view which made it so good for the kids. The large tanks were amazing , the touch pool was good and the shark feeding show was great to watch and listen too!
