Cairns

Framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea, Cairns is a nature lover’s haven.

It is the primary gateway to the world’s largest natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef, and is also home to ancient World Heritage-listed rainforest.

Skyrail (www.skyrail.com.au)

Get a bird’s eye view of the lush rainforest on the 7.5km Skyrail, one of the world’s longest gondola cableways.

Alight at the rainforest mid-stations and explore the boardwalks and scenic lookouts. The multi award-winning Skyrail is the most environmentally sensitive cableway project in the world.

Kuranda Scenic Railway (www.ksr.com.au)

Enjoy a journey on this historic train that winds through hand-made tunnels, past spectacular waterfalls and across rugged mountains.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest natural wonder, stretching over 2,000 km, and is the only living organism that can be seen from the Moon.

With its crystal clear waters and magnificent array of colourful marine life - more than 400 types of coral, 1,500 specieis of fish and 3,400 coral reefs - the Great Barrier Reef is truly a must-see.

Do a day tour and try snorkelling or scuba diving.

If you can’t swim or prefer to stay dry, you can hop onto a semi-submersible or glass-bottom boat and view the coral and fish.

You can also get up close to the marine life by riding the Scuba Doo, an underwater motorbike, or trying the Seawalker (www.seawalker.com.au), where you walk underwater with a bubble helmet.

There are numerous cruise operators that you can choose from, including Quicksilver Cruises (www.quicksilver-cruises.com), Great Adventures (www.greatadventures.com.au), Sunlover Reef Cruises (www.sunlover.com.au) and Down Under Cruise & Dive(www.downunderdive.com.au).

Learn more about the corals, reefs and marine life from the marine biologists onboard.

For a truly over-the-top experience, take a helicopter flight over the reef and enjoy the breathtaking views.

Fly with Great Barrier Reef Helicopters (www.gbrhelicopters.com.au) or Down Under Helicopters (www.downunderheli.com).

Daintree / Cape Tribulation (www.daintreecoast.com)

The laidback township of Daintree, perched on a bend of the Daintree River, is the gateway to one of the world’s most ancient rainforests.

The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest spans 1,200 sq km and has all kinds of plants and wildlife, hiking trails, camping sites, scenic lookouts, picnic tables and swimming holes.

Wildlife of every kind flourishes on the Daintree River and its banks.

The area's most infamous inhabitants are the estuarine crocodiles. There are a number of river cruises where, from the safety of a boat, you can watch crocodiles sunning themselves on the mangrove lined banks or gliding through the water.

Don’t miss the Daintree Discovery Centre (www.daintree-rec.com.au), an award-winning world-class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to the unique rainforest wilderness via boardwalk tours, a 23-metre-high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre.

Cross the Daintree River by ferry, and travel north towards Cape Tribulation in a 4WD vehicle.

Explore the excellent coastal lookouts at Cape Kimberley and Cow Bay, where the reef literally meets the rainforest.

Many people make day trips to Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas and Cairns, but there are camping spots and accommodation options available for those who would like to spend a little more time exploring the area.