Walking in Tropical North Queensland
Tropical North Queensland Walks
Nature has smiled gently on Cairns, the gateway to Tropical North Queensland. The region is a storehouse of natural wonders from the tangled rainforest to the colourful reef. There is so much to see and do.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches along the coast with islands such as National Park listed Green Island just an hour or so cruise away from Cairns. From the Alexander Range lookout in the hinterland, there are breathtaking views of the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest merging with the Reef's stunning blue waters.
There are about 150 managed walks in the World Heritage Listed Wet Tropics. They range from short, popular boardwalks with visitor facilities to long distance treks with overnight camping. Go walking and enjoy spectacular scenery, swim in the waterholes and experience the wide range of Wet Tropics environments. Learn about the plants and animals and the need to conserve and protect the Wet Tropics as a natural and Aboriginal cultural landscape.
To the south of Cairns, bordered by the coastal lowlands, is the 79,500 hectare Wooroonooran (Bellenden Ker) National Park. This Mission Beach region, one of the last great habitats of the cassowary bird is ideal for bushwalkers and nature lovers.
It contains good walking tracks with varying degrees of difficulty. There are cascading waterfalls, fern-fringed swimming pools, swift running streams and rivers.
Along with trekking and bushwalking, white water rafting is a spectacular way to experience the wonder of the rainforest.
A 'must-see' for birdwatchers is a visit to the nearby Eubenangee National Park, a wildlife sanctuary where over 170 different bird species have been recorded.
The Misty Mountains is Tropical North Queensland's most comprehensive range of wilderness walking trails.
Stunning waterfalls, spectacular rainforest, crystal clear creeks and magnificent vistas are just the beginning. Linking the coastal plains of the Cassowary Coast region to the Cairns Highlands, Misty Mountains are home to 'Gambil Yalgay' the traditional walking trails of the Jirrbal and Ma:mu Aboriginal people, whose connection with the area dates back thousands of years.
Misty Mountains is Australia's first network of long distance walking trails in high altitude rainforest environment with over 130 kilometres of trails to challenge and reward even the most experienced walker.
Small wonder that Tropical North Queensland is often referred to as Nature's Theme Park.
