Tropical North Queensland Holidays - Experiences - Activities

Adrenalin

If your idea of the perfect holiday is less relaxation and more excitement, then you've come to the right place. Here, you can float over the Tropical Tablelands at sunrise in a hot air balloon, or dive in the depths of the outer Barrier Reef. Rappel down a ravine, ride a mountain bike down the range trails, raft a foaming river, or race across the outback into the setting sun on a wilderness trail bike safari. Join one of the many 4WD excursions for a day or a week exploring the rainforest, the Cape or the outback. From Cairns' general aviation airport, operators offer parachuting - solo or tandem - and a host of scenic flights.

Golf

The kind climate and the leisurely lifestyle of the northern tropics have created a perfect environment for the enthusiastic golfer - you'll be thrilled to discover the quality and quantity of golf courses and clubs in the region. Bring your own clubs, or hire quality equipment from the pro shops. Fees are modest and the courses are as challenging or leisurely as you wish. There are three championship courses - Mirage Country Club (Port Douglas), The Links (Port Douglas), and Paradise Palms (Clifton Beach). At Palm Cove, the Novotel Resort has a resort course which plays off two different tees. Half Moon Bay Golf Course at Yorkeys Knob welcomes golfing visitors with affordable prices and accessible tee times, as does the Cairns Golf Club at Woree. Don't be surprised, however, if a kookaburra or a kangaroo watches your swing with interest - they think they own the fairways!

Diving

The Great Barrier Reef is the most magnificent scuba diving location in the world. The diversity of the reef ecosystem and its pristine condition has given rise to the most varied collection of fish, mammals, reptiles, crustaceans, molluscs, corals, organisms and marine plants - in total there are over 6,600 species of flora and fauna found on the Great Barrier Reef. Popular dive sites are dotted along the length of the reef, with dive and charter operators offering daily and extended dive tours. These normally include all equipment, meals, accommodation, and cater for beginners, intermediate and advanced divers. Gaining a dive certificate is a popular activity with companies offering learn-to-dive courses that include theory and practical reef trips. Even if you are not a certified diver, you can experience the thrill of diving the Great Barrier Reef during an introductory or hand-held scuba dive with a professional instructor.

Fishing

The Tropical North is fishing paradise. The lure of encounters with great sports fish such as giant black marlin and sailfish have long enticed recreational anglers to the azure waters of the Coral Sea. The quiet estuaries of the coast are filled with mouth watering catches like the mighty barramundi, mangrove jacks and trevally, and freshwater anglers love our lakes and streams, home to sooty grunter, tarpon and jungle perch. Fly-fishing is increasingly popular, with fresh-water species like jungle perch, tarpon and sooty grunters as well as barramundi and mangrove jack giving a fast challenge. Out in the reef waters, young marlin and sailfish are exciting targets for fly fishing enthusiasts, with many class records falling each year. Finally, there is blue water angling in the world famous black marlin grounds off the Cairns coast that are also home to tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi and mackerel. First class charter boats with experienced crews, reef-moored mother ships and seaplanes make the Tropical North a must for serious game fishing. There is a fishing experience for every budget.