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When we think of Far-North Queensland, the Daintree, Great Barrier Reef and tourist hotspots like Port Douglas come to mind. While these are all incredible areas to visit – whether you’re interested in chasing natural wonders or just chasing the sun with a good book – traverse the winding coastline a little lower and you’ll find the Cassowary Coast, a haven filled with wildlife, stunning beaches and the kind of quiet luxury synonymous with tropical vacations.
Starting south of Cairns and covering the area of Tully, Innisfail and Mission Beach, the area is rich in swimming holes, lush rainforest and plenty of gorgeous places to unwind. Discover the region with our top recommendations below.
Bedarra Island
There are only ten secluded, completely private villas on Bedarra Island, one of the most luxurious resorts in Australia. Set amongst 45 hectares of rainforest and offering jaw-dropping views of the Great Barrier Reef, a stay is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Bedarra is all about unique experiences – have a candlelit dinner prepared on your private villa deck for sunset, or take your own dinghy out with a packed gourmet lunch to one of the surrounding islands. This is bucket list travel, done in style.
Josephine Falls
On your way down to Mission Beach from Cairns, stop in at Josephine Falls. One of the most pristine and accessible swimming holes along the Far North Queensland coast, the emerald-green pools set amongst granite boulders are the perfect place to cool off. Visit earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to beat the crowds, especially on weekends.
Mission Beach
This long stretch of sand is dotted with cafes and restaurants, and while you won’t find bountiful resorts or hotels in the area, that’s a good thing. Mission Beach feels largely untouched, but if luxury is what you’re after you just have to look to the hills, where you’ll find hidden but sprawling holiday home accommodation that offers the best of both worlds – tranquility and creature comforts.
The Slow Monday is a modern Australian beach shack architecturally designed for the tropics, featuring plenty of open-air spaces and aesthetic finishes. A little further down toward the equally beautiful Wongaling Beach and you’ll find Stu’s Lookout, a breathtaking hilltop villa with views of the Coral Sea and Dunk Island.
Private Snorkelling
There is a wealth of snorkelling tours you can take from the Cassowary Coast region, but it’s the private tours that are really worth considering. Great Barrier Reef Safaris offers a tour of the Brook Islands, a human exclusion zone in the Great Barrier Reef that only allows a limited amount of tours per year. A marine biologist will join you as a guide, and if you’re lucky you’ll see dugongs, turtles and other local marine life. Then, take a break with a seafood lunch on a secluded beach. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Paronella Park
Marrying quirky history and the beauty of tropical rainforest is Paronella Park, a tourist attraction like no other. Built in 1935, the buildings were inspired by Catalan architecture and have aged beautifully in their rainforest setting, now standing engulfed by palms and moss. Originally, the park was created as a leisure space for people in the area. Now, it’s a tranquil piece of history teeming with wildlife. Stay alert and you might spot one of the cassowaries that have made this region famous.
Dunk Island
Destroyed by Cyclone Yasi in 2011, Dunk Island is making its comeback. You can camp here, but if resort living is more your style, you’ll have to wait while the new accommodation (which is set to be world-class) is built. In the meantime, take a day trip and explore the palm-fringed beaches and national park rainforest. It’s just a ten minute water taxi from Mission Beach, so you won’t have to plan in advance (the best kind of holiday day trip).
