The Queensland Experts Debunk 6 Myths About Tropical North Queensland

Let’s get to the bottom of this. The Great Barrier Reef is not dying, nor is it dead. The truth is that, while the Great Barrier Reef faces many threats, such as coral bleaching and rising sea temperatures, it remains the best-managed reef system on the planet. In fact, through extensive monitoring, research and conservation efforts, marine scientists are now witnessing remarkable renewal and growth on the reef.

Plus, visitors to the Great Barrier Reef play a vital role in conservation efforts. When exploring the reef with a tour operator, part of your ticket includes an Environmental Management Charge, which helps contribute to the day-to-day management, protection and research of the marine park. When you do visit the Great Barrier Reef, do your part to prevent reef damage by avoiding direct contact with the coral and wearing reef-safe sunscreen.

It’s no secret that Tropical North Queensland enjoys tropical conditions year-round, but that’s what makes it such a beloved holiday destination – you don’t want to spend your holiday shivering, do you? Despite what you may have heard about summer in Cairns, temperatures average at just over 30 degrees between December and February, which is comparable to many other parts of Australia.

For the remainder of the year, the weather in Tropical North Queensland is as close to perfect as you can get. Expect long sunny days, tropical balmy breezes and temperatures between 20 and 29 degrees. And when the temperatures do spike, there are plenty of lush swimming holes in Tropical North Queensland to cool off in.

While Cairns is known for its sometimes-rainy days (it is the Tropical North, after all), don’t let the chance of a little downpour stop you from visiting. Trust that there are plenty of things to keep you occupied during a summer storm, from shopping for local handicrafts at Rusty’s Market to soaking in a spa day at Eleme Spa at Crystalbrook Riley to exploring the reef in the comfort of dry clothes at the Cairns Aquarium.

If you’re visiting Cairns during the wet season, why not embrace the rain and chase some of Tropical North Queensland’s magical waterfalls? We recommend hitting up Barron Falls in Kuranda or Tully Falls in the Atherton Tablelands, both of which are known to transform from a trickle to a thundering waterfall when it rains. Just make sure to bring along an umbrella!

You absolutely can swim in Tropical North Queensland – after all, what kind of holiday doesn’t involve a dip in the ocean or a natural swimming hole? While crocodiles are known to call the region home, they only inhabit certain saltwater climates, meaning that there are still plenty of safe natural and man-made swimming areas to enjoy. Some of our favourites include Crystal Cascades, Palm Cove Beach and Cairns Lagoon.

When you are swimming in Tropical North Queensland, you should also take action to stay stinger-safe. Luckily, this is made easy, as most beaches are equipped with stinger-resistant nets and are patrolled by trained lifeguards who carry stinger kits in case of an unlikely sting. If you are visiting during stinger season (November to May), you should also wear a protective suit while in the ocean to further minimise risk.

Home to some of the planet’s best dive sites, it’s no wonder that the Great Barrier Reef attracts experienced scuba divers from across the globe. However, you don’t have to be a certified diver to experience the Great Barrier Reef to its fullest (although, it is a great place to learn, thanks to the countless dive schools on offer).

Join a snorkelling tour to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, where you can swim amongst technicolour coral formations, over 1600 species of fish and – if you’re lucky – six of the world’s seven marine turtle species. For those who aren’t so confident in the water, these tours even offer ways to see the reef without getting wet, such as semi-submersible and glass-bottom boat rides.

We’re sure you’ve heard about the Daintree Rainforest, but did you know that it is only a relatively small section of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Rainforest? The oldest continually surviving rainforest on the planet, the Wet Tropics covers 9000 square kilometres and incorporates 30 national parks across five distinct precincts, of which the Daintree Rainforest is just one!

As such, it’s no surprise that there’s so much to discover in the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Chase waterfall after waterfall in the Atherton Tablelands, stand where two World Heritage areas meet at Cabe Tribulation and connect with the world’s oldest surviving culture during an Indigenous Dreamtime Walk.