Journey in Queensland – The Tropical North
Rainforest to Reef – Expertise the pure fantastic thing about Queensland, Australia with this information to probably the most photogenic outside experiences you’ll be able to have from the Atherton Tablelands to Cape Tribulation.
Rising up in Australia, there was this one kids’s guide I keep in mind being obsessive about known as ‘The place the Forest Meets the Sea’ by Jeannie Baker. It described every part desires as slightly future explorer had been manufactured from with tangled trunks of big rainforest bushes hiding Dinosaur shadows in a land the place the luxurious inexperienced landscapes met clear blue seas. It was like The place’s Wally for nature lovers, and 8yr previous me was hooked.
Nicely, now that I’m a journey obsessed grownup, I’ve lastly visited the precise place this guide spoke of all these years in the past…Tropical North Queensland.
Spoilt with year-round heat, wealthy vibrant vistas and pure wonders, this a part of Australia is a photographer’s haven for all issues outdoorsy and exquisite. From the waterfalls to the reef, there’s so many locations to go to to get amongst nature whether or not you’re mountaineering, swimming or flying excessive over the surroundings.
To sum up the areas pictures choices, I’ve put collectively slightly information beneath to what I imagine are the ten most photogenic experiences you’ll be able to have from the Atherton Tablelands to Cape Tribulation.
Firstly, a map that highlights an entire bunch of pictures places and scenic spots! A lot of the places famous are talked about within the content material beneath, others are nice lookouts and locations to go to in case you’ve obtained some further time.
Millaa Millaa Waterfall
Millaa Millaa Falls Coordinates – -17.49556° N, 145.61° E
#1 Chasing Waterfalls on the Atherton Tablelands
The place mountain ranges meet majestic waterfalls and rolling hills, the Atherton Tablelands are a stupendous shock hidden only a 90min drive from Cairns. Right here you’ll be able to wander on quite a few mountaineering trails to expertise the misty magic of some significantly stunning scenes.
TLC completely mentioned don’t go chasing waterfalls (whats up 90’s reference!) but it surely’s fairly apparent they only by no means got here to this a part of the world. Waterfalls are EVERYWHERE and chasing them makes for one very photogenic day within the outside.
The Atherton Tablelands are dwelling to a bunch of waterfalls, some tremendous fashionable and others slightly additional away from the parking zone. This solely implies that in case you’re eager for slightly rainforest hike, it’s possible you’ll end up having some attractive falls all to your self!
There’s a preferred waterfall route that coves three beautiful falls alongside Teresa Creek Highway. Comply with this highway to go to Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls, all are nicely value a while to stare in amazement as they cascade amongst tropical surrounds.
Additional down alongside the Palmerston Freeway you’ll cross Mungalli Falls, Nandroya Falls (which requires a 40min hike) however this journey we opted for a observe that covers two falls. With a small mountaineering path jutting off into the rainforest beside the freeway, there’s a small space to tug over and park earlier than exploring the Wallicher and Tchupala Falls.
Under are some pictures so you’ll be able to take your choose at which of them to go to, or get impressed and go to all of them!
Zillie Falls
Ellinjaa Falls
Tchupala Falls
#2 Scorching Air Balloon flight at Dawn
Mareeba Coordinates -17.01309° N, 145.4281° E
Few issues beat the sensation of floating gently throughout the sky because the solar rises producing pastel colors so far as the attention can see. It’s an expertise I like to recommend everybody does not less than as soon as of their lifetime and as soon as that you are able to do proper right here in Mareeba, simply west of Cairns. This area is likely one of the finest elements of Australia to
Setting off earlier than dawn, we flew with Scorching Air Balloon Cairns and had been whisked away to a discipline to look at because the balloons had been stuffed up. An expertise in itself, the sound because the balloons are stuffed is so unbelievable after which the adrenaline begins pumping when you bounce into the basket and await raise off.
*For these studying who’re afraid of flying or something quick paced, this expertise is so calm and delicate that you just barely even realise you’re within the air!
As soon as the balloon gathers some top you watch because the landscapes change beneath you, travelling over rainforest, paddocks, mango bushes and gum tree fringed creeks. In case you’re fortunate you’ll even spot the odd kangaroo.
The pictures alternatives are countless up within the sky. From take off to touchdown there’s all the time one thing to seize in all instructions so you should definitely lookup, down, left and proper the complete flight. I’d suggest having a flexible zoom lens with you so there’s no have to waste time altering lenses. Additionally you’re unable to deliver any baggage with you so having one digital camera with a useful lens hooked up will maintain you snap completely happy!
#3 {Photograph} Turtles on the Nice Barrier Reef
Mackay Cay Coordinates – 16°02’52.2″S 145°38’54.6″E
If there’s one factor everybody’s hoping to see after they go snorkelling it’s turtles. Proper!? These little guys are so pleasant and welcoming that it seems like they’re your private tour guides as they cruise round their coral gardens utterly unfazed by their superstar standing.
Turtles might be discovered all alongside the two,300km of Nice Barrier Reef, however on this journey we photographed turtles on Mackay Reef, a brief 90 minute sail from Cape Tribulation.
When snorkelling maintain a watch out for any shifting coral, generally they mix in so nicely that the one manner you’ll discover they’re shut by is to look at their little shells transfer as they’re nibbling on dinner. I wrote about our expertise of photographing turtles alongside some underwater pictures suggestions in my earlier article so be happy to have a peek at ‘The Nice Barrier Reef – Above and Under’.
#4 Discover the luxurious landscapes of the Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Rainforest Coordinates – 16°12′S 145°24′E / 16.2°S 145.4°E
Crossing the Daintree River by ferry it feels slightly such as you’re coming into the Misplaced World or Jurassic Park. Jungle-like rainforest disappears into the gap for so far as the attention can see, seeming like an journey paradise the place something is feasible.
When you’re throughout the river, an ideal first cease is the Daintree Discovery Centre, the place you’ll be able to climb a 25m excessive staircase and see throughout the rainforest cover or wander alongside trails and be taught concerning the numerous natural world that decision the Daintree House. Additionally, for these actually eager to get their Jurassic feels, there are shifting dinosaurs right here too!
Additional up the highway an ideal place for lunch and a photograph cease is the Daintree Heritage Lodge. Nestled amongst the rainforest, the lodge sits above a crystal-clear billabong the place you’ll be able to take a dip in contemporary water with the greenery throughout you. It’s significantly stunning right here so permit for not less than two hours to soak all of it in.
#5 Seize Cape Tribulation in Morning Gentle
Myall Seashore Coordinates – 16.0846° S, 145.4686° E
With the solar rising over the Coral Sea, heading right down to Myall Seashore in Cape Tribulation is an effective way to {photograph} the place the rainforest meets the reef. Strolling on a boardwalk by mangroves, you’ll arrive to an open seaside stretching for roughly 2km.
In case you’re searching for an ideal topic to make use of in your pictures, I extremely suggest strolling about 100m south alongside the seaside from the place the Dubuji Boardwalk arrives. Right here you’ll discover the right palm tree, actually, it could actually’t actually get extra image excellent than this palm that droops over the sand with the solar rising immediately behind.
A couple of hundred metres to the north of Cape Tribulation there’s one other seaside (situated on the other aspect of the cape) which works nicely for sundown. When you don’t get direct views of the solar dipping beneath the horizon, the encircling mountains present a stupendous panorama to seize with the ocean and sand patterns providing nice foreground topics.
Myall Seashore at dawn…
Cape Tribulation Seashore at sundown…
#6 Sail the Coral Sea to Sandy Cays
A day on the ocean is a day nicely spent so far as I’m involved. Setting off from Cape Tribulation, you’ll be able to bounce on board a luxurious catamaran with Sailaway Port Douglas (additionally working journeys from Port Douglas) and head east for a day of snorkelling on the Nice Barrier Reef.
Relying on the climate, the boat will go to any variety of reef programs or cays and in case you’re fortunate, you’ll be capable to step foot on Mackay Cay. This attractive sandy strip in the course of the ocean seems like a pancake and is surrounded by probably the most vibrant colored water!
Seabirds prefer to name the cay dwelling so that you’ll little doubt come throughout some birds to {photograph} but in addition be sure to take a water-proof digital camera with you in case you can to get probably the most out of a possibility to take split-level photographs.
#7 Highway Journey alongside the Captain Cook dinner Freeway
Coordinates -16°36’56.5″S 145°32’15.9″E
Between Port Douglas and Palm Cove, the Captain Cook dinner Freeway winds alongside the Coral Sea providing epic coastal surroundings and oodles of picture spots. Port Douglas itself is worthy of some reminiscence card area with a quaint resort vibe and common markets.
On the highway although, kick issues off with dawn at Pebbly Seashore the place you’ll be able to watch because the solar rises over the ocean and benefit from the numerous rockpools full of clean stones…a panorama photographers dream scene.
Talking of stones, maintain your eyes peeled for what has grow to be referred to as The Gatz Balancing Rocks. Tons of if not 1000’s of stone cairns (piles of rocks) have been positioned right here beside the ocean and it’s created such a cool panorama. If waves are crashing towards the rocks it makes for an ideal place to take some lengthy exposures, utilizing the shifting water to distinction towards the gray stones and surrounding lush background.
Additional alongside the highway you’ll discover plenty of viewpoints the place you’ll be able to park the automobile and see the coast weave it’s technique to each the north and south. A terrific vantage level is Rex Lookout which appears over Wangetti Seashore and Unity Reef!
#8 Fly in a helicopter over the Islands + Reef
Vlasoff Cay Coordinates – 16.6576° S, 145.9906° E
Now that is the place we get into some severe bucket checklist stuff. Taking a helicopter experience is one factor, however pair it with the immense magnificence and overwhelming surroundings of the Nice Barrier Reef and you’ve got your self an expertise of a lifetime. We flew with Nautilus Aviation from Cairns Airport and after a fast security chat and weigh in, had been zooming above town inside minutes!
I’m undecided a lot can put together you for the primary glimpse of the reef. Because the water color adjustments from browny blue to an intense turquoise and teal, you gained’t be capable to put your digital camera down! Photographing the Nice Barrier Reef from above is one thing that’s laborious to place into phrases. I’m fairly certain I simply had one phrase in my vocabulary for the complete 45mins we had been up within the sky…WOW.
Taking a scenic flight from Cairns a number of the spots you’ll be able to fly over embrace Inexperienced Island, Vlasoff Cay (loopy stunning!), Arlington, Michaelmas and Upolu Reef. Take a look at my earlier article for extra particulars on this expertise – ‘Nice Barrier Reef: Above and Under’.
Inexperienced Island
#9 {Photograph} Seascapes and Dawn on Nudey Seashore
Nudey Seashore Coordinates – 16.9353° S, 145.9830° E
Simply to make clear first up, there’s no nudey rudeyness taking place on Nudey Seashore, it’s naked backside free and someplace that you might want to see to imagine.
To go to Nudey Seashore you’ll have to take a 45minute ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island and from the resort, it’s only a quick 15minute stroll by stunning rainforest earlier than you’ll have that first peek. Boulders line the shores providing a putting distinction between the colorful reef stuffed water and the white sandy shores.
In case you’ve obtained an underwater digital camera, it’s an ideal place to pair some snorkelling with split-levels then you should definitely go away time for some panorama photographs at both finish of Nudey Seashore. The seascapes listed here are so dreamy so you should definitely run round and climb the boulders to hunt out contemporary vantage factors and compositions.
These fortunate sufficient to be staying on Fitzroy Island ought to benefit from visiting Nudey Seashore at dawn too. Whereas the seaside is situated on the western aspect of the island and due to this fact doesn’t have direct imaginative and prescient of dawn, it does look towards the mountainous skyline round Cairns with the pastel skies producing some very picture worthy scenes.
#10 Spend the Night time on Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island Resort Coordinates – 16.9316° S, 145.9888° E
There’s most likely not an entire lot I want to jot down with the intention to persuade you {that a} night time on a tropical island is an efficient factor…it’s simply pretty much as good because it sounds. Spending the night time on Fitzroy Island means you’ll be there to expertise the island as soon as the day trippers go away on the final ferry at 5pm.
Watch because the solar units over the mountains throughout the channel then get pleasure from cocktails and dinner beneath the palms. The island resort is superbly appointed with luxurious rooms, an enormous pool and watersports centre so you’ll be able to rent a snorkel and flippers to discover the reef immediately in entrance of the rooms.
If you end up on Fitzroy Island one factor you might want to be sure to see is the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Positioned a brief 5minute stroll from the resort, the centre gives a spot for injured or sick turtles to get better and relaxation up earlier than being launch again into the ocean. Turtles on the centre have been discovered with plastic of their stomachs which as a result of their curious nature they’ve mistaken for jellyfish that they like to eat. Take a peek beneath at some photographs of Jet, who has been a resident on the centre for six months and is kind of the social butterfly!
The place to Keep in Cairns + Tropical North Queensland
Whether or not you’re eager to get amongst nature, maintain it informal or splurge on some luxurious, there’s so many stunning locations to remain all through the area. Under are a choice of locations that I personally stayed and suggest from every of the areas talked about within the experiences above…
Pullman Cairns Worldwide, Cairns
Positioned proper by Chinaman Creek and only a quick stroll from the Esplanade Lagoon, Night time Markets and Marina it’s an ideal base in your first or final night time when arriving into Cairns. The resort foyer is such a welcoming sight with big plantation shutters actually offering that tropical feeling. The breakfast is SO value staying for plus most rooms supply nice views over town and sea. Verify availability and reserving particulars right here.
Mt Quincan Crater Retreat, Atherton Tablelands
In case you’re trying to expertise a calming escape after a day of waterfall chasing, that is THE place. Really feel at one with nature and utterly off the grid in these luxurious rainforest lodges, utterly decked out with something and every part you could possibly ever want. Every lodge has an enormous spa that appears over the luxurious environment, a hearth place, BBQ and a few pleasant furry guests like possums and tree climbing kangaroos! Oh, and it overlooks a volcanic crater…can it get any cooler!? Verify availability and reserving particulars right here.
Mt Quincan Crater Lodge,
Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, Cape Tribulation
Tucked inside the lush environment of the Daintree Rainforest, these comfortable cabins and rooms are an ideal base for exploring all that Cape Tribulation has to supply. It’s only a quick stroll to Myall Seashore in case you’re eager to {photograph} dawn or settle in and hearken to the rainforest birds calling the lodge dwelling. The lodge has an onsite restaurant which is a large bonus as a result of there’s not many choices within the space and it’s scrumptious! Verify availability and charges right here.
QT Port Douglas, Port Douglas
This beautiful resort shouldn’t be solely stunning inside with fashionable décor and styling matching its tropical location, however exterior with a lagoon pool wrapped in palms providing the right place to take a dip.
Additionally Port Douglas has an incredible meals scene with eating places lining the principle avenue and overlooking the harbour. I extremely suggest the setting and scrumptious platters at Barbados! They’ve obtained some rattling fantastic Cocktails too!
QT Port Douglas
Fitzroy Island Resort
In case you’re going to discover the area, it’s a must to deal with your self to an evening on this tropical island. Right here you’ll be able to watch the solar dip behind the mountain vary throughout the ocean, get up to waves lapping the shores of photogenic Nudey Seashore, take a rainforest hike and meet the residents of the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. There’s an outside bar and restaurant so you’ll be able to sit beneath the palms to get pleasure from dinner, and it’s actually stress-free and quiet, a real little paradise simply 45mins by ferry from Cairns. Verify availability and charges right here.
Get Round Tropical North Queensland
My suggestion is to rent a automobile and make the journey a pictures highway journey with countless picture stops. Whenever you fly into Cairns you’ll be able to rent a automobile immediately from the terminal so you’ll be able to hit the highway and get began on a highway journey all through Tropical North Queensland.
There are petrol stations in most small cities all through the area and in case you’re heading as much as Cape Tribulation you’ll simply have to pay $26 for a return journey throughout the Daintree River…so value it!
Having a automobile will allow to you enterprise out on dawn and sundown picture missions, to try to arrive in places good and early to keep away from any crowds and it means you’ll be able to cease at any time when and wherever you would like…offered in fact it’s secure to tug over 😉
In case you’re heading out to both Inexperienced or Fitzroy Island, ferries depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal, only a quick stroll from the Cairns Esplanade. There’s loads of parking out there close by with pricing for hourly or multi-day parking. In case you are staying in a single day on the islands, it’s finest to park your automobile within the undercover carpark beneath The Pier constructing.
Pictures Suggestions for the Tropics
- Hold your digital camera saved in a constant temperature so that you don’t fall sufferer to the humidity! Earlier than coming into your resort room, put your digital camera in a sealed digital camera bag and take a look at to not open it an excessive amount of in an air-conditioned room. In case your digital camera does fog, give it a couple of minutes to regulate to the warmth earlier than turning it on so that you keep away from fogging the sensor too. Learn extra recommendations on coping with your digital camera in humidity right here.
- Take a small towel or lens fabric with you always for humidity, condensation or any undesirable drips from the bushes or splashes from the ocean.
- Analysis the most effective occasions for dawn and sundown to make sure you’ve obtained sufficient journey time to reach at your chosen vacation spot.
- Dawn is your finest probability at gentle rays over the ocean, sundown usually falls behind the mountain ranges so that you’ll be handled to vibrant dusky skies as a substitute.
- Hold your eyes peeled for crocodiles when photographing in and round any water our bodies, particularly any mangrove areas within the Daintree!
Have you ever been to Cairns and Tropical North Queensland and need to share your photographs or suggestions? Both remark beneath or use the hashtags #thewanderinglens and #thisisqueensland on Instagram!
For extra details about the area, take a peek on the Tourism Queensland web site which is full of actions, experiences and itineraries.
Good day! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful in your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.
