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Cairns & the Daintree Rainforest

Why Go? ...... 444 Tropical, touristy Cairns is an unmissable stop on any East Cairns’ Northern Coast traveller’s itinerary. Experienced divers and first-time Beaches...... 455 toe-dippers swarm to the steamy city for its easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, while those more interested in sub- Islands off Cairns...... 457 merging themselves in boozy good times are well-served by .....458 a barrage of bars and clubs. For day-trippers, the Atherton ...... 463 Tableland – home to cooler climes, volcanic-crater lakes, Mossman...... 474 jungly waterfalls and gourmet food producers – is just a The Daintree...... 475 short and scenic drive away. The winding road from Cairns to ritzy Port Douglas offers Cape Tribulation...... 476 spectacular coastal vistas, but it’s north of the Cooktown...... 480 that the adventure really begins. The magnificent Daintree ...... 482 National Park stretches up the coast, with rainforest tum- bling right onto white-sand beaches; don’t be so awestruck by the stunning surrounds that you forget to keep an eye out for crocs! Further up, the from Cape Tribu- Best Places to lation to Cooktown is one of ’s great 4WD journeys. Eat ¨¨Ochre (p451) ¨¨Lillypad (p451) When to Go ¨¨Flames of the Cairns (p473) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 20/500 ¨¨Sassi Cucina e Bar (p473) 16/400 ¨¨Mocka’s Pies (p473) 30/86 12/300 20/68 8/200 10/50 Best Places to 4/100 Stay 0/32 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D ¨¨Tropic Days (p450) ¨¨Pink Flamingo (p466) May Port Douglas June A costumed November The ¨¨QT Resort (p466) turns on the re-enactment of reef’s annual pizazz for Cook’s landing is coral spawning ¨¨Mungumby Lodge (p480) Carnivale. the centrepiece of is a delight for ¨¨Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm the Cooktown Dis- divers. Cabins (p479) covery Festival.

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Cairns & the Daintree 442