Cairns • Babinda • Bramston
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CAIRNS • BABINDA • BRAMSTON BEACH • FLYING FISH POINT 2020 EDITION ETTY BAY • INNISFAIL • COWLEY BEACH • MENA CREEK CANECUTTER WAY • KURRIMINE BEACH • EL ARISH • DUNK ISLAND MISSION BEACH • TULLY • CARDWELL • HINCHINBROOK ISLAND • LUCINDA INGHAM • PALUMA • BALGAL BEACH • TOWNSVILLE www.tropicalcoasttourism.com.au PARONELLA PARK ...................................... 3 tully .................................................... 34 explore NQTC ..........................................5 cardwell ............................................. 36 cairns .................................................... 8 events .................................................. 40 babinda .................................................10 inghaM .................................................. 42 Bramston Beach .....................................12 the hinchinbrook way ...........................44 /tropicalcoastqueensland camping & caravanning .........................13 explore national parks ........................ 46 innisfail .................................................14 adventure wonderland ........................ 48 @tropicalcoastqueensland THE canecutter way ..............................18 fishing the tropical coast ................... 50 @tropical_coast kurrimine beach .................................... 22 indigenous culture ................................54 tropicalcoastqueensland mission beach ....................................... 26 agriculturAL heritage .......................... 56 explore NQTC regional map ................... 30 townsville & north ............................. 58 www.tropicalcoasttourism.com.au Tropical Coast Tourism Inc. (TCT) is an operator representative group. Its objective is to represent the interests of operators and aligned businesses as the peak voice for tourism, with a focus on marketing the region between Cairns and Townsville. Tropical Coast Tourism Inc., PO Box 50, Mission Beach, Qld 4852 [email protected] Credits and Thank You: Our wonderful and progressive advertisers, Tourism & Events Queensland, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Cassowary Coast Regional Council and Ovato Print. Photo Source credits: Townsville Enterprise, Tropical Tourism North Queensland, Department of National Parks, Tropical Coast Tourism, Tourism Events Queensland, ozscapes.com, Megan MacKinnon, Kurrimine images by Abby Volpe Photography. Publishers note: The Publishers, Australian Tourist Publications in conjunction with Tropical Coast Tourism Inc. All information contained in this magazine is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Tropical Coast Tourism. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors, changes or omissions. Tropical Coast Tourism® Registered Trademark of Tropical Coast Tourism ABN 31 437 851 458. Image: Bingil Bay. Front cover image: Mission Beach ~ 2 ~ Then, every evening, there is the ‘Darkness Falls’ tour. Featuring paronella park flood lighting of many of the Park’s highlights, courtesy of the With the world being such a busy and stressful place, newly restored hydro-electric generator, this tour delights sometimes the best way to take a time out, is to take a step guests nightly. Conducted by torchlight, and complemented back in time. by sweet little lanterns dotted along the pathways, this is a tour that is certain to give you goosebumps – in a good way! Paronella Park, built in the 1930’s, is a magical time capsule At certain times of the year, there are even fireflies and glowing of history, set in the stunning natural surrounds of Far mushrooms, adding even more magic to the moment. North Queensland. There, you will be transported, through evocative storytelling, back to the times of croquet, picnics, The Hydro Tour is, as the name suggests, a tour of the newly- and enchanting dances, all whilst a backdrop of lush rainforest restored hydro-electric system, which uses power from the and the soothing sounds of the waterfall ensures that you are waterfall to light up the whole of Paronella Park. feeling relaxed and reenergised. If you would like to stay at Paronella Park overnight and extend A pleasant one and a half hour’s drive from Cairns lands you your experience, also included in your entry price is a site for in a fairytale, with castles, bridges, tunnels, and waterfalls, all the night in their boutique caravan/camping park, complete with wrapped up in a story of human triumph. gas BBQ, hot showers and a coin laundry. And if camping is not for you, for an additional cost, the dream can still continue at Built by Jose Paronella, a romantic Catalonian, who moved Paronella Park with their little cabins. Affordable, and adorable, to Australia to build a future for himself and his intended, they are a true complement to the Paronella Park experience. Paronella Park was voted the Number One Must Do in Queensland, and it’s easy to see why. The list goes on, with a souvenir map guide and fish food (to feed the resident fish and turtles) also included, not to mention Included in your visit to Paronella Park are three very different, some of the best customer service in Far North Queensland. but equally captivating guided tours. Paronella Park has a café, serving fresh food, and the Mena There is the ‘Dream Continues’ tour, running every half an hour Creek Hotel, serving Aussie pub grub, is only 200 metres down daily, which tells the fascinating story of José Paronella and his the road. Dream. This tour takes in all the highlights of the Park, and really sets the scene for your visit. Feel dwarfed by the imposing pine Mark and Judy Evans, owners of Paronella Park, have worked trees in Kauri Avenue, marvel at Mena Creek Falls, a powerful hard for 27 years to provide the best possible visitor experience waterfall that runs all year long, and be delighted by Teresa Falls to all guests of Paronella Park – why not come down and – a miniature version of the larger falls, built and named for Jose discover (or re-discover!) one of Far North Queensland’s true Paronella’s daughter. hidden treasures. Front cover image: [insert photographer's name] ~ 3 ~ An eco adventure wonderland It’s all about exploring—designed by nature. This magazine takes you on a journey north to south, but the experience works equally as well either way. Use the maps to help you plan where to stay and base yourself. Remember it’s a guide only. For full details, check the websites and don’t hesitate to ask a local. Mamu Tropical Skywalk Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef World class natural experiences designed by nature The North Queensland Tropical Coast is a unique part of Australia and an absolutely unique part of North Queensland. It features world class natural experiences, no crowds, no rush and no stress. This amazing destination is built to Explore. It can be You will find more 3-star options than 5-star, but the inspiring discovered in line with your own flexibility in your own time landscapes are rated some of the best in the World, at least and your own vehicle. It is a driving delight. 7-star, and “of outstanding value to humanity” (UNESCO). The 350 kilometres between Cairns and Townsville can be It’s not really a problem to decide which end to start your completed by car in about five hours. But don’t do it! journey. If you arrive on a flight into Cairns, it makes sense to travel South. If you arrive in Townsville, you will travel North. You’ll want to take the time to turn down that road, take The choice is yours and it works equally well from both a walk, check out this beach, that pub, or just stop as you locations. discover this amazing region. Give yourself a week to fully appreciate its unique appeal. And once you have experienced the destination’s uniqueness, please tell your friends and family about its It is traversed by Australia’s National Highway One but be wonderful features … and this great magazine. aware that many of the highlights are off the highway. And the next town is about a 30-minute drive so just relax and take in the adventure. Barefoot millionaires abound in the area, but don’t worry, be happy, as you will be given the same friendly welcome where ever you go. Josephine Falls ~ 5 ~ Kurrimine Beach CAIRNS TO TOWNSVILLE The quiet, long beach of Kurrimine is the main attraction, Coast through the 350 kilometres between Cairns where you can see Manta Rays trawling the shallows and turtles and Townsville to get the big picture and experience coming in to nest. This small town boasts a winery, a beachfront pub, a cafe, a post office, petrol station and general store. this absolutely unique part of Tropical North Queensland. Tully Tully is recognised as the capital of white water rafting thanks to Babinda the Tully River and internationally renowned white-water rapids Babinda is a small sugar town located 60 kilometres South of which attract thousands of visitors from all over the globe. Cairns. Crystal clear mountain streams, pristine rainforests and The town is also famous as the wettest place in Australia, with an spectacular waterfalls portray Babinda as a hidden paradise annual average rainfall of 4.27 metres. Given Tully’s reputation often overlooked by travellers as just another North Queensland as the wettest town in Australia it seemed only natural that their township. The main attractions are the Babinda Boulders and ‘big thing’ to attract tourists is a giant