Northern Areas

Cardwell

Cardwell, heart of the Great Green Way and gateway to magnificent Hinchinbrook Island - the largest Island National Park in Australia. Made up of a diverse range of landscapes, Cardwell is the perfect place to relax or be adventurous!

Cardwell is located half way between Townsville and Cairns and is on the same latitude as Tahiti - enjoying a similar climate but with easy mainland access so you have mainland living … Island lifestyle.

Settled in 1864, Cardwell was the first settlement north of Bowen and is the only town in the world where two world heritage listed areas adjoin. The first being the wet tropics world heritage, starting north of Townsville and finishing south of Cooktown and the second - the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park world heritage area.

Cardwell offers a range of attractions, site seeing, annual events to enjoy and historical places to visit. The Cardwell Rainforest & Reef Visitor Information Centre has a magnificent interpretative display capturing flora and fauna native to the area. Staff at the Centre provide expert advice on points of interest in the area along with information on the region’s history. Cardwell also offers a wide range of accommodation such as resorts, bed & breakfasts, motels, self-contained apartments, cabins, caravan parks, budget accommodation and camping.

Cardwell’s Port Hinchinbrook provides state of the art Marina, public boat ramp and repairs and maintenance facilities for anglers and boaties. It is widely acknowledged that Cardwell is ranked second to none when it comes to all weather and all tide boating & fishing in the North and a public boat ramp is free of charge. With 22 islands off the coast and the spectacular Hinchinbrook channel offering 45 km of fully protected boating and fishing- it’s a boaties paradise.

The Girringun Aboriginal Cultural Centre is a great place to learn about the aboriginal tribes of the region and how they maintain their relationship with the natural environment.

Cardwell’s Forest Drive through the Cardwell State Forest is where you’ll find the quaint Attie Creek Falls and some spectacular swimming holes to cool off in during those warmer days. The well maintained public facilities at Attie Creek Falls and Five Mile Swimming Hole make these areas very user friendly.

While the Cardwell region produces sugar cane, pineapples and other tropical fruits, including one of Queenslands largest banana farms in the Kennedy Valley, it is also home to Prawn Farms - in fact, Crystal Bay prawns are farmed in Cardwell and were used at the wedding reception for Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark.

The Cardwell Country Club is thriving and feature a well maintained and challenging 9 hole golf course and lawn bowling green. All visitors are made most welcome with 8 golfing tourniments held between May-October with prizes in excess of $1,500 per tournament.

For those who love fishing Cardwell is renowned for its rewarding recreational fishing. You can have a relaxing day fishing off the jetty or take a reef or estuary fishing charter. Fishing competitions are held throughout the year and the Port Hinchinbrook Fishing Classic held every September attracts visitors from all around the world. The National Sports Fishing Association ANSA was originally founded in Cardwell by local fishing ledged Vic McCrystal. Cardwell offers state of the art boating and fishing while still offering the relaxed and welcoming holiday atmosphere at family affordable prices.

Blencoe falls provides spectacular scenery for your holiday photos with its 91m spectral drop. It’s also considered one of North Queensland’s best camping areas. By taking one of our leisurely walks you’ll have the opportunity to see many rare species of birds and butterflies and perhaps the critically endangered cassowaries and mahogany glider that inhabit the area along with other native wildlife

Waterfalls … National Parks … State Forests … crystal clear swimming holes … fishing …golf and bowls… bush walking … or just relaxing … With so many activities on offer, contact our information centre where our friendly staff will assist you to plan your stay in Cardwell … heart of the great green way and pretty as a picture!

Great Green Way

The Great Green Way is an area of outstanding natural beauty spanning from Townsville to Cairns, including two World Heritage listings; the Wet Tropics Rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. The area has over 25 tropical islands off its coast, over 12 mainland National Parks and it is the closest mainland access in Queensland to the Outer Barrier Reef.

One of the best aspects of the area is its relaxed North Queensland lifestyle, where you can still have a yarn with locals in an old Queensland pub and where farming and fishing are still the dominant way of life. Discover its rich, diverse cultural history, or enjoy the luxury of fresh seafood and tropical fruits whilst overlooking the sunset.

Ingham

Located 110 kilometres north of Townsville and 220 kilometres south of Cairns, the country township of Ingham is located in the heart of the tropics. It is the southern gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage-listed rainforests of Tropical North Queensland. West of Ingham is Australia's highest sheer drop waterfall, Wallaman Falls, at 305 metres. North-east of Ingham is the majestic Hinchinbrook Island. The region has no less than six recreational National Parks, State Forests and islands, making it a very special part of the North Queensland region.

800m South of the town centre is Tyto Wetlands Information Centre, showcasing the spectacular birdlife and natural attractions of the region. Within easy walking distance of the centre is Tyto Wetlands - a "Birdwatcher’s Paradise". The wetlands are home to more than 230 different species, including the Eastern Grass Owl. Hundreds of Agile Wallabies also appear at the Wetlands in the afternoon and early morning, certainly adding to the wildlife experience.

The township of Ingham, known for its large Italian community, celebrates the Australian-Italian Festival in May - a feast of Italian wine, cuisine, music and culture.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a relaxed, yet vibrant beachfront town with over 14 kilometres of magnificent golden sandy beaches. Here two World Heritage areas, The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, come together to form a tropical paradise. In many places, the rainforest literally fringes stretches of pristine golden beach, giving the destination reputation as an ideal natural holiday choice.

Less than 5 kilometres offshore, Dunk Island and Bedarra Island make up an aquatic playground that is renowned along the east coast of Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is only 38 kilometres away making Mission Beach the closest mainland access to the Reef, just an hour or so by boat. This means more time experiencing the wonders of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef when you stay at Mission Beach. There are four villages that are collectively known as Mission Beach: South Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, North Mission Beach and Bingil Bay.

Fourteen kilometres of palm-fringed beach connect these four small townships, from Kennedy Bay in the south, to Garners Beach in the north, a favourite spot for naturalists. The Edmund Kennedy walking track at the southern end of the beach is part beach, mangrove and rainforest. Several creeks empty their waters at Mission Beach and locals can often be found fishing for barramundi and mangrove jacks. Good fishing is also to be had at Clump Point jetty and the rock wall at Clump Point boat ramp. And for absolute seclusion, try Brooks Beach or Garners Beach at the northern end. It's quite likely that you'll catch a glimpse of the endangered Southern Cassowary in the rainforest around Mission Beach.

At Mission Beach, you will find a tranquil and very friendly tropical holiday township ideally suited to those who desire a true break from everyday life.

Tully

Tully is a small town about 140 kilometres south of Cairns and has the reputation of being one of the wettest towns in Australia. With all that rain, the nearby Tully River is one of the best places in Australia to go white water rafting. The Tully River has excellent rapids that range Grade Three to the more challenging Grade Four. Tully is also one of Queensland's largest sugar cane and banana producers and is very popular with the backpacker market who work seasonally on the farms. And don't forget to stop by for a photo of the 7.9 metre tall 'Golden Gumboot'!

Where to Stay