Queensland, Australia – Land of wild things

Queensland, Australia – Land of wild things

There aren’t many places in the world that can claim five World Heritage-listed sites. Or that offer hundreds of national parks and forests, vast stretches of unspoiled beaches, breathtaking landscapes that encompass everything from sea to rainforest to outback – and, even better, to-die-for lodges and camps in the heart of these natural surroundings. Not to mention an endless variety of unique wildlife, with plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with a bounty of amazing creatures. But then there aren’t many places in the world as beautiful, unspoiled and diverse as Queensland, Australia.

Picture the scene: little more than a day after leaving London, you are sitting on your private deck amid the most extensive sub-tropical rainforest on earth. Your binoculars are ready in hand; just below you, one of the world’s rarest birds is grazing.

At Mission Beach, the distinctive helmet, striking blue head and black feathers of the endangered cassowary, Australia’s largest flightless bird, is a regular sight. And there are few better places to spot it than Castaways, an idyllic tropical escape juxtaposed between beach and rainforest – all the better to enjoy the nature of both. Not to mention the beautiful beachside town of Mission Beach itself, with its sophisticated eateries, boutiques and art galleries. North of Mission Beach, the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas sets the scene for some of the greatest natural experiences on earth, with the Great Barrier Reef making its presence felt all the way. At Port Douglas, days are all about the wealth of amazing activities, from reef trips to rainforest explorations. But nights will also blow you away here. Head for Thala Beach Lodge, take one of the eco-friendly rooms sensitively positioned among the headland’s 145 acres, sit back on your terrace and enjoy the show. Thala’s positioning means skies free of light pollution, allowing exceptional views of the southern constellations (and if you want to know what is out there, an on-site observatory provides a guided tour).

Head out to the Great Barrier Reef itself, and you can get up close and personal with a plethora of incredible creatures in one of the most pristine marine environments on earth. Swim with fabulously friendly dwarf minke whales on the ribbon reefs off Port Douglas, snorkel with graceful turtles, dive coral gardens or overnight on a yacht and watch sunrise over the reef. Or perhaps stand silently on the beach at Bundaberg, and watch one of the true wonders of the natural world unfold in front of you at Mon Repos Conservation Park – the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the South Pacific. Each year hundreds of turtles return at night to these bountiful waters to complete a cycle that begun at their own birth.

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