Tropical North Queensland is the sort of place that you could travel to over and over again and still not see everything. The World Heritage Area covers about 900,000 hectares but there is much to see and do outside the World Heritage Area as well. And when you want a diversion from terrestrial activities, you can visit another world famous beauty, the Great Barrier Reef.

If scenic panoramas are what you're after, you can travel along 600 km (372 miles) of roads through the World Heritage Area, including 40 scenic routes, and choose from over 100 scenic spots to visit. These include features like Queensland's highest peaks, Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker, and Australia's longest single-drop waterfall, the 305 metre (1,000 foot)Wallaman Falls.

The more energetic and fit can go on bushwalks ranging from flat to straight uphill, from short circuits of 20 minutes to all day hikes. Backpackers can enjoy a brief bird's eye view of the forest canopy from a bungy jump while a longer look can be had on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which links Cairns to Kuranda. Whitewater rafting, wildlife spotlighting at night, narrated botanical and cultural heritage walks, swimming and aerial flights are other very popular activities. For those who just want to relax, there are plenty of places to put your feet up ranging from economical camping in the bush to 'eco-style' hideaways to the classiest (and most expensive) resorts. No matter where you go, don't forget your camera.

Cairns is the gateway to the Wet Tropics and overseas flights stop in Cairns before continuing on to larger southern cities such as Brisbane and Sydney. Plenty of car and campervan (RV) rental companies are available as are more localised means of transport such as bicycles and mopeds. Local airlines have flights to small regional centres such as Cooktown, a small town at the northern end of the Wet Tropics.

Click on the side bar to see maps of the World Heritage Area or download a map of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area from our maps section.