Why North Queensland Deserves a Spot on Your Bucket-List

Like many others, 2020 was supposed to be my year of incredible overseas travels. As someone who relied on travel so heavily to keep me happy, I definitely spent way too long moping around about my cancelled holiday. Towards the end of the year, as state borders and tourist attractions began to reopen, I decided to do something about it.

Armed with a travel credit I wasn’t able to use for my intended European adventure, I booked myself on the Contiki Great Barrier Reef Highlights with Sailing trip. And, after a week of exploring North Queensland, I questioned why I hadn’t visited this beautiful part of the world sooner.

INSTAGRAM WILL NEVER DO WHITEHAVEN BEACH JUSTICE

If there’s one beach that looks even more surreal in person than in photos, it’s Whitehaven. This stunning 7km stretch of sand was named the world’s best beach for 2021 by TripAdvisor, and it’s no surprise why. The views of the swirling sands from Hill Inlet are nothing short of amazing, with the clearest water and cleanest sand I’ve ever seen.

YOU CAN SLEEP UNDER THE STARS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

There is nothing quite like going to sleep under the stars on the deck of the yacht, and waking up to an incredible sunrise- only made better by floating over the Great Barrier Reef. A sailing trip to the Whitsundays is a must, with countless swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing opportunities available at sea. On top of this, having an overnight sail with Contiki meant we were able to get to Whitehaven Beach bright and early, beating the day trippers and having the beach to ourselves for a couple of hours.

MAGNETIC ISLAND IS A HIDDEN GEM

I had heard of Magnetic Island before this trip, but admittedly didn’t really know anything about it, or even where it was situated. Located just off the coast of Townsville, Magnetic Island is a beautiful little paradise, and definitely worth stopping at when visiting North Queensland. The island is home to several walking tracks, swimming and snorkelling spots, as well as iconic topless cars to zip around in. Base Backpackers on the island also has undoubtably the most epic hostel view I have ever seen, delivering uninterrupted ocean views and incredible sunsets.

Rock Wallabies, Magentic Island — Rock Wallabies, Magnetic Island

ALL THE ANIMALS

Not only is there no shortage of stunning scenery in North Queensland, there is also plenty of animals getting around. From the colourful fish of the Great Barrier Reef, to the Rock Wallabies and Koalas found on Magnetic Island, to the Crocs found around Cairns, it is always exciting spotting these creatures out in the wild.

YOU’LL NEVER GET BORED IN CAIRNS

Finally, I finished up my Queensland adventure in Cairns. The city itself is big enough to boast a big selection of bars and clubs to keep yourself occupied at night, and is the perfect base for day trips throughout Far North Queensland. From Cairns it is only a short trip to amazing locations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and Mosman Gorge, just to name a few.