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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