FLIGHTS, camera - and action! Here's a few must-take photos of the Cairns region's eye-catching icons to help you remember your holiday.

If you love collecting “must have” holiday snaps, read on for some tried-but-true sights worthy of inclusion in your album.Serious photographers will also discover Cairns offers incredibleopportunities to explore. We hope some of our suggested starting points may inspire you to make many more of your own discoveries.

Public art

Head down to the Cairns Lagoon on The Esplanade for one of Cairns’ best recognised scenes: the giant fish sculptures jutting out from the public swimming pool. Experimenting with lighting at sunrise and sunset might get you a unique take on the quintessential Cairns image. For classic city kitsch, have your picture taken beside the cute and colourful oversized jellybeans outside the Centre of Contemporary Arts in downtown Abbott St. 

Big is better

If striking a pose in front of a larger-than-life concrete statue is your favourite holiday pastime, then Far North Queensland is a great place to visit. In Cairns, the 10m-high Captain Cook statue (on the left as you travel into the city from the airport) is so big, you’ll need to stand across the road to fit it in. On Cairns’ southside, you’ll find a giant marlin outside a shopping centre at Earlville. Keep heading south for an encounter with big gumboot at Tully. Further afield on the Atherton Tableland, there’s a sculpture of a dinosaur discovered at Chillagoe (Dave), and way out west, at Normanton, is the 8.6m crocodile (Krys), a life-sized replica of the biggest croc ever reported in the town.

Take a dive

Head out to the Great Barrier Reef. With 1500 types of fish, there’s ample opportunity to marvel at the magnificent underwater world. If you don’t own an underwater camera, you can buy a cheap disposable underwater camera – but results vary. During whale season, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous white whale Migaloo. Some tour boats will take your picture underwater while you’re snorkelling or scuba diving and sellyou a high-quality image on the day. For non-swimmers, some tours also offer a glass bottom boat or viewing deck that enable you to get a special snap.

Look out!

Stop off on your road trip to capture stunning views across the Coral Sea at the Rex Lookout, halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas. On the way to Kuranda, stop at the Henry Ross Lookout. Other popular lookouts include the Alexandra Lookout north of the Daintree River crossing and Heale’s Lookout on the Gillies Range. High above, one of Cairns’ most popular tourist activities is the Skyrail, which soars high above the rainforest to Kuranda and affords views over the spectacular Barron Dalls and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Sign me up!

Roadside signs can be fun, but make sure you pull off the road and snap them safely. On road trips in the Cairns region, you can find kangaroo, jellyfish, crocodile and cassowary warning signs. One of the region’s most famous road signs is a speed-hump warning sign near Cape Tribulation, which has been altered to depict a cassowary that’s been run over. And if you head north and keep driving, eventually you’ll come to another of the region’s most famous signs at the tip of Cape York, marking the northernmost point of Australia.

Animal antics

Cuddle a koala – several Cairns wildlife parks offer the opportunity to get up close with Australia’s most popular marsupial. These photogenic fellas instinctively pose in your arms, for a fee.

Feed a roo – Most wildlife parks around Cairns host kangaroos and wallabies, and some, like Rainforestation near Kuranda, allow you to feed the animals. Near Mareeba, west of Cairns, wild wallabies abound at Granite Gorge, and visitors can feed these small rock-dwelling marsupials that will jump right up to visitors when they detect food.

Get snappy with a croc – Man-eating crocodiles inhabit beaches and rivers throughout Far North Queensland. Visit a crocodile farm such as Hartley’s (between Palm Cove and Port Douglas) or South Johnstone (near Innisfail) for a chance to see multiple crocs in action. Or take a cruise on the Daintree River, north of Cairns, to catch these ancient reptiles in their natural habitat.

Catch a cassowary (on camera) – Not everyone gets to see the world’s second-largest bird in its natural rainforest habitat. It’s estimated just 1500 cassowaries are left in the wild. You’re most likely to see them around Mission Beach (south of Cairns), the Daintree (to the north), or sometimes around Kuranda (just west of Cairns) – but take care when photographing – they may become aggressive. If you don’t catch the big bird in its natural environment don’t despair – Mission Beach is also home to the big cassowary, conveniently crafted from fibreglass for your photographic pleasure.

Bird is the word – Bird watching opportunities abound in the Cairns region. To catch water birds going about their business, wander the Cairns Esplanade walkway before sunset. Or on the Atherton Tableland visit the Mareeba Wetlands for more birdlife.  

Gone batty – Fruitbats inhabit the treetops around Cairns’ city centre. At sunset, photograph a stunning display of movement. 

Get a-head

Fans of classic head-through-the-hole holiday photos aren’t forgotten in Far North Queensland. Perfect for the young or young-at-heart, you can find boards with cut-out spots to put your face in Cairns city at the Green Ant Cantina in Bunda St, and at the butcher’s shop at Yungaburra on the Atherton Tableland.

Get active

Action shots while white water rafting on extreme rapids, skydiving on to a palm tree lined beach or jungle surfing through the Daintree Rainforest canopy are a must-have. The companies that run these extreme activities provide photography services that allow you to enjoy the activity without worrying about dropping your camera.

Nature at its best

World Heritage-listed rainforest, tropical islands, beautiful beaches and wondrous waterfalls. The stunning scenery of Barron Gorge (at Kuranda) and Mossman Gorge (near Port Douglas) are two of the must-sees for all Cairns visitors and bring new surprises for photographers each season of the year. If you’re quick and have a macro lens you’re well equipped to catch the brilliant blue Ulysses butterfly (common around Kuranda) on camera – or for a sure snap head to the Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary. Some of the region’s favourite beaches for photographs are at Cape Tribulation (north of Cairns) and Mission Beach (to the south). Head to the waterfall circuit on the Atherton Tableland for a triple-treat of waterfall wonders. Close to the Cairns city centre, the Botanical Gardens at Edge Hill are a nature photographer’s paradise.

Indigenous culture

Close to Cairns city, try the award winning Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park for snaps of you and your companions in traditional facepaint or throwing boomerangs. If you have time to go beyond the beaten track, Cape York or the Torres Strait Islands, north of Cairns, offer an array of indigenous Australian culture, and tour guides can show you ancient Aboriginal rock art, traditional fishing and more.

Cultural events

The annual Festival Cairns and the Port Douglas Carnivale are two of the biggest events for the region and both include colourful street parades and a host of other activities bound to get your camera clicking. Visitors can catch colourful scenes of indigenous culture at the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival, north of Cooktown, held every second year.

 

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