North Queensland Golf Holidays

The region of Far North Queensland is well known for its tropical climate and stunning scenery. It is also home to a number of world class golf courses idyllic for golf holidays. The area extends all the way along the eastern coast of Queensland and boasts year long sunshine, cool sea breezes and a desirable warm climate unparalleled to most other Australian cities. The region includes the cosmopolitan city of Cairns, the gateway for most tour, travel and holiday operations, the resort town of Port Douglas, the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest and the Cairns Highlands.

GOLF COURSES IN NORTH QUEENSLAND
With a fantastic golf climate all year round North Queensland is one of Australia's most superb destinations for golf holidays. Top quality golf courses in the region include:

1. Paradise Palms Golf Course
Situated in Cairns and carved out of a tropical wonderland between World Heritage Rainforest and The Great Barrier Reef, this Graham Marsh-Ross Watson designed course provides a challenging layout with rolling fairways and large testing greens. As a world class facility rivalling the best private clubs and consistently ranked amongst Australia's best courses, Paradise Palms makes for an impressive golfing experience. Ranked 67 out of Australia's Top 100;

2. Sea Temple Golf and Country Club Golf Course
Situated in Port Douglas, formally The Links. Mike Wolveridge has turned this old sugar plantation into Australia's only tropical links layout. Restoring the land to small dunes and an open landscape more akin to Scotland, it is possibly the only links course in the world that has strands of rainforest weaving through it. The cooling sea breezes offer the traditional challenge of a links course, while it's starring feature is the St Andrews inspired greens. Ranked 94;

3. Mirage Country Club Golf Course
Situated in Port Douglas, a lavish resort style golf course, designed by renowned architects Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge. The Beach nine weaves through beautiful thickets of dense tropical trees with glimpses of the Coral Sea, while the mountains on the Himalayan nine provide an impressive backdrop;

4. Mossman Golf Course
Situated in Mossman 15km north of Port Douglas, Mossman offers a relaxed country feel. The layout is a botanical smorgasbord with pockets of rainforest intruding into the course. With the surprisingly high quality greens and picturesque setting this is a real local's favourite away from the crowds;

5. Half Moon Bay Golf Course
Situated in Yorkeys Knob, just north of Cairns. A gentle layout with views of the Coral Sea, mountain ranges, and tropical wetlands. It has an interesting mix of holes and is a challenge for the competent golfer whilst not being intimidating for the social player or beginner;

6. Cairns Golf Course
Less than 10 minutes drive south from the tourist bustle of the city lies this slice of tropical paradise. Established on the present site in 1926, Cairns Golf Course was redesigned by Ross Watson in 1992. Watson's changes have dramatically improved the variety of holes on the course, which is laid out amidst tropical and native landscaping against the awesome Great Dividing Range backdrop;

7. Mareeba Golf Course
Located on the Cairns Tablelands, one hour drive inland. Mareeba averages over 300 sunny days per year, so rain is rarely a problem. With wide lush and gently undulating fairways this relatively flat course is abundant with native trees and wildlife, especially the grey kangaroos. A typical Australian country course with a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere;

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS IN NORTH QUEENSLAND
Cairns boasts a number of magnificent ivory beaches and tiny coves that lie alongside a stunning turquoise Coral Sea. With a population of just over 140,000, it is also one of the most popular major tourist destinations in Australia offering visitors a spectacular range of places to visit including:

1. The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest
The only place in the world where two World Heritage Listed Attractions lie side by side;

2. Port Douglas
The resort town of 5-star to budget accommodation, art galleries, markets, award-winning dining experiences and luxury shopping. Close by are access to the stunning Four Mile Beach, expansive beauty of the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation offering water activities and a fantasy holiday getaway;

3. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda
Witness the beauty of the rainforest from above, charming villages and chalets, street markets, cultural theatres and access to rainforest areas along the Barron River;

4. The Kuranda Scenic Railway.
The world famous railway experience is a must-do when visiting North Queensland. You will be astounded by a magnificent engineering feat. Catch the train up and Skyrail down or visa versa;

5. The Outback and Gulf Savannah
Steeped in history and culture, see some of North Queensland's most remote country and discover amazing beauty of its grasslands, winding rivers, waterfalls, and remote salt pans merging with wetlands;

6. Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula.
Home to an awe-inspiring paradise of flora, fauna, diverse coastal sceneries, and rainforests. Rich in aboriginal culture, heritage sites and magical delights, Cape York's history and lifestyle can be explored in a four-wheel-drive adventure or on an air, land, or sea guided tour;

7. Cairns Tablelands.
Spend a day exploring the tablelands, waterfalls, volcanic lakes, food and wine trail and amazing wildlife. A trip through the tablelands offers a complete contrast to the coastal region, and a great way to cool off if the tropical heat is getting too much. Visit one of the many tea or coffee plantations while you're there;

8. Daintree Rainforest
North of Cairns is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of Mother Nature in the world. It is home to the largest range of plants and animals on earth. This World Heritage Listed area contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction, anywhere in the world;

9. Cairns Tropical Zoo.
The most diverse wildlife attraction in North Queensland. Set amidst 200 acres of dry Savannah and where the rainforest meets the Outback of Australia, you will find Cairns and Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve. Set amongst 200 acres with Australasia 's largest pride of lions;

10. Harleys Creek Crocodile Farm.
One of the first places in Australia to hold crocodile shows and renowned for presenting the Best Crocodile Show in Australia;

11. Cairns Regional Gallery.
On display are exhibitions of fine arts from major Australian and International collections covering historical and contemporary art including the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN NORTH QUEENSLAND
The stunning Far North Coast of Queensland offers a stimulating range of sporting and leisure activities such as sailing, cruising, sport fishing, diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, hot-air ballooning, white water rafting, sea kayaking, 4WD safaris, and clear water canoeing.

1. Great Barrier Reef Trip Enjoy a day snorkelling and diving at the reef. Or take off for a 3 or 4 night cruise;
2. Dinner Cruise Dine while cruising along the Cairns Inlet;
3. Spa Treatment At Palm Cove, Australia's Spa Capital or relax at the beach or paddle in a kayak around Double island;
4. Cairns Esplanade & Lagoon Take a walk along the esplanade, stop at a café or have swim in the lagoon;
5. White Water Rafting At the Tully River or Barron Gorge;
6. Daintree River Cruise Spot the crocodiles in the wild along the Daintree river;
7. Game Fishing Deep sea fishing for marlin or estuary fishing for barramundi;
8. Cape TribulationSpend a night in the middle of the rainforest, kayak around the Cape during the day and you are sure to see some turtles;
9. Crystal CascadesEnjoy a swim and BBQ beside the river;
10. Hot Air Balloning Cairns is the most popular place in Australia to go for hot air balloon rides. Specially chosen locations at Mareeba, provide ideal weather and climate conditions for this gentle activity and our beautiful region offers unrivalled panoramic views of our unique Australian landscape;
11. Botanical Gardens Only five kilometres from the heart of Cairns City, the Flecker Botanical Gardens are a tropical oasis;
12. 4WD SafariTake off for a day through the bush tracks in a Hummer;
13. Helicopter/Plane Flight A totally different experience when you see the reef from the air.

CLIMATE OF NORTH QUEENSLAND
North Queensland has two weather seasons; a winter period of warm temperatures and low rainfall from May through to October, and a summer period of tropical temperatures and higher levels of rainfall from November to April. The cooler months are the most idyllic temperatures with less humidity. Average temperatures are 31.4°C maximum and 17°C minimum.
The swimming is great all year round but is best between April and October. Between November and March Tropical North Queensland is home to the box jellyfish, during this period swimmers are protected by enclosures at popular beaches during this time.