introduction

Tropical North Queensland is a general term for referring to varying regions of the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland; from the city of Mackay north to the tip of Cape York.

The tropical region of Queensland covers 54% of the state's area (934,600 square kilometres), and includes the whole area above the latitude 23.5 degrees south, taking in an area from Rockhampton north.

It also includes several world heritage listed areas, such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics.

 

surfing

The Great Barrier Reef, she is a harsh mistress. The longest reef in the world blankets the far northern coast of tropical queensland. Surfing here is limited to strictly guarded reefs and passes, some up to 35 miles offshore. You will definetly need access to a boat in these parts. The further north you go the sharkier it gets - with good reason, some of the biggest tiger sharks in the world roam these waters.

Thankfully the ever abundant reef offers them regular and more tasty morsels but once you head beyond the boundaries of the reef, your on your own. The shape of the coastline here which lies generally NW does not permit the breaks here to take full advantage of the near constant delivery of S to SE swell that the lower east coast enjoys so your real window here is around cyclone season  peaking Dec to Jan. NE to E swell along this coast can deliver some amazing breaks, many of them un named, some still unridden.

Many view the full exploration of the reef in this part of the world during cyclone events as having the potential to uncover the next generation of mysto reefs - breaking only twice per year but gathering a professional following when they do.

where to stay

Popular places to stay in the Tropical North region of Australia are Airlie Beach - which is the gateway to the whitsundays, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns and Port Douglas. All these major towns offer a full accommodation range from campgrounds and hoiliday parks through to top end plush hotels full of luxury and style. Live aboard dive boats are also very popular here, typically it'll be a 3 day, 2 night affair aboard a yacht of some desciption with all meals included for around $350-450.

The diving and snorkelling in this part of Australia is bursting with an array of colourful underwater flora and fuana, the surfing on the other hand is sadly lacking and the beaches stay mirror flat 99% of the time. Your only hope is a boat, a cyclone and some finley honed local knowledge of the far outer reefs - the latter will be very hard to come by!!

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