Just like the two World-Heritage icons; the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, flavours collide in Tropical North Queensland to create an unprecedented foodie adventure. Take time between treks through the rainforest, snorkels on the reef and frolics under waterfalls to taste your way through Cairns and the surrounding region. Up here, restaurants are served with a side of beachfront and cafes beam in backstreets.
Take advantage of Cairns’ balmy weather and dine alfresco on The Esplanade and Marina for seafood so fresh it’s served off the back of the boat it was caught on. Or, wander through the laneways off Lake street for a low-key, yet sophisticated drink (or three). Café hop at the trendy establishments dotted along Grafton, Spence and Johnston streets that serve everything from hearty to healthy, or mingle with the locals at the weekend markets where you can stock up on fresh produce.
Once a sleepy tropical town, Port Douglas has grown into an upmarket foodie haven. Think of your plate as your passport to top-notch nosh and over 60 restaurants and cafes situated around the hub of Macrossan Street and sprinkled throughout town. Each serving up a smorgasbord of cuisines from modern Australian to Asian delights. Renowned for incorporating seafood with a dash of tropical influence, Port Douglas’ restaurants are varied enough to experience a new fare each day.
With just as many restaurants and cafes as there are palm trees, Palm Cove has redefined barefoot luxury with its foodie haunts literally on the beachfront. Take a stroll on Williams Esplanade and let your tastebuds guide you to authentic Asian, Mexican and Greek (for good measure) and an ocean of seafood restaurants.