Diving Into Queensland: Why the Adrenaline Junkie Will Rejoice

Here’s looking at New Zealand through the eyes of an adrenaline junkie: skydiving, snorkelling and more!

If you must jump off a plane, I can’t think of a better place in the world than Mission Beach.

Picture this – 14 km of shiny white beaches, an emerald green rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef as you experience freefall from 14,000 feet.

I am describing skydiving, of course.

Most adrenaline junkies often call Queenstown in New Zealand, the world’s adventure capital; this is where the bungee began. There’s probably no zone that offers more options for the outdoorsy than Northern Queensland in Australia.

Even before you sky dive, the landing into Cairns airport sets the tone; I first mistook it for a Caribbean destination. Yes, this is a tropical paradise with swaying palms, quite unlike the Australia you probably visualise.

Discover a Marine Paradise the Size of Germany

The Great Barrier Reef that extends for 2,300 kms (no kidding) with a 3,44,400 sq km footprint (about the same size as Germany), put this region on the map.

2,000 species of marine life is a big deal in itself – but it is the coral that makes a snorkelling trip special (at least 600 known varieties) – as it did mine. Even if you forget your snorkelling or diving equipment don’t leave home without that GoPro or underwater cam.

Companies like Quicksilver cruises offer all-day boat trips to a cluster of pontoons (temporary structures) on the outer reef. If you’re wary to take the plunge, get on board one of the semi submarines for an underwater spin.

Adrenaline Overload

Mission Beach’s reputation as one of the world’s most spectacular sky diving sites has helped Cairns grow beyond just being a gateway for the Reef. You can also do a crash course (not literally) in hang gliding near Rex Lookout, north of Cairns. Jump from the hills and land on a secluded beach strip – either solo or tandem.

And then there’s AJ Hackett’s on the outskirts of Cairns where you can bungee or do something more radical. Jump on to the Minjin Jungle Swing – a multi-person jungle swing that swoops through a rainforest reaching speeds of 120 kmph (It’s the world’s fastest jungle swing!)

Trek Through a Tropical Rain Forest

This is easily one of Australia’s best kept secrets. (It’s easy to keep secrets in a country that ‘bloody’ big.)

Feast your eyes, therefore, on a lush green rainforest that dates back 135 million years and houses over 3,000 varieties of plants. Billy Tea Safaris organises day trips where you can walk through the forest with a seasoned guide. If you’re lucky (I wasn’t) you might encounter the endangered Cassowary, one of the country’s legendary flightless birds.

You don’t need that luck on a cruise through the Daintree river where salt water crocodiles (‘salties’ in Australian) and Brahminy Kite sightings are almost a given. My trek highlight was spotting the Boyd Forest Dragon – this ain’t no fire starter but a rare lizard on the verge of extinction.

Learn the Art of ‘Chilling’

Your jangled nerves might need some calming after all those exploits.

Cape Tribulation is one of the only places where two world heritage sites meet – the azure blues of the Great Barrier Reef and the verdant greens of the Daintree Rain forest; surreal. Unfortunately, the waters are off limits between November and May because of the presence of marine stingers (Box jellyfish). You can count the waves from a distance though.

Another chill zone further north is Port Douglas – once a bustling mining centre but now a quaint seaside town that’s a hub for Reef explorers. The easy pace is a welcome antidote for your adventure pursuits and the nightlife at Cairns. Hop on an electric bicycle and ride all the way to the town’s famous four-mile beach lookout – panoramic beach views guaranteed.

There’s Mocka Pies where you can try traditional Aussie pies and some truly bizarre stuff. Laksa flavoured crocodile meat pies, anybody?

Getting There and Around

There are infrequent direct flights from Singapore to Cairns (Silk Air has a weekly flight – travelling time around 7 hours). There are daily flights from Sydney, Melbourne (a little over 3 hours away) and Brisbane (2 hours). You can hire a car (your Indian license works!) or move around in public buses.

Accommodation

Steer clear of the fancy resorts and check into one of Cairns’ cool backpacker hostels (with a choice of dorms and private rooms) like the Northern Greenhouse.

(Ashwin Rajagopalan enjoys communicating across boundaries in his three distinct roles as a widely published lifestyle writer, one of India’s only cross cultural trainers and a consultant for a global brand services firm. Ashwin writes extensively on travel, food, technology and trends)