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About Mossman

Mossman is a typical North Queensland country town nestled at the foot of the mountains among bright green fields of sugar cane. Situated 20km (15 minute drive) north of Port Douglas, the township is home to five primary schools, one high school, an historic pub, and a number of country stores that line the wide main street. As the last main town before the Daintree River it is a service centre for people heading North, so it's a good place to fill up and stock up on all the essentials.

Sugar Industry With a population of 1800, the town relies heavily on the sugar cane industry. Mossman Sugar Mill is the region’s biggest sugar mill, starting life as a grower owned co-operative sugar mill back in 1894. In 1897, Mrs Annie Rose fed the first sugarcane into the mill, with the mill producing its first sugar after crushing 27,905 tonnes of cane for the initial season. In 1906, Mossman Mill became the first Queensland mill to crush over 100,000 tonnes of cane. That season lasted just under 8 months, extending from June 1906 to late January 1907.

Initially, sugar was shipped from Port Douglas, however road transport eventually came to the forefront and became the preferred mode of transport for sugar to the bulk sugar terminal in Cairns. 

Mossman Gorge Five minutes west of Mossman township (approx 2km), you will discover Mossman Gorge, a stunning natural beauty in the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park. Mossman Gorge forms the southern part of the Daintree National Park and is the traditional homeland of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people.

Carved by the Mossman River, the gorge is a boulder-strewn valley where sparkling water washes over ancient rocks. It contains the oldest, continuously surviving rainforest on earth. Just one hectare of the 120,000 hectare forest can contain over 30,000 species of plants and animals.

The tour includes:-

• Traditional smoking ceremony
• Stories of the Kuku Yalanji culture and traditions
• Experienced Indigenous guides
• Intimate group tour (approx 15 guests)
• Exclusive access to Kuku Yalanji land
• Visit a sacred ceremony site
• Soap & ochre paint making demonstration
• Bush tea and damper

The complete Rainforest Circuit track takes 45 mins. This track begins on the far side of Rex Creek bridge. On the left, 80m from the bridge a small lookout provides views of Manjal Dimbi (Mount Demi). A little way past the lookout the track divides to form a circuit that meanders through the rainforest. Strangler fig trees and a variety of epiphytic plants are prominent features of the rainforest. Bright butterflies are commonly sighted, and observant visitors may find a Boyd's forest dragon, a large colourful lizard, clinging to a tree trunk.

Nearby Attractions The region surrounding Mossman is home to a number of attractions including the superb Silky Oaks Lodge . Silky Oaks Lodge is one of Australia’s premier luxury lodges, spectacularly situated on the Mossman Gorge River. The open sided Tree house restaurant perched high above the surrounding rainforest and river is the perfect place to enjoy lunch or a refreshing cocktail amongst the rainforest canopy. Accommodation comprises of contemporary treehouses, each providing a relaxed ambience to enjoy the beautiful natural rainforest surrounds.

Flames of the Forest is situated ten minutes from Port Douglas and offers two unique dining experiences in a beautiful rainforest environment. Choose from an Aboriginal Cultural Experience or an intimate Rainforest Dining Experience. The award winning menu and inspirational entertainment make this a once in a lifetime feast for your senses.

Sweet Farm Tours  will take you on an educational journey covering everything you ever wanted to know about Australian origin cocoa and a working sugarcane farm. Your journey will include a personalised Farmer guided tour through a working cocoa and sugarcane farm, Visitor centre entry showcasing the Australian cocoa and sugarcane processing from Estate to Plate, movie viewing from a unique outdoor threatre area overlooking the beautitful Whyanbeel Valley river and complientary Australian Origin chocoalte tastings.

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17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland

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Last Updated on December 9, 2023 by Ariana Svenson

If you’ve decided to base yourself in Cairns city and are looking for some day trips you can take, we’ve got plenty of ideas!  In this post, we’ll explore 17 of our favorite day trips from Cairns.

This post may contain affiliate links, from which we would earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More info in my disclaimer .

The top 17 cairns day trips.

Cairns Day Trips 101: The Great Barrier Reef Tours

No trip to tropical North Queensland is complete without a tour of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef!  Luckily, visiting the Great Barrier Reef is an easy day trip from Cairns.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s top tourist attractions, and one of the main reasons people travel to North Queensland in the first place!  It is the largest coral reef system on Earth – so big, it can even be seen from space!  With over 900 islands and thousands of marine wildlife who call the reef system home, it is a no-miss Cairns day trip. (See all of our kid-friendly Great Barrier Reef Facts! )

If you’re worried about this being all about Great Barrier Reef diving tours, don’t be. Great Barrier Reef snorkeling may be an unforgettable experience, but there are many ways you can see the Reef in all its glory.  There are lots of Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns suited to every need.  Do your research to make sure you’re maximizing your time spent in the water vs. on the boat!  We cover our favorite tour options for the Great Barrier Reef here!

Green Island

Located a scant 27 km east of Cairns, Green Island is one of the most popular day trips from Cairns to visit part of the Great Barrier Reef.  It is also very accessible, given its size: it takes just 45 minutes to walk around the entire island.  As soon as you land on the jetty, it takes less than 5 minutes to walk to either of its most popular beaches.

The beaches are wonderful for relaxing.  Or, go swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking in the crystal clear reef waters!  For the adventurous, there are a number of snorkeling and scuba diving tours you can take, or, take a ride on a glass-bottom boat to take in the colorful reef sights.

Green Island National Park is actually a protected area.  Explore the rainforest on nature walks, listen to the birds and perhaps learn a bit about the island’s history.  There is also the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat – a great attraction to see and learn about crocodiles!

Interested in visiting more islands from Cairns?  See our post about exploring the islands near Cairns!

Fitzroy Island

Green Island may be more famous, but Fitzroy Island is where the locals go!  Largely unspoiled with a laid-back vibe, Fitzroy Island is an off-the-beaten-track alternative to Green Island.

And it’s easy to get to, making it a wonderful option for Cairns day trips.  After a short boat ride from Cairns, you’ll have at least 6 hours to explore the island.  Don’t spend all day on a boat – you can walk the white shell beaches, admire the sparkling turquoise waters, hire snorkeling gear to explore the corals of the Great Barrier Reef, or sign up for scuba diving trips, too.

For young kids, there are boogie boards with a viewing section for small children to see under the water without getting their faces wet.

Another great Fitzroy Island attraction not to miss is the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.  The turtle sanctuary offers tours to give you an insight into the great work they are doing to care for sick and injured turtles, one of the reef’s endangered species.

Looking for some other Great Barrier Reef guided tours?  Below are some of our favorites.

Day Trips From Cairns To Kuranda

Kuranda is one of the top Cairns day trips.  I go into more detail about this Cairns tour here, but in brief – Kuranda makes a great day trip from Cairns.

You might hear some talk about the Kuranda markets but in general, Kuranda village itself is fairly small.  We did enjoy the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary .  It is Australia’s biggest butterfly aviary, with over 1500 butterflies!  We also have seen recommendations for the Kuranda Koala Gardens.

In my opinion, the best way to plan your day is to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway there.  There are two train schedules in the morning, and another two in the afternoon.  Spend as much or as little time as you like visiting the town and the Kuranda markets, then hop on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway on the way back.  The Skyrail runs continuously so it is easier to catch at a moment’s notice, rather than having to wait around (perhaps longer than you like) for the return train.

Kuranda Train And Skyrail

The Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a 7.5 km scenic cableway that runs from the Smithfield Terminal in Cairns to the Kuranda Terminal on the Atherton Tableland.  Views from the Skyrail are fantastic, as you pass over World Heritage-listed tropical rainforests and the Barron Gorge National Park.  With the 360° views offered by the gondolas, you’ll be awe-struck by the pristine rainforest canopy passing mere meters beneath your feet.

On the other leg of your journey from Cairns to Kuranda, take the Kuranda Scenic Railway.  This is an unforgettable journey with stunning views of the rainforest and surrounding mountains.

Daintree River (Julaymba)

There are also day trips from Cairns to Daintree that are worth a thought.  The Daintree River flows through the Daintree Rainforest, north of Cairns, and all the way into the ocean.

A river cruise up the Daintree River is a wonderful way to get a different perspective of the rainforest and its ecosystem. Several different tour operators depart on one-hour river cruises from the car ferry boarding point.  These tours explore the mangrove estuary which is home to a seriously amazing collection of wildlife – including crocodiles! With local guides who know the area well, this is one of the best places to see estuarine crocodiles in the wild.

You can also visit Daintree Village or Daintree National Park – a protected area for the world’s oldest rainforest.  For more about Daintree tours from Cairns, see our Daintree Rainforest post.

Below are some of the top Daintree Forest tours.

Cape Tribulation

Another Cairns tours option is a day trip to Cape Tribulation.  Though it can be done in a day, it involves at least 6 hours of driving. Nevertheless, a Cape Tribulation day tour is worth it if you don’t have time to spend the night.

The road north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation quite literally ends at the Daintree River where you need to take the car ferry across in order to continue northwards to Cape Tribulation.

Known by Aussies as “Cape Trib,” this is an exploration into the deep jungles of Australia.  Here, you can deeply explore the Daintree Rainforest with a number of unique excursions and then marvel at how the jungle meets the white sands and turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Whatever way you look at it, Cape Tribulation offers adventure in the heart of the Aussie wilderness.  We desperately wanted to visit but with a baby just 4 months old, we decided to put it on our future list!  On our next trip, we hope to spend a few days at the Cape Tribulation Beach House or the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge .

Below are some great Cape Tribulation and Ferntree Rainforest Lodge tours.

Mossman Gorge

The Mossman Gorge Centre is a fantastic way to experience the Daintree Rainforest without needing to travel many hours north to the Daintree River or Cape Tribulation.  It is just 15 minutes from Port Douglas, making it a great visit to combine with a Port Douglas day trip.  Of course, it also makes a great Cairns day trip, being just an hour and a quarter from Cairns.

The Mossman Gorge is a gateway to the Daintree Rainforest, and a great way to see the world’s oldest rainforest while preserving it for future generations.  In order to stop the proliferation of roads, Mossman Gorge offers a low-emission shuttle bus service.  For a small fee, visitors can park their car in one of the many spots available at the Centre, and then be transported safely into the heart of Mossman Gorge.

We love that the Mossman Gorge Centre is indigenous-managed.  There are many indigenous-led tours of the Rainforest to introduce visitors to the traditional flora and fauna, many of which have traditional medicinal and other uses. Also, be sure to keep a look out for the famous Australian Cassowary deep in the forest.  Read more about them in Fascinating Australian Cassowary Facts for Kids .

More about Cairns tours of the Mossman Gorge.

Dunk Island

Dunk Island is an animal lover’s paradise.  Best-known for the striking blue Ulysses butterflies, it is also home to over 100 species of birds.  You’ll also have a chance to spot dugongs and sea turtles, who are known to swim up close to the beach in order to feed on seagrass found in the shallow waters.

This is a low-key Cairns day trip option, and you can enjoy being on “island time” while you relax on the beach, go for a swim in the ocean, or camp under the stars.  There are opportunities for snorkeling, too, and of course, you won’t want to miss one of its main attractions: Mount Kootaloo.

It takes three hours to walk up to Dunk Island’s highest point, but it is well worth it!  From here, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding island and reef.

Mission Beach

Looking for a more “hidden gem” of a Cairns day trip, rather than going where everyone else goes?  Then you might want to consider Mission Beach, located at the heart of the Cassowary Coast.

The Cassowary Coast is a quiet stretch of coastline running from Cairns to Cardwell, lined on one side by the tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef on the other.  Mission Beach is actually the mainland spot closest to the offshore Great Barrier Reef. So close, you’ll feel like you can almost touch it!

Mission Beach has a wonderful beachy laid-back vibe, and you can count on tourists never outnumbering the locals.  Given it’s the banana capital of Australia, you won’t want to miss out on their roadside fruit stalls.  Just take what you like, and leave payment in the “honesty box”!

Other things to do in Mission Beach – if you want to get active instead of lazy – is to drive along the Cardwell Forest Drive which loops through the Girringun National Park.  Here you’ll be treated to spectacular waterfalls, secluded swimming holes, and the spa pool.  The spa pool a natural rock pool where the water actually bubbles like a jacuzzi!  Don’t miss this tours in Cairns option.

Paronella Park

Opened in 1935, Paronella Park is these days one of North Queensland’s premier tourist attractions, making it a great choice for Cairns day trips.

The park has been described as a “five-hectare mystical wonderland,” and features a Spanish-style castle set within an incredible tropical forest that boasts over 7000 palm trees and other tropical vegetation.  You can also visit a waterfall!  This is one of the great tours in Cairns options.  Check here for a Paronella Park guided tour.

Atherton Tablelands: Lots Of Options For Cairns Day Trips

The Atherton Tablelands is a wonderful tourist area west of Cairns that you can easily spend a couple of nights in if you have the time.  Up in the Atherton Tablelands, you can visit the Millaa Millaa water pool, Curtain Fig Tree, and also the Nerada Tea Plantation, famous all across Australia.

Millaa Millaa Waterfalls Circuit (Waterfall Tour Cairns)

Zillie Falls is part of the Millaa Millaa waterfall tour Cairns route, which also includes Ellinjaa.  You can drive to the falls, park on the side of the road, then walk across the street to the waterfall. You’ll be standing at the top of the waterfall, looking down on it.  There is a path you can take down but it is a bit tricky, so be careful and make sure you have proper footwear!  This is not a great activity for small kids.

Curtain Fig Tree

The Curtain Fig Tree is a famous tree that you can visit during your Atherton Tablelands Cairns tours.  Located along the Curtain Fig Tree Road, about 1km north of Yungaburra in the Curtain Fig National Park, this famous 500-year old strangler fig tree is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register!

What makes this tree such a tourist attraction for those visiting Northern Queensland, is its extensive aerial root system that cascades down to the forest floor, creating a 7m wide “curtain”.

Nerada Tea Plantation

On the way to Millaa Millaa Falls is the Nerada Tea Plantation.  What a beautiful place to spend an afternoon!  The plantation grounds are absolutely picturesque, with rolling hills as far as the eye can see, and full of wildlife.  If you like bird-watching, there are lots of photo opportunities, and if you’re really lucky you might get to see a tree kangaroo!

The Nerada Tea Plantation is also a great place to have lunch – and not too expensive!

  Babinda Boulders

Named for its outcropping of huge granite boulders, Babinda Boulders is a popular swimming and picnic area in the foothills of Bartle Frere (Chooreechillum), Queensland’s highest mountain.

The area is located along the Babinda Creek which is flowing with sparkling clear mountain water.

Tully Sugar Mill

Ever wanted to visit a real live sugar mill?  The Tully Sugar Mill is the only sugar mill in Australia that you can visit!

The Tully Sugar Mill tour is fascinating from start to finish. It is interactive and informative, and showcases the whole operations, from the sugar cane arriving on the train to processing the sugar and separating the molasses.

Despite the noisy factory, it is easy to understand the tour leaders through the electronic communications system.  In addition to walking through the mill where you can see giant spanners and furnaces, the tour includes a safety briefing and an overview of the entire production process.

If you’re looking for an educational and different day trip from Cairns, we recommend heading to Tully for this tour!  It lasts about 2 hours and only costs $25 per person. You can buy tickets at the Tully Visitor Centre.

White Water Rafting On The Barron River & Tully River

If you’re looking for adventurous Cairns day trips, a day of white water rafting might just be the ticket!  White water rafting can be done on either the Barron River or the Tully River.  As both are Hydro release rivers, suitable water levels can be guaranteed year-round.

The Barron River offers rafting tours more suited to beginners.  These are more like half-day trips from Cairns, best for families, those not so confident in the water, or those without a lot of time.

On the other hand, the Tully River offers white water rafting with 1-4 grade rapids.  Better for the more experienced or the more adventurous, Tully River white water rafting is a full-day tour.

What About the Greater Cairns Region?

Here we have covered the top day trips around Cairns, with the idea that you will return to the city of Cairns each evening.  The area around Cairns has so much to do and see, like in the Mareeba, Normanton areas and the therapeutic Innot Hot Springs .

The Verdict – So Many Day Trips From Cairns To Choose From

Cairns is the perfect home base from which to explore tropical North Queensland, with a seemingly unending supply of day Cairns day tours options.  With something for everyone – from active tours to exploring nature and learning about wildlife to relaxing on the beach – there are enough day trips from Cairns to set you up for a week of visits!

Keep Reading!

• Cornerstone Cairns Post
• Best Accommodation in Cape Tribulation
• Things To Do In Cairns With Kids
• Port Douglas
• Islands Off Cairns
• Great Barrier Reef Tours

Like It> Pin It> 17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland

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[…] The area north of Cairns in Queensland is great for snorkeling.  You can read about our underwater exploration of the region here in our 17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland. […]

[…] Between Cairns and Townsville there are also a number of interesting stops you can make along the way, including Mission Beach, the Babinda Boulders, Paronella Park, and Wallaman Falls.  You can also visit those spots as day trips from Cairns, which we describe in full here! […]

[…] If you use Cairns or Port Douglas as a base, there is so much more to do and see apart from the Great Barrier Reef.  We highly recommend spending a day at Kuranda and travelling there on the Skyrail or the famous Kuranda Train.   A visit to the Daintree Rainforest is another thing that you must do while in Port Douglas or Cairns.  For more information see 17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland. […]

[…] Not only is the journey beautiful but educational as well.  Make sure to read our  17 Best Cairns Day Trips post for more […]

[…] Departing twice in the morning from Cairns with two mid-afternoon departures from Kuranda, the Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the Best Cairns Day Trips. […]

[…] Another thing you can do to mix things up on your road trip is to stop off at the Kuranda Skyrail on the way back from Cape Tribulation to Cairns.  The skyrail offers another perspective on the rainforest which might be a nice to complement to your day’s activities.  You can also visit Kuranda and ride the Skyrail as a day trip from Cairns.  For more on the Kuranda Skyrail and Cairns daytrips, read our 17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland. […]

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Tully Sugar Mill Tour Day Tours - All You MUST Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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A must see and do between Cairns... - Tully Sugar Mill Tour Day Tours

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• Tully Sugar Mill Tour Day Tours

Great experience, tour guide was knowledgeable and informative, audio was a bit average but better... read more

Excellent tour with heavy rain adding to the experience! Judy was an great guide and very... read more

A must see and do between Cairns & Townsville

We wanted a local experience and we got it..... The 2 hour tour was informative and an awesome experience where we were able to walk through a working sugar mill. Remember to bring closed shoes and covered shirt to enter the mill. Note the only other working sugar mill that allows tours is 6 hours away so this is your only opportunity so don't miss out....

Sara was the name of our guide. Sara is a sugar cane farmer. Her knowledge was amazing and her tour was a highlight for us. This is a working mill and our tour showed us from the cane in the railway carts to the final sugar. Amazing!

This was an excellent tour.if you are interested to see how sugar is transformed from the cane to raw sugar. This is a rare opportunity to tour a working mill. Particularly in view of today's health and safety overkill . Ross the tour guide gave a Great overview from both the growers and company viewpoint. The tour commentary was great with the headset linked to Ross broadcast. This would be a must if you are traveling through Tully. Get tickets and booking at Tully information centre.

We booked this tour which was a 3 hour drive from us. On the previous day we explained the distance we were traveling and asked them to call us if any problems. After a 3 hour drive we turned up, only to be told "sorry, we are not doing the tour today!" I explained that we had phoned yesterday and left our number, the woman seemed offended that we were annoyed! I suspect from previous comments that this tour is worthwhile when it happens, but they really don't care about you! The attitude displayed at Tully information service was a low point in our 5 week tour of Australia. I felt 'invisible' when talking to the woman there, though the man tried to salvage things by offering other suggestions.

Visiting Tully in northern Queensland call first at the well stocked and friendly staffed information centre. Purchase a ticket for one the three times daily tours of the huge nearby sugar mill. Built in 1924 this enormous edifice takes in 3 million tonnes of sugar cane annually in the June to December period - and crushes, boils and reduces the bulk so that 12 per cent of the volume emerges as bulk, raw, sugar. A well explained operation with the noise and heat reminiscent of Dante's Inferno.

What a great experience to see how all the sugar cane you see along the road finally get treated. A brilliant and interesting tour, thanks to Judy!

🐸 16 Top Things to do in Tully, QLD

Tully is a gorgeous little town situated in the Cassowary Coast region of Far North Queensland. It sits about 140km south of Cairns and 210km north of Townsville. 

With a population of less than 2500 people, Tully’s economy is mainly based on sugar cane and banana crops, with the Tully Sugar Mill defining the town.

While Tully may seem like a sleepy little town, it’s actually jam-packed with things to do for anyone visiting the area. From climbing inside an oversized gumboot, touring the sugar cane mill, swimming at Alligators Nest and rushing down some of Australia’s best river rapids, Tully is one small town you don’t want to skip past!

Work your way through these awesome things to do in Tully, Far North Queensland.

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Things to do in Tully, QLD

The big golden gumboot.

With the average annual rainfall for Tully being a generous 4000+ mm per year, the town of Tully likes to peg itself as being the wettest in Australia. But there is a bit of rivalry with the nearby towns of Babinda and Innisfail, which regularly receive more rainfall than Tully.

Tully has claimed the title of being the ‘wettest’ town in Australia!

The Golden Gumboot Competition

The Golden Gumboot is a locally famous competition between the towns of Tully, Innisfail, and Babinda in Far North Queensland, for the wettest town in Australia.

All three towns are situated in the Wet Tropics on land that was once covered in rainforest. Tully, Innisfail and Babinda experience some of the highest rainfall levels in Australia as a result of monsoonal rain and cyclones. Each year since 1970, the winner for the competition was awarded a rubber boot.

The Creation of the Big Golden Gumboot

Despite Babinda having received more rainfall than Tully over the last 40 years, the Big Golden Gumboot was installed in the Tully township back in 2003, displaying past flood records. 

The giant gumboot fibreglass construction cost $90,000 and was opened by the Tully Lions and Rotary Clubs in May 2003. It stands at 7.9 metres (25.9 ft) tall, laying tribute to Tully’s record year of rainfall back in 1950.

A Rare ‘Big Thing’

Visiting the Golden Gumboot is one of the most popular things to do in Tully. This particular Queensland Big Thing allows people the rare opportunity to actually walk inside and climb to the top.

Inside the Big Golden Gumboot is a spiral staircase leading visitors to the top viewing platform, which affords fantastic views over the town and sugar mill. As you make your way to the top of the gumboot, take the time to look at the historical photos on display, which show flooding in the district.

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Tully Sugar Mill Tour

Tully is home to one of the largest sugar mills in Australia and they’re one of the few mills around that actually allow tourists to inspect their operations as part of their guided tours.

The main objective of the facility is the milling of sugar cane to produce raw sugar of internationally recognised high quality. While all of the Tully sugar is exported, molasses is produced as a by-product, which is used as an important cattle feed supplement. The molasses is sold both domestically and internationally.

Essential Information for the Tully Sugar Mill Tour:

• Enclosed footwear (no thongs or sandals)
• Sleeved shirt (no singlets)
• Shorts permitted (minimum mid-thigh length)
• Only cameras and emergency medication can be carried in the Mill
• Children must be at least 115cm tall and accompanied by an adult
• Please arrive at the Tour Hut 15 minutes prior to the tour starting time

Tully Sugar Mill Tours Pricing & Times:

The sugar mill tours run during the ‘crushing season’ from June to November each year and go for about 1.5 hours. All bookings can be made at the Tully Visitor Information Centre .

Alligators Nest Swimming Hole

If you’re looking for somewhere local to cool off then one of the great free things to do in Tully is to visit Alligators Nest Swimming Hole. 

Don’t worry, there are no snapping reptiles out there (it’s actually just named after the local Scout group)!

Alligators Nest is only about a 5-minute (6km) drive out of town into the base of the beautiful Tully Gorge National Park. There you’ll find a nice day-use area with a picnic table, gas BBQ, toilets and of course a clear, flowing creek, perfect for swimming in.

If you liked Babinda Boulders , then you’ll love Alligators Nest Swimming Hole. It’s a similar version of a sandy-bottomed, smooth bouldered water hole with fresh, flowing mountain water, coming down from Cardwell Range.

The water depth starts off quite shallow from the bottom of the access stairs, which allows for even young swimmers to have a safe splash. Explore the rainforest-surrounded boulders up the creek, or go for a swim downstream in the deeper water.

Read my complete guide to Alligators Nest for more information.

Drive up to Kareeya Hydro Power Station

Kareeya Hydro Power Station has been producing 100% renewable energy since 1957. The original parts of the project included the construction of Koombooloomba Dam and Tully Falls Weir. As the region gets most of its rainfall in the first few months of the year, a water storage facility was required.

Cardstone Village

For 30-odd years, the staff and their families lived in the nearby village of Cardstone, which was built solely for the employees. Cardstone used to have accommodation, shops, a post office and a community hall, but these days there is nothing left to explore.

When the power station became fully automated around 1990, the village was demolished and revegetated with plants native to the region.

A Scenic Drive

Even though Kareeya Hydro Power Station is closed to the public, the 50km journey up through the rainforest from Tully makes for a beautiful drive.

The sealed road follows the Tully River all the way up to the end, finishing at Kareeya Hydro Power Station. There is a lookout up there, however, at last check, the vegetation is quite thick now, which doesn’t offer much of a view.

Watch the Sugar Cane Trains During ‘Crushing Season’

A really fun and free activity to do during the crushing season (from June to November) is to wander through town and watch the trains coming and going from the sugar mill.

You can go and stand across the road from the mill, near the Big Golden Gumboot at night and listen to the bells going off as each train announces its arrival. The lights from the trains bustling in and out of the mill add much excitement to an otherwise sleepy inland town.

Tully is like a buzzing beehive during the crushing season.

The Cane Rail Network

• 700 tonnes of sugar crushed every hour
• 200+ kilometres of rail network
• 15 locomotives in the fleet
• Harvest bins carry from 4 – 10 tonnes each
• Trains run day & night during the harvest season

Tully Visitor & Heritage Centre

Before Tully was built in 1924, it was originally called Banyan. Although it was first surveyed in 1883, it wasn’t until the mid 1920s that the Government built a sugar mill for the area. From there the town began to grow, with the completion of the mill in 1925, making it the largest mill in Australia in its day.

These days Tully is one of the biggest sugar-producing regions in Queensland coming from over 22,000 ha of cane fields, stretching from Feluga right down to Kennedy Valley.

Second to sugar is bananas. Yep, the Tully area also has 5,000 ha of land dedicated to banana crops, filling about 8.5 million cartons of bananas each year.

Head to the Tully Visitor & Heritage Centre, on the Bruce Highway, to see displays of the progress of Tully and the surrounding region.

Tully Gorge National Park

The Tully Gorge National Park follows the Tully River, which swoops down the Cardwell Range, flanked by thick, lush rainforest all the way. While you’re visiting the area you can enjoy bushwalking, camping, picnicking and scenic drives through the beautiful Tully Gorge National Park.

The best way to experience Tully Gorge National Park is to take the scenic drive up Tully Gorge Road, which ends at the Kareeya Hydro Power Station.

The 52km drive is sealed the whole way and takes about 41 minutes (one way), without allowing for any stops.

What to take:

• Plenty of drinking water for the day
• Lunch & snacks
• Insect repellent
• Fly swat (for the march flies)

The following points of interest can be found as you meander up Tully Gorge Road. I recommend following along on the WikiCamps app for exact placements and photos of the points of interest, as well as additional crowd-sourced information.

Tully Skate Park Art

Whether you’re a skateboarder or not, it’s easy to appreciate the bright and colourful artwork that has been professionally graffitied onto the ramps and surfaces. 

Tully Skate Park offers a range of quarters, hips, banks, steep low rails and ledges for the local active youth to get stuck into.

You can find Tully Skate Park located right next door to the Showgrounds, which is just a short stroll from the Big Golden Gumboot (across from the Sugar Mill).

Raging Thunder Adventures

The Tully River is well known for its white water rafting with both grade 3 and 4 rapids. Head out onto the rapids with a crew of enthusiastic and experienced professionals who are passionate about making sure you have an awesome adventure.

Tully River has an international reputation as being the best rafting river in Australia!

Tully River Rafting Experience:

• Meet at the top of Tully Gorge (if self-driving from Tully)
• Transfers available from Cairns and Mission Beach
• Meet your River Guide & fellow paddlers
• Helmet & life jacket fitting
• Safety briefing & paddling instructions
• Warm-up on some small rapids
• Rafting through grade 3 & 4 rapids
• Arrive at take out point
• Head to Feluga Hotel for dinner
• Transfers back to accommodation

Head to Raging Thunder Adventures for all information and bookings.

Cassowary Coast Art Deco & Historical Walk

Explore the Cassowary Coast art deco buildings with the Historic Self-guided Walk through Tully township.

After a destructive cyclone wiped out many buildings throughout the Cassowary Coast area in 1918, many of the business districts were rebuilt in the popular art deco style, which was typical of that era.

The Tully Heritage Trail starts at the Visitor & Heritage Centre on the Bruce Highway and will take you past 20 different storyboards located through the town.

Tully Historical Walk Buildings:

Tully Historical Walk Map & App:

There are three ways you can get your hands on the FREE Cassowary Coast Art Deco & Historical Walk brochure, detailing all relevant buildings throughout Tully and Innisfail.

• Head to any of the four Cassowary Coast Info Centres
• Download the booklet directly onto your phone or device
• Download the App – search “Tropical Art Deco” in your app store

Mount Tyson Walking Track

The mountain that towers over Tully (which you’ll see behind the Big Golden Gumboot) is named Mount Tyson. The peak is 687 metres (2,254 ft) high with Scout Rock providing the perfect vantage point to look out over the Tully region, sitting at 570m high.

The Mount Tyson Walking Track is a difficult grade track and is only recommended for people with a very good level of fitness. Allow 2 – 3 hours return for the trek up to the summit, then back down.

Mount Tyson points of interest:

• ‘Scouts Rock’ or ‘Flat Rock’ – 570m elevation, 45-minute climb
• Summit – 687m elevation, another 15-minute climb

Tully Heads & Hull Heads

Take the 20-minute drive to the coast to see where the Tully River feeds out into the ocean at Tully Heads. There, you’ll find a small coastal town with a population of about 354 people (according to the 2016 census).

3km up the beach sits Hull Heads, which is a popular fishing spot with a boat ramp and pontoon available. There are only about 113 people who live in the small village of Hull Heads.

Wander along Googarra Beach, which runs from the Hull River in the north to Tully River in the south. Enjoy the views out to Family Islands, including Dunk Island, then pop over to the Tully Heads Tavern for a drink or meal.

Remember, you’re in crocodile country, so unfortunately, you can’t swim in these waterways.

Reinsdown Horse Riding & Farm Experience

Just three minutes out of Tully is the popular Reinsdown Horse Riding & Farm Experience. They cater for beginners right through to advanced riders, so no experience is required for this adventure activity!

Reinsdown Experience:

• Introductory lesson in the undercover arena
• Picturesque ride through their farm & lush rainforest trails
• Meet the cows
• Cross beautiful mountain streams
• See if you can spot Ulysses Butterflies, Wallabies & Cassowaries

Head to Reinsdown Horse Riding & Farm Experience for more info and bookings.

Murray Falls

The beautiful Murray Falls is a 36km drive south of Tully, which will take about 32 minutes to travel by car. Murray Falls is nestled in Girramay National Park, where you will find crystal clear waters cascading over boulders into the rock pools below.

Things to do at Murray Falls:

• Have a picnic in the grassy, shady day-use area
• Stroll along the boardwalk to the waterfall viewing platform
• Take the 1.8km (return) walk through the rainforest gully, then up to view the falls & Murray Valley
• Swim in the rock pools by the day-use area (careful, slippery when wet)

Tully Markets

Wander the Tully Markets held in two locations from 8 am till 12 pm twice every month.

• Every 2nd Saturday – Butler Street (main street)
• Every 4th Saturday – Lions Park, Bryant Street

Camping in Tully

There are two great camping areas within the Tully Gorge National Park. Both can be found along Tully Gorge Road, which runs up into the forested mountain.

Tully Gorge Camping & Day-use Area

This campsite is situated alongside the Tully River, 42km northwest of Tully. On offer are large, open, grassy camping areas with hard pads available (handy for wet weather).

⛺️ Tents, Campers, Caravans & Motorhomes ♨️ Wood BBQs (BYO wood) 🔥 Camp fires allowed 🪑 Picnic tables 🚿 Cold shower 🚻 Compostable toilets (wheelchair access) ⚡️ Generators < 65dB(A) permitted from 9am – 12noon 🦩 Cassowaries (do not feed, lock away rubbish & food) 🐊 Estuarine crocodiles ❌ NO: drinking water, pets, mobile phone reception

Cochable Creek Camping Area

The Cochable Creek camping area is the main trailhead for the Koolmoon Creek and Cannabullen Creek walking tracks.

⛺️ Tents & Camper Trailers 🪑 Sheltered picnic tables 🚻 Hybrid toilet ⚡️ Generators < 65dB(A) permitted from 8am – 7pm 🦩 Cassowaries (do not feed, lock away rubbish & food) 🐊 Estuarine crocodiles ❌ NO: open fires, drinking water, mobile phone reception, pets

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MUSEUM OPENING TIMES – The Museum is closed until further notice – due to flooding event. 

Closed Public Holidays.

Welcome to the Australian Sugar Heritage Centre

Experience the drama & heritage of australia’s sugar industry..

Learn of the people who made the industry, investigate their life style and the rich folklore associated with one of Australia’s great rural industries.  See on display many of the innovative implements and machines developed for the industry.  Examine the pioneering methods and processes on informative audio/visual displays in the Heritage Centre.

The origin of the Furphy

Origin of the furphy.

The stories and ‘yarns’ that were told around these tanks (which travelled around) became known as ‘Furphies’.

Cutting sugar cane

Cutting cane by hand.

How itinerant workers contracting to a cane farmer, cutting the cane and loading it for transport, from early morning to dark.

Cane Cutters barracks

Cutters barracks.

It was the Gangers responsibility, that the barracks supplied for the living quarters were of a reasonable standard.

The Heritage Centre is the home of the Australian Sugar Industry Museum and the collection contains a theatre to watch the harvesting and transport of sugar cane from the local area, historical photographs, books, documents and artefacts related to Australia’s sugar industry.

Historical tractors, steam locomotives, harvesters, blacksmiths station, cutting implements, cutters barracks, video displays plus much more.

Museum Theatre

Cinema experience.

Learn about processing sugar cane in our region and the changes that have occurred in the sugar industry.

Steam Locomotives

Restored steam locos that worked in our region during the early days. Hop onboard to relive the past.

500hp crushing mill

500 hp crushing mill.

Our permanent working display of a 500 horsepower crushing mill was once used in our regional mills.

Need directions to the Heritage Centre?

Ample parking, suitable for caravans, coaches and all RV’s. Clean toilets and  Disability access.

Historypin has been used to document the sugar industry during the First World War. 

Paddock to Plate

Canegrowers

Sugarcane is an important rural industry for Australia.

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IRSA2022 visits Mossman Sugar Mill

Mossman Sugar Mill is the most northern raw sugar factory in Australia. Each year between June and November, they crush approximately 1 million tonnes of cane and deliver over 130 thousand tonnes of raw sugar to the Bulk Sugar terminal in Cairns. They also produce molasses, mill mud and bagasse as by-products. Delegates from the XV World Congress of Rural Sociology were greeted by Deby Ruddell of Far Northern Milling and treated to a by-invitation only tour of the only Australian-owned sugar mill and one of the oldest. Complete with hard hats, high visibility vests, safety glasses and earplugs, delegates were taken through the mill from where the billets of cane were hauled in cane-bins by road and rail, to the weighbridge and the shredders. Deby explained the process of milling, juicing, clarifying and the role of the evaporators. “That for 100 tonnes of cane, they would evaporate approximately 75 tonnes of water. The resultant liquid contains about 65% sugar and the sugar is now ready to be crystallised.”

Delegates were pleasantly surprised to hear that every part of the cane plant was utilised; the leftover fibre from the milling train ‘bagasse’ is burnt to generate steam which powered and heated the entire factory. “Nearly five megawatts of power can be generated. Power not used by the factory is exported to the grid and used by the community”

Much discussion was generated by the delegates who compared the processes, policies and practices of sugar mills in their home countries to Mossman Sugar Mill.

For more information, contact [email protected]

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TULLY SUGAR MILL TOURS

Mill tours Are currently suspended

Tully Sugar has commenced our annual maintenance period and thus, Mill Tours have ceased. Tours are expected to resume during the 2024 season when we commence crushing normally in June.

This page will be updated when more details become available.

Tully Sugar Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese agribusiness company COFCO. We operate one of the largest sugar mills in Australia based in the regional township of Tully, located on the Bruce Highway in Far North Queensland.

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The Tour of The Tropics

Sugar shed tour.

This is a one-hour fully guided tour. The tour starts with a welcome and introduction, followed by a short walk outdoors, past our sugar cane patch and historic machinery.

Your guide will take you on a brief historic journey into the pioneering days of the sugar cane farmers in the Mackay region. Then it is back indoors, into our mill and distillery area, where your guide will take you through the process of extracting juice from fresh sugar cane.

The tour finishes with tastings of our liqueur products, our chutneys, relishes and sauces, our non-alcoholic ginger beer, and our freshly-spun fairy floss.

All tours are conducted in our working mini replica mill at the Sarina Sugar Shed, our machinery replicates the process of a full-scale mill, and we do not offer tours to the full-scale Plane Creek Mill who are situated next door to us.

We run four guided tours per day:

9.30am, 11.00am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm.

Bookings are strongly advised to avoid disappointment.

Note – Animals are not permitted on tours (exception of assistance dogs).

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• Mossman Sugar Mill

While the Mossman Sugar Cane Mill was built it 1896, the first sugar was not crushed on site until one year later. Since then, the mill has managed to overcome many potentially devastating hardships. The mill's first trial arose in 1901, just after Federation, when the Australian Government deported sugar cane cutters who were in the country illegally. These workers were predominantly from the Pacific Islands and with a drastic staffing shortage; the mill was plunged into turmoil. However the community pulled together and the Australian Government relaxed immigration laws between other countries and soon the mill was back in business. World War I and II also proved to be problematic times for the Mossman Sugar Cane Mill.

Despite the challenging times, over the years the Mossman Sugar Cane Mill managed to increase its hourly crushing capacity from 25 tonnes per hour to 350. Today the mill crushes 500,000 tonnes of cane, producing over 65,000 tonnes of raw sugar from over 120 farms supporting the local community and thus attracting tourism and the building of motels, resorts and Accommodation houses to further enhance the regions attractivness to tourists .

With over 20 different varieties of cane growing in the area, the Mossman Sugar Cane Mill production area spans over 8500 hectares all the way from the Daintree Rainforest up to Atherton Tablelands. The sugar cane flowers early May through June and the mill processes cane from July to November.

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Mossman Central Mill goes into liquidation after potential sale falls through

One of Australia's oldest sugar mills is shutting down, leaving scores of workers without a job after a potential last-minute buyer fell through.

The Mossman Sugar Mill in Far North Queensland had been hanging by a thread since November 2023 when it was placed into voluntary administration.

Administrator John Goggin announced on Friday the 127-year-old mill was being liquidated and assets sold because no viable takeover bids could secure the necessary investment in time.

"At this point, there isn't a viable alternative and we had engaged with multiple parties and worked tirelessly to try and get the correct investment," he said.

Mr Goggin said old age, high maintenance costs and a dwindling supply of cane were hurdles to it being an appealing investment.

"The amount of supply isn't likely to increase given the difficulties that growers have been facing … weather events and rising input costs haven't helped".

Mr Goggin said the mill's assets would be sold and creditors paid.

High prices, harvest on the line

Sugar is a major industry for Mossman, north-west of Cairns.

About 80 canegrowers supplied the grower-owned mill, and it directly employed about 150 people in the town of almost 2,000.

Drew Watson, an intergenerational cane farmer and the previous chair of Canegrowers in Mossman, said the mill's liquidation was "absolutely devastating".

"We've got a huge crop sitting out here," he said.

"The sugar price is quite high at the moment and here we are looking at this town sort of dying on the vine at the moment."

The mill is one of four cane grower-operated companies of the Daintree Bio Precinct Group, which will all be part of the liquidation.

Future of town uncertain

Queensland Premier Steven Miles offered a $12.1 million funding package to attract a viable buyer after Mossman residents confronted him in late February with a protest before a town hall meeting.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland government said in a statement the government would stand with the Mossman community during the difficult period.

"It's obviously disappointing that the Mossman Mill wasn't able to secure an investor but we're committed to supporting the people of the region," the statement read.

It also said immediate actions under the $12.1 million program  would include an information session assisting workers, formation of the Mossman Region Stakeholder Advisory Committee and the start of a regional transition opportunities study.

Lisa Scomazzon, who is leading mayoral candidate for Douglas Shire Council and a third-generation cane grower, said the mill's closure would also impact other businesses in the area.

"It's a big part of this community and a lot businesses contribute to that mill," Ms Scomazzon said.

"It's $190 million in our economy every year, so that's a big hit for this shire."

Mr Watson said alternative cropping had been looked at for decades, but there weren't many viable alternatives for the region.

"We haven't found anything yet that can compete with sugar cane as a good land use," he said.

"This is still a sugar town.

"This is the backbone of Mossman."

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Historical sugar mill at risk despite $45m boost from taxpayers

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Bittersweet memories as Australia's oldest sugar mill shuts its doors

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NEW PRODUCT

Natural raw sugar (nrs).

Natural Raw Sugar (NRS) is a minimally processed raw sugar. It has a natural golden-brown colour from a little amount of molasses that remains during the crystallisation process, which also gives NRS a distinctive pleasant aroma and flavour for your food and beverages.

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Nature's power plant.

MSF Sugar is a leading Queensland agribusiness company has over 125 years of history in Australia. While our heritage is in sugar, our future is centered on bio-technology and environmental sustainability.

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MSF Marketing offers you performance, transparency, experience and a commitment to ongoing regional investment.

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Powering a sustainable future.

Our $86 million green energy power plant converts 100 per cent renewable sugarcane fibre, known as bagasse, to produce 24 megawatts of electricity – that’s enough to power every house in the Tableland region.

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Our environment.

We recognize the need for natural resource management and have a strong commitment to protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations.

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Our people are our strength.

Our people are the most valuable assets of our business. Employment opportunities include permanent and seasonal roles, with apprenticeships offered for trades on an annual basis.

Growing Regional Australia

With our Corporate Head Office in Gordonvale, just south of Cairns, we employ around 760 people across regional Queensland and invest back into the communities in which we operate.

Committed To Molasses

MSF Sugar remains committed to supplying molasses to the domestic market in 2020

MSF Sugar remains committed to supplying molasses to the domestic market at market price. However, supplies may be limited. There are various factors which may influence the volume of molasses that MSF Sugar is able to supply, including the tonnage of sugar cane crushed which determines the volume of molasses produced, limited storage capacity, as well as pre-existing orders. For these reasons, MSF Sugar is asking molasses customers who wish to be supplied with molasses in 2020 to pre-order by 30 May 2020. MSF Sugar will do what it can to satisfy pre-order requests.

We’re Moving Beyond the Canefields

MSF Sugar, whose heritage in Australia spans more than 125 years, envisions a future that centres on being a leader in the biofutures sector. With multimillion-dollar investments in green power plants, novel farming systems and agricultural infrastructure, together with our grower partners, we are committed to developing the sugarcane industry in Australia.

Our Corporate Head Office is located in Gordonvale, just south of Cairns and our major milling assets are located in Far North Queensland and the Fraser Coast region in South East Queensland. Internationally, we are part of the Thai-based Mitr Phol Group. Our current assets include four sugar mills, which are located at Gordonvale, South Johnstone, Atherton Tablelands and Maryborough, supporting infrastructure (including cane railway networks), agricultural property and water rights to support our cane growing activities.

In addition to our milling and farming operations, we have built an $86M green energy power station at our Tablelands Sugar Mill. The power station uses a 100 per cent renewable sugarcane fibre known as bagasse to produce 24 megawatts of electricity – which, after commissioning, will be enough to power every house in the Atherton Tableland region.

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Market Update – March 2024

Market update summary.

• The spot ICE11 raw sugar price peaked at 28.14 cents per pound in November 2023. A weak AUD through October-November 2023 saw forward sugar prices in Aussie dollar terms surge to multi year highs.

Market Update – October 2023

Market Update – May 2023

The term ‘sugar’ usually refers to what we know as table sugar – the type of sugar we use in baking or add to our tea or coffee. In Australia this type of sugar comes from sugarcane , but the sugar we see on the table is only one type of sugar that is found naturally in a whole range of foods.

All ‘sugars’ are carbohydrates which along with starch is our body’s main source of energy. We rely on sugar for energy – be it for our brains, bodies or nervous system. In fact it has been part of our diets for thousands of years.

Sugar is found naturally in most foods like fruits, vegetables and milk as well as being an ingredient used in a wide range of foods and drinks*.

*Sourced from All About Sugars , an initiative of the Australian Sugar Industry Alliance (ASA) nutrition team.

Our Projects

Project Uplift is an initiative that supports adoption of the SRA Farming System – a system developed by CANEGROWERS and researchers to keep growers farming well into the future.

In May 2017, construction started on our $86 million green energy power plant at the Tableland Mill which converts 100 per cent renewable sugarcane fibre, known as bagasse, into green energy.

The best business relationships have to work both ways. That’s why we invest our funds where it counts, right back into regional Queensland to ensure we all get the best return for our investment.

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Head office.

47 Gordon Street, Gordonvale, QLD, 4865 PO Box 130, Gordonvale, QLD, 4865 Phone: +61 7 4043 3333 Email: [email protected] Working Hours: Monday to Friday 07:00A.M. to 4:00P.M.

Maryborough Mill

Lower Kent Street Maryborough, QLD, 4650

– Maryborough, QLD, 4650

Phone: +61 7 4043 3333 Cane Officers: – Cane Transport: – After Hours: –

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 07:00A.M. to 4:00P.M.

47 Gordon Street Gordonvale, QLD, 4865

PO Box 21 Gordonvale, QLD, 4865

Phone: +61 7 4043 3333 Cane Officers: +61 7 4064 3858 Cane Transport: +61 7 4043 3350 After Hours: +61 408 198 435*

Innisfail Japoon Road South Johnstone, QLD, 4859

PO Box 25 South Johnstone, QLD, 4859

Phone: +61 7 4064 3800 Cane Officers: +61 7 4064 3858 Cane Transport: +61 7 4064 3870 After Hours: +61 7 4064 3834*

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00A.M. to 4:00P.M.

1827 Springmount Road Mareeba, QLD, 4880

PO Box 1206 Mareeba, QLD, 4880

Phone: +61 7 4048 4200 Cane Officers: +61 7 4048 4207 Cane Transport: +61 7 4048 4221 After Hours: +61 7 4048 4219*

* Available for urgent enquiries during crushing operations

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