Great Barrier Reef australia's ultimate diving experience

The picturesque stretch of coast between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland is affectionately known as the Great Green Way.

The town of Ingham is the southern gateway to the wet tropics World Heritage listed areas. Known for its Italian community, locals here celebrate their rich heritage every May with the Australian-Italian Festival. The town has a strong sugar cane industry, along with cattle and farming, fishing, prawning, crabbing and tropical fruit growing. West of Ingham is Australia’s highest sheer drop waterfall, Wallaman Falls, at a staggering 305 metres.

The Hinchinbrook area is scattered with World Heritage listed tropical rainforests, cascading waterfalls, coral reefs and sugarcane fields. Hinchinbrook Island, north-east of Ingham, is a popular isolated wilderness where you will find the world famous Thorsborne Trail wilderness walk.

Innisfail is surrounded by rich sugar cane fields and lush rainforests, with an assortment of tea and tropical fruit plantations. It’s also known for its rich aquaculture industry with an array of prawn, barramundi, crayfish and crocodile farms. Innisfail Airport is at Mundoo, just eight kilometres from the town’s centre.

From your road map of Australia, you’ll see that Mission Beach is the nearest mainland access to the Great Barrier Reef. With long, powder-soft beaches, and rainforest literally meeting the beach, it’s no wonder this is a favourite holiday destination for those wanting to escape bustling city life. Nearby Edmund Kennedy National Park is a stunning combination of beach, mangroves and rainforest.

If you’re looking for a great fishing spot for barramundi and mangrove jacks in Australia, Mission Beach is a good option.