Lush, green rainforests carpet the low hills of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, which border the beaches, coastal towns, and agricultural fields of the northeast coast of Australia. When I visited the Great Barrier Reef in June 2012, my friend and I chose to visit the hill town of Kuranda, using the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which transits through the World Heritage Site. The gondola ride provided an incredible view of the Atherton Tablelands and Barron Gorge National Park, as well as two sightseeing stops along the way. The first stop featured a museum and a walk through the canopy, overlooking ferns and tropical hardwoods; there were also displays about local fauna, though I never did find a cassowary. The second stop included an overlook of Barron Falls, which was not particularly impressive in the dry season. Kuranda town itself was rather charming, with a couple nice nature walks from town into the rainforest. On the way back to Cairns, my friend and I opted to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which gives a closer look at the rainforest. I highly enjoyed the brief visit to the wet tropics, and if I return one day, I'll have to rent a car to drive to Daintree National Park to see the mangroves and crocodiles.

Logistics: The Wet Tropics of Queensland can be easily combined with a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. The Skyrail and scenic railway to Kuranda are both near Cairns, and can be reached by private transportation.