What’s on in spring in the Daintree

Spring in the Daintree is a wonderful season to explore the region. When much of Australia is only just getting over their winter chills, Tropical North Queensland is enjoying balmy daily temps of up to 30 degrees celsius. There’s loads happening at this time of year too, from music festivals to markets and wild natural events.

Things to do in tropical north Queensland this spring

Markets – September & October

Markets are a great day (or night) out and have something for everyone to enjoy. There’s a wonderful variety of markets across tropical north Queensland that support communities, offer a delicious taste of regional produce, are a great treasure hunt and showcase local artists.

Carnival on Collins – Sunday 1 Sep 2024, 9am-3pm
It’s a Father’s Day tradition in Cairns at the city’s Botanic Gardens and Tanks Arts Centre, with 200+ stalls offering artworks, food and fun.

Gordonvale Cottage Markets – 1st Saturday of the month, 7am-1pm
Each month at Norman Park, Gordonvale, you can enjoy live music and a wide variety of vendors.

Rusty’s Markets – Friday to Saturday 5am-6pm, Sundays 5am-3pm
Open in the heart of Cairns with fresh local produce and a mix of handicrafts.

Cairns Night Markets – Everyday from 4:30pm-11:30pm
Just off the Esplanade you’ll find fun shopping, entertainment and food stalls.

Mossman Market – Saturdays from 7am-1pm
Located in the gardens of St. David’s Anglican Church, this is the market to find the best local produce and country-baked treats.

Mission Beach Market – 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month
Held in Ulysses Day Park, the community markets offer a variety of good, such as fresh fruit, take-away food, clothing and jewellery.

Port Douglas Market – Sundays from 8am-2pm
This market has been running for over 35 years at Market Park on Wharf Street and is a great place to find hand-crafted goods, souvenirs and locally produced food.

Kuranda Markets – Wednesday to Sunday, 9:30am-3:30pm
Kuranda is famous for its two village markets, the Heritage Market and Original Rainforest Market. Both offer all sorts of treasures, from handmade good and Aboriginal artefacts to opals and jewellery.

Palm Cove Market – Sunday 6 Oct 2024, 8am-2pm
Focusing on sustainable local, handmade products, this popular community market is held at Williams Esplanade Palm Cove.

Festivals – September & October

Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival – 6 to 9 Sep. 2024
Gran Fondo basically means “big ride” and this type of long-distance cycling originated in Italy in 1970. But Port Douglas has something that Italy doesn’t. These courses take you along Great Barrier Reef Drive between Port Douglas and Palm Cove, with breathtaking views through the palm trees of the Coral Sea. The 3-day festival features 136km and 100km Gran Fondo courses, plus a 48km Medio Fondo course. The road is fully closed to traffic to allow you to enjoy the ride and scenery. Other festival events include a short circle road race, family ride, expo and live music. It’s a great way to explore the region and combine it with the festival.

Tropical Art Deco Festival – 8 to 15 Sep. 2024
Did you know that Innisfail has been dubbed the ‘Art Deco Capital of Australia’? Following a destructive cyclone in 1918, the town was rebuilt in the iconic style of that era and over a century later this boutique festival showcases Australia’s most concentrated area of Art Deco buildings. Enjoy a variety of events over the course of the week. Including historical town walks and soirees with patrons dressed in their 1920s best. There’s also vintage car displays and cocktail cruises during the spring festival in Innisfail.

The Tropics Trail – 28 Sep. to 13 Oct. 2024
This spring, the Tropics Trail offers a unique musical experience that celebrates the vibrant cultural heritage of Tropical North Queensland. With a stellar line up of soulful music, including Baker Boy and King Stingray, the Trail winds through Great Barrier Reef, Gimuy/Cairns and its stunning neighbouring communities. This is an opportunity discover world-class musical talent amidst breathtaking coastal landscapes, while also uncovering opportunities to explore and connect with the region. Immerse yourself in the world’s oldest living culture and celebrate Indigenous arts, language and history on a trail that’s guided by First Nations voices.

Spring wildlife watching 

Even in the tropics you’ll see spring splashes of colour adorning the trees and with the blooms comes the birds. It’s a great time of the year for ‘twitching’ and you could spot endemic species like the bridled honeyeater feeding on the sweet nectars. The region is also home to the showy Victoria’s Riflebird, one of only four species of birds of paradise found in Australia. It’s also possible to keep an eye out for vibrantly-coloured Kingfishers, Black-throated Finches and the rare Golden-shouldered Parrot. One bird that’s likely to stop you in your tracks if you spot the 2-metre tall ratite is the formidable Southern Cassowary, another Tropical North Queensland local.

In the Daintree River, don’t be surprised if you see saltwater crocodiles climbing onto the banks to catch some rays. Low tide is your best chance to spot these beasts in all their sun-baking beauty.

September is also typically the last chance to see humpback whales before they make their migration south. You can join whale watching cruises from Port Douglas and Cairns.

Reefs and rivers 

The Great Barrier Reef is an incredible place to experience at any time of the year, but typically from September to November is when the Reef comes alive with the annual coral spawning. Around 2-6 days after a full moon and when the water temperatures are at least 26 degrees, you can witness our planets biggest reproduction show. The best way to see spawning in action is to join a night cruise. There are trips to suit everyone, from those who want to watch from above the water, to novice snorkellers and experienced divers.

If you’re looking for great places to swim that aren’t your usual beach experience, Tropical North Queensland has plenty of great swimming holes to explore. Three that we recommend putting on your list are Mossman Gorge’s famously beautiful boulder-strewn river, the crystal-clear waters of Mason’s Creek and stunning Cassowary Falls. They’re magnificent places to spend time and you can find out more here.

Whether you want to warm up, wind down or rejuvenate – or maybe all three – Tropical North Queensland has something for everyone in spring.