Tropical North Queensland has once again proven why it’s one of Australia’s most beloved holiday destinations, with 345 local tourism operators recognised in the 2025 Best of Queensland Experiences (BOQE) program. The prestigious program, run by Tourism and Events Queensland, identifies and celebrates the state’s top-performing tourism experiences—and this year, the region’s operators have stepped up in a big way.
The BOQE program is a mark of excellence in Queensland’s tourism industry, designed to highlight businesses that consistently deliver outstanding visitor experiences. In 2025, more than 2,300 tourism products across the state earned the BOQE stamp, with 534 achieving perfect scores of 100/100—a remarkable endorsement of their quality and commitment.
Among them, the 345 operators in Tropical North Queensland are setting the standard in everything from eco-adventures and reef tours to luxury stays, food and drink experiences, cultural attractions, and transport services. These businesses are not only creating memorable moments for travelers but also helping to put the region on the global tourism map in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The BOQE program doesn’t just reward excellence—it’s helping drive innovation too. According to Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson, the number of Queensland tourism operators offering online booking has more than doubled in the past five years, jumping from 1,671 to 3,438.
“Having an online platform that allows customers to book directly and receive instant confirmation is a vital part of the customer experience journey,” Davidson said. This shift underscores how businesses in regions like Tropical North Queensland are embracing digital tools to better connect with visitors and compete in a global marketplace.
Congratulations to the 345 Tropical North Queensland operators who earned their place among the Best of Queensland Experiences. You’re not just welcoming travellers—you’re showcasing the very best of our state.
ACCOMMODATION:
- 201 Lake Street
- Agincourt Beachfront Apartments
- Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore
- Amaroo at Trinity
- Ashs Holiday Units
- Balboa Holiday Apartments
- Bali Hai Child Free Holiday Park Mission Beach
- Beachfront Apartments on Trinity Beach
- Bedarra
- Bellevue At Trinity Beach
- BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
- BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach
- Birds Heaven Mareeba
- BreakFree Royal Harbour
- Cairns Central Plaza Apartment Hotel
- Cairns Colonial Club Resort
- Cairns Harbourside Hotel
- Cairns Plaza Hotel
- Cairns Queenslander Hotel and Apartments
- Cairns Sheridan Hotel
- Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses and Wildlife Sanctuary
- Cape Trib Beach House
- Cape Trib Farm
- Cape Tribulation Camping
- Cape York Camping Punsand Bay
- Cassowary Falls Gateway Daintree
- Cayman Villas Port Douglas
- Chillagoe Cabins
- Cobbold Village
- Coconut Grove Apartments Port Douglas
- Cooktown Holiday Park
- Coral Towers Holiday Suites
- Crystalbrook Bailey
- Crystalbrook Bailey Residences
- Crystalbrook Flynn
- Crystalbrook Riley
- Curtain Fig Motel Yungaburra
- Daintree Beach Resort
- Daintree Ecolodge
- Daintree Siesta
- Daintree Wilderness Lodge
- Discovery Resorts – Undara
- DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns
- Drift Palm Cove
- Elysium Apartments
- Etty Bay Cabins and Caravan Park
- Floriana Boutique Hotel
- Freestyle Resort Port Douglas
- Garrick House Holiday Apartments
- Green Island Resort
- Heritage Cairns
- Heritage Lodge In the Daintree
- Hilton Cairns
- Il Palazzo Boutique Hotel
- Karumba Point Holiday Tourist Park
- Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park
- King Reef Resort
- Kookaburra Lodge Motel
- Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park
- Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
- Le Cher Du Monde
- Licuala Lodge
- Lizard Island Resort
- Lychee Tree Holiday Apartments
- Macrossan House Boutique Holiday Apartments
- Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments
- Mango Lagoon Resort & Wellness Spa
- Mantra Amphora
- Mantra Aqueous On Port
- Mantra Esplanade
- Mantra In The Village
- Marlin Waters Beachfront Apartments
- Martinique on Macrossan
- Meridian Port Douglas
- Mission Beach Resort
- Mist at Cape Tribulation
- Mount Quincan Crater Retreat
- Mt Mulligan Lodge
- Nightcap at Atherton Hotel
- Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel
- Nightcap at Edge Hill Tavern
- Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
- NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park
- NRMA Palm Cove Holiday Park
- Oaks Cairns Hotel
- Oasis at Palm Cove
- On the Wallaby Eco Lodge
- Pacific Hotel Cairns
- Palm Royale Cairns
- Paradise Links Resort Port Douglas
- Paradise On The Beach Resort
- Park Regis City Quays
- Park Regis Piermonde Apartments
- Peppers Beach Club and Spa
- Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas
- Pool Resort Port Douglas
- Port Douglas Apartments
- Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel
- Pullman Cairns International
- Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa
- Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa
- Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
- Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Douglas
- Reef House Adults Retreat
- Regal Port Douglas
- Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat
- Roydon Beachfront Apartments
- Safari Lodge and Campground
- Sanctuary Palm Cove
- Sea Point On Trinity Beach
- Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
- Shantara Resort Port Douglas
- Sharlynn by the River B and B
- Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas
- Silkari Lagoons Port Douglas
- Silkari Reflections of Port Douglas
- Silkari The Pavilions Port Douglas
- Silky Oaks Lodge
- South Pacific BnB Clifton Beach
- Southern Cross Atrium Apartments
- Sunshine Tower Hotel
- Talaroo Hot Springs
- Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters
- Thala Beach Nature Reserve
- The Beach Terraces
- The Benson Hotel
- The Dugongs’ Rest
- The Reef Retreat
- The Villas Palm Cove
- Trinity Beach Club
- Trinity Collective
- Tropic Towers Apartments
- Tropical Reef Apartments
- Verandahs Boutique Apartments
- Villa Marine Holiday Apartments
- Vue Apartments Trinity Beach
- Waters Edge Apartments Cairns
- Weipa Camping Ground
- Wongai Beach Hotel
- YHA Cairns Central
ATTRACTION:
- Atherton Herberton Historic Railway
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
- Bat Hospital Visitor Centre
- Birdworld Kuranda
- Cairns Aquarium (pictured)
- Cairns Art Gallery
- Cairns Kart Hire, Lasertag and Escape Rooms
- Cairns Museum
- Cairns Performing Arts Centre
- Cairns Wake Park and Aqua Park (pictured)
- Cooktown Museum
- Daintree Discovery Centre
- Eléme Day Spa at Crystalbrook Flynn
- Eléme Day Spa at Crystalbrook Riley
- Grab A Barra
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
- Herberton Mining Centre and Great Northern Mine
- Historic Village Herberton
- Kuranda Koala Gardens
- Kuranda Scenic Railway (pictured)
- Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery Karumba
- Mamu Tropical Skywalk
- Mareeba Heritage Museum
- Marineland Melanesia
- Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
- Murdering Point Winery
- Paronella Park
- Rainforestation Nature Park
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Talaroo Hot Springs Soaking Pools
- Tanks Arts Centre
- The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum
- The Crystal Caves
- The Reef Eye Ferris Wheel
- Treetops Adventure Cape Tribulation
- Undara Lava Tubes
- Wildlife Habitat
FOOD & DRINK:
- Arte by Crystalbrook
- Ashs at the Point Cafe
- Barbados Port Douglas
- Boardwalk Social by Crystalbrook
- Bushfire Flame Grill
- Caffiend
- Calypso Club
- CC’s Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook
- Code Cairns
- Daintree Siesta Restaurant
- Dundee’s Restaurant On The Waterfront
- Éla Drink + Meze
- Emerald Creek Ice Creamery
- Everyday Lover
- Flynn’s Italian by Crystalbrook
- Harrisons Restaurant
- Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf
- Innisfail Seafood
- Lagoon House Restaurant
- Little Sister
- Marinades Indian Cuisine
- Mena Creek Hotel
- Miss Chief Bar and Eatery
- Nu Nu Restaurant
- Oak & Vine Cairns
- Ochre Restaurant and Catering
- Ollie’s Italian
- Osprey’s Restaurant, Thala Beach Nature Reserve, Port Douglas
- Pachamama by Crystalbrook
- Rocco by Crystalbrook
- Salsa Bar and Grill
- Salt House
- Seabean Tapas Bar Restaurant
- Shanti Cafe
- Skybury Cafe and Roastery
- Tamarind
- The Backyard
- The Stanley Cairns
- Treehouse Restaurant at Silky Oaks Lodge
- Whiskey and Wine by Crystalbrook
- White Whale Coffee Roasters
GENERAL SERVICES & HIRE:
- DFO Cairns
- Apollo Motorhome Holidays – Cairns
- Bargain Car Rentals Cairns Airport
- Bike Shop and Bike Hire – Port Douglas
- Britz Campervans and 4WD Cairns
- Cairns Luxury Car Hire
- Cruisin Motorhomes Cairns
- East Coast Car Rentals – Cairns Airport
- Europcar Cairns Airport
- Europcar Cairns City
- Maui Motorhomes Cairns
- Mighty Campers Cairns
- Mini Car Rentals
- Rent A Bomb Cairns
- Spaceships Campervans
- Travellers Autobarn Cairns
TOURS & TRANSPORT:
- ABC Snorkel Charters
- Active Tropics Explorer
- Aquis Reef Charters
- Aussie Drifterz
- Aussie Macro Photos
- Back Country Bliss Adventures
- Bad Fishy Jet Boating Cairns
- Barefoot Tours
- Behana Canyoning Tour – Cairns Waterfalls
- Billy Tea Safaris
- Blue Dive Adventures
- Brett’s Kuranda Day Tours
- Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Cairns and Northern Beaches
- Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Port Douglas
- Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises
- Cairns Adventure Group
- Cairns Canyoning
- Cairns Custom Tours
- Cairns Discovery Tours
- Cairns Luxury Car Hire and Tours
- Cairns Reef Fishing
- Cairns River Cruises
- Calypso Reef Cruises
- Cape Trib Farm
- Cape Trib Horse Rides
- Cape York Adventures Seisia
- Cape York Motorcycle Adventures
- Charley’s Chocolate Tour
- Cobbold Gorge Tours
- Cockatours
- Coral Expeditions – Queensland
- Coral Sea Dreaming Dive and Sail
- Coral Sea Kayaking
- Crocodile Express Daintree River Cruises
- Crystal Cascades Tour
- Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises
- Daintree Discovery Tours
- Daintree Tours
- Discovery Experiences – Undara
- Discovery Tours Australia
- Divers Den
- Down Under Cruise & Dive – Evolution Outer Reef Cruise
- Down Under Tours Australia
- Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel
- Dreamtime Walks – Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
- Dunk Island Reef Adventures
- Ellwood Motorcycle Adventures
- Far North Escapes
- FNQ Nature Tours
- Frankland Islands Reef Cruises
- Great Adventures Reef and Green Island Cruises
- High Adventure Paragliding
- Hook Up Fishing Charters
- Hook-A-Barra
- Hot Air Balloon Cairns
- Indigo Port Douglas
- Kuranda Riverboat Tours (pictured)
- Lady Douglas River Cruise
- Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
- Nautilus Aviation
- Northern Experience Eco Tours
- Ocean Free – Sail to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef
- Ocean Freedom – Personal Snorkel and Dive
- Ocean Safari
- Ocean Spirit Michaelmas Cay Cruises
- Passions of Paradise
- Pro Dive Cairns
- Quicksilver Cruises
- Raging Thunder Adventures
- Reef Adventures
- Reef Daytripper
- Reef Encounter – The Ultimate Great Barrier Reef Stay
- Reef Experience Outer Great Barrier Reef Day Tour
- Reef Magic Cruises
- Reef Runner Charters
- Reef Sprinter
- Riverbend Tours
- Sailaway Port Douglas
- Scuba IQ
- Scubabo Cairns
- Seastar Cruises Cairns
- Shaolin Port Douglas
- Silversonic Dive and Snorkel Adventures
- Silverswift Dive and Snorkel Adventures
- Skydive Cairns
- Skydive Mission Beach
- SKYONE Cairns
- Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises
- Spirit of Cairns
- Spirit Of Freedom
- Sunlover Reef Cruises
- Swagalong Tours
- Talaroo Hot Springs Tours
- The Savannahlander
- Tony’s Tropical Tours
- Tropic Tours
- Tropic Wings Cairns Tours and Charters (pictured)
- Uncle Brian’s Tours
- Wait-a-While Rainforest Tours
- Walkabout Cultural Adventures
- Waterfall Wanderers
- Wavedancer Low Isles Cruises
- Wavelength Reef Cruises – Full Day Outer Reef Snorkel Tour
- Wildside Adventures
- Zoom Helicopters
- Coral Coast Transport
- Exemplar Coaches and Limousines
- RodgersRides
Congratulations to every business for receiving this prestigious stamp of recognition.
Developed in partnership with Regional Tourism Organisations, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, the BOQE program is designed to support continuous improvement in the tourism sector. For operators in Tropical North Queensland, being part of this elite group reinforces their commitment to excellence and positions them for even greater success as Queensland prepares for the global spotlight in 2032.
