Wangetti Beach, 40km north of Cairns and just north of Palm Cove on the road to Port Douglas, is one of Australia s most photographed, yet little used, beaches. Wangetti is 4 km long, and east-north-east facing, running in a near-straight line from Slip Cliff Point in the north to Red Cliff Point in the south. Most tourists to the coast stop at the large car park and lookout on the northern point, that provide a spectacular view of the entire beach. While the beach is highly visible, there is only parking and access at either end. With easy access from Palm Cove and a plethora of camping sites close by, Wangetti Beach offers fun, relaxation, in spite of there being no facilities.
The beach receives waves averaging 0.5 m, that break across a narrow, continuous bar at low tide and surge up the moderately steep beach at high tide. Hartley s Creek drains across the northern section, causing the beach to protrude slightly and form a small lagoon in behind the beach. The southern end is eroding and exposing a cobble basement to the otherwise sandy beach. Wangetti is a relatively safe beach under average wave conditions, however higher waves will produce a northward drag along the beach and occasional rips. The rocks at each end offer the best vantage point for fishing, while the narrow bar can be fished at high and low tide.
To the north, Rex Lookout overlooks Wangetti Beach and the Coral Sea. It's a great spot to get a group photo with the magnificent blue of the ocean stretching out to the horizon as your backdrop. The lookout is also a popular natural launching pad for hang gliders and becomes a hub of activity on the weekends. Weather permitting, there are daily tandem hang gliding flights taking off from the Rex Point lookout for people wanting to experience hang gliding with the safety of an experienced pilot. They also provide lessons and full instructions for those wishing to learn how to fly.
Just a short distance from Wangetti Beach is Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, where you can see crocodiles in their natural environment. Set on 10 hectares of World Heritage land, this eco-adventure facility gives an introduction to Far North Queensland's interesting wildlife. Spot a crocodile, discover a cassowary and see koalas on a walk through an innovative wildlife park, then visit the Crocodile Farm for an insight into these feared creatures.
