Kewarra Beach, Queensland, Australia

It could be said that the best attributes of Kewarra Beach, a coastal community in the Australian state of Queensland, are what it’s not: overly developed, overly crowded and overly touristy.

On the contrary, some have called Kewarra Beach the last unspoiled spot in the region of the country referred to as Far North Queensland or FNQ, for short. FNQ is a 750-mile stretch that’s home to a number of Aboriginal groups and anchored by the modern port city of Cairns.

Kewarra Beach is situated about 12 miles north of Cairns and sandwiched between the Coral Sea and an ancient rainforest. The area, once covered in sugar cane plantations, developed as a tropical resort destination in the latter half of the 20^th century. Growth came at a measured pace. The population of this pocket suburb is fewer than 6,000.

In and around Kewarra Beach is an abundance of riches. The beach is just one of the star attractions. It’s clean, quiet and has a hideaway feel. The Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site, is less than an hour’s boat ride away across the Coral Sea. The reef’s rich ocean habitat, one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, is a spectacular playground for divers, snorkelers and boaters. Locals enjoy access to national parks by the dozen including the oldest rainforest on the planet, the Wet Tropics of Queensland. It is another World Heritage-listed site. The Draintree Rainforest is the accessible area of the Wet Tropics and packed with waterfalls, swimming holes and mangrove forests. Golfing and dining options are a stone’s throw away.

The Kewarra Beach property market offers modern coastal estates, homes in gated communities, golf course-fronted residences and apartments in developments that back up to lush vegetation.