Cairns - things to do & see
Warby40
Recent Trip with Friend
16 Sep 2007
based on 7 votes
Day Trips if staying in Cairns / Port Douglas region
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Cairns
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before, Sports buffs
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Families with small children, Families with teenagers, Large groups, Seniors, Students, Budget travellers , Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: views, wildlife reserve, butterfly, Train, Cableway, snorkelling, sighseeing, Rainforest
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1. Kuranda Skyrail & Scenic Railway
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| Kuranda is a good day trip if staying in the Cairns area. It is approx 15mins North of Cairns and 50 mins south of Port Douglas. You can travel their independently or can book a tour (we used Down Under Tours) and they will pick you up from your hotel. You have a choice whether to travel up by Cableway and down by train or vice versa. We travelled up by Cableway and the journey which is 7.5km makes two stops en-route (Red Peak & Barron Falls)for viewpoints & photo opportunities. There are guides on hand who will take you along a short boardwalk to point out areas of interest, flora & fauna etc. There are also toilets at each of these stops. The views rom the cableway towards the coast and over the rainforest canopy are great. The cabins can hold 6 but they tend to put 4 people in each. When you reach Kuranda there is a gift shop and also a shuttle bus which can take you up the hill to Kuranda village. In the village there are a number of shops, restaurants and cafe's. You will be advised what time your return train time is and the station is located next to the Cableway point. You will be allocated a seat number on the train, however if it is quiet you will be free to change seats. The journey takes you down the valley, with a commentary which points out the areas of interest. The train stops en-route to enable photographs etc of Barron Falls (from the opposite side of the valley to Cableway). You will go through a couple of short tunnels etc eventually arriving at Freshwater Station where you disembark. The train does continue on to Cairns but this is not included in price. Skyrail is open every day from 8:15-5:15pm. An Adult ticket for one way skyrail & one way train is $AU78 (more if you wish to include hotel transfers). There are a number of different pricing options, which can include the Aboriginal culture park, Wildlife experiences etc. |
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| If you have children then they will certainly enjoy visiting the Kuranda Wildlife Centre, situated in Kuranda village (next to Birdworld & Butterfly Sanctuary). You will be able to get close up to a host of Australian wildlife, including crocodiles, reptiles, kangaroos, wombats, possum and koala's. There is an area containing kangaroos where you can walk through, and it is possible to stroke some of the residents. In the Koala section you have the opportunity to hold a Koala and have your photograph taken ($AU15). They are also really good in that they don't rush you (may be different if very busy), allow you to take your own photographs holding the koala and will answer any questions you may have. If your children view Australia as Koala and Kangaroo country then this is their opportunity to see them close up and touch them. |
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3. Great Barrier Reef Dive & Snorkel Adventures
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| We booked a trip to the Barrier Reef using Quicksilver, who seem to be one of the main operators in the area. They picked us up from our hotel and drove the 50mins up to Port Douglas where they are based. Quicksilver take guests out to Agincourt Reef which is on the outer barrier reef. Their boat (wave piercer) is a large twin hulled vessel which speeds out to sea. Journey takes just over an hour to the reef. There is a bar on board, toilets and plenty of seats (both inside and out). Throughout the journey the staff will advise you of the facilities available to you when you arrive at the reef which include scuba diving (both for PADI qualified and beginners), snorkelling, helicopter rides, helmet diving, semi-submersible, underwater viewing platform etc. Quicksilver have a large pontoon moored at the reef. On arrival, you will then be free to do your chosen activities. I had booked a scuba dive so went to the entry area where they kit you up. You enter the water and descend to a platform just beneath the water. Here (if you are a beginner) they will run through the dive techniques that they discuss with you en-route to the reef (clearing mask, mouthpiece, signs etc). When they are happy that you are comfortable you are taken down to the ocean floor where you will see a variety of fish (some are huge)! corals etc. The Dive Master will point out & allow you to touch certain things (like giant clam, anenome's etc). The dive lasts approx 30 minutes. Whilst down there you will see a photographer who is filming you. You have the option to purchase the DVD of your dive when back on board. They will show it to you first so you can decide whether or not to purchase. If you don't wish to opt for the additional facilities you are free to snorkel from the pontoon and if the water is a little cool you can rent out a lycra suit to use (approx $AU5). Divers will be given a wetsuit. A buffet lunch is included in the trip and the food is very good. At approx 2:40pm the boat will sound its horn, which signifies time to get out of the water. The boat departs the pontoon at 3pm and heads back to Port Douglas where the coaches are waiting to take you back to your hotel. The trip costs $AU186 per adult (excluding transfers). Introductory Scuba diving is an additional $AU134 per diver, for certified divers 1 dive is $AU92, Ocean Walker Helmet diving is $AU134 per person and a 10 minute helicopter flight is $AU125 per person. Some of these extras do seem a little pricey, but this is a very special place and almost once in a lifetime opportunities - crazy to travel all that way and not see it properly! |
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4. Daintree River, Cape Tribulation & Rainforest Tour
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| Tour booked through Australian Wild Escapes who specialise in small groups (there were 6 of us). Picked up from our hotel we were driven up the coast passed Port Douglas to the Daintree River. Here we boarded a small boat which travelled up the Daintree River. The Guide (Yan) was very good, gave a history of the area and pointed out areas of interest, birds etc (look out for the vivid blue kingfisher). The boats on the river are in radio contact with each other so they know where the Crocodiles are. The guides take you quite close to the crocs (when found) - look out for Fat Albert (a very large male croc). The boat travels upstream and then turns to return down the opposite bank and eventually stops at the car ferry crossing point. Here we returned to our vehicle and were driven into the Cape Tribulation Rainforest. We stopped for morning tea (& bathroom break) at Jindalba where we then walked along the boardwalk through the rainforest. The guide is superb and points out the fascinating flora & fauna which exists. If you are very lucky (which we were) you may see one of the very rare Cassowary Birds (up to 6ft tall). We also saw a snake in the undergrowth. From here you travel to the fantastic Thornton Beach where the rainforest meets the sea. A huge beach, covered in patterns made by the small crabs which inhabit the beach. Our guide showed us the ochre stones which can be found on the beach and demonstrated how the aboriginals used these for body art (on a couple of volunteers)! From here you are taken for lunch (included in tour) at a small private eco lodge hotel in the middle of the rainforest where you can try Smoked Crocodile (very nice) or wild Barramundi fish to name but a few. After lunch we were taken to an exotic tropical fruit orchard where they make the most unusually flavoured icecreams ($AU5 per tub). The guide will show you the various trees, plants, flowers etc - look out for the Ginger (lovely). He also pointed out the green ants and demonstrated how they release citric acid onto each of our tongues (you don't have to if you don't fancy it... just tastes of lemon and doesn't hurt a bit). Finally driven to the Alexander Range look out for fantastic views over the whole Cape Trib & Daintree area. This is a full day tour but fantastic and well worth doing. Because it is such a small group you get to learn & see so much more. We were picked up at approx 7am and returned at 5:30pm |
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