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Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns

Frodsham, United...
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45 posts
26 reviews
29 helpful votes
Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns
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We have 4 nights in Cairns 20/21/22/23 Dec. 2 adults +2x 20 yr old boys. Is it worth splitting our stay 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns.

We want to see

Cape Trib

Rainforest/adventure

GBR

Kuranda Sky Rail

Flight arrives Cairns midday 20th Dec. I was thinking of hiring a car and then driving up to Cape Trib for the first 2 nights. I figured that we could see a lot on our drive up & back as well as a relaxing stay in or around the Cape Trib area.

Doing all we want to by tour trips would be expensive - hence the self drive consideration.

My concern is do you need a guide for the Rainforest area.

A bit of a rambling question but I hope you get my drift?

David.

Austin
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933 posts
12 reviews
34 helpful votes
1. Re: Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns
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Two nights at Cape Trib is well worth it. We stayed three nights this past August and wish we had at least another night. As we left, we were amazed that more folks don't make Cape Trib their base. So much to do!

Our highlights:

1. Ocean Safari reef trip. The best reef trip of the three we took. That's saying a lot, since we also took a Wavelength trip out of PD.

2. Jungle Surfing canopy tour.

3. Hiking Myall Creek, the beaches and the boardwalk area near PK's Jungle Village.

4. Nightime gazing at the Milky Way.

5. Watering hole at the end of the paved road.

6. Listening to the birds and frogs at night in our B&B.

Vicki, our B&B hostess at Cape Trib Farmstay was so helpful that she we did not need a guide. She pointed out where to find all the off-the-beaten-track sights, including the crocodile in the wild.

We also stayed eight nights in Cairns for hubby's work and four nights in PD. While nice, the real highlight of the trip was Cape Trib. We also loved PD, but it is a more resort-y experience. If/when we return, we will go to Cape Trib and PD and skip Cairns completely.

(Still need to write the trip report!!!!)

Cairns, Australia
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2,838 posts
7 reviews
15 helpful votes
2. Re: Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns
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It is so worth it, in fact in my opinion is the whole point of nature based travel is to experience it and forget about over priced restaurants and bars. However I will never win that war! You need to stay by Cairns for the reef trip but then you can go whatever way. Not just Cape Trib even which is primarily private land so is enjoyed best by staying there. There is rainforest all around but pure national parks do not have the advertising dollars private enterprise has I guess.

So also consider.

December is a great time in the tablelands, far less humid than the flat. waterfalls best place for swimming during stinger season.

Places like On the Wallaby in the agricultral area but poackts fo uplab rainforest with good animal spotting. (also see the giant fig tree)on the tableland who have the platypus spotting fro free each evening.Then drive down and do the waterfall walks that are so welcome that time of year. Nandroya outshines them all and due to being a walk not many do it which means it is like a private pool., need to get accurate directions on how to find and also not to think the first falls are it, keep going! Beautiful. This option would be very low cost. Millaa Millaa is also picturesque (my avatar) but being right by the car park at times can feel a bit busy with tourists, though not as bad as Mossman Gorge gets..

Another option to consider is Mission Beach. The Sanctuary is right in the rainforest and the rooms have hessian walls so it it feels like sleeping right in the forest. Could be very humid that time of year though. Read the second review. they should have gone to Port Douglas, Or there is also the hotel called Elandra which has WOW views. This town it is also Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest meets the Reef. Famous for the colony of Cassowary, an endangered bird that is huge like an emu but prehistoric sort of looking.Combo with white water rafting on the Tully River or sea kayaking. Enroute Josephine Falls are very popular with the young ones due to natural rock slides.

Another place I would love to stay after continually hearing great reviews over and over again is Cedar Park Resort which is up in the rainforest near Kuranda. they have the wallaby visit. After doing the skyrail I am not sure what else there is the area. Perhaps a hot air balloon ride or a day trip out to Chillagoe which is start of outback and also has a network of 700 limestone caves.

So yes getting out is really a brilliant idea, though way mroe options than Cape Trib.

Frodsham, United...
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45 posts
26 reviews
29 helpful votes
3. Re: Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns
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Thanks both for your replies. Theres so much to do...

We will definitely be spending at least 2 nights up in the Cape Trib area.

David.

4. Re: Is it worth staying 2 nts Cape Trib & 2 nts Cairns

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