CAIRNS
Northern Queensland offers families a huge range of things to do, both on land and in the water – from snorkelling with turtles to firing guns at a shooting range.
GETTING AROUND
We hired a car form Apex Car Rentals. Their offices are not at the airport and you have to arrange for their free shuttle bus to take you there. They have pretty strict opening hours and are not as flexible as other rental options but their prices are hard to beat.
ACCOMODATION
There are plenty of hotels and AirBnb options in Cairns, but if you want to experience a real rainforest house, don’t go north, head south to Bellenden Kerr (40 mins drive). Wild Ginger rainforest retreat is one of the most memorable AirBnb experience we have ever had. The house is surrounded by rainforest and very secluded. It has a river running past the balcony and gardens that belong in Bali.
There is plenty of wildlife here too. We met a father Cassowary and two chicks (it’s dad’s job to raise the chicks). They love bananas, and will actually eat them from your hand. There are leeches near the path to the swimming hole (but not in the water), and a rather large python that lives in the garden (non-venomous), but most importantly no crocs! So all in all, the wildlife is relatively harmless.
THINGS TO DO
Babinda Boulders
Babinda Boulders are an incredible natural attraction. The clear creek winds it way between boulders, allowing large swimming holes to form in places. We visited in July and it wasn’t really warm enough for swimming, so maybe bring a wetsuit or visit at a warmer time of year. It will take around 1 hour to drive to Babinda Boulders from Cairns, but it’s definitely worth it.
Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef and an affordable option for a family. It has the added bonus of only being 45 minutes on a Fast CAT from Cairns. Not having to be on the ‘open water’ for long means the ride is quite smooth, so there’s little chance of getting seasick. The cost for a family of 5 is roughly AUS$320 for return transfers (children aged 14 and under).
It does cost extra to hire wetsuits, snorkels and paddleboards on the island, but we found the cost fairly reasonable. Unlike the beaches on the mainland the water is a little cooler so I suggest bringing your own or hiring a wetsuit in the winter months. Catch the 9am ferry and make the most of a whole day. There is plenty to do on the island.
Despite it’s name there is no nudity on Nudey Beach, but it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Queensland. It does have a certain amount of dead coral as well as sand, but the water is so magical it looks airbrushed. Head back to the pier to hire paddle boards, or swim out to the trampoline. The best place to see turtles while snorkelling is on the other side of the pier.
FOOD
Zephyr restaurant is the only place to eat on the island. It’s not the cheapest, but it has great seafood and nice views. If you want to save money, bring your own lunch and snacks. We saw a local family bring a giant eskie, obviously making a day of it.
Australian Amour and Artillery Museum
The Australian Amour & Artillery Museum was an unexpected discovery. It has the largest display of armoured vehicles and artillery in the southern hemisphere. The entry cost is AUS$70 for a family of 4, (children aged under 16). For a little extra you can have a ride in the back of a modified tank. The staff were very knowledgeable and conducted organised talks on certain vehicles throughout the day.
The highlight for me was the shooting range. If you’ve never shot a weapon before, it’s actually a lot of fun. It certainly gets the adrenalin going. For AUS$90 two people can shoot two rounds with two different rifles. You must be over 12 years of age.
BEST FAMILY BEACHES NEAR CAIRNS
Trinity Beach
This beach is just north of Cairns an it’s one of our favourites, with life-guards and a stinger net. It’s warm enough to swim any time of the year, and perfect for families as the water is nice and calm. There are some great eateries across the road from the beach or take a walk to the rocks at the southern end.
Clifton Beach
A little further north is Clifton Beach. This is a really pretty beach, lined with palm trees and soft sand. It’s great to walk along in the late afternoon or stay for a sunset.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
Hartley’s is the quintessential crocodile experience. This a great place to see these magnificent creatures. Although the crocs are the main attraction there are plenty of other Ausi animals here too.
Have your photo taken with baby crocs or koalas and go on a boat ride around the lagoon. Tickets cost AUS$102 for a family of 4 (children 4-15).
Kuranda
Kuranda has it’s origins in farming, but today it is a popular tourist town. The railway was constructed in the 1880’s, in order to get supplies from the mining belt to the sea. It took five years to complete without any modern machinery.
The best way to get there is on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, returning via the skyrail. But this is not a cheap excursion, it costs around $300 for a family of 4. If this is not for you but you’d still like to check out Kuranda, just drive there and back. It takes about half an hour from Cairns. Once you are in Kuranda everything is within walking distance. You can stop on the way up to Kuranda to visit Barron Gorge. Walk to the lookout to view Barron Falls. It was just a trickle the day we visited, but it can easily become a thundering mass after heavy rain.
Bird World
How exciting we thought, to have birds feed out of your hand…..and it was for about five minutes. But things took a turn for the worst when they began flying in from all directions. A flurry of feathers and claws ensued. The girls dropped their food and ran and I was left standing with birds clinging to my arms, their sharp claws digging in. It seemed no amount of shaking would dislodge them. Needless to say everyone thought this was hilarious! Birdworld entry fees are Adults AUS$19, children (4-15yrs) $9.50.
The Australian Butterfly Scantuary
The Australian Butterfly Scantuary is a much calmer place. It’s very educational and fun to see the giant, colourful butterflies and moths. General entry with a guided tour of the aviary and laboratory for a family of four is $50. You can purchase combo tickets for entry to the Koala Gardens, Bird World and the Butterfly Sanctuary.
PORT DOUGLAS
ACCOMODATION
We stayed at the Lazy Lizard Motor Inn. It has large fully equipped rooms at reasonable prices, around AUS$220 p/n for a family of five. The pool was great to cool off in at the end of the day. It’s not in the centre of Port Douglas, but is fine if you have a rental car.
THINGS TO DO IN PORT DOUGLAS
4 Mile Beach
Enjoy the beach or take a walk up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout for great views. The walk is easy and well paved.
Wildlife Habitat Park
The Wildlife Habitat Park is a great place to check out some local wildlife. It’s very kid friendly. You can even purchase some roo food from the café and hand feed the wallaby’s. General entry is AUS$95 for a family of four. Beware – do not park your car under trees with the windows down, or you will spend the next couple of days flicking nasty green ants out the window.
Mossman Gorge
This beautiful gorge is part of the Daintree Rainforest. It’s only a 20 minute drive from Port Douglas. There are a number of scenic walks you can do, none of which are hard. If it’s a hot day you can even swim in the shallows (do not swim when it’s raining as flooding can occur).
Daintree – Cape Tribulation
It takes just under 2 hours to drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation. The road hugs the coast with spectacular ocean views most of the way. You will have to cross the Daintree River on the Daintree Ferry barge. This cable ferry is a fun experience and costs AUS$30 rtn for a standard vehicle. It only takes five minutes to cross, but during peak times you can queue for ages, so try to get there before 10am and leave after 5pm if possible.
There are many rainforest walks you can go on. See giant figs, waterfalls and beautiful fauna.
Myall Beach
The most captivating beach in Cape Tribulation has to be Myall Beach. A true icon for ‘where the rainforest meets the sea’. This idyllic beach feels like it belongs on a deserted island.
Build a cairn in Cairns
On the way back keep a lookout for cairn city. I’m not sure who started this trend but it’s definately taken off. Build yourself a cairn (pronounced can), anybody cairn.
