Cairns Travel Forum

I am going on a 5 week luxury tour of Oz in Sept/Oct and will be spending 5 days in Cairns staying at The Lakes Resort (what's it like please?) I will be going on organised trips to Green Island, Flames of the Forest dinner, Port Douglas and Kuranda but wondered if there was anything else that was a "must see" while in Cairns? Am not really into "adventure type" stuff (look at my age!!) but would like to try Snorkelling if poss - am a fair swimmer - is it very hard to do? Also will it be very hot/humid in Oct? And lots of mozzies? They love to feast on me!
Also nice places to eat/drink/socialise in the evening please. On this occasion cost not really a problem - am treating myself after a traumatic divorce! Although normally luxury not my budget (NHS Nurse) - this trip will hopefully provide a lifetime of memories!
Thanks in advance everyone. I can't wait for Sept!

If you want to try snorkelling, I would take a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. If you have a stop in Airlie Beach which would allow the time, I would go from there to the GB Reef. There's a couple of pontoons permanently moored on the reef that there are trips from there, otherwise, I'm sure you could pick up a day trip from Cairns with similar arrangements. To make it more fruitful, attend Reef School in Cairns (hope its still on) which is held on Wednesday evenings about 7:00pm / 7:30pm, information usually available at any of the Backpacker hostels if not at your hotel. They will teach you how to identify the different types of fish you might see and also how to treat the reef - in my mind, this should be compulsory training for anyone who wants to snorkel any reef in the world!!!

Have a great trip.

Just a warning for a company 'Compass Cruises' we had for our first snorkelling experience. See for more info:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/tfr/1/1caa14/4/18529d/

happy travels
Jaap

Hi Bella

I am an Australian (currenly living in Mauritius) and have lived in both Mooloolaba and Cairns - they are both wonderful locations, both hot and humid but September / October should be ok, well depending on what sort of climate you are used to; so probably coming from the UK you will find it very hot. Both these areas are very casual so no need to dress up, smart casual even at night is fine - lots of cotton clothing.

The surf club is a good idea for Mooloolaba but if you just wander around you will find heaps of places to eat and drink and I do not think you we feel out of place on your own - lots of tourists and the locals are generally very friendly as well. Eumundi Markets are great, there is also a market at the Mooloolaba waterfront - haven't been there in years but it should be worth checking out.

Cairns - the Lakes is very nice - not close to town though. There is a very nice botanical garden close by (walking distance)that is gorgeous to have a wander around and it has a art gallery. I would highly recommend taking the cable car trip through the rain forest - it is awesome. The Lakes reception can book trips and arrange transport for you on this and many other excursions.

I tried snorkelling for the first time just last week (i am 43) and it was great, I am a very poor swimmer and it was easy and fun. I just cannot believe it took me all this years to try it - especially growing up in Australia.

Have a great trip

Hi Bella, welcome to VT.
Yes, the cable car trip to Kuranda is great, and take the old historic train to get back. The day-long outer reef trips are excellent with snorkelling, glass bottom boats, semi-subs etc etc. Check out www.quicksilver-cruises.com and www.sunlover.com.au
October is mid-Spring so not too hot and humid up in the north.

Hi there,
Lakes is a good choice. There is a bus stop right out the front of there, so going into the city isn't a problem.
I agree with the previous poster, you can do a walk to the Gardens, Tanks area, this is great.( just down the road from Lakes) The gardens are full of tropical plants. The Tanks area is great also, this is one of my favourite places in Cairns.Sunday mornings they have a market there.You can walk from the Botanical Gardens to the Centenary Lake area also.
If you would like to see some Aussie animals you could head to the Cairns Zoo.
Also if you would like to check out a Northern Beach of Cairns( there are a few) I would go to Palm Cove. You can sit and have a coffee looking over the beach...have a swim and there are some lovley little shops there for some retail therapy:) Local buses also go here...these run at regular intervals.If you don't feel like catching a bus, check out the price for a taxi, or if you feel really going to the wild side, hire a car:) It isn't hard to drive in Cairns, especially from Lakes to Northern Beaches...all highway, just go around the round - abouts at a slow speed.
In October it is still great weather. Along the Esplanade area in Cairns there is a good variety of restaurants. I can highly recommend Splash, great seafood.
When you arrive in Cairns buy a can of Bushmans Tropical Spray, apply this if you are walking around morning or evening.....the sandflies are fair buggers and they love me!!!! I just have my small spray can of bushmans in my bag at all times.
As Colin has said, do the skyrail.You will see the brochures on the Train up to Kuranda and the Skyrail down from there, both worth doing.The Kuranda train station is really worth a look at. Also I highly recommend the Quicksilver group to do a day trip to the outer reef, go to the outer reef, not Lowe Isle.
A must is also a trip to Cape Tribulation. Day trips leave Cairns to Cape Trib..not to be missed:)

Oh, if you feel like getting your hair done while here, I can highly recommend the salon at Lakes, RED is it's name...Bianca is the stylist I use.
Lakes also has a tourist info/booking service.
If you fly out from domestic airport and you see a person with nametag Anne on at the Coral Cay cafe, come and say hi:)

Have a wonderful adventure in Paradise:)

Hi There

I was in Cairns Nov 06 and can highly recommend the Quicksilver outer reef day trip , I had never snorkeled before ....It was amazing .....going back in Sept this year to Airlie Beach this time will definately go out on the reef again.

I had been told by a relative not to use a disposable waterprof camera .....they are not very good , so I looked around and found a place in Cairns called "Wet Resolutions" and hired a camera for the day picked it up the night before they showed me how to work it all , went out for the day took it back late that evening and they put all my photos and video clips on a disk all for $50.00 (australian) it was fantastic !!!! the card capacity was around 600 photos i was in the water for hours and only managed 250 but they really turned out well.

We did Kuranda skyway up and train down , found the markets at Kuranda a little average. You also have the night markets in the main shopping area every night they are worth a look.

On top of the casino there is a "zoo" of sorts.... for the money definately not worth the effort

Enjoy your trip !!!!

Hi yes I have just done the trip - I agree with all the comments - Lakes very nice lots of pools to swim in - Cape Trib is a good trip - tours go there regaurly you dont need to sit in a small and cramped 4wd all day either like i dio so there are plenty of companies to choose from -- it is a windy sealed road all the way now. The Tablelands passed Marreba are good and some wildlife at Granite Gorge (little wallabies roaming free really nice) and nice waterfalls also Enjoy

Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful ideas and tips on what to do in Cairns. You really are all such a friendly and helpful bunch of people! Anne - I will definately look you up when I fly into Cairns from Brisbane in Oct! Thanks once again.