Cairns Travel Forum

We are arriving in Cairns at $:30 am on a Quantos flight in mid July. What car rental is the cheapest? We are not swimmers or snorklers. Can someone suggest an itinerary for 4 days of sightseeing in the area including the Great Barrior Reef and perhaps some of the Atherton Tableland? Are the roads good? A suggestion of places to stay that are nice and inexpensive? Thanks

I imagine you meant 04:30hrs.As Aussies we were disappointed in Cairns with its inherent criminal element in some areas, but just loved the Daintree area. Yes, rent a car and go North to Cape tribulation the roads are great. July is a very good month to see North Queensland. Do be prudent if you go fishing along the banks of rivers there are huge crocodiles there. They tell me 1 every 2 kms. We certainly saw enough. If you like fishing in tributaries I recommend you hire a professional with all his expertise and tackle about AUD$300 per 1/2 day. We rented a cabin at Wonga Beach some 30 kms from Cairns and made it our base camp for exploring the Daintree. If you want to go up market there are many sites to attract you austguide.com and more particularly their tropical site http://www.austguide.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&Itemid=14&cat_id=201&state=QLD&region=TROPICAL
Enjoy the friendly people of Queensland.
Wal

With four days you could do one day Atherton tour, Port Douglas one day, Island tour one day and one day Cairns are regional areas. There are lots of great things to do in the area.

Driving is easy, roads are good within the areas you would go in four days.
There is an abundance of car rental places:

www.cairnsoldercarhire.com (CHEAP old cars) www.cairnscarrental.com.au

www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/locations/cairns/ (Cheap cars)

http://www.drivenow.com.au/cairns/car-hire.jspk this is a site which compares car hire.

The usuals all have cars in Cairns: Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Budget

We rented our (small) car from Cruising Car Rentals; this company offered a free pick up and delivery from our accommodation. And indeed they were exactly on time to bring us to their office to pick up the car. When we dropped off our car we got a free transportation to the airport.

Roads are OK and driving wasn't a problem.

Sightseeing for 4 days:
- Cairns, Flecker Botanical Garden, Cairns Zoo, the nothern beaches
- Great Barrier Reef
- Kuranda, Barron Falls and Mareeba (with coffee trail)
- Atherton Tablelands: Danbulla Forest Drive, Yungaburra, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine

happy travels
Jaap

The Tablelends are best seen by just driving around. Roads and signage are good and there are plenty of hire car companies as already mentioned.
As you specifically mention the GBR, you could take a day trip to the outer reef with an operator such as Quicksilver or Sunlover. The have large wave-piercer catamarans, marine biologists to explain it all, semi-submersibles so that non-swimmers can see the underwater world, underwater viewing stations etc etc.

Bookmark for possible trip next month

Redspot car rentals at the Cairns Qantas Domestic arrival terminal is a good car rental company to go with. There prices include all expenses.

To see the reef, ( even if you don't swim or snorkle) is going out to the outer reef by boat. I always recommend the Quicksilver company, I think this is a great trip for those that don't swim as you can still see the reef area and can see the reef and some fish from the Pontoon as well as going in the little semi submersible sub and see coral and fish.
Check out there site.
www.quicksilver-cruises.com

Another day I would suggest that you go for a drive or tour to Cape Tribualtion.
This is where the Reef meets the Rainforest and it's a wonderful day out.
You go to Mossman Gorge, Daintree Village and then onto Cape Tribulation.
Really not to be missed.
A day drive is a good way to go as you can please yourself when and where you stop.
Leave Cairns early in the morning as then you will miss all the tourist buses at Mossman Gorge.

Another day could be spent doing the train/skyrail up to Kuranda. This is another fun thing to do. Up by train in the morning, around 9.30 or there abouts.Then up to Kuranda and a look around. Then down by skyrail, anytime you wish as this runs all day.

Another fun thing to do is to visit the Botanical Gardens/Lake area, these Gardens are wonderful.
Then once you have done the gardens you could head north a little and visit one of the Northern beaches, Palm Cove is a popular one. It's a lovely little beach to visit.
You will be able to swim in the beaches at that time of year, not a problem with stingers...
The weather will be great...( unless the rain gods get angry:))

The Atherton tablelands are also lovely to visit. Lakes and other little towns etc. When you arrive in Cairns you will be able to get heaps of maps and brochures at any of the Information centres along the Esplanade and around Cairns, lots of these about. These are maps for all the areas I have mentioned, plus more!!

Accommodation, these is heaps in Cairns. have a look at wotif.com.au
also visit http://www.cairnsinfo.com.au

Someone mentioned something about being safe in Cairns.
All cities and towns have safety issues.Cairns is no different.
Don't walk home after dark. Get a cab, not expensive.
Walking around the main city area is fine. Near the shops, well lit areas.
Don't have your handbag/bags swinging off your shoulders, keep them in front of you.
When you go swimming, leave all your valuables in the boot of the car...then no one can see them, make sure car is locked.

It's the people that don't think that usually get caught!!!!

Just use your common sense and you will be fine.

Have a wonderful trip to Paradise:)

Oh, I forgot to add that the roads are good. Follow the speed signs as we do the speeding cameras all over the place.

( If you go on Quciksilver trip, I betcha $5 Aus that you get into the water:))