Cairns Travel Forum

My husband, daughter & I are coming to Australia from England in August 2009 for 2 weeks,meeting up with our son & girlfriend travelling up from Melbourne. We are stopping in Trinity Beach,Cairns,none of us have ever been to this part of Australia, so hoping to do as many things as we can like the Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail, The Barrier Reef, White water rafting,Tjapukai & the Daintree Forest. Would it be better to pre-book our excursions on the internet before we leave England or is it better to do it when we are there? My husband also has a question,as a sports fanatic he wants to know is there any top class sporting events in the area at this time of year? I would appreciate any replies, Thank you so much.

It should not be necessary to pre-book on internet. August is not a very busy month.
Regarging sport- there is ALWAYS some exciting sport happening here. Australian Rules Football will be in full-swing., and its very populr. Also exciting.

I have not been to Far North Queensland so I can't help you with the bookings although some of my family have absolutely loved the Kuranda activities and say it is a great place.

Regarding sport. It will be nearing the end of both the NRL (Rugby League) and AFL (Aussie Rules) seasons. Both have weekly games that are worth seeing and the North Queensland Cowboys are the Rugby League team based in Townsville which would probably be the closest event to you guys. Cairns isn't really a big centre for top class sport - more likely to be in the main cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Maybe there is a basketball team up that way but really basketball doesn't get a whole lot of coverage over here. There could be some Rugby Union happening but once again it will be in the southern cities. Have a great trip.

Do not book in advance, wait to you arrive, check out availability of reef excursions available for the one that suits you. Normally you can book the day before, this gives you the opportunity to check the weather forecast.

Good Luck,
Mike

I agree with those that have said don't book ahead.
I would suggest that if you are staying at Trinity Beach you should hire a car.
This way you can do the drive up to Cape Tribulation yourselves, I highly recommend that you do it this way. You leave Trinity early in the morning, say 6.30am and head to Port Douglas to have a cuppa, then onto MOssman Gorge, allow 1 hour plus to wander around here( leaving early from Trinity means that you miss all the tourist buses at Mossman) then onward to the river crossing and up to Cape Tribulation, take a picnic or stop at cafe's along the way, you can swim here at that time of year, you can swim in all the beaches at that time of year.
You won't have to book your visit to Tjapukai, you can just arrive and go into the area.
The Great barrier Reef trip, I highly recommend the Quicksilver trip for this.
They will pick you up from your accommadation and return you. You won't have to book this until you get here.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway, won't have to book ahaed, just drive into the Freshwater Station on the morning and you can get a ticket, as long as you get there 30 minutes or so earlier than the train goes. Get the train up the hill:) and the skyrail down, this way you can spend as much time in Kuranda as you want, the train only has two trips down the hill as the skyrail goes up and down all day.When you buy the ticket for this it will include a bus ticket to get back to your car, They will also ask how long you want to spend up in Kuranda, just pick a time, 2 hours say, then if you need to change this you can, all you have to do is go to the skyrail terminal and do this, easy:)
Whitewater rafting can be booked when you arrive.
Also the Botanical Gardens area is a must to visit, it's wonderful place to walk around.
Also there are a couple of other drives you could do, visit Crystal Cascades, then Copperlode Damn area.
The Esplanade area in Cairns is great to visit and if you need some shopping there is the complex called Cairns Central.
Also there are some nice little shops at Palm Cove just up from Trinity Beach, drive or catch one of the local buses.

Have a great time in Paradise.

The white water rafting is fantastic up FNQ, Personally I did the
Baron River, which is only a half day and a lower grading than the Tully River one.
My husband has done both, and says if you are a dare devil, do the full day one at the Tully river.
Anne12s advice is great...check out those little places and do hire a car to do so.

we went to port douglas in august last year and it is a popular time to go
the weather is great

we hired a car from cairns airport and drove to our apartment in port douglas

we did pop in to trinity but that is really a relaxing- do - nothing destination
it is very small and sleepy

we loved port douglas - beautiful and there is plenty to do at night- not that we are night clubbers but it was nice to stroll and people watch
( we loved the mango jam restaurant pizzas)

we drove to cape tribulation and beyond to cooktown and then came down the inland route back to port douglas - we did it all in one day
a long day but it was fantastic

another day we went to kuranda by car
i have been on the skyrail
and recommend you do it on the way down- take the train up
there is a good bird sanctuary with lovely tame birds in kuranda ( theyre feeling the stress though so many have pluckedthemselves which is a shame)

good shopping in kuranda - loads of shops to explore so have a good stroll
i llove the honey shop too but i guess you wont be able to take any back to england

dont book anything in advance
weather will dicatate when the cruises go out to the reef anyway

do consider going to low isles - thats a really nice little cay
\
not allowed to pick up any shells or coral anywhere but you will be able to swim
it is not stinger season
the cruise ships will hire out suits to you anyway ( they did in october at any rate)


this is a magical part of the world and even though it is on my home turf - i am always enthralled by the beauty of the coast