Cairns Travel Forum

We will be in Cairns for two full days in July. From reading this board it seems wise to wait till we get to cairns to book a reef trip. We also plan on taking the railway and skyrail. I have also read its best to go from Port Douglas for snorkling. I read a tip for "Wavelength" but it only has full day trips that visit 3 reefs and it costs about 200. It seems a bit much. Know of any 1/2 day trips for snorkling?

My wife and I are traveling to Australia in February 2010 for 2 weeks and know that this is the hot/rainy season in Cairns. Consequently, I wanted to see if people though it was still worth visiting Cairns/Great Barrier Reef for a day to go diving/snorkeling or would we better served spending all of our time in the south? As an fyi, we also plan to go to Sydney, Melbourne and drive along the Great Ocean Road for a couple of days.

Dear VT friends,

I'm planning a trip to Australia in september, and I'd like to know wich is the best city to depart from to go to the great barrier reef tour, and wich is the best tour operator that does a plane tour?

Thank you and best regards!

I know a lot of dives go out of Cairns but I was wondering if there are possible less expensive places down the coast to go out of?

I was thinking 2 days diving would be in our budget. Maybe we should break it up and do two different locations. Also my littlest (5) and myself would probably be snorkeling most of the time. Are there any good places on the coast to go snorkeling from the shore?

We will be arriving in Cairns on June 3rd and will be driving to Sydney arriving there by June 17th.

Thanks

I was supposed to go to Gold coast in couple of days but have changed my mind due to the weather, now I am thinking of coming to cairns in couple of days and stay there for about a week.

I am wondering how are the beaches there, is the place gay friendly and how is the gay nightlife.

I love meeting new people wherever I travel and it would be great to chat to one of you and maybe meet when I come up so you can show me the area a bit.

Would love to hug a koala, get a picture with a kangaroo, go to beaches, and experience the cairns gay nightlife...

my msn is european_canadian@live.com

For those uncertified, novice divers who have 1 day to visit the Great Barrier Reef, would it be better to snorkel, or are the first-time dives worth it?

We're staying in Daintree so we'd like to do some Jungle Canopy Surfing as well. But diving might make that activity impossible (time-wise). Should we just go with snorkeling? Or would that just be missing too much of the GBR's beauty?

I'm looking forward to my first experience staying in Backpackers accommodation. I'll be arriving in September after the big downunder vt meet in the Whitsundays. Any suggestions?

Also suggestions for some good reasonable day trips would be nice as well. I don't drive. I've got Kuranda so far on my list :o)

And any locals that want to meet up for a drink and chinwag are most welcome.

Cheers, Ann.

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.

Hi there,

I have been in Melbourne for about a week now and will be staying here till 1 April, then I will fly up to Cairns for a week. I have been wondering what I might be able to do, considering the floods and things like that. Are there any problems for tourists at the moment?

And, do you have any advice on what I should do up there, any "must-sees"?

Thanks a lot for your help!

lucy

We'll be travelling to Cairns for 7 days in early May 2009 - dad will be at a conference the first few days and the rest of the family (me and 2 kids - 4 & 7) want to have fun. We're wondering: would it be best to stay in cairns only for the conference and then to go to Palm Cove or somewhere? Any recommendations for family friendly self contained and not too expensive accomodation in either place would be welcome (but Cairns accom needs to be near Convention Centre). What would be the best things to do with 2 very active little boys (and yes - I've read other postings and realise Anne12 is likely to say Quicksilver!)? What about a sailing trip to an island as well (and will we be able to swim/will there be stingers)? Any other recommendations would be much appreciated!

We are arriving in Cairns March 31 & staying for 5 days. What is the weather like that time of year & is it a good time for diving & snorkleing? We are actually staying in Port Douglas.

We plan on catching several tours into the rainforest and doing some snorkeling. But where are the best places in Cairns area to see wildlife like lizards and snakes? We don't want to see the Aussie wildlife only in Zoos while there. Are there any lodging places away from civilization that have wildlife right outside your door?

We will be in Cairns in a week or so, and I am wondering how the weather has been doing for rafting -- I had heard this could be a bad time of year, as the river is too high. Can anybody give me an update?
Thank you,
Elizabeth

Hi - I was on the Kuranda railway last year with my husband and he found the cd they played then hysterically funny. I am desperately trying to find some of the songs but have nothing to go on!

All I can say is that there was one song about going on a long car journey and the kids were in the back and I think part of the lyrics said "hang on kids, here comes another one" or something and they all go "oooooohhhhhhhhh" like they're going over a rough surface.

The other song I remember a little off was about christmas day, people playing cricket, "throw another shrimp on the barbie", some uncle drinking too much..

That's about it - not very helpful I know, but if anyone has been on the train, or works there, then perhaps these will ring a bell???

PS - I've tried phoning but it's only the ticket line and they can't help :S

Hi my name is loic, i am french

i am in cairns for 1 month and i am looking for poeople.
i would like to improve my english, i also like tennis
so if somebody is interested tell me

see you later

hi everybody!
i'm thinking about going to cairns for 6 months (octobre - march 09)to learn english.
maybe you could tell me sth about Carins, are the people friendly etc?
i know that cairns is not so big, but is it interesting enough to stay there for 6 months?
if i went there in octobre - march, i know that there will be summer time, is it very hot every day there? i think it would be very strange to me to sweat on chrismas instead of having snow... :D
and i wanted to ask if cairns is a cheap or an expensive place to be.
please tell me sht about cairns :D
( i hope my english is not so bad, so that you understand what i mean )

thank you for your answers!

Hi,
I am thinking of a day trip from Cairns to either Green Island or Fitzroy Island. Would prefer an island with a better beach for snorkelling and more corals and marine life. Which island is better for that? I am also very concern about Jellyfish in December, is it safe to snorkel from these islands?

I will also be going for 1 or 2 the barrier reef trips, so this island trip is something extra that I will like to do too.

Thanks :)

:) i'm currently living in sydney and my flight is booked to cairns on the 13th of november. i'm moving up with 2 of my friends who hitch hiked up there. we're going to be renting our own 3 bdroom place with aircon and hopefully a pool. and getting full time jobs to save up to travel further to other countries and do the same.. my family is HATING this. but not stopping me.
i just wanted to know a few things.
i hear you can't swim due to box jellyfish?
and i'll be 18 shortly..
is the much to do for 18 year olds?
are there community events?
musical events?
i also hear its not safe after night to walk around?

both my friends are boys and they got jobs the first 2 days they got up there, i hear its more difficult for girls? is this true?

anyone wanna point out a few things.. experiences.. anything. would be cool.
TA :D

Hi,
I have done full day Tully River rafting many years back and enjoyed it very much. I am going back to Cairns again this December. Prices have gone up quite a bit for rafting since the last time I was there, and I am looking at 1/2 day Barron River this time to save a bit of money and also to try a different river. The website states that Barron is a grade 3 while Tully is a grade 4.

Any comments on Barron and how is it compared to Tully? Any body tried both rivers before? I read a web review of complains about how dry the Barron is and to go to Tully instead which got me worried.

Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Do we need to book trips from Cairns such as the barrier reef trip in advance.

Hows the going lads and lasses! Me(25) and my girlfriend(26) are going to be arriving in Cairns on January 25th and will be staying for 4-5 days. First time in that part of the world so looking for any tips on anything - "must see" things to do; nice restaurants; nightlife etc. Sorry that its so general but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Has anyone taken the Dinner cruise? Was it fun? Food good? Worth doing? I'll be there near end of November, will weather be good for a dinner cruise? Any information appreciated, thanks.

HI
I ll arrive from Japan to Cairns in 3 weeks and I will be travelling from Carins to Brisbanne 14 days, (backpacker)
I was thinking about stay in Cairns 3 days,
-Cape Tribulation (how can I go? Going in my own i do not want to rent a 4x4) ,
-Go to the reefs and stay sleeping in a boat or island for 1 or 2 night ( any advice? company??
-In my way to Brisbanne by bus where do you recommend to stop?
...
In Bribane I ll stay 2-3 days and from there to Byron Bay but if you could give me advice about the questions below I ll be happy enough
Thanks in advance
Also looking for mates to share the trip (any forum)

MY DAUGHTER WILL BE MEETING ME IN CAIRNS THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. SHE GOES TO SCHOOL A NEWCASTLE AND WOULD LIKE TO HIT BRISBANE, SURFERS PARADISE AND WHITSUNDAY ISLAND (SHE THINKS) BEFORE WE MEET UP IN CAIRNS. PROBLEM IS, SHE IS TRAVELING ALONE. WORRIED IF IT'S SAFE FOR HER OR IF SHE SHOULD JUST TAKE A TRAIN TO BRISBANE AND DO DAY TRIPS OUT OF THERE AND THEN FLY UP TO CAIRNS TO MEET ME. CONCERNED MOM

My 17 year old daughter just returned from vacation to Cairns and isbrought a postcard by Peter Lik 'early morning fog over sydney". She absolutely adores this photo, and I would like to purchase a print...anyone tell me how to do this???

I think I may be trying to decide between these to GBR operators, Sunlover and Reef Magic. I realize Sunlover has a larger boat, takes more passengers, Reef Magic has fewer passengers, but that does not concern me so much. I am mostly interested in which operation takes you to the better reef, more fish, etc. I am also taking my Mom who will not be getting in the water, so I need good viewing opportunites for her such as underwater observation area, semi-submersible, and/or glass bottom boat. Who has the best lunch? Also, I plan to go diving, so which has the best diving progam and dive sites? I am looking for as much information as possible to help me decide. From what I've already read on this forum, both seem like very good operators, therefore, how do I choose between the two? Thanks!

I'm looking for a place to stay for one week in June 2009. Does anyone know of any little hidden gems anywhere. Not looking for anything in the centre of the nightlife. Will probably hire a car. Something on or near the coast would be fantastic. Never been to Queensland before, so looking for some help and advice for a first timer. Many thanks , Ted

We intend leaving our car at the lower skyrail station and taking the cable car up the mountain. We shall then return by the railway. I am wondering how one travels from the lower railway station to the skyrail station, in order to get back to our car. It looks like it is not within walking distance. Many thanks.

We are in Cairns for 4 nights next year as part of our RTW trip. Can anyone recommend a hotel reasonable price and quite central. also which boat would be best to see barrier reef. we are not divers but may be able to snorkel. thanks

We are looking at going to Green Island for a day trip and I was wondering if anyone can advise which company is better (and why) - Big Cat or Quicksilver Great Adventure. They both seem to have the same inclusions, etc. Does one have a better boat or location/faciliries on the island?
In addition, can anyone use the resort pool/facilities? Quicksilver Great Adventure advertise - "Use of Island swimming pool exclusive for Great Adventures guests" And Big Cat - "make use of the facilities including resort pool". Any information would be most welcomed.
Thanks.

PS. We are also going out to Marine World on Moore reef with Reef Magic Cruises, will Green Island be a let down after that?