Cairns - 3rd leg proposed itinerary
May 30th, 2004, 06:24 PM
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Cairns - 3rd leg proposed itinerary
This is our third leg of our journey in Australia. I am breaking out the itinerary for your comments in 3 installments. Please see below for what we are looking at doing in the GBR and Cairns area in late Sept when the school holiday appears to also be happening.
I am thinking because of this to pre-book trips for the scuba and snorkeling already and even double booking them on our alternative dates knowing I can cancel 24 hours in advance if the first day appears to be doomed with bad weather. Regards - Brazoo
Sept 23 - Arrive in Cairns around 1 p.m. Picked up and brought to Marlin Gateway Holiday Apartments at Trinity Beach. Spend the rest of day relaxing on the beach and our apartment. Might rent a car and puddle around Cairns before going to the apartment just to do a quick over as I understand it to be a bit much on the touristy side.
Sept 24 - A day taking in the sites starting with the Tjapukai Aborigine dancers, using the Skyway to Kurdara and the various markets at the top and then back down on the Kuranda Railroad (thanks fellow Frodors surfers) for the tip on doing it in that order. Looking at having the car from the airport to go or using public transportation. Not sure if I can dump the car in Port Douglas for the next day and use HABA tours transpiration back to Trinity Beach on the 25th but that is what I am thinking or if there is a rental place in Trinity Beach I could use, etc. Any suggestions on this would be welcomed . Also thinking of taking in the Festival Cairns held until Sept 25th but they have no info on their site about this year and fail to tell me what is in store, so not sure if it is worth it or not.
Sept 25 - Wife wants to scuba at least once and I only snorkel so taking day trip out of Port Douglas via HABA Dive and Snorkel because of various recommendations on the board and there smaller size.
Sept 26 - Alternative scuba day if bad weather on the 25th. If good weather than we are looking at doing Day trip to the Daintree River / rainforest / Cape Trib / Mossman Gorge area. Looking at either driving ourselves or based on a number of suggestions using a tour of either Craig at Trek North to go on their Cape Tribulation or Pete Baxendell's Heritage & Interpretive Tours. Not to make anyone mad but I read a lot about David A?s trip and for the money, I want to spend it somewhere else on this already expensive trip. So David?s out of the picture.
Sept 27 - Maybe a trip to Palm Cove and Wild World to to hold the Koala as it was mentioned this might be the only opportunity to actual hold one. And later to Four Mile Beach in Pt Douglas and bum around town and have dinner there
Sept 28 - 2nd trip to GBR via the snorkeling only trip out of Port Douglas via Wavelength Snorkeling Day
Sept 29 - Alternative snorkeling day if bad weather on the 28th. If good weather than a free day to sit on the beach to chill out.
Sept 30 - Depart Cairns to SYD at 7am. Have 1 last day in SYD
Here are a few other things we were thinking of doing in the area but not sure if we should/should not try to fit them in. After all this was suppose to be our relaxing leg of our journey after the SYD and MEL running around we plan in our other itineraries. Any other ideas all welcome.
- Atherton Tablelands (Undara lava tubes)
- Go to Didjshop to buy a Diji
- Eat at Fishlips Bar & Bistro in Cairns one night maybe the 23rd
I am thinking because of this to pre-book trips for the scuba and snorkeling already and even double booking them on our alternative dates knowing I can cancel 24 hours in advance if the first day appears to be doomed with bad weather. Regards - Brazoo
Sept 23 - Arrive in Cairns around 1 p.m. Picked up and brought to Marlin Gateway Holiday Apartments at Trinity Beach. Spend the rest of day relaxing on the beach and our apartment. Might rent a car and puddle around Cairns before going to the apartment just to do a quick over as I understand it to be a bit much on the touristy side.
Sept 24 - A day taking in the sites starting with the Tjapukai Aborigine dancers, using the Skyway to Kurdara and the various markets at the top and then back down on the Kuranda Railroad (thanks fellow Frodors surfers) for the tip on doing it in that order. Looking at having the car from the airport to go or using public transportation. Not sure if I can dump the car in Port Douglas for the next day and use HABA tours transpiration back to Trinity Beach on the 25th but that is what I am thinking or if there is a rental place in Trinity Beach I could use, etc. Any suggestions on this would be welcomed . Also thinking of taking in the Festival Cairns held until Sept 25th but they have no info on their site about this year and fail to tell me what is in store, so not sure if it is worth it or not.
Sept 25 - Wife wants to scuba at least once and I only snorkel so taking day trip out of Port Douglas via HABA Dive and Snorkel because of various recommendations on the board and there smaller size.
Sept 26 - Alternative scuba day if bad weather on the 25th. If good weather than we are looking at doing Day trip to the Daintree River / rainforest / Cape Trib / Mossman Gorge area. Looking at either driving ourselves or based on a number of suggestions using a tour of either Craig at Trek North to go on their Cape Tribulation or Pete Baxendell's Heritage & Interpretive Tours. Not to make anyone mad but I read a lot about David A?s trip and for the money, I want to spend it somewhere else on this already expensive trip. So David?s out of the picture.
Sept 27 - Maybe a trip to Palm Cove and Wild World to to hold the Koala as it was mentioned this might be the only opportunity to actual hold one. And later to Four Mile Beach in Pt Douglas and bum around town and have dinner there
Sept 28 - 2nd trip to GBR via the snorkeling only trip out of Port Douglas via Wavelength Snorkeling Day
Sept 29 - Alternative snorkeling day if bad weather on the 28th. If good weather than a free day to sit on the beach to chill out.
Sept 30 - Depart Cairns to SYD at 7am. Have 1 last day in SYD
Here are a few other things we were thinking of doing in the area but not sure if we should/should not try to fit them in. After all this was suppose to be our relaxing leg of our journey after the SYD and MEL running around we plan in our other itineraries. Any other ideas all welcome.
- Atherton Tablelands (Undara lava tubes)
- Go to Didjshop to buy a Diji
- Eat at Fishlips Bar & Bistro in Cairns one night maybe the 23rd
May 31st, 2004, 04:54 PM
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hi brazoo - seeing you're staying at Trinity Beach which is a suburb of Cairns, it would be easier and quicker to take a reef trip out of Cairns rather than PD. Tusa Dive out of Cairns only takes a max. of 28 people and gives nearly 5 hours on reef - although its emphasis is on diving it also caters to snorkellers. www.tusadive.com Reef Magic caters to both divers and snorkellers and gives you 5 hours on the reef and includes a free introductory dive for those not certified. www.reefmagiccruises.com Both of these operators will pick up and drop off at Trinity Beach - the cost of Tusa's pick up and drop off is included in their price and Reef Magic charges $AUD12 pp return from northern beaches which includes Trinity.
Jun 1st, 2004, 02:56 PM
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brazoo - sorry, forgot to mention a few things. Undara is way beyond even the western extremities the Atherton Tableland and from Trinity you'd need to overnight there unless you want to spend about 9 hours behind a wheel or in a bus. You could easily drive the much closer "waterfall circuit" around Malanda and Millaa Millaa or take a daytrip with Northern Experience Eco Tours - www.cairnstours.com or Wilderness Eco Safaris www.wildernessecosafari.com - Steve, the operator, has permits for 4WD restricted roads so you probably won't see another tourist all day.
A few non-touristy suggestions while you're in the area - dinner at Seviche, Lemongrass or the Garden Room in Stratford (about 15 min drive from Trinity) - tourists haven't discovered this little mecca of top eateries, but the locals have, with a vengeance. Particularly Lemongrass - where a booking is always necessary. Lunch at Yorkeys Knob Boat Club - stunning view -the outdoor eating area is entirely over water so you can share your lunch with the large fish which hang around for a handout. They have a courtesy car arrangement which I'm sure takes in Trinity Beach and not a tourist to be seen unless you count the odd passing yachtie. Lunch at Paradise Palms golf club at Clifton Beach, just north of Trinity. The club house restaurant has one of the best views in the area over the international standard golf course and there's tennis courts and an Olympic size pool available for a small charge. It isn't necessary to be a member of either of these clubs - you'll just be asked to sign a visitor's book.
A few non-touristy suggestions while you're in the area - dinner at Seviche, Lemongrass or the Garden Room in Stratford (about 15 min drive from Trinity) - tourists haven't discovered this little mecca of top eateries, but the locals have, with a vengeance. Particularly Lemongrass - where a booking is always necessary. Lunch at Yorkeys Knob Boat Club - stunning view -the outdoor eating area is entirely over water so you can share your lunch with the large fish which hang around for a handout. They have a courtesy car arrangement which I'm sure takes in Trinity Beach and not a tourist to be seen unless you count the odd passing yachtie. Lunch at Paradise Palms golf club at Clifton Beach, just north of Trinity. The club house restaurant has one of the best views in the area over the international standard golf course and there's tennis courts and an Olympic size pool available for a small charge. It isn't necessary to be a member of either of these clubs - you'll just be asked to sign a visitor's book.
Jun 1st, 2004, 05:35 PM
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Pat, some wonderful suggestions. After looking at possible individual tour costs of gaining transportation to and from venues and then what a car hire per day would cost, I am seriously thinking of having hired a car so that we can go to those places you mentioned for dinner and have the freedom of when to go, where.
Keep the suggestions flowing. - Brazoo
Keep the suggestions flowing. - Brazoo
Jun 2nd, 2004, 09:56 PM
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Hi brazoo - I'd rent a car for part of the time too. Obviously you won't need one for your reef trip or Kuranda Train/Skyrail day trip (try to include Tjakupai Aboriginal Cultural Park) in that day and I'd stick with Trek North for your Cape Trib day - you'll get a lot more insight into the area with a guide such as Craig, than if you self-drive. The Tableland is easy to negotiate on your own. If you are interested in native birdlife you must drop into Mareeba Wetlands west of Kuranda - astonishing variety of birds and kangaroos in wild. It's about $8 a head admission which is nothing compared with the cost of a taking a tour.
Two lovely areas not far from Trinity are Crystal Cascades which is like Mossman Gorge without the people, and Lake Placid where there's bbq facilities and canoe rental. Any local map or map in phone book will show directions.
Two lovely areas not far from Trinity are Crystal Cascades which is like Mossman Gorge without the people, and Lake Placid where there's bbq facilities and canoe rental. Any local map or map in phone book will show directions.
