Cairns - Daintree- Thala transfers?
Sep 6th, 2005, 05:21 AM
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Cairns - Daintree- Thala transfers?
I've been lurking on this truly excellent forum for quite a while, planning my upcoming honeymoon. I haven't felt the need to ask anything before, as so much info and advice already exists in previous threads.
Just one thing though: how best to organize transfers between Cairns and Daintree Eco Lodge, and later on between the lodge and Thala Beach? Hiring a car is sadly not the answer as people down there insist on driving on the wrong side of the road... I also find that hotel arranged transfers can be quite expensive so I'd appreciate some good ideas? We'll arrive at Cairns airport around 17.30 on Tuesday October 4th, stay 2 nights at the Daintree Eco Lodge and 6 nights at Thala.
Thank you!
Just one thing though: how best to organize transfers between Cairns and Daintree Eco Lodge, and later on between the lodge and Thala Beach? Hiring a car is sadly not the answer as people down there insist on driving on the wrong side of the road... I also find that hotel arranged transfers can be quite expensive so I'd appreciate some good ideas? We'll arrive at Cairns airport around 17.30 on Tuesday October 4th, stay 2 nights at the Daintree Eco Lodge and 6 nights at Thala.
Thank you!
Sep 6th, 2005, 01:56 PM
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You can get on one of the rare public buses that go all the way up to Cape Tribulation, but it will take you forever. Honestly, the best way to get there is with a hire car. Driving on the "wrong" side is not that hard. Remember that the Eco Lodge is pretty remote and even Thala is right between Cairns and Port Douglas. So you are kind of stuck there, a car would give you some independence.
Sep 6th, 2005, 02:01 PM
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HunterGatherer, the only other option after self drive or hotel transfer service is shuttle coach. Try Sun Palm Express - www.sunpalmtransport.com - they do coach transfers to door for resorts between Cairns city, Cairns airport up to Cape Tribulation. But they may well be no less than hotel transfer service, most of who use Sun Palm anyway - worth checking though.
Sep 6th, 2005, 03:56 PM
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BTW - I do agree with myaustralia as both resorts are fairly isolated and a car would give you so much more flexibility. There's not much traffic compared with cities and not a bad area to practice driving on "wrong" side of road. Our first driving on what is "wrong side of road" experience in US was straight out of LA, and we survived!
Sep 6th, 2005, 10:33 PM
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Thank you both for quick answers, will consider hiring a car, even though we are dangerous enough while driving on the "right" side of the road...
We will only be at the Daintree Eco Lodge for two nights so the remoteness of the place shouldn't be a problem (except getting there!), Thala seems to have some sort of shuttle service to and from Port Arthur.
We will only be at the Daintree Eco Lodge for two nights so the remoteness of the place shouldn't be a problem (except getting there!), Thala seems to have some sort of shuttle service to and from Port Arthur.
Sep 8th, 2005, 03:16 PM
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Am sure that's just a typo, HG, but you mean Port Douglas, not Port Arthur, which is in Tasmania at the other end of the country. Thala's about 15 min drive to PD, there is a shuttle service but maybe not at the times you'll find convenient. Happy travels!
