tulipz1

Hello!
we are headed to Australia end of February and were looking for a week long rental in Cairns, can anyone recoomend anything or suggest a hotel?
Thanks!
Liz

ts2671

Try Southern Cross Apartments at
www.southerncrossapartments.com

Karen246

If you are touring why don't you try one of the northern beach sites instead of Cairns which is just a big town (nice). Try Trinity or Holloway for a nice relaxing break right on the beach or if you want something a little more upmarket - Palm Cove. All are only 15-20 minutes north of Cairns and all the tour operators pick up from there as well. Apartments can be righ on the beac. Enjoy

marg

I'd certainly stop at Palm Cove rather than Cairns. There isn't a beach in Cairns - just a very nice articifial swimming lagoon on the Esplanade. Palm Cove has a village atmosphere, a good beach, good choice of accommodation and places to eat plus it's a very pretty place. It's only about 20 minutes from Cairns and Port Douglas and there is a bus service.

pat_woolford

Cairns city has a harbour, not a beach, but February is height of wet season and stinger time, so don't know if a beach would be such a great idea. You may be lucky with weather, but stingers will definitely be about on beaches, it isn't safe to wade even ankle-deep in sea.

However, its a great time for rainforest and reef (providing there's not a cyclone about), whitewater rafting, and Cairns is an ideal jumping-off spot - as well as having by far the best choice of restaurants to suit all pockets.

For holiday rentals www.accomcairnsproperty.com.au has the biggest choice in area. Will suggest hotels if you give an idea of budget as there is quite a range in Cairns city.

susiesan

We will be in the Cairns area for a while as part of a 2 week trip to Oz in November. We arrive in Australia Nov. 14 and I haven't made any plans for the other cities yet. Here is a tentative plan: spend 2 nights in Cairns, 1 night on liveabourd reef cruise, 2 nights in Palm Cove or other northern beach town. Will this give us time to see the local highlights as day tours, including Kuranda, Daintree, etc? Would it be better to come back to Cairns after the cruise? Or should we start in the north and end up in Cairns as to easier get to the airport when we leave for our next stop, probably Ayers/Alice Springs. Should we rent a car or just use day tours/cabs/buses?

pat_woolford

susiean, Palm Cove is a northern suburb (not town) of Cairns so in terms of distance to places you mentioned there's not much in it. Reef trips out of Cairns will pick you up at Palm Cove, and its almost the same distance to Skyrail as Cairns. Palm Cove is slightly closer to Daintree than Cairns, Atherton Tableland is accessible from both points. You won't need a car for reef trip, Kuranda (Skyrail/Train), or a Daintree day trip; you may like to rent one for Atherton Tableland although there's plenty of day trips there too. There's some lovely rainforest, waterfalls, wetlands at Wooroonooran National Park, just south of Cairns - an easy day trip with some trekking is www.wooroonooran-safaris.com.au This area is well off the beaten tourist track and trip includes a visit to Johnstone River crocodile farm.