Cairns Hilton and Rental Car
 

If staying at Hilton in Cairns and all we are doing is getting to hotel, using Wavelength out of PD for Snorkeling and using train and skyway to Kuranda and back, would we need to rent a car?

What would transfers cost us if no car needed?

No - you probably can easily do withoput a rental car.

We stayed at Pat Woolford's place in teh suburbs, and managed without a car, except for the days we went touring. Tour operators will pick you up and deliver you (and cost is built into tour price) - and there's always public transport. A car may be a handicap if you have to find a place to park it when you're heading off somewhere.

We stayed at the Cairns Hilton in June and had a rental car becuase we had been in Cape Tribulation for a week but we could have just as easily gone with out the car. Cairns is a small city and it's easy to walk. I'm not sure if your staying at the Hilton for or because of points or not but I can reccomend a much better place to stay if you like B&B's but you would need a rental car for it. I found Zanzoo to be much better than the Hilton. We stayed there because we had an early flight, didn't realize how small Cairns really is and cashed in some miles.

Return transfers with Skyrail to Cairns Hilton are AU$19pp. But if you book through Kuranda Train, you can board the train at Cairns station, (Skyrail uses Freshwater Connection station which is some 10km out of town)which is easily walkable from Hilton. Train fare is same whether you board in Cairns or Freshwater. For return from Skyrail base near Smithfield, there's a public bus which will take you back into town for a few dollars. The bus stop is on Capt Cook Highway, near Skyrail near corner of Kamerunga Rd.

Wavlength's transfers from Cairns city to Port Douglas are AU$25pp, its a very early pick-up from Cairns. The Hilton is only about a minute's walk from Marlin Marina where there's a far greater choice of reef trips than from Port Douglas.

Thoroughly endorse the above recommendation for Zanzoo B&B, not far from where I live, so I know it well. One of the best restorations on a classic old Queenslander, set in some 14acres of tropical gardens, with all all-year rainforest swimming creek running through property. Also very close to Crystal Cascades which is similar to Mossman Gorge. A car is pretty well necessary though.

Thanks for all the good information. We did book 3 nights at Hilton as I have points I wanted to use on this trip.

We would like to take the skyway first and the train back as heard that may be best for viewing rainforest, etc. How would that work as I believe what you noted was just the opposite way of doing it?

Heard so much about Wavelength and limited passengers and is why we are leaning that route but of course my sea legs are not too good so not to sure what to expect.

bdehning, I'm not sure what the logic is in taking Skyrail first, but if that's what you want you can just do what I described in reverse. ie, catch public bus to Skyrail, the bus terminal is in Lake St, also close to Hilton, catch train at Kuranda and don't alight at Freshwater Connection, continue on to Cairns city. If you include Tjakupai Aboriginal Cultural Park in this trip it'll give you some insight into indigenous culture.

If its a small group trip you're looking for, Ecstasea, a yacht out of Cairns only takes a max of 20, which is less than Wavelength. But beware of small in windy weather, you would be more comfy in something a bit bigger.

I'd take the train up to Kuranda first because it will be very disappointing to take it last. The skyrail is much better. Also stop and take the guided ranger walk on the skyrail stops. I think it was the 2nd stop. The ranger we had was so informative. It was fantastic learning about the plants and Cassowarys. The tours are free you just have to wait for the ranger on the next one. It's worth the wait.

If you plan to head out further, perhaps beach hop or go up to Port Douglas a rental can make sense, but to Kurunda I would take the tour, the road driving up is not as interesting as the train or skyrail. When you see rental rates do not the 'extras' as what can look bargain rates really add-up when you add in the extras. I would say rental if you want to tour around but for local use tours and taxis.