Hi guys,
Posted here before about my trip to Oz, just got a couple more questions about the time I'm spending in the Cairns area.
I get to Cairns about 3 in the afternoon. From what I've heard Cairns sounds great but Cape Tribulation sounds even more exciting so I was thinking about getting a coach there that afternoon and staying in a hostel in that area for a few days - maybe PK's jungle village, does anyone know what its like?
After few days there seeing the rainforest/reef I might head back to central Cairns and stay in Gilligans for a bit - again, any opinions on this hostel? It seems to be recommended by most.
Does this sound like a good idea or should I stay in central Cairns on the day I get there? I'm sure there's lots to see there but I'd rather spend more of my trip exploring outside big cities.
Any advice is much appreciated, thanks!
Graham

graham, Cairns isn't a big city like Sydney, Melbourne or even Brisbane, its just a rather large regional country town and ideal jump off point to reef, rainforests, Daintree, Atherton Tableland. However, there's a good variety of night life in Cairns city and I don't think you'd find PK's in Cape Trib more "exciting" in that respect. It's a well known backpacker party place. Where I would find more exciting, for wildlife anyway, in Daintree area is Daintree Mangrove Wildlife Sanctuary, accommodation is reasonably priced - www.daintreewild.com.au

Sorry, meant PK's is a well known, small backpacker/party place even though its in fairly isolated area near Cape Trib. Gilligans in Cairns has its own nightclub and bars and is within easy walking distance of others.

In July this year I stayed 3 nights at
Cape Trib Beach House (www.capetribbeach.com.au) which had a variety of accommodation ranging from dormitory to individual (but still quite small basic) huts. We were preety happy with it. You really feel as though you are staying right in the middle of the rainforest and is, I think, the only one so close to the beach. Whilst there I had a wander around PK's Jungle Village to see what that was like as I had been considering that as well. It is quite well set out but doesn't have that I am in the middle of the rainforest feel that the Beach House did. It was much more of a conventional camping ground that you might find anywhere. Both have bars you can go to for a meal and drink. My main concern with PK's was that there were a number of spots around the place which were quite "whiffy". Everything up there is on septic tank and you could certainly tell at PK's. Whether this was just a particular problem when I went visiting or a perennial problem I couldn't say. At the Beach House there certainly wasn't any smell at all. If you do consider the Beach House I wouldn't pay any extra money for the huts closer to the beach. Even those closest to the beach don't give you a beach view. The swimming pool at the Beach House is very small if that is a consideration. I can't remember the one at PK's.

Trips out to the reef and kayaking can be arranged from either place very easily. I would like to say there were wonderful but unfortunately the weather wasn't good enough whilst we were there - cancelled every day. That was the only other thing, as we were unable to do the activities we had planned we got rather bored. There are only so many rainforest walks you can do - they all tend to look the same. Regardless we still enjoyed the experience and hopefully you will have better luck weatherwise.

We stayed at PK's, but not in a backpackers lodge, more like a little 2 bed fixed tent. Its an excellent place.

Reef, visit it from Cairns not from Cape Tribulation.

Journey from Cairns to Cabe Trib is picturesque, we drove so I have have no idea about coaches.

Thanks for all the help! PK's and the beach house both sound like places I'd like from what you said so it'll be hard deciding which to go for!