pat_woolford

Whoops, sorry dizzy, I meant the pub is on the northern, not southern, headland at Trinity.

Sally, did the croc handler at Wild World tell you that more people are killed per year by vending machines falling on them than by croc attack?

dizzyb

Thanks again for your messages. Do Quicksilver provide life vests / flotation vests as the kids can swim reasonably well and snorkel ok, but sometimes struggle if out of their depth when combining swimming and snorkelling! Are there any offers in the resort for this trip as it looks quite costly for us all but we do really want to go out to the reef and quicksilver probably fits the bill best because of the extras like the pontoon, big boat and submersible. Any offers, any offers on the Blue Mountains /Whitsundays questions ? Thanks for taking the time!

pat_woolford

dizzy, first Trinity is far closer to Cairns city (its a suburb of Cairns) than it is to PD so access to reef is faster as most boats leave from Cairns city. For a less expensive pontoon option than Quicksilver, have a look at Reef Magic out of Cairns. It takes a maximum of 140, far less than Quicksilver, 90mins trip out of Cairns city gets you to reef at 10.30am, with 5 full hours on reef. Quicksilver doesn't leave PD until 10.00am. Family rate (2 adults, 2 kids is AU$350, far less than Quicksilver). All reef trips provide life jackets and Reef Magic has safe kids' swimming enclosure on pontoon, as does Quicksilver. Reef Magic doesn't have a semi-sub, but it does have a covered glass bottom boat. Another trip out of Cairns city which has easy, safe snorkelling from a sand cay (nature's own pontoon)is Ocean Spirit to Michaelmas Cay - it does have a semi-sub, more expensive than Reef Magic, but still less than Quicksilver and a far different experience.

Tassietwister

Most boats provide those colourful noodles as flotation devices I think.

jbstrig

My husband and I just spent 4 weeks in AU and had the time of our life. Many questions were answered via this sight. Planned for a year. We, in fact, just arrived back in CT earlier today. I can get into detail a little later. We stayed in Sydney for 5 days at the beginning of the trip, flew to Melbourne for 3 days, in Pt. Douglas for 6 days, Brisbane for 6 days and back to Sydney. I can HIGHLY recommend the Archipelago Studio Apts in Pt. Douglas.They are right on the 4 mile beach with a nice pool and walking distance to everything.Their website is www.archipelago.com.au All tours made thru the very informative owners(no extra cost). Highlight was snorkeling on the reef. We used "Wavelength" and was extremely pleased. We also did the Kurunda,Tjapukai center and Skyrail train. Cairns is a rather large city, Pt. Douglas is a small resort area. All tours pick you up at the Pt. Douglas hotels.
Blue Mtns. tour was taken with "Activity Tours" excellent guides, we used them 2X, small vans, very funny and informative guides.The best zoo and the pic with the koala is at the Featherdale Wildlife Park. This was included with above tour. www.activitytours.com.au. If you need more or prices, I have it all.
We also did Frazer Island in one day with a 4 wheel drive and that was another highlight, swimming at MacKenzie Lake. It was a very long day, but well worth the experience.Used Sunrover tours, very happy, again a smaller company.www.sunrover.com.au Enjoy your trip! jb

touristblob

just a note on the whitsundays,its easy to get from airlie beach to hamilton island by boat and then anoter ferry to whitehaven beach and ten back again in a day. it is truely an amazing place,you may also consider a day trip from cairns to green island for superb beaches and snorkling