Port Douglas or Cairns for 5 nights
 

My wife and I will be visiting Australia and New Zealand in April. Loose itinerary - 4 nights in Sydney, 5 nights in GBR and 3 nights in New Zealand (Aukland). (Auckland primarily because it costs nothing to fly there on the return flight - and, of course, it looks very interesting). While at the reef, thoughts are boat for day of snorkling, possible another deep sea fishing, and Karunda/rain forest tour. We are struggling with where to stay. Torn between using points to stay at Hilton in Cairns for free, or staying at either Radisson or rent house in Port Douglas. I found a site that had some lovely homes in Oak Beach that were very reasonable. There are pros and cons to both hotel and house, but maybe a suggestion on which town will help.

Mark 321 - Oak Beach is about 15min drive south of Port Douglas - very pretty but April is probably still going to be box-jelly fish season, so no beach swimming and you'd need a car. Apart from Thala Beach Resort (which is lovely) there is no tourist infrastructure there. Radisson in Cairns no longer exists, its being renovated as we speak to Shangrila - very handy position on waterfront, (on marina at Pier where boats leave for reef) and very near Cairns Hilton. Radisson Treetops in Port Douglas is some way out of town. Reef trips leave from Cairns or Port Douglas (more choice from Cairns) - and Kuranda train/Skyrail departure points are about an hour closer to Cairns than PD.

Hi there...not trying to hijack the thread or anything..but if one is going to PD from say December-April..does that mean no beach swimming at all? Just confined to hotel pools?

Hi Capt Canuk: about one minute ago I just answered this very question on the above post "Port Douglas accommodations". I believe Port Douglas is building a large stinger-proof lagoon a la Cairns, but don't know how its progressing at this stage. Many beaches in area have been closed over last few days because of irukandji stings (not as bad as boxjelly fish)but unpleasant, all the same.

Hi Mark,

Hmm, lots of good choices. If it were me I'd stay in Cairns, but I am single and social. Couples tend to enjoy the quieter, more resort style existence on the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas area. Lots of choices at either, and Oak Beach is nice, just don't go in the water. These might be of help to you:
Re: Stinging jellyfish http://www.redochregrill.com.au/
Re: some help choosing a place to stay:
http://www.divethereef.com/LodgingGuide.asp