Staying in Kurandra.......
 

We will be in the Cairns area for five days, any suggestions for something off the beaten path?????

Hi Shellcat,

well, Kuranda wouldn't be it, as you'd be hard pressed to find a more touristy area! :)

I'd say to rent a car @ the Cairns airport and head for Cape Tribulation. Lots of beautiful scenery along the way, and off the beaten path. You could also do a day trip to Cooktown from there, or, split your time between the two.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Would we be safe to go without any reservations for five days and stop where we liked-we have to be in Cairns on November 2 to depart on the Orion, and can arrive on October 29???

At that time of year you could easily travel without reservations. Let us know what, 'of the beaten track' looks like to you and we could make some suggestions. Tourists go to the same places for very good reasons. If you want to stay near Kuranda then I recommend Cassowary House. They specialise in catering for bird watchers but can deal with ordinary people too. At that time of year though I would book with them as it is top birding time in north Queensland.
www.cassowary-house.com.au/

What are your interests, Shellcat, and those of your grandmother?

She is game for anything, probably not snorkeling. I have a deposit on the Orion cruise ship, so that will allow her to see much of the coast and islands heading going to all the way to Sydney. I love adventure travelling, so this cruise also will let me go hiking, snorkling, beaching and not be tied to the hip so to speak. This site is really helping me with ideas, and although she gets around fine, loves road trips, I want to pace the time so she is not too tired. It looks like I should rent a car in Cairns and do self-drive tours up to Port Douglas, and that area. My other main interest would be the Outback and a road trip to Longreach or something closer that lets us see the western part of Aussie living. I have a small ranch in Oregon and usually do horseback adventure riding in Africa and anywhere in the mountains. Not really possible on this trip due to time-and Gram. Sorry about the book, your suggestions would be helpful as I trust the info given by all of you.

Of course seeing the ever-favorite, kangaroos is a must

You can see Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Mareeba and hand feed the Mareeba Rock Wallabies at Granite Gorge. From there you can drive south to see the waterfalls and lakes of the Atherton Tablelands. Lake Barine has a regular cruise with good commentary and you can hire a boat on Tinaroo too. To see the tree-kangaroos and possums you are better of hiring a guide.

If you don't need to stay in the same place every night why don't you do something like this for the five days. Hire the car at the airpost and drive north, stopping at Mossman Gorge on the way to the Daintree and take a sunset cruise on the river.
Next day cross the river and visit the Discovery Centre where you can learn about the rainforest and there are other attractions which you nmight choose from including icecream made with strange fruit. Stay in Daintree a second night.
Day three drive to Mareeba for the animals mentioned above and then on to Yungaburra as your base for two nights. See the Curtain Fig, take a Barrine boat cruise, tour the waterfalls and see Platypus, Tarzalli Lakes is the place if you fail to see them on Petersen Creek in Yungaburra. Take a nocturnal tour.
Day five return to Carins via Kuranda. You could thor Gran on the skyrail for the trip down the range.
Alternatively you could head west to Chillagoe or Undarra for the outback experience.
Have fun, it's a great part of Australia.

That sounds fabulous, AlanJG. Far too long since I've been to FNQ & to my shame I haven't been out to Undarra yet. http://undara.com.au/

ShellCat, I'm a country girl too (sheep & cattle in far north west NSW & family in Central Qld (Emerald, Blackall, Clermont). You'll enjoy Mareeba, very lush country. Pity you're not here in July - the Mareeba Rodeo's one of the best. http://www.mareeba.com.au/

wow-thanks for the ideas, now I am onto some new research. Just when I geared up for a trip to Longreach and the Winton loop from Rockhampton. More internet fun in store for me, Alan-you are a champ and same for you Bolhara2!

While that Longreach - Winton Loop is great and I would recommend each Aussie do it at least once, you' find things a lot closer together on this run. There are still long distances where the changes a subtle. One has to take time to learn to read the landscape. If you have the time you could do the loop including both Chillagoe and Undara. Definitely 4WD for clearance.

Undara is a wonderful place not just for the geology but the wildlife as well. Add a rainforest tour on the Tablelands and a cruise on the Daintree River and you've got most things covered.