Trip to Cairns
 

AirNZ has a sale on, which finishes tonight. Thinking of visiting Cairns/Port Douglas in September for about a week or 10 days.

Is this a good time to visit? Any hotel recommendations. Should we stay in Cairns or Port Douglas?

Haven't done any research yet, so forgive the questions.

Yes, it's a great time. You'll be there before stinger season. Stay in Port Douglas.

Have a look Trip Advisor for accommodation recommendations- more active board the. Here. I can't help - have friends up there :)

Yes it's the great time for visiting Cairns or Port Douglas. In matter of choosing hotels I'll recommend you Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns (3.5 km from Cairns Botanic Gardens and 13 km from the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway)

Palm Cove is also a great place to stay - midway between Cairns and Port Douglas.

Yes - go for it. Stay in Port Douglas

Let's hope Nelsonian is going - the flight offer s/he was angling for ran out yesterday.

I know and I didn't book it!!! Maybe another sale will happen before September.

Well another sale came along so this time I have booked the last week of July.
DH and I are not really swimmers, and get sea-sick on a calm day, seems sacrilegious to not go there, but need some calm options!!.

I get seasick easily. I went to Cairns last year and was recommended to take a boat to the reef from Port Douglas. The trip to the pontoon is pretty quick and was very smooth. Didn't get sick at all. Saw a couple turtles at the pontoon and lots of fish!

That sounds good mcbg1, I just read what I posted late last night and didn't even mention the words going to the Great Barrier Reef, I was thinking it but didn't write it down !!!! Glad you were able to interpret!

From someone who has thrown up in just about every ocean / sea in the world (only slight exaggeration!): Go to the Reef from Port Douglas. I managed it without problems.

Take anti-seasickness medication and GO!

A co-worker was telling me about a trip to the reef from Cape Tribulation which sounds quite good. She was really impressed when they did it a couple of years ago. Only about 20 people at a time, and only a 30 minute ride to the reef. Anyone done this trip.

I haven't heard of the trip from Cape Tribulation, but a quick google came up with this http://www.oceansafari.com.au/

It looks good and relatively cheap for a trip to the reef, although it assumes you would be comfortable snorkeling. Also be careful if you have a hire car, make sure you can go north of the Daintree Ferry, as the place is 35 km's north of it, although they do say it is at the end of a sealed road

Also think about getting the entertainment book, especially for any of the other reef trips, the 25% off is a significant saving plus the savings at numerous restaurants etc

http://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/...Port%20Douglas

I did it about a squillion years ago (well, more than 20) and it was good, but quite basic.

The boats out of Port Douglas go to a variety of reefs and may be more comfortable (seasick-wise).

DO BOTH! (problem solved!)

Entertainment book is a good idea. I think some of the NZ ones have some Australian attractions. I know we used one when we went to Australia Zoo a couple of years ago. My DIL had one from our grandchildren's school fundraiser.

DH And I did the Ocean Safari trip from Cape Trib in October 2015, it was just right for us. About 20 people is right, you walk through some woods to get to the boat which comes up to the beach. Good snorkeling, just right for us (late 60s, used to the Caribbean) but mostly younger people on the boat. They had prescription masks, I'm lost without them. We loved the area, stayed 3 nights in Daintree.

What if you have never snorkelled before, is it a problem?

If you haven't snorkeled before, I would practice before you go to the GBR, maybe in a swimming pool. But it would be no more of an issue using Ocean Safari from Cape Trib than anywhere else. The sea wasn't rough at all when we went.

We enjoyed half a day or so at Mossman Gorge [despite some pretty torrential rain, but it was November] and followed that with lunch at the excellent Mojos on the main street.

we stayed here:

https://www.bytheseaportdouglas.com.au

we had a great one bedroomed apartment on the first floor with a full kitchen and bathroom as well as our own washing machine and dryer. it's at the beach end of town but an easy walk to the other end where the boats leave for the reef. The swimming pool isn't much but that time of year you should be able to swim in the sea so that may not be so important. it got full marks from us.

<<What if you have never snorkelled before, is it a problem?>>

As long as you are comfortable sticking your head underwater you will be fine, what seems to put some people off is the fact that you cannot see any land and you are swimming in open water, but it is a great experience, not to be missed