VIRGINIAUSH

Hi
we are flying from Sydney to Cairns to spend there 2 days (Coral Barrier and Rain Forest)I ve read some posts about Port Douglas...do you consider this last a better location to take those tours? or better to stay in Cairns? Thanks for your help (we are choosing B&B

marg

There is another option - Palm Cove, a little village between Cairns and Port Douglas. Bus service into Cairns (about 20 minutes), lots of good accommodation and eating places. Really pretty little place.

pat_woolford

With only 2 days, you'll have to maximise every minute, and gives you very little window to allow for weather which is a huge consideration on any reef trip, whether it be from Cairns or Port Douglas.

You've mentioned B&B's, why not stay at one which has its own rainforest on site - see www.bnbnq.com.au; Billabong is just one here, its only 12 minutes from Cairns city, sits on 5 acres with a lake stocked with barramundi and loads of birdlife. Or if you prefer to be closer to the beaches, ie, Clifton Beach and Trinity Beach, they're not much further north.

VIRGINIAUSH

yes I know is short time at Cairns..but we are planning to visit a little of Australia and NZ before a 31 days cruise from Sydney.We choose Sydney,2 days in Cairns or surroundings and 2 days at Ayers Rock.I'm going to check Palm Cove and the Billabong,Thanks!!

Mucky

Palm cove is nice...


http://www.palmcove.net/


Muck

cortmpls

We just visited in October, spent two nights each in Cairns and Port Douglas. I'd recommend Port Douglas since that is where many trips to the GBR start from - check with your outfitter to see if they take you from Cairns to Port Douglas in a bus. If so, you could then skip this part - would make the day much shorter.

If the rainforest you're visiting is toward Cape Trib area, Port Douglas is a significantly closer place to start from.

pat_woolford

Yes, Port Douglas is closer to Daintree Rainforest than is Cairns, which is closer to other World Heritage Rainforests.

There are more reef trips out of Cairns than Port Douglas, and as VirginiaUSA has very limited time and mentions that she's choosing B&B's I thought it might be a good idea to stay in one already on a natural 5acres with plenty of wildlife, and easy reef access, 12 minutes from Cairns. There are no council registered B&B's in Palm Cove and those around Port Douglas are a way out of town.

Virginia - check Trip Advisor for reviews of Billabong, it rates extremely well.

VIRGINIAUSH

thanks for your help....we decided not to fly to Ayers Rock(far and expensive...) and add days to Cairns area and Sydney...Then I'm checking Billabong and the beach area...I guess we are going one day snorkeling and then rainforest
Or maybe an stopover Gold Coast...I go surfing the web and tell you our decission...Thanks again!!!

Bellabird

Port Douglas hands down.

Cairns is just a hub to everywhere else, but doesn't quite have the charm of Port Douglas.

DJE

Virginaush,

I would opt for Palm Cove because as others have said it really is a lovely spot which I thought had much more charm and atmosphere than the larger Port Douglas and it's still close enough for all the activities you want to do in the region.

pat_woolford

The OP is asking for a B&B; as already mentioned there are none with council licence in either Port Douglas proper or Palm Cove. There's charm aplenty at Billabong - Holloways Beach, just north of Cairns city. Tell me of any accommodation in either PD or PC on 5 acres which has its own small island surrounded by a billabong (small lake) full of wildlife. Holloways is basically a residential, non-touristed beach, the people who live there like it like that. It also has one of the very few true beachfront restaurants in the entire area.

LizzyF

What some people have forgotten is that the poster lives in a beach centre in Vina del Mar in Argentina and therefore she is not interested in beaches per se. She asked about a B&B and that would mean that she would be much better staying in Cairns with Pat Woolfood herself at Lilybank getting some nice TLC, getting to know Australians, interesting conversation and good recommendations to special places to go than she would staying in Port Douglas which is similiar to her home. Pat's B&B is [email protected]

LizzyF

Not sure if that is lilybank's website but the email for Pat at lilybank is [email protected] and Pat can tell her of either her B&B or of other B&Bs.

VIRGINIAUSH

thanks guys I sincerelly appreciate your suggestions...Lizzy is right..we live by the sea in MAR DEL PLATA Argentina (Vina del Mar is Chile)...and althought we want to go to the Coral Barrier,snorkeling etc...we priorize to know a little more about the country and culture and people!...by now we are decided to visit Sydney and the Cairns area...maybe we can stay at Cairns and visit PD and Palm Cove if we rent a car...both Billabong and Lilybank sounds great...I'll tell you about our final decision...Thanks again!

LizzyF

Sorry for getting my Del Mar and Del Plata in the wrong countries Virginia. I think you are wise to concentrate on those two areas as you will get the best out of them I think that way.
Tell me when do you arrive in Hobart - I may not have things on at that time and perhaps could see you there.
Just a thought on your choice of B&Bs in Cairns - I think that Billabong B&B is up for sale - I could be getting the wrong B&B but I am 80% sure it is that one. That could effect your booking if they sell it around the time you will be there. I shall try and find out for you.

VIRGINIAUSH

Don't worry Lizzy...I can't remember most of the names I've got for our stay in Australia!!!
About Billabong...I think I prefer Lilybank if we stay at Cairns instead of PD ( I need to ask DH before final decission
We are arriving to Hobart on Apr 16th just for some hours...should be nice to meet you!