janeog

Just in the process of organising our trip to Australia Oct/Nov. Spending a week in Port Douglas, thinking of driving from there to Airlie Beach. Can we do this fairly easily in two days ? Seems some car rental agencies don't have offices in Airlie Beach - anyone know a good one that does ?

Saltuarius

Allow about nine hours of driving, so easily doable in two days.

Instead of spending a week in Port douglas and then doing a two day drive why not somehting like this.

Day 1-4 Port Douglas reef/Daintree
Day 5 Drive up top the Atherton Tablelands visiting fruit wineries/distilery, wetlands, coffee plantation, Graite Gorge for the cute Rock Wallabies o/n Yungaburra
Day 6 Explore central Atherton Tablelands, Crater Lakes, large trees, Crystal Caves take nocturnal tour o/n Yungaburra
Day 7 Drive south calling in at Tarzalli Lakes to see Platypus (no see, no fee) the waterfall circuit, Paranella Park o/n Mission Beach where you might see Cassowary and will see a different type of rainforest
Day 8 Drive Townsville stopping off at Frosty Mango and making diversion to Paluma if interested in nature and or walking o/n Townsville where you can visit the Reef Headquarters Aquarium or go to Magnetic Island for the wild Koalas
Day 9 or 10 if taking a day for Magnetic Island, Drive to Airlie Beach.

janeog

Thanks so much for your suggestions - we have a place booked for the week in P.D. but perhaps we'll change that.

Bushranger

Yes, Salti'a area and some good suggestions there.
PD is OK as a base for areas north of Cairns but after 3-4 days you might be left wondering what next?
Personally, I'd have split even 4 days up that way between a couple at PD and a couple in the Daintree or Cape Tribulation for a real rainforest exposure.

janeog

We are approaching this five week vacation in Australia with the idea that we can't see everything so thought we would start off with what I would call "a real holiday" - we love holidays in Hawaii where we spend time relaxing, walking on the beach, sitting in the shade with a cold beer and so on so I don't think we'll be bored - once we head south, we won't have too much time just to lounge around!

Webbo

Good on you janeog. Not everyone wants to rush around & try to see everything on their holidays, it is OK to relax once in a while. Recharge before picking up the pace.
Re; car rental apparently Avis have an office in Airlie & they definitely have an office in Cairns so there is a starting point.

Kriol

I would also consider staying less time and taking longer for the drive. Even if only one night extra. Just from the point of view if you are going to drive then see some sites along the way, otherwise you can fly to Hamilton island and save yourself two days!

Bushranger

With five weeks jane, certainly you'll be able to take time to relax a bit and shed any jetlag.

When you're ready to travel, Salty's suggestions still stand as does trying to schedule in a couple of days for Daintree/Cape Tribulation and you'll enjoy it more overnighting that way rather than as a day trip from PD.

www.queenslandholidays.com.au is a good general site on Queensland for what else but holidays or as you lot call them, vacations.

machugh

Hi janeog - most of the major car hire companies have offices in Airlie Beach but not all do in PD. Be aware that you will probably incur a 'one way' fee for leaving the car in Airlie. Try http://www.diycarhire.com.au to find a suitable car hire option.

Webbo

Avis has an office in PD, but good point about asking about one way charges.
Most prefer to visit Daintree/Cape Trib in a day & then back to their accommodation in PD or Cairns.
Especially if you are staying in PD as the travel times are not great.
And if you prefer not to be pack & unpacking much then this option may suit best.

janeog

Thanks for all the suggestions, really appreciated. I'm sure we'll be asking for more help as the planning process continues!

Bushranger

" Most prefer to visit Daintree/Cape Trib in a day & then back to their accommodation in PD or Cairns. "

Most will obviously do that when they have PD/Cairns accommodation but there is also much accomodation in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation area that also gets used by many and most who have actually stayed within rainforest regions rather than just visited do not usually leave disappointed.

In fact there are many quite unique properties that you need to book well in advance because of the high popularity.

Saltuarius

Bushranger, I agree with you again! What is happening to us? One of us must be in dire need of medication! ;-)
"[Those] who have actually stayed within rainforest regions rather than just visited do not usually leave disappointed." For others reading this thread and planning your holidays, spend time in the rainforests of the coast and on the Tablelands. They are very different. They are best appriciated with knowledge and if you cannot spend the time reading about them before you travel then visit information centres, read the national parks signage or hire a guide.

However as Webbo has noted these people (janeog & family)will probably not want to shift while having their "proper holiday".

Actually it is a good idea to plan 'down days' into holidays unles one can go home for a rest.

Bushranger

All so true Salty and just suggesting that if they have extra time available there's a lot worse places than the Daintree or Cape to spend a couple or more days.

Some people just love to finess and don't think I've ever been too disagreeable with yourself but I'm afraid I'd get into big trouble if I started pulling bromliads out!.

Urru76

Hello! We are just in the process of planning our honeymoon in Australia and part of the trip is actually very similar to what janeog is mentioning, except we are a bit more free to wander around.

We will be flying into Cairs from Alice Springs and were planning on spending 4 days between Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation before driving down to Airlie Beach for the Whitsundays.

We were planning to spend at least one night in Cape Tribulation but: should we spend more than one night? It sounds like car hire is only available and PD so, should we do something like:

- 1 night PD
- 2 nights Cape Trib
- 1 night PD

Or is 2 nights at Cape Trib too long?

I took note of all the suggestions of places to see along the drive down to Airlie, but, what would be the highlights if it is just a 2-day drive?

Many, many thanks for your great recommendations!!
Amaya

Trav

We loved Cape Trib...the highlight of our Australian holiday. Staying here at the Exotic Fruit Farm will NOT disappoint:

http://www.capetrib.com.au/

And smorkling with Ocean Safari. Memorable for sure!!

Two night is not too long.

Trav

Well...you should probably snorkel not sMorkel!!

Geordie

You can rent a car at Cairns airport, if not you will need to organise transport between Cairns and Port Douglas, its around 70km (45 miles)

Urru76

Thanks Trav /Geordie!

I will check the website and s[m]orkling guys...