Anybody live in or been to Cairns?

**GasoLane** · 01-09-2012, 03:18 PM

We're doing the tourist bit to Pt Douglas and Cairns in late Oct and wondered if anyone has done any of the Outer Reef tours.

The prices are all similar but I was just curious as to which would be the best value for money.

DJR David · 01-09-2012, 03:36 PM

G'day from sunny Cairns!!

Are you a diver, looking at overnight stays on the reef, lots of factors.
One trip a friend went on recently and had a great day on was with passions of paraside. A day trip on a sailing cat, two stops, lots of snorkelling and diving if interested. markedted to the younger crowd, but not trashy
http://www.passions.com.au/

If interested in staying a couple of nights out on the reef, try these guys. For the diver mainly
http://www.prodivecairns.com/index.html

Whilst you are up a here you MUST get to paronella park
http://www.paronellapark.com.au/

Also worth a trip is the skyrail
http://www.skyrail.com.au/
With skyrail you get the ride up or down and go the other way on a great train ride

plus a nice day on the espanade chilling out at the lagoon, ensuring all the european backpackers in bikinis are behaving themsleves........

29 degrees here again today... bliss

Oh and October is generally regarded as the best time to be here. Before the heat sets in, plus the winds are light for awesome reef trips!

DJR David · 01-09-2012, 03:40 PM

Couple more sites

http://www.everythingcairns.com/

http://www.cairnsinfo.com/cairns-tou...-in-a-Day-370/

Note that Sunlover, great adventures and quicksilver all have big fast boats out to the reef but are full of a few hundred people at a time.......

Moby Vic · 01-09-2012, 03:40 PM

Ooh, I'll have to look into those! Sadly I'll only have one full day in Cairns because I have to catch a flight to Alice Springs.

Cheese3 · 01-09-2012, 03:41 PM

Cairns is the best place is australia!!! Gilligans backpackers and wool shed!!! Nothing more i need in life... Hmmm heading there for NYE

DJR David · 01-09-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheese3

Cairns is the best place is australia!!! Gilligans backpackers and wool shed!!! Nothing more i need in life... Hmmm heading there for NYE

Yes, well. A single man who walks out of those places without a young lass on his arm should give it away!!!!!!

Nothing like a woolshed table top dance!!!! and thats just the drunk european backpackers!!!!

Another nice place, half between Cairns and Port Douglas
http://www.palmcove.com/

**GasoLane** · 01-09-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR David

Couple more sites

Note that Sunlover, great adventures and quicksilver all have big fast boats out to the reef but are full of a few hundred people at a time.......

Yeah we've been there a couple of times before (including Paronella Park before and after it became popular and the Kuranda bit) but hadn't done the Outer Reef, that's why I was asking which of those three is the best value for money..... no diving just floating around with a snorkel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR David

Another nice place, half between Cairns and Port Douglas
http://www.palmcove.com/

LOL...that's where we're staying after the first week in Pt Douglas.

JimStone · 02-09-2012, 10:56 PM

Welcome to paradise!!!

DJR David is on the money for outer reef with Passions of Paradise.

Auslandau · 03-09-2012, 10:20 PM

Keep ideas coming ..... going up for a week in 3 weeks time. Staying in Cairns.

Dusty1 · 03-09-2012, 10:53 PM

If you fancy a drive, stay in Mission Beach for a few days. Lovely place.

JimStone · 04-09-2012, 10:32 AM

Speaking of a nice drives,

Day trip out of Cairns: Hit the road early and have a late breakfast/early morning tea break in Port Douglas - great coffee shop on Macrossan St across the road from Coles. Head north again, take the Mt Molloy turnoff just south of Mossman - this takes you up the very scenic Rex Range - then across the top to Mareeba. Take a detour along the Bourke Developmental Road and have a peacefull lunch and coffee/tea on the deck at Australian Coffee Centre (aka Skybury Coffee). Head back towards Cairns, stopping in at Kuranda for afternoon tea and a wander through the (very touristy) markets - open 7 days, 9.30am-3pm, then down the Kuranda Range and back to Cairns.

Moby Vic · 04-09-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR David

G'day from sunny Cairns!!

Are you a diver, looking at overnight stays on the reef, lots of factors.
One trip a friend went on recently and had a great day on was with passions of paraside. A day trip on a sailing cat, two stops, lots of snorkelling and diving if interested. markedted to the younger crowd, but not trashy
http://www.passions.com.au/

Thanks for the info! I just booked a day trip here for 10 October.

blueoval · 04-09-2012, 12:55 PM

Went up there for new years, stayed in Trinity Beach in a penthouse at the Vue Apartments. Well worth the cash and had an awesome time.

Went to the Low Isles for an all day snorkelling tour on a smaller touring boat. About 25-30 people in total, and found it to be way less crushing than fighting for spots against other [insert nationality here] tourists on the Quiksilver tours that operate hundreds of people at a time.

Also went White Water rafting on the Tully, quad biking with Blazing saddles, A trip out Atherton and some of the local waterfalls as well as a trip to Coffee Works in Mareeba is well worth it if you love coffee too. Very memorable trip.

kaniSS · 04-09-2012, 02:34 PM

I took the quiksilver tours out to the reef. It was pretty good, loved it.

Cairns is a nice place but tooo bloody hot...

DJR David · 04-09-2012, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaniSS

I took the quiksilver tours out to the reef. It was pretty good, loved it.

Cairns is a nice place but tooo bloody hot...

Thats why God made pools and beer!!!!!!

naughts · 04-09-2012, 07:55 PM

We went on the TUSA T6 to the outer reef.. Excellent and a quick boat too!!!

http://www.tusadive.com/about/tusa6.html

If you play golf, try Paradise palms and Sea temple... Awesome!!!

Pedro · 04-09-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimStone

Speaking of a nice drives,

Day trip out of Cairns: Hit the road early and have a late breakfast/early morning tea break in Port Douglas - great coffee shop on Macrossan St across the road from Coles. Head north again, take the Mt Molloy turnoff just south of Mossman - this takes you up the very scenic Rex Range - then across the top to Mareeba. Take a detour along the Bourke Developmental Road and have a peacefull lunch and coffee/tea on the deck at Australian Coffee Centre (aka Skybury Coffee). Head back towards Cairns, stopping in at Kuranda for afternoon tea and a wander through the (very touristy) markets - open 7 days, 9.30am-3pm, then down the Kuranda Range and back to Cairns.

If you get tired on this trip you could stop off at the White Cockatoo Motel for a stimulating swim in the pool .... http://www.cairns.com.au/article/200...ocal-news.html LOL

**GasoLane** · 05-09-2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auslandau

Keep ideas coming ..... going up for a week in 3 weeks time. Staying in Cairns.

Phew I'm safe then, I wont be there 'till the 28th Oct after a week in Pt Douglas. (we're doing it out of school holidays...its cheaper

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimStone

stopping in at Kuranda for afternoon tea and a wander through the (very touristy) markets - open 7 days, 9.30am-3pm, then down the Kuranda Range and back to Cairns.

Funny you should mention that, the last time we were there we did the touristy thing (Train up, Skyrail down).

Then later in the week we drove up there and stayed until after the last tourist left...Whoa, what a different place it becomes then

**Peuty** · 05-09-2012, 02:33 PM

Don't forget the have a Mockas pie in Pt Douglas!

Yum!

**GasoLane** · 07-09-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Don't forget the have a Mockas pie in Pt Douglas!

Yum!

Ok Dan I give up. Where and what is a Mockas ?

prydey · 07-09-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

We're doing the tourist bit to Pt Douglas and Cairns in late Oct

this truck driving gig is pretty cruisy! more time off than a school teacher

**GasoLane** · 07-09-2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

this truck driving gig is pretty cruisy! more time off than a school teacher

Hey, the last time off wasn't exactly a holiday!

naughts · 07-09-2012, 07:45 PM

Dont forget the Groper bar at Pt Douglas.... See the big Groper

paule11 · 07-09-2012, 08:38 PM

http://www.cairnswildlifesafarireser...26_Beasts.html
Worth seeing and this is really impressive
http://www.crystalcaves.com.au/

**Jastel** · 07-09-2012, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ok Dan I give up. Where and what is a Mockas ?

Mockas is a locally made meat pie in PD, just off the main street shopping area.
A local should be able to direct you.

In Cairns you have a Mannings Pie, Newell St next to Westco Car Dealer.

They are just pies but better than average.

**Peuty** · 08-09-2012, 12:25 AM

Yep, delicious pies. Off Grant Street.

You won't regret it!

Auslandau · 23-09-2012, 06:59 PM

OK .... I am there for 6 days next week. Looking forward to a week away to do all the touristy things possible. As long as the weather stays good should have a good time.

Any other must sees or do's ..... please let us know.

Sorry Rog ..... be there before you :P

**Jastel** · 23-09-2012, 08:01 PM

One day reef
One day Skyrail/train and Kuranda
One day Port Douglas/Daintree/Cape Tribulation Rainforest
One day tableland waterfall circuit tour
These are the main tourist things and all doable by own car (except reef) or fully guided tours.

You can also turn each of these one day things into 2 or 3 days if you like a slow pace.

Further away Sth is Babinda, Innisfail, Paronella Park, Mission Beach.
Further Nth is Cooktown, and all of Cape York.

Then there is Bungy Jumping, Skydiving, Dive courses, parachuting, hot air ballooning, zip lining, horse riding, ATV, 4wd tours etc etc and the usual stuff like bars, shops and restaurants as well.

Auslandau · 23-09-2012, 08:23 PM

Thanks Jastel ..... they are the definites on the cards for sure! As far as Reef by car ..... it's a rental!!!

Whats some of the must places to eat in Cairns? Seafood or otherwise??

marcyeo · 23-09-2012, 09:22 PM

Don't forget visiting the pools to cool off or see the waterfalls now the weather's a bit warmer - Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulder's down south, Mossman Gorge up north just beyond Port Douglas .. I know Paronella Park was only briefly mentioned above, but worth the drive, Kuranda Skyrail is a good, short trip with a scenic view.

Meal wise:

The Shangri-La hotel at the pier have tonne's of restaurants on the ground floor - good ribs & steak at Waterbar grill, good seafood and dessert at Tha Fish, Salthouse which is just beyond the Shangri-La also has good breakfast and drinks at night.
Under the Harbour Lights hotel there's Dundee's which also does very good steak, really nicely cooked wallaby & game and also good dessert.
Ochre in town is also really good Aussie fair with a twist - award winning restaurant..

The northern beaches also have lots of restaurants:
Palm Cove does good brekkie at Vivo's, or Lime and Pepper's which is next to Nunu's (also really good but pricey).
Trinity beach also has an award winning restaurant Blue Moon grill which does good brekkie and dinners..