1 week to-do list for Cairns?!
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Jan 2, 2013 7:26 AM Last Post By: Harry_Ramsden
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1 week to-do list for Cairns?!
I am in Cairns in April for a friends wedding and have about week to myself around it and I was hoping to do some sightseeing while i'm there!I'd love if anyone has any suggestions on where I should go and what I should do. Might just hire a car for the week to drive around if need be. I'm interested in heading up to the Daintree and maybe finding walks or even mountain bike riding areas there if they exist?
and would absolutely love to see the GBR if I can afford it, so if anyone has been on a relatively cheap tour i'd love to hear about it!
I've also been told to visit the Atherton Tablelands to swim in a Lake there, Eachem I think it is? Is this worth the drive? is there much to see there?
Also would love any suggestions on a cheap but nice place to stay. Not too fussed on it being a fancy hotel or anything, just somewhere to sleep that has cheap private rooms if possible?
Thanks in advance!
1
The road from Cairns to Darwin via Charter Towers goes by the White Mountains National Park. It is a bit of a ride, but so worth it. The park is a haven for wildlife lovers. We did the park and a two day boat trip out to the reef from Townsville. It was not cheap, but so good and well worth the money.2
We have been up to Cairns a couple of times, and i do know it is one of the most touristy things to do, but we have enjoyed the rail trip on the vintage train inland up to Kuranda in the mountains, and coming back over the rainforest via the Skytrain.It might be sound corny to some, but we enjoyed it so much we did it twice.
And i know, some will say that we need to get out more!
3
I like the Kuranda train too!However, A trip to the "real" Atherton Tableland for a couple of days at least is worth it if you have a week.
There are several one day boat trips to the outer reef - perhaps you could do one of these and not rent a car for a couple of days.
Hides Hotel is very central, and offers a good range of affordable accommodation.
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thanks guys!haha jedger - I actually had a look at that online and it looks like so much fun! if I can afford it, ill be booking that one for sure. I also noticed they have a boat ride through the rainforest that you can add to it, did you do that part as well?
Thanks Ozzie, maybe I can try and find a bus that heads out there or something :)
Have also found a place in town, Cairns City Motel $40/night for a private double, anyone been here?
5
There are a number of bus options to the Atherton. Some actually pick you up at the top of the Kuranda train route.6
Mossman Gorge is cheap. Drive up to the visitor centre, and It's $5 a day for a shuttle to the Gorge and walk. http://www.mossmangorge.com.au/en/Getting-There/Getting-There Well worth it as well.Driving to the Daintree is also cheap, apart from having to pay for the car and the petrol there's just the ferry crossing.
I personally wouldn't bother with Kuranda, and especially not on a tight budget, but I would save up and splurge on the Reef trip. I'd splash out on a trip to the Reef proper, and with one of the big operators, otherwise you've been to cairns and cheated yourself out of one of the world's great sights.
