Australia

Cairns and its surroundings

Cairns is the heart of the Tropical North and an excellent base for exploring this region. It was settled in 1876 to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield. As years have passed Cairns became a major port for the exportation of sugar cane, gold, precious metals and agricultural industries from the surrounding coastal and Tableland regions.

Today Cairns is a popular tourist destination especially because of its tropical climate and the proximity to many attractions as The Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, Daintree national park, Atherton Tablelands and more.

 

 

Climate:  As having a warm, tropical climate, Cairns has two distinct seasons: a dry season (between May and October) with mild temperatures and low rainfall and a wet season (between November and April) of higher temperatures and tropical monsoons.

 

Accommodation: There is a large variety of accommodation for everyone: International hotels, resorts and holiday apartments, budget guest houses and backpackers hostels. Because of the competition between the hostels, some of them offer different kinds of deals which include discounts for scuba diving courses and daily vouchers for meals in one of the pubs at the city center. 

 

What to do?

·     The promenade and the city center are great places to spend a few hours and to enjoy the clear water and the light atmosphere. You can also spend time in one of the many coffee shops and diving equipment shops spread around the place. 

·     Scuba diving: The most popular sport activity in the city. Without doubt Cairns is the best place along the East Coast to take a diving course not just because of the low prices and the variety of companies but also because the fact that the diving is taking place within the Great Barrier Reef which is one of the most beautiful diving places in the world.

·     Cairns offers a large variety of adventurous activities besides scuba diving. Bungee jumping, skydiving, mountain biking, sailing, white water rafting and 4WD touring are just some of the activities you can find there.  For further information see one of the i-sites within the city.

·     Nightlife: Being a touristic center and a starting (or ending) point for travelers who travel along the east coast, Cairns offers a great variety of places to go out to at nights. At the city center you can find theaters, cinemas, discotheques, bars and karaoke. In some of the bars there are live performances.

 

Atherton Tablelands

The Atherton Tablelands is Tropical North Queensland’s highland getaway and one of UNESCO's world heritage sites. It's a combination of nature and lifestyle at its finest. This mountainous plain is nestled between the Bellenden Ker Range and The Great Dividing Range, at an altitude ranging from 600m to 1100m.
The area consists of green and lush flora and picturesque waterfalls and lakes. It also offers an escape from the modern hustle of city life with mild climate compared to Cairns. There are plenty of activities for travelers such as bush walking, bird watching, limestone cave tours, wildlife cruises, marsupial spotting, hot air ballooning and different water sports such as fishing, water skiing and white water rafting.
The best attractions in the area are the amazing Millstream Falls which is Australia's widest waterfall, the relaxing view of Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham, the ancient Bromfield Swamp near Malanda and the Mt. Hypipamee Crater National Park.

Cape Tribulation & Daintree National Park

Cape tribulation is a rain forest that is located in Northern Queensland, 110 km north of Cairns at Daintree national park.
Daintree and Cape Tribulation which are both listed as UNESCO's world heritage areas are the only destinations in the world where two World Heritage areas meet. The area is characterized by long and golden beaches, crocodiles and amazing variety of fauna and flora. Here are the main activities you can find in this area:

·      Beaches- The white and beautiful beaches: Cape Kimberly, Cow Bay beach and Thornton beach are great places for hiking and for viewing the rain forests intertwined with The Great Barrier Reef.

·      Walking & Hiking - There is a range of walk options- beach walks, boardwalks, bushwalking, guided walks and a longer ascent to the Mt Sorrow ridge for a fine view of the coastline below.

·      Diving & Snorkeling- Cape Tribulation is one of the closet points to The Great Barrier Reef. There are two different reef cruises which depart daily from Cape Tribulation's Beach and you can choose a full day or a half day tour. You can decide how adventurous or relaxed your day will be with snorkeling, diving or chilling out on the sun deck.

·      Sea Kayaking- A great way to see marine wildlife : turtles, Sea eagles fly overhead, dolphins, dugongs, stingrays and even an occasional whale can be spotted by paddlers who keep their eyes open. At Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation there are several companies which offer group tours. You can also rent your own kayak if you are an experienced paddler.

·      Driving from Daintree River to Cape Tribulation- This route is one of the most scenic drives in the world. The road is narrow and winding and it is recommended to go on the trip in a group of vehicles.The Bloomfield trek from Cape Tribulation to Bloomfield River is also a special drive which can be done only by 4WD.

 

Accommodation: There are plenty of accommodation facilities in Daintree and Cape Tribulation: holiday houses, bed & breakfast, resorts and camping area. During the dry season it's recommended to book a place in advance because of the many travelers flooding the area.
Dangers: when travelling in the park you should be aware of the following risks:

·      Stinging jellyfish may be found in the ocean between November and May and this means that if you want to swim in the ocean at this time you should wear a stinger suit.

·      Crocodiles can be found in the estuaries of the rivers on the Daintree Coast. You need to pay attention for warning signs and should not swim near the mouths of rivers. Ask locals where it is safe to swim.

·      During the wet season there are heavy rains. Most of the rivers and creeks are flooded and the soil is muddy and swampy. It can be very unpleasant to go on a trip at this time of year.

 

 

Cape York Peninsula
A large peninsula located in the far north of Queensland and is one of the main wilderness areas left on earth. The area can be accessed by WD only during the dry season. The journey in this beautiful and remote peninsula is not easy at all: all the roads are unsealed and the topographical conditions are very rough. Nevertheless, it is recommended to visit the peninsula which covers approximately 137,000 km² and consists of forests, wilderness, rivers and swamps.
The recommended way to travel in Cape York is by 4WD vehicles. There are safari tour companies which organize tours for those who prefer joining a guided group. Most of the companies offer tours which last between 7-14 days and consist of traveling through the scenic coastline of Port Douglas and Mossman, then continue to Daintree National Park area and travel through areas such as Cooktown, Lakefield National Park, Coen, Weipa, Bramwell Station, Twin Falls and Cape York For travelers who decide to rent a 4WD and explore the area by themselves it is recommended to check out in advance which kind of equipment should be taken and arrange to buy the necessary supplies in Cooktown which is the biggest city in the peninsula and the last decent place to shop.