Any good suggestions for things to do in Port Douglas/Cairns area?

Question

I will be there for a week with two friends from the States and would like to be able to show them some "typical Aussie" country. We will be hiring a car so transportation will be no problem. We would like to see the Great Barrier, the rainforest, any other suggestions?

Answer 1

Tropical North Queensland (major capital city being Cairns)

You can visit:

- Daintree Rainforest region (where you get to walk the canopy, see cassowari birds, stay in one of their lodges)

- Cape Tribulation (where you can snorkle/dive the great barrier reef in peace instead of the more popular place of Port Douglas where you get loads of tourists), Drinks and really experience tranquality as it's very remote. You could pick coconuts off the trees as well as do sea kayaking

- Port Douglas - you can snorkle/dive great barier reef, nightlife here is nice too for the far north Queensland region.

- Watch out for the cane toads, destroy them if you see them around as they're pests.

- In Port Douglas make sure you go to this pub (just ask around, it's a famous pub/bar next to the sea/water) where you can get a bucket of prawns and a bottle of beer. You eat the prawns, chuck the shell in the water :). You can watch a large groper feeding as well.

Things to do at Daintree - based on my experience:

1. Get a massage at Daintree ecolodge and feast on the gourmet bush tucker food (A perfect way to finish your holiday).

I did this last year, it's very relaxing. Daintree ecolodge spa was voted to be one of the best by Conde Nest Traveller and it doesn't cost a fortune. I had a massage (straight after the massage they gave me tea and fruit to bring me back to the world) then followed by a dip in their swimming pool.

Afterwards, I had a feast at their floating restaurant (floting in a pond). I had prawns served with bush nuts and leaves (it's a salad) but very very scrumptious and filling. I had it wiht a glass of sparkling and finished it with devonshire tea :).

2. Go swimming in Mossman Gorge and spend time soaking on the surrounding atmosphere followed by an ice cream from one of their very small convinient store

The gorge has a very refreshing cool water. I jumped, swam, played around and lied next to the gorge. I was told at the end of the gorge there's a crocodile which lived there for a while but there's no way of it heading to the gorge because the gorge is higher than the river where the crocodile lived. I spent one whole day there and didn't see a soul :) so don't worry about the crocs and just swim and stay within the Gorge.

3. Join a Daintree River cruise at Daintree river followed a visit to Daintree timber gallery.

You get to experience seeing mangroves and wildlife (including crocodiles) :) then you can go shopping at the timber gallery :)

4. Join a birdwatching tour

A friend of mine did it and they saw a lot of different species of birds including the 'right in your face type one cassowary :)

5. Walk around in one of the many of Daintree rainforest national park where you get to see rainforest trees

6. Go scuba diving at the great barrier reef from Cape Tribulation where you only see your boat and another boat unlike different parts of the reef where you get to see a lot of tourists :).

7. Go relaxing at one of the Cape Tribulation lodges where you're completely surrounded by yourself and could hear the sounds of crickets due to its remote locations and quietness.

Check out my favourite websites below for more information on the trips in Port Douglas, Daintree and cape tribulation as well as Great Barrier Reef. It has things to do in details :). I used this website when I did my trip and had an awesome time

Answer 2

Take a boat trip to Green Island. Go on the Kuranda railway and the skyrail.