Heading to Australia, what to do around Cairns/Brisbane

Mooreponics

Howdy all,
My wife is going to study around Cairns and townsville for a month in May/June. I am heading that way from June 10th to around the 21st. We are looking at staying around cairns for a few days and maybe fly to Brisbane for a few days or somewhere else. This is not set in stone though. What I would love is some input into what you might reccomend someone seeing or doing for someone visiting. I know it is a tall order, but I am not sure when we will get to make it back Australia and would love any input regardless of location, because as said, we are not set on just Brisbane/Cairns area, but with only two weeks over there it is hard to do enough seaching to know what to see.

Thanks in advance for any input.

orcy2010

If you want to go walking, either the gold coast or the sunshine coast hinterlands are well worth a look.

Mooreponics

Thanks Orcy, we are certainly interested in hiking about and I will look more into both those locations. We are interested in all range of activities from sitting on the beach drinking to what ever craziness we can find. We both love to hike, exploring and enjoying the natrual world.

Thanks again for any input!

Jaymie

come to Townsville and visit us

Mooreponics

Careful what you suggest or you might find two people standing outside your door. :wave1:

Though I guess you are safe as I barely know where Townsville is let alone where you might live. :think:

I know for a fact my wife will be in Townsville for a bit, no idea if we both will travel through though, we are open to anything and unknowing as to what we are going to do at this point.

Jaymie

no, we get visitors all the time, you are welcome

what is your wife studying?

vlt

If you are only in OZ for 2 weeks, I would not waste time flying around the country. Most people in OZ actually go to Cairns to holiday. 2 weeks would allow you to do quite a bit of stuff Far North Queenslan has to offer.

Cairns
Weekend Markets
Lagoon
Crabbing
Rainforest Tour (see the crocs)
Cape Tribulation Tour
Great Barrier Reef (scuba, snorkel, whale watching)
PADI liveaboard courses (scuba cert)
Fishing (estuary, deep sea, big game)
National Parks
"Something" Gorge (can remember the damn name, but a gorge where you can go for a swim....) Mossman Gorge

Cairn beaches to Port Douglas (about 1 hour drive north)
Do nothing and sit on the beach
Spa and Treatment
Port Douglas sunday market

Plenty of stuff to do in and around Cairns.

Mooreponics

Thank you for the offer Jaymie. We may take you up on it.

We just have to work out a schedule and plan!

Thanks for the info Vlt. That is a lot of great ideas! We were kind of thinking about trying to stay in one general area, but were afraid of missing out on seeing things...but I know we always will as we can not expect to see all in just two little weeks, plus it sounds like there are a lot of things to see in Far North Queensland.

Keep the great ideas coming please!

Another question I have been looking into is travel within the country. How is the public transit system down that way? Do you think we can get by with trains, buses, shuttles and some taxis ect or do you think driving is the only way to go? We were hoping to avoid renting a car ect. thus keeping the people of OZ that much safer by keeping us and our wrong side of the road driving off the roads. Thoughts?

Thanks again all for any input. Reading books and looking things up online only offers a partial picture in my experience and I love getting info from people that have been or live there.

freoboy

Don't know about the eastern coast, but over here sheer distance dictates that renting a cheap backpackers car I the best way to go...

Jaymie

same here. everything is such a long way away. Depending on what you want to do. If you are happy with group tourist things, then there are tour buses and such. There are Greyhound buses (and the like) along the coastal areas.

Townsville is 400km south of Cairns

vlt

Rent a car. Cheap rental places abound in Cairns. Last time I was there, about 6 months ago, we rented a small auto Hyundai for $50 a day with all insurances. They also provided free transfers to and from the airport.

There is public transport but get a car. From cairns to port Douglas there are many nice beaches. Lots of stuff inland. Access is easiest win car.

Anyway, only bloody queensland drivers up their anyways. Mainly Queensland is like your Florida. Heavens waiting room.

JORGY

Hi Mooreponics, lots of nice things to see around the Atherton tablelands area. Some realy good rainforest walks with massive old trees if thats what your into.The Crater lakes are worth a look too. http://www.cairnsholiday.com.au/TownsRegional/CraterLakes.htm

Axl

Townsville has the beautiful Magnetic Island, with plenty of swimming beaches, hike/walks around the island, including up to the Forts. You can skydive and land on the strand, there is the "Red Baron" bi-plane/waterplane who does tours around the island and Townsville. There is Reef HQ, the big coral reef aquarium, tour boats that go out to the reef for scuba/snorkelling/fishing

Paluma is just a little bit north of us, up in the rainforest - plenty of walking tracks through the r/f , also there is Crystal Creek which has a good swimming hole. Bowling Green Bay Nat.Park is just a few km tot he south (about 30) where you can sit on the grass and get harrasses by hungry scrub turkeys and goannas, and watch the cute little rock walllabies, good swimming hole there too.
Or you could just sit on the strand (beachfront) and watch the young pretty girls in tight lycra jogging or walking their dogs about

its alll here

Plentyu of good restaurants and pubs (bars) here too,

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