Families Travel
IS
Things to do in
CAIRNS on your Family Holiday
Cairns is the perfect destination for a family holiday. From the beautiful beaches to the historic rainforests and the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, there are activities for everyone, suited to every budget. Boasting a warm tropical climate all year round, Cairns has two seasons – the wet season and the dry season. The wet season brings humidity and high likelihoods of rainfall from November to April. Prices are lower across the board during the wet season, with cheaper domestic flights and accommodation. The rainforests are at their most vibrant and rivers and waterfalls are bursting with life. The dry season is the peak season (April to November) with idyllic weather and temperatures averaging 18-26 degrees. During the winter months, the weather is dry with clear skies and calm winds, making it the perfect time for a family escape.
Big Days Out and Experiences Visit the Great Barrier Reef It’s a given - you can’t go to Cairns and not visit the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef! Tour companies offer snorkelling and diving excursions, or if you’re a non-swimmer and prefer to remain out of the water, take a trip over the coral in a glass-bottom boat. If you have the opportunity, hop aboard a helicopter to experience the reef from a very different perspective. You can admire the beautiful blue water as you fly over lush tropical islands, little cays and coral beds. For a fun way to spot turtles and colourful fish, a Scuba-Doo ride offers a memorable experience. Zoom around the reef on an underwater scooter and descend three meters to the coral below on a fully guided tour with Great Adventures. Visit Fitzroy Island Fitzroy Island is a tropical paradise where the rainforest meets the reef. Only a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns, the relaxed island has plenty to do. Visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre or trek up to the Lighthouse for unbelievable views, snorkel and swim off the award-winning beaches, play on the ocean trampoline or hire out a kayak or stand up paddle board for hours of endless fun! Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway Take a return round trip via cable car and historic railway over and through World Heritage-listed rainforest canopies, past spectacular waterfalls and incredible scenery.
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Your journey will take in a stop at Kuranda Village, a picturesque rainforest village in the mountains. The colourful village is a delightful mix of quirky surprises. Visit the famous Kuranda Markets, enjoy beautiful walking trails or get up close and personal with native wildlife. We rate the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary – a Kuranda icon! You can choose to take just one mode of transport both ways, but for the full experience we recommend you take the Skyrail one way and the Scenic Railway the other. Mossman Gorge 80km north of Cairns you will find the beautiful Mossman Gorge. Crystal-clear water cascades over large granite boulders in the Mossman River gorge. Lush rainforests cloak steep mountainsides from the riverbanks up to the rugged eastern slopes of the Main Coast Range. Park up at the Visitors Centre and pay your entrance fee to visit the gorge. Part of the historic Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge is another ‘must do’ item on your Cairns bucket list. Visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is the best place to see crocodiles and local wildlife up close. Just 40 minutes north of Cairns, spend your day exploring the 2100 metres of boardwalks and pathways that lead you on a journey through woodlands and rainforests, enjoy educational wildlife presentations, and take a boat cruise across Hartley’s Lagoon to spot the crocodiles.
Your Local Families Magazine December 2020 / January 2021 www.familiesmagazine.com.au
