Cairns Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia
Cairns is a small port city, yet what it may lack in size it makes up for with its access to a bounty of natural beauty. In fact, Cairns is considered a gateway to tropical North Queensland. This eastern Australia city is where the rainforest meets the reef, with Daintree Rainforest to the north and the Great Barrier Reef to the east.
Start your day in Cairns by visiting some of the open parkland in the city center or going for a short swim in the man-made lagoon. Rent a bike on the promenade or hit the waves at Trinity Beach if you want to experience some Aussie surfing.
After a morning of activity, you might be ready to slow things down. A trip on the Skyrail® Rainforest Cableway is Cairns sightseeing at its best. The cable car will take you over the canopy of tropical rainforest and waterfalls. The last stop on this breathtaking 90-minute ride is Kuranda, a small mountain village where you can do a bit of shopping before heading back down to Cairns. The rail also takes passengers to Smithfield, which is less than one hour from Port Douglas, an excellent destination for upscale shopping and dining.
After your spectacular rail ride, consider checking out some of the Cairns tourism that puts you up close and personal with some of Australia’s more… dangerous wildlife. Hartleys Crocodile Adventures lets you immerse yourself in the daily life of a croc by taking a boat ride through a swamp-like habitat where several of the reptiles live.
If softer animals are more up your alley, fear not. Cairns tours should always include a stop to the Cairns Tropical Zoo, where you can make some kangaroo and koala friends.
What most excites you about a trip to Cairns?
Visit our Cairns travel guide page for more information or to plan your next vacation!
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3 days in the Blue Mountains, Australia - Travel Vlog
Follow me as we spend 3 days in the Blue Mountains of Australia. The Blue Mountains is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. From Sydney it is only a 90-minute drive away. It's definitely a beautiful natural wonder worth exploring.
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xxWinny
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[FOLLOW ME]
WINNY
IG: @wanderingwinny
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[WHERE WE STAYED]
Airbnb House in Hartley
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[VLOGGING EQUIPMENT]
Vlogging camera: Canon G7x Mark II
Tripod: Joby GorillaPod Original
Microphone: Blue Snowball USB microphone
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[MUSIC]
Ehrling - No Worries (Feat. Timon & Pumba)
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - My Cairns Tours
Located just 40 minutes north of Cairns and 25 minutes south of Port Douglas, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is simply the best place to see crocodiles and local wildlife in Tropical North Queensland. With over 2100 metres of timber boardwalks and pathways leading you on a journey of discovery through woodlands and rainforest where you can see an array of wildlife, including beautiful tropical birds, reptiles, insects and other native fauna.
Enjoy our entertaining and educational wildlife presentations including snakes, cassowaries, koalas, crocodiles, quolls and much more. Take a boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon to see crocodiles and other wildlife on our melaleuca wetland. Learn about sustainable use and conservation on our Crocodile Farm tour.
My Cairns Tours offer 10% Off all Tours.
Visit MyCairnsTours.com.au for more information, Live Chat and Bookings!
Top 5 Best Places in Australia
Tom and Amy have been travelling around Australia for 11 months in their 1989 Toyota Landcruiser.
In this interview they talk about their favourite things to do in Australia. Top destinations, experiences and enjoying sightseeing tours for tourists, backpackers, grey nomads and more.
Amy and Tom write about their experiences in their blog
Video Transcription: (part 1)
Interviewer: So Amy, Tom, you two have been travelling around Australia since until October, 2010. It is now August, 2011, and we are in Mission Beach, in Northern Queensland, and our campsite is just over to your left. So tell me what are your top five favourite things that you've done on your trip around Australia so far? Tom: Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia, definitely up there.
Interviewer: And what's so good about that? Tom: It's free to experience once you've paid the national park entrance, which is like 12 bucks. You just roll up, grab a snorkel and goggles, and you can wade out.
Amy: There is a coral reef literally ten metres away. Tom: Ten metres from the beach, beautiful white beach, and you're above a tropical reef. It's amazing, parrot fish, and you name it, it's there. Interviewer: Okay. What's that called again? Tom: Turquoise Bay, and it's in Cape Range National Park, Western Australia. Amy: 20 minutes drive from Exmouth. Interviewer: So about nine days drive from Sydney. Amy: That's all. Interviewer: Okay, second best? Amy: This isn't in any order. Interviewer: No, okay. All right. Two of five? Amy: Hartley's? Tom: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, maybe is it called? I'm not sure. Amy: Yes. Tom: That's in Tropical North Queensland, just north of Cairns. Amy: About half an hour north of Cairns. Tom: And it's 35 bucks a person. Amy: It is seriously the best 35 bucks we've spent. Tom: Yeah, the best tourist attraction we've been to. Interviewer: So why's it so good over other parks? Tom: It didn't feel like a zoo. Amy: It was like a natural setting the whole way around. Wasn't it? Tom: Yeah. Amy: It didn't have any cages or anything containing the animals. Interviewer: So, basically you walk with the crocodiles? Amy: We started off. The first thing we did was we went on a boat cruise in their man-made lagoon, and in that lagoon there are 18 saltwater crocodiles. Tom: One of which is the second largest saltwater, Australian crocodile in captivity. Interviewer: How big was it? Tom: 5.4? Amy: 6, I think. Tom: 5.6 or was it 4.6? Amy: No, 5.6. Interviewer: Wide or long? Tom: It's big. Amy: Thank god not wide. Tom: Believe it or not. Interviewer: How wide was it? Tom: It looks artificial. Amy: It was about the width of the troopie. Tom: Yeah, width of a car. Interviewer: Width of a car. And how high was it? Tom: Not very high. Unimpressive height. Amy: Yeah. Interviewer: Basically enough to eat a person though. Tom: Yeah. Their croc attack show is incredible. Tom: Yeah, it's in the water with the crocs. Amy: These guys inside of the swimming pool with a four metre saltwater crocodile. And he's in the water. Interviewer: Crikey. Tom: Yeah, crikey, indeed. Interviewer: Look at this beauty. Amy: In the cloudy water with this crocodile just lurking around, and he is in shin deep water just talking to us. Interviewer: He's obviously retarded. Tom: Yeah, he knows what he's doing, or doesn't. Interviewer: Okay, third? Tom: Lake Argyle cruise. Interviewer: Where's Lake Argyle? Tom: Lake Argyle is in the Kimberly. Interviewer: Where's the Kimberly? Amy: Northern Western Australia. It's right on the border of NT, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Tom: It's on the end of the. Amy: We're a little bit biased because we worked there. Interviewer: How long did you work there for? Tom: Two weeks. Interviewer: Did you make anything interesting? Tom: Money. Amy: That was very interesting. Interviewer: Did you make any interesting signposts? Amy: Yes. Thank you for asking. Interviewer; Oh, that's interesting. Amy: That was my little duty. Interviewer: Your little gift to the Lake Argyle community? Amy: Yes, yes. But you have to go there to find out what it says. Interviewer: Okay. Tom: Lake Argyle was amazing. We worked there for two weeks, and the last day we were there we went on the tour, and it was just breathtaking. It was far better than either of us had expected it possibly could be. Interviewer: What made it so good? Amy: And our boss, Greg, who we were working for, he was without a doubt the best tour leader we have ever had. Interviewer: Was he the skipper of the boat o something? Tom: He was, yes. Just the enormity of it. You don't realize how big it is until you get out on the water. The bird life, the wildlife, everything shows you the history. Amy: And crocodiles too. Interviewer: Lots of Swedish girls in bikinis? Tom: Plenty of whatever you want. Interviewers: Norwegians and Swedes.
10 Unbelievably Stunning Queensland Islands
Moreton Island
As one of Australia's biggest sand islands, Moreton Island is the perfect weekend getaway for the adventure-inclined. Located just 90 minutes from Brisbane by boat, this unspoilt island has only sand roads and minimal services, making it the ultimate destination for a tech-free weekend.
After you've spent Saturday hiking and feeding dolphins, spend a lazy Sunday snorkelling and four-wheel driving along Moreton Island's sandy beaches.
Fitzroy Island
Wildlife lovers, this one's for you. Located just 45 minutes by ferry from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is home to six of the world's seven species of sea turtles. Depending on the time of year, you can swim with the turtles in the island's turquoise waters, take a tour through the island's turtle rehabilitation centre, or even watch the baby turtles hatch on the beach. Cute!
Once you've seen some turtles and had a snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, spend the rest of the weekend kayaking, walking through the rainforest, or relaxing by the beach.
Magnetic Island
Named for the effect the island had on Captain Cook's compass as he sailed by in 1770, Magnetic Island is a must-see for history buffs. With a mix of historical Indigenous sites with ancient cave paintings, as well as European forts dating back to World War II dotted around the island, walking through the Magnetic Island National Park is like walking through history. Plus, you'll find plenty of pretty places to stop for a cheeky panorama pic.
Once you've had your fill of hiking and history, kick back on the beach or on a twilight sailing tour. Not a bad way to spend the weekend!
Hinchinbrook Island
For those wanting to explore nature, head straight to Hinchinbrook Island. Full of lush rainforests and surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, it's easy to spend an entire long weekend snorkelling and hiking here. Make sure you check out Zoe Falls, which boasts a natural infinity pool.
As the biggest island on the Reef, you can get to Hinchinbrook Island via boat from Cardwell, which is about halfway between Cairns and Townsville. With so much to see and explore here – and the only way to get around is by foot or via kayak – you might want to stay for a long weekend!
Hamilton Island
Can't decide whether you want an adventure getaway or just some time to relax? Hamilton Island has it all. Go diving on the Great Barrier Reef or cuddle up to a koala; relax by the pool or get pampered in the spa – whatever your speed, you'll find plenty to do on the biggest Whitsunday island.
With direct flights from major cities on the east coast, getting here is pretty easy too.
Hook Island
Known as the place to dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, Hook Island is the perfect weekend escape for adventure seekers. This is the perfect place for those who want to spend a weekend camping and exploring its pristine waters.
To get here, fly to Prosperine's Whitsunday Coast Airport and take a short ferry from Airlie Beach.
Long Island
Another of the stunning Whitsunday Islands, Long Island is the perfect place for those wanting a more active holiday. With over 13km of walking tracks that form a part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park, Long Island is a great place to adventure and explore nature.
If you want to turn up the adventure dial even more, spend the day sailing, diving, waterskiing, and paragliding around this gorgeous island getaway. Just hop on a flight to Proserpine and let a 20min ferry from Airlie Beach take you the rest of the way.
Fraser Island
If you love camping, rainforests, and exploring shipwrecks, make Fraser Island your next weekend trip.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Fraser Island is the world's biggest sand island, boasting 120km of remarkable sandy beaches, hundreds of freshwater lakes and swimming spots, beautiful-coloured cliffs, and tall rainforest inlets. And a quick 90-minute flight from Sydney to Hervey Bay – followed by a short ferry ride to the island – will get you there.
Heron Island
If you're looking for a bit of peace and quiet, head straight to Heron Island. Located in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, this island is open exclusively for guests, not day trippers. But make sure you check the ferry schedule – boats to Heron Island from Gladstone run only a few days a week.
This tiny island is only 800m long and 300m wide, but it's famous for its biodiversity. Home to more than 900 different species of fish, as well as the famous Green Sea Turtles, Heron island is the ultimate getaway for those looking to be at one with nature.
Orpheus Island
If you're wanting a relaxing, luxurious weekend away, Orpheus Island is for you. Surrounded by turquoise waters, white sand beaches and green rainforest, this island is all about chilling out in nature and indulging in good food and wine.
Oh, and did we mention you get here via a private 90min helicopter flight from Cairns.
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AUSTRALIA
Hi, we visited HARTLEYS CROCODILE FARM located off the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas, North Queensland. It was great entertainment for the whole family and awesome for kids to learn about Australia's native wildlife. We saw obviously CROCODILES, CASSAWARIES, KOALAS, SNAKES, WOMATS etc. Take a visit. You won't be disappointed. Leave a MESSAGE in the comments box below and don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my Channel to see more travel Vlogs. Much love
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Goryu Japanese Garden @ Maple Springs Nursery Little Hartley 2790 Nsw Australia.
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London's Red Light District - Soho
My new Soho webpage- . Contains information, maps, hotels and my recent photos of the red light district and the wider area of Soho.