Cairns the South Pacific Gateway
The Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, Tjabukai, and Cape Tribulation
Oct 21, 2008
Cains, in Northern Queensland, Australia, is the South Pacific’s gateway to an unspoiled Rainforest and the magestic Great Barrier Reef. World renowned golf courses, Aboriginal culture, and exotic opportunities make this pristine city a destination worth booking.
Gateway Cairns: Australia’s Best Kept Secret
Located in Northern Queensland, Cairns may be Australia’s best kept secret. Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation and the Rainforest, and a number of daily excursions that include a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park and Kuranda, the old mining town turned into a tourist mecca for shopping and dining.
Cairns boasts modern shopping malls as well as outdoor markets selling fresh fruit, fish, and vegetables. The night markets sell everything from jewelry to leather products. Cairns opal stores have something for everyone at prices lower than up-end Sydney and Melbourne stores. Cairns dining would not be complete without a visit to the Ochre Café (formerly the Red Ochre) on Shields Street for a taste of Australia that includes wattle seed and barramundi.
A number of resort hotels dot the Esplanade and visitors can opt to stay in resorts in Port Douglas as well, a short distance from Cairns. The Reef Casino Hotel dominates the downtown Cairns landscape and offers exquisite dining opportunities as well as conference facilities. The Reef offers a boutique casino with first class entertainment. Nearby Port Douglas features several first-class golf courses that hosted former President Bill Clinton during visits to Australia as well as a number of stellar resort hotels.
Kuranda and Sky Rail
No day in Cairns is complete without a visit to Kuranda. The Kuranda Scenic Railroad winds up to the old Aboriginal town through the Barron Gorge National Park. The village of Kuranda offers shopping opportunities in the open markets at low prices. Art galleries and wildlife parks give the visitor a taste of Australia. The village has many restaurants and cafes that serve a variety of foods from traditional Australian - including croc and kangaroo, to diverse European fare such as German and Italian. Kuranda is the place to buy didgeridoos and other Aboriginal crafts. The open markets sell souvenir items at vastly lower prices than Cairns shops.
Returning to Cairns should include the Sky Rail, hailed as “Australia’s best major tourist attraction.” The 7.5kms. ride aboard the gondolas takes ninety minutes but there are two stops along the way that allow passengers to explore the pristine rainforest and view the Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park. Sky Rail ends adjacent to Tjapukai, an Aboriginal cultural park that brings to life Aboriginal heritage, culture, and folklore. Tjapukai by night offers a fabulous buffet and an Aboriginal show highlighting Aboriginal culture and the “dreamland” legend. During the day, Aboriginals demonstrate the art of the boomerang, Aboriginal medicine, and the art of mastering the didgeridoo. Tjapukai is owned, in part, by the Aboriginal tribe indigenous to the Cairns area and proceeds assist the Aboriginal community.
The Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation
Quicksilver Cruises offer a typical one day excursion to the outer or Agincourt reef. Departing at Port Douglas, the vessels transport tourists to the very fringes of the reef, overlooking the Coral Sea. Docking at a pontoon, the day excursion allows tourists to snorkel and scuba in the clear reef waters. A full buffet is provided and optional helicopter rides, submarine explorations of the reef, and an underwater museum round the day on a world heritage site. Other cruise companies offer a variety of excursions that include stops at pristine islands, snorkeling opportunities, and fabulous lunches.
Several hours north of Cairns tourists can further explore the rainforest at Cape Tribulation, a remote area with few amenities. Popular activities include croc-spotting tours on the Daintree River and visits to local wildlife parks. At Cape Tribulation, two World Heritage sites meet: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Cape Tribulation offers several guided walking tours in which participants will learn about the rainforest as well as the many usual animals that inhabit the environment. A visit to Cape Tribulation is an experience in ecotourism. Cairns hotels can make bookings to Cape Tribulation and provide accomodations if staying for longer than one day as well as dining. Dining in Cape Tribulation is limited, however. Apart from the resorts, few restaurants exist. The Dragonfly offers a full menu of delights while Mason's Cafe features karaoke at nights.
When booking a tour to Cairns, allow at least five days to see the general area. A good itinerary might be
- Spend the first day exploring the city
- Day two should be spent on the Great Barrier Reef
- Day three should start with the Kuranda Rail, spending the day in Kuranda Village, and returning on Sky Rail
- The evening of day three should be spent at Tjapukai
- Day four and five should include an excusion to Cape Tribulation.
Cairns offers the exploring tourist a myriad of opportunities not found in other South Pacific resort communities. From dining to sunning, Cairns presents some of the world’s best opportunities at an affordable price. Cairns is served by most major airlines and is only a few hours by air from Sydney. Any visit to Australia should include a few days in Cairns to experience tropical culture, wildlife, and environment at it’s best.
