Cairns, Australia

TheDriver

Recently spent a week there as part of a bigger trip. Lovely place but beware, theres nothing to do in the city itself so don't bother allowing time to see it! Nightime is great however with a lot of restaurants along the esplanade while the Wool Shed and PJ O'Briens caters for the younger crowd. Check out the $5 steaks in PJs, great value!
Activities is what brings you here and I was delighted with mine. I booked most through Raging Thunder who run the rafting and hot air ballooning and include many other companies in their brochure, just google them as they have a lot online!
I would recommend White Water Rafting on Tully River, apparently one of the best places to do it, both raging thunder and R'n'R do it here and was a great day.
Its also a great place to do a skydive as you can jump from 14000ft and well worth it, Skydive Cairns is a very professional crowd.
For the reef, theres so many companies. I would recommend Reef Magic as they have a pontoon (you get to get off the boat!!) 55km off the coast and has a lot of facilities for both divers and also snorklers and allows you to get all geared up for an intro dive (no medical necessary) and if you hate the idea when you touch the water, theres no charge! Theres guided snorkles also and well worth it. Yes it costs money but you get your moneys worth and its once in a lifetime to see it.
The rainforest starts just outside the city and stretches for hours. Kurunda and skyrail is a great was to see it from the city and takes half a day, you see the rainforest and its an amazing railway! If you want to see Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef, you will have to get a day trip with the option of overnighting. Don't spend more than one night there, its enough. You get a trip over the daintree river which is like going into the set of Jurassic Park!! Its amazing up there and theres a wide range of accomodation. I stayed in PKs jungle village which is grand, nothing brilliant. So what to do: YOu can do horse riding on the gorgeous beach, jungle surfing or take a night walk through the rain forest guided and is absolutely brilliant, you stumble across deadly spiders etc! Theres a shop, pharmacy and food outlets there so its not totally remote!
Theres also Bunjee jumping and hot air ballooning in Cairns along with helicopter rides. Plenty for everyone!!! The family holiday may wish to stay in Port Douglas up the road which caters more for the relaxing holiday but you can still see the reef! Happy Holidaying!

Rb

I ran out of "thanks" but great trip report, thanks!