Curator’s statement
If you are going to Australia, you have to go to Cairns. Everyone talks about Sydney, but if you want to see the actual Great Barrier Reef, you need to make time for Cairns! There’s no place like it in the world, and it’s a short (and cheap) flight from Sydney.
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Day 1: Arrival
Sunset view from our balcony
We flew to Cairns from Brisbane, so the flight was short and sweet. I hired a local company to pick us up from the airport and take us to our hotel. Usually, I would book Blacklane, but they don’t operate in Cairns.
Our driver dropped us off at the Shangri-La Hotel. I took the kids to the Esplanade (walking distance) to swim, while Ian went for a dive on the Great Barrier Reef.
When you travel with kids, splitting up is sometimes the only way to make sure everyone gets to do what they want. Luckily, I have no interest in diving, and was happy to take the kids to the super cute Esplanade pool.
Day 2: Kuranda Rainforest
Kuranda Skyrail
The hotel has a lovely breakfast spread, so Ian and I took turns eating in silence and bringing a plate back to the room for our little monsters.
We booked a trip to the Kuranda Rainforest, traveling to the top by cable car and back down via train. At the top, there are a ton of shops and restaurants, perfect for kids. The views are absolutely breathtaking! Even your chattiest kid will quiet down while hovering high over the rainforest.
If you are into big game fishing (which we are not), I highly recommend chartering a day of private fishing. I booked this for friends of mine and they had a spectacular time. Also, the boat was walking-distance from our hotel.
Day 3: Green Island
Just chasing after kids on Green Island!
It wouldn’t be fair to drag the kids to Cairns and not let them experience the Great Barrier Reef. I booked a ferry to take us to Green Island, which offers glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, diving, and those weird underwater bikes, and if you hate the ocean, they even have a pool!
Need to know
If you are making your way to Australia, don’t leave without seeing Cairns.
Travel Advisor
Whitney Thompson
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