1. TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT

The city of Cairns is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.  It’s Tiapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park tells the stories of indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with music and dance. 

Northwest of the city, the Daintree National Park spans mountainous rainforest, gorges and beaches.

If you have not already been to Cairns, you better put it on your travel list!

2. HOW TO GET THERE

Cairns is just over 1,600 klm north of Brisbane.  You can drive (approx. 20 hours of driving from Brisbane) or the quickest way is to fly.  Daily direct flights from Brisbane will get you into Cairns in about 2 hours.

The other alternative is to take the train.  If you are keen, check out The Spirit of Queensland:

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/railexperiences/ourtrains/spiritofqueensland

Cairns also has its own port and Marina, so accessing Cairns via the water is also a great option.  The port of Cairns is one of Australia’s busiest cruise destinations, with major international cruise ships regularly scheduled.

3. WHAT WE LOVED

The Cairns Aquarium is an underwater world of pure delight!  We loved it, and highly recommend you visit. 

We also loved river tubing on the Little Mulgrave River with a company called Aussie Drifterz.  Min age is 5 years old, so this caters for the whole family (the adults loved this one too!)

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is worth the visit.  It is an authentic crocodile experience, and you get to spot crocs existing in a sustainable eco environment. 

A day trip to Green Island is highly recommended.  The snorkeling is great just near the jetty, and there is plenty of beautiful beaches to relax on.  

We loved our day trip to Kuranda.  We travelled up to the mountain village by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which offered ocean views, above the tropical rainforest and front row seats of the Barron Falls!  We came back to Cairns by train along the Kuranda Scenic Railway.    

Visiting Paronella Park is also a highlight.  The park is based in a five-hectare property which includes a Spanish castle, waterfalls and over 6500 tropical palms and trees.  The park has certainly earnt its place as one of the North Queensland’s premier tourist attractions.  We are certainly giving Paronella Park the thumbs up.

Another highlight for us was walking along the Esplanade.  Lined with bars and restaurants, a kids play ground and swimming lagoon, the esplanade kept the kids occupied.     

We also loved visiting the night markets and food court.  Situated along the Esplanade, the markets are opened every day from 4.30pm.  The markets have over 70 different market shops, food stalls & licensed restaurants.   

4. WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE

Being North Queensland, we chose to visit during Winter (June) as temperatures during the summer months can be hot.   Cairns is known for its hot and humid summers and mild dry winters with an average summer top of 31oC and average winter max of 26oC.    

5. HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE THERE

Cairns is Queensland’s 5th most populated city with a population over 150,000. 

6. WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at the Cairns Plaza.  Centrally located on the Esplanade, it is only a short walk to the CBD, restaurants, shops, supermarkets and other tourist attractions.      

We stayed in an interconnecting standard room and ocean suite, which comfortably accommodated 2 adults and two children.  It was self-contained with a small kitchen. 

7. WHAT’S THE FOOD LIKE

In general, the food is good and reasonably priced.  We found fresh seafood, locally raised beef and an abundance of tropical fruit. With its close proximity to Asia, there is excellent Japanese, Malaysian and other Asian cuisines to choose from. 

It was peak season and getting a table at most of the restaurants and other eating places required a prior booking. 

8. WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCES

Flights with Virgin were approx. $250 return (from Brisbane) per person. Our accommodation with the Cairns Plaza was $330 per night for the double room (self-contained).

River Tubing was $338 (2 adults & 2 kids) this included hotel pick up and drop off.   

Hartley’s Crocodile Farm was $215 (2 adults & 2 kids) this included hotel pickup and drop off, and admission into the farm.   

The ferry over to Green Island was $268 (2 adults & 2 kids) we did hire snorkeling gear from the dive shop once over on the Island.  

Visiting Kuranda was $305 (2 adults & 2 kids) this included hotel pick up, Skyrail up and train back.  This price didn’t include hotel drop off.  

Please see link below for Paronella Park for details on admission fee:

https://www.paronellapark.com.au/

9. WHAT’S THE KID FRIENDLY RATING

We’re giving this trip a 5 out of 5!

10 TIPS

• If you’re prone to sea sickness, It might be a good idea to take travel calm or another travel sickness medication before you leave on the ferry over to the islands.
• There is a little town outside of Cairns called Babinda.  If you’re headed that way, the Babinda Bakery is a road trip must stop for traditional pies, cream buns & pastries.  Trust me it won’t disappoint!!
• Before booking your trip, contact the Cairns Tourist Info Centre for handy tips, suggestions and help in planning your trip:   

CAIRNS TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

Ph – +61 7 40479123
info@cairnstouristinformation.com.au
www.cairnstouristinformation.com.au

That’s it for the travel spotlight!  Enjoy your travels & have a safe & happy day out with the little people in your lives.

Take Care,

Megan  

1.      TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT

Hamilton Island in Queensland.  

2.      HOW TO GET THERE

Being an Island the only way to get to Hamilton Island is either by plane or boat. The Island has its own commercial airport, and there are direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas.    

Flight distance between Brisbane & Hamilton Island is approx. 550 km, and will take you about 1 hour and 30 minutes flight time.      The Island has its own Marina & welcomes commercial and private yachts (Marina berthing bookings are essential.) There is also a passenger ferry service that operates from the Marina and you’re looking at a 1-hour trip from Airlie Beach to the Island.    

Once you’re on the Island golf buggies are the most popular mode of transport. There is a shuttle bus that runs regularly and we found this handy at times too, as the buggy only fits 4 people at any one time.    

3.      WHAT WE LOVED  

The hiking! There is over 20Km of scenic walks and private beaches to explore, so grab yourself a walking trail map at the info center, as there are several walking tracks. Being the Great Barrier Reef, the snorkeling is divine. There are various snorkeling adventures you can choose from, including full day or half day – again have a chat at the info center when you arrive.

Swimming in the bay is beautiful, and we had some beach activities included in our accommodation package. It was great to get out on the beach and hire paddle boards, kayaks & sail boats and enjoy the crystal blue water.   

Make sure you check out the Daily “what’s on guide” as there is plenty of things to do from beach sports, park runs, mini golf, go kart racing, table tennis & even kids art classes are on offer. The Island has its own Wildlife center which gives the whole family a chance to get up close to our Australian wildlife, including Koalas. There is a little café attached to the center, with reasonable priced drinks (including nice coffee) and snack foods like fresh sandwiches, cakes and biscuits. Both the center and café were family friendly and offered a relaxed atmosphere.

After a big day of adventure, we loved lazing around the resort pools and using the various facilities available.  Make sure you get on up to one tree hill for a sunset – breathtaking and unforgettable.  

4.      WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE

We were told the best time to visit the Island is during August – November as these are the warmer months for QLD, however as our travel plans turned out we went in April and we had good weather. With an annual average daily temp being 27C, it really is a holiday destination all year round.  

5.      HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE THERE

Hamilton Island has a permanent population of around 1350 people. This includes staff, business owners, contractors and numerous private residents who own holiday homes or have retired on the island. The Island even has its own Primary School to cater for the population.   

6.      WHERE TO STAY  

Hamilton Island has a variety of accommodation options from luxury hotels & bungalows to self-contained holiday homes. We stayed at the Reef View Hotel and absolutely loved it. What we liked about staying at the Reef was it allowed us to use other resort facilities and pools and also included hire of beach and water sport equipment. There are plenty of package deals available and we were pleased we had breakfast included. Depending on your budget and family needs here is the link below to help you make the best decision:    https://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/hotels-and-accommodation

  7.      WHAT’S THE FOOD LIKE

We were on the Island over Easter & it was a busy time of year. We learnt after our first night to book ahead to secure a spot for dinner. There are many options to choose from, when it comes to dining and I have attached the link below to give you an idea of what is on offer:

https://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/food-and-wine/restaurants

All the meals we had, either at a restaurant or even room service were fresh and good portion sizes. We also noticed that most of the restaurants offered free meals for kids.  The kids’ meals were decent portion sizes too!

If you are staying in self-contained accommodation and want to make your own meals, there is a supermarket on the Island. It is a little on the expensive side, however very convenient.  

 8.      WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCES

Flights with Virgin were approx. $300 return (from Brisbane) per person. Our accommodation with the Reef View Hotel was approx. $450 per room, per night this was for a twin/family share room & it included breakfast. 

There is plenty of accommodation options on the Island, so do your research to find the right accommodation package for you. 

Admission into the Wildlife Centre was $20 per adult and $14 per child, and this gives you unlimited access for the length of your stay, which we thought was pretty good. The center is open daily from 8.30am – 5pm.  

9.      WHAT’S THE KID FRIENDLY RATING We’re giving this trip a 5 out of 5!                        

             

10.  TIPS

|| Make sure your balcony doors and windows are shut and locked. The wildlife are friendly, and the cockatoos love to swing by and say hello. If no-one is home, they will happily enter your room and have a look around for any food that may be lying around.     

|| Kids club on the Island is called the Clownfish club. Bookings are essential and spots filled up very quickly, so get in early with your bookings.    

|| Check your accommodation packages to see if it includes golf buggy hire, as daily hire fees for buggies can be hefty.  

That’s it for the travel spotlight! Enjoy your travels & have a safe & happy day out with the little people in your lives.

Take Care, Megan  

1. TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT

Longreach & Winton in outback Queensland.

2. HOW TO GET THERE

There are regular flights from Brisbane to Longreach, and it will take you a little over 2 hours flight time.  Travelling to Longreach by car is also a popular way to go, and you’re looking at roughly 1,200 Klms one way (about 13 hours of driving).  You can also take the Spirit of the Outback and visit by rail. You’ll be onboard for about 26 hours, and Longreach has its own train station so you conveniently disembark right in the heart of town.  Car hire is available in Longreach once you arrive.

Winton is about 170klm northwest of Longreach.  The county roads can be challenging at the best of times, add into the mix road trains combined with dirt roads, and this can create more challenges.  If you don’t feel confident driving and would prefer to join an outback tour, there are several providers.  Joining these tours means you can sit back and relax and the tour group will drive you around.   

3. WHAT WE LOVED   

The Qantas Founders Museum was without a doubt the Longreach highlight for us, particularly the night time Light Show.     

The Stockman’s Hall of Fame was partially closed due to renovations, however that didn’t stop us from wondering around outside and taking in the aura of the building, splendid grounds & standing beside the iconic statue of the Ringer.

If you’re a “Crown” fan take the short trip out of town to Camden Park Station.  During the Australian Royal Tour in 1970, The Queen and Prince Philip visited this property, which today is still a working cattle & sheep station. 

There is a little town called Ilfracombe (about half an hour drive from Longreach) and it has a great little pub that does fantastic meals.  The pub is very child friendly, with a big verandah wrapping around the pub and a big back yard for kids to run around in.    

We were pleasantly surprised at how good the shopping in Longreach was, with several little boutique shops along the main street, coupled with bigger shops if needing essential items.

And finally we must add the Cobb & Co stage coach ride, Captain Starlight Lookout and Thompson River Cruise to the Longreach highlights list too!

The dinosaur trail was definitely the Winton highlight!  Visiting Lark Quarry and seeing dinosaur footprints that are believed to be over 95 million years old was mind blowing & amazing.  The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum has the world’s largest collection of Australian Dinosaur fossils, and we must add the Canyon walk onto the highlights list too. 

Winton is the birth place of Waltzing Matilda, so we felt it almost necessary to visit the museum.  

After a big day of dinosaur bone hunting, culture & history, we can recommend the Winton public swimming pool & waterpark, as a great place to cool off and relax.   

4. WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE

The average maximum temperatures during summer in Longreach is 36-37C degrees and 23-26C degrees during winter. During winter, temps can get down to between 7-8C degrees, so definitely pack a jumper if you’re visiting during the winter months.   

Summer in Winton has averages between 36-38C and during winter temps average between 25-27C. 

5. HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE THERE

The greater Longreach region records approx. 3500 in population with Winton checking in at around 1600 people.

6. WHERE TO STAY  

The Longreach area has many accommodation options from motels & hotels to caravans, cabins & camping.  There are also some great self-contained options. We stayed at The Albert Park Motel and it was clean and tidy with a pool and restaurant attached.  Pricing was approx. $120 per night for a big room sleeping comfortably 2 adults and 2 children.

I have included the link below for more options to help you make the right accommodation choice for your family:

https://experiencelongreach.com.au/where-to-stay/

Unfortunately, our accommodation in Winton proved to not be the best choice for us, so I am reluctant to put it on the recommendation list.  However, Winton has many more accommodation options as listed below:

• Winton Outback Motel
• North Gregory Hotel
• Boulder Opal Motor Inn
• Matilda Hotel
• Banjo’s Holiday Units
• Matilda Country Tourist Park
• The Pelican Caravan Park

7. WHAT’S THE FOOD LIKE

Dining in both Longreach & Winton is plentiful with a variety of options to choose from.  In Longreach we can recommend the bakery, RSL, Harry’s and The Longreach Tavern.  They all had good fresh food (big portion sizes) at reasonable prices.  All places were extremely kid friendly & very welcoming.

We didn’t have one bad meal experience in Winton either, with the food highlight being The North Gregory.  The pub has an outdoor dining area with lots of grass for kids to run around on and even includes a small kid’s playground.  The meals came out quickly & with the kids entertained, it was a nice place to relax and enjoy dinner.  

8. WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCES

Flights with Qantas Link were approx. $500 return (from Brisbane) per adult and $470 return (from Brisbane) per child.   Admission into the various museums and other tourist attractions can vary depending on what activities you want to do and also the time of year.  Links below with admission details to help you with the budget:

Admission Prices

Admissions

https://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/page/20/australian-age-of-dinosaurs-plan-a-visit

https://www.dinosaurtrackways.com.au/

http://www.matildacentre.com.au/

9. KID FRIENDLY RATING

We’re giving this trip a 4 out of 5!

10. SOME INTERESTING FACTS

# Did you know that Longreach is the official home of Qantas?  It is in fact the birth place of Qantas & the first EVER Qantas flight took off from the Longreach airport!

# The water in Winton smells putrid (due to it being sourced from the artesian basin), however it is safe & drinkable.  Just hold your nose while you drink, or buy yourself some bottled water!

That’s it for today’s travel spotlight!  Have a safe & happy day out with the little people in your lives.

Enjoy your travels,

Megan