Brisbane to Cairns.

Submitted: Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 12:49
ThreadID: 66659 Views:3257 Replies:6 FollowUps:3
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Hi all,
We have just started planning out next trip. Planning to head cairns (from brissy) in the june/july school holidays to visit family and do some sightseeing. Never been up that way before so curious to hear what other people can recommend for us to see and do, not just in cairns but along the way also and possibly suggest a few good places to maybe stay (not limited to caravan parks either, but still on a budget).
Thinking about heading to the cape too if time permits. Any info would be great.

Thanks in advance.
Demc
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Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 13:01

Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 13:01
How much time do you have? If you want to sight see on the way and then see friends in Cairns I'd suggest that the 2 week's holiday will be pushing it.

Forget about the cape. You'd need about 3 weeks Cairns, Cape, Cairns. Otherwise all your doing is driving..

Remember, it's further to Cairns than it is to Melbourne... Then about that far again to the cape..

AnswerID: 353051

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 15:12

Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 15:12
Hi Demc

We have been to Cairns a few times, the last two trips we put the truck on the Queenslander, and booked a Sleeper Cabin, we had a fantastic time on the way up, it took about 30 hours to get there and we arrived nice and refreshed, then we headed up the Cape, on the way back we did all the tourist stop overs, we went out to Yulara Lava Tubes, and stayed over night, we enjoyed that, we also did the usual reef trips ect, next time we go I am going to book a flight on the Mail Plane that goes up to Thursday Island and all the stop overs, there is lots to see and do, on the way back we called into all the Towns along the coast and even tried the Bucking Bull at Rocky. I think two weeks is not long enough if you drive both ways.

Cheers
Daza
AnswerID: 353078

Follow Up By: Top End Explorer Tours - Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 23:12

Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 23:12
Yulara Lava ROTFLMAO, Try Undara Lava Tubes, The best experience I had there was leaving.

Cheers Steve.
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FollowupID: 621474

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 09:23

Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 09:23
Yeh Steve you are right mate, I'm getting my locations mixed up lol lol, any way we had a fantastic time out there, the Guide we had was from the Gold Coast, and nothing was to much trouble for him, sorry to here your experience wasn't as good.

Cheers
Daza
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FollowupID: 621501

Reply By: Rockape - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 15:30

Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 15:30
couple of nice spots on the way, time maybe a problem.

1. Turn west at Gin Gin to Mt. Perry and go to Boolboonda tunnel.

2. Daytrip from Calliope to Kroombit tops and see the crash site of Beautiful Betsy not found until the ninety's.

3. Eungella west of Mackay. Turn left at Pinnacle via the old logging track that runs up the ridges and spurs. You will need a map, or go to Eungella via the main road and a couple of k past the township turn right on Diggings road and follow to Broken River and a top camping/pinic area.

4. Wallaman falls west of Ingham are a must do, highest single drop falls in the southern hemisphere.

5. Blenco falls north of Cardwell, turn left at Kennedy and up you go top a top spot.

6. Bloomfield track is a nice drive.
AnswerID: 353080

Follow Up By: scedd - Friday, Mar 20, 2009 at 13:15

Friday, Mar 20, 2009 at 13:15
1. Turn west at Gin Gin to Mt. Perry and go to Boolboonda tunnel.

when you get there turn your lights off, sneak slowly into the middle then hit all lights and the airhorns together.
Scares the bleep out of the bats and took the son 2 days to get his Hilux clean. Some of the paint stains wont come out.
He said it was funny at the time, but now that he knows how acidic bat bleep is, its not funny anymore
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FollowupID: 623186

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 18:28

Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 18:28
If the trip is just going to be within the school holidays then you are pushing it. The trip in nearly 1,700 km. This is three days each way if you are pushing it with a van. If you are taking nearly a week to get there and back I would suggest you spend most of your time at Cairns, you will need all that time there if you are a first timer.

PeterD
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AnswerID: 353115

Reply By: Travelling Pixie - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 22:24

Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 22:24
Just go flat-chat to South Mission Beach and spend all your time there!!!



Other places worth visiting are:
Hartleys Ck croc farm (Cairns)
A number of places around Atherton (Daintree forest)
Townsville Aquarium
Caves at Rockhampton (not as good as they used to be but worth stopping for a look)
Mossman gorge
AnswerID: 353174

Reply By: rumpig - Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 21:14

Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 21:14
like said earlier, Blenco Falls worth a look.
also on subject of waterfalls, go to Barron Falls just out of Cairns. you can just drive to them or go there by the train or skyrail, which aren't exactly cheap if you have a family, but well worth a visit which ever way you decide to get there.

http://www.cairnsinfo.com/region_guide/index.php?RegionInfoID=312&RegionSubjectID=79
AnswerID: 353300

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