Nobody will tell you that the wet season is the best time to visit Port Douglas, Cairns, or Far North Queensland, but it can be done. In this post, we’ll spell out the realities of visiting during the wet. We’ll tell you what you can do at that time of year. We’ll also tell you … Read more
Cairns is a popular vacation destination in Queensland Australia. It is a gateway to The Great Barrier Reef, The Daintree Rainforest and the UNESCO listed Wet Tropics of Australia. But is it safe to swim? In this post we go into the dangers of swimming in the sea (The Coral Sea) from Cairns and give … Read more
Yes, you can self-drive into the Daintree Rainforest and visit the Daintree Discovery Centre “by yourself” without a tour or guide. There is no admission charge for entering the Daintree Rainforest National Park north of the river, but you will have to pay to use the Daintree Ferry. It’s expensive but quite an experience. We’ll … Read more
Most overseas visitors to Australia want to check out the local wildlife. This post covers where you can see koalas, crocodiles, platypus, sugar gliders, cassowaries and more. This site focuses on Port Douglas, Cairns, and surrounds, but we’ll also mention a few stand-our places to see Australian wildlife in Queensland. Where To See Koalas As … Read more
Cairns has numerous great attractions within easy reach of the city and CBD but there are also loads of things to do in the surrounding area. In this post, we’ll cover things to do in Cairns first, then add nearby day trips from Cairns. All these “things to do” are available to you if you … Read more
I have bad news for you, there is no such thing as a cheap hotel in Port Douglas, it’s an expensive place, but in this post, we’ll run you through some of the best cheaper hotels in the Douglas Shire and fill you in on where to find some great deals on budget stays. We’ll … Read more
Australia has two main carriers for its mobile network. The larger and more widely known is Telstra. This used to be government-owned and run. The other major carrier is Optus, it’s slightly smaller in coverage. Vodafone is also present in Australia, but there is limited coverage outside the main cities. Telstra tends to be a … Read more
The best time to visit Cairns is broadly considered to be Australia’s cooler months, avoiding the wet season, tropical cyclones, and stinger season. If you’d prefer to avoid these natural phenomena, you should visit between May and October, these are the months many people consider “ideal” for visiting Cairns. However, you can visit Cairns and … Read more
Yes, there are mosquitos in hot and tropical parts of Australia. If you are visiting Port Douglas, Cairns, or The Daintree Rainforest you should take precautions. This post covers how to avoid mosquitos and a few other biting insects in Far North Queensland. Mosquitoes can have very itchy bites but they may also carry diseases … Read more
The Atherton Tablelands, known locally as “The Tablelands” covers a huge area in Far North Queensland, close to top holiday hotspots, Cairns and Port Douglas. There is a vast amount to see and do on the Tablelands and your average visitor probably won’t be able to do it all. So once you’ve been to the … Read more
The main market in Port Douglas is held on Sunday mornings, year-round. Port Douglas Markets are a little bigger in high season (winter, July) and a little smaller in the wet season (summer) but most of the stalls are there all year. In addition to the main Port Douglas Markets, there are smaller markets at … Read more
Palm Cove and Port Douglas are beach destinations in Far North Queensland Australia lying about 42 Km, 26 miles, apart. Both destinations are north of Cairns City and Cairns International Airport, with Palm Cove being closer to both. Is Palm Cove a good place to stay and what are the pros and cons of basing … Read more
If you’re visiting Port Douglas, include a few hours at Hook-A-Barra (book here), just north of Port in your itinerary planning. It’s a fun thing to do for the whole family, the staff are great, the food is great, and you’ll learn a thing or two about barramundi along the way. We also have a … Read more
