Cairns Trip Wrap-up

So finally, to wrap up my Cairns experience and an opportunity to sum up the information and knowledge gained from my trip. I hope my blogs have inspired you to visit Cairns and found it useful for your own planning.

Night swimming in the Cairns foreshore... open until 10pm

 Things you need to know

• December is wet season in Cairns - it's in the tropics after all!
• There is a reason why the locals do not swim in their beaches in summer - crocs and stringers abound. It is the same reason why the locals can be found in the nearest water holes. 
• Vinegar helps with blue bottle jelly fishes!
• Cairns is quite flat and easy to drive. Rent a car - easiest way to get around Cairns and the surrounds.
• Mission Beach is located almost two hours away from Cairns - only attempt to drive there if you are staying there. Day trips from Cairns is not worth it.  
• Gillies Highway really is a winding road - trust the Information staff when they tell you this!

Swimmers Beware!

Must Do

• Take every opportunity to swim in the waterfalls particularly Babinda Boulders and Millaa Milla Falls. Catfish breeding season be damned! 
• Cool down in the pool in the Cairns foreshore - then head for the night markets.
• Take a Guided Tour of Paronella Park. The drive is worth it.
• Opt for the Outer Reef - scuba dive if your funds allow you.

Explore the Biggest Living Organism, seen from space!

 Highlights

The highlight of our Cairns trip for me:

• Snorkelling in the outer reef of the Great Barrier Reef
• Swimming in a rock pool in the Daintree National Park
• Guided Tour of Paronella Park 
• Driving along the Bruce Highway 
• Eating fresh fruit along the way
• Visiting the waterfalls 
• Guided Tour - Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation
• Staying at the Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club
• Walking along the foreshore of Cairns and wading in the pool

Explore Paronella Park... and learn about it's history.

Please feel free to leave a comments - or ask any questions.

Until next time....

The Great Barrier Reef

A visit to Cairns is not complete without a visit to The Great Barrier Reef. After all, who can resist the lure of visiting one of the seven natural wonders of the world. And meeting Nemo.

For our experience, Annie and I headed north to Port Douglas where we boarded the Quicksilver V.  Our destination was the Quicksilver pontoon on the Agincourt Outer Reef.

We had decided on the Quicksilver experience rather than the Green Island experience. The  booking agent described Green Island as the tourist experience for those wanting to sip their cocktail drinks listening to translated description of the Barrier Reef. Quicksilver, on the otherhand, "is the Barrier Reef". It had a good reputation for experiencing the The Reef. Whereas Green Island was 45 minutes away from Cairns, the Quicksilver experience was on a pontoon located on the outer reef 90 minutes away from Port Douglas.

Port Douglas

Port Douglas is located just over an hour drive from Cairns. We arrived early and checked in at the Quicksilver headquater where we received our boarding pass. This was an opportunity to see the marina and also to do some shopping.

Port Douglas Marina

Yachts on the marina

Photo by Annie - Departure Times

Photo by Annie - Boarding the Quicksilver

Photo by Annie - Inside the Quicksilver before it was full :)

Agincourt Reef Ribbon

The night before, I googled "Agincourt Reef" and found this description from DiveGBR.

"Agincourt Reef is at the very outer edge of the Barrier Reef. Here, special reefs known as ‘ribbons’ run parallel to the Continental Shelf. Adjacent to the Coral Sea trench, these ribbon reefs are recognised as the most pristine eco-systems in the reef’s environment. Clear water provides the best possible underwater visibility, encourages rich coral growth and supports spectacular marine life."

 It was hard not to get excited when the idea of visiting The Great Barrier Reef, on the most prestine eco-system, running parallel Australia's Continental Shelf.

Aboard the Quicksilver V, we were briefed on what to expect on the Pontoon. We received an introductory presentation on the reef, the marine life, the do's and don't from a Marine Biologist. There was a presentation on the activities available, how to choose snorkeling gear, an opportunity to hire wet suits and an underwater camera. 

When we finally reached the pontoon, Annie and I headed straight to the snorkelling equipment. Armed with our wet suit and snorkel mask, flippers and underwater camera we headed straight for the water.

Quicksilver Pontoon - Agincourt Outer Reef

Jelly fish that kept following me!

Feeding Time

Photographer

Reef

Underneath the surface...

Although Annie and I did not get to experience all that the pontoon had to offer, we experienced what we came for. Our experience of the Great Barrier Reef is one that we'll be telling anyone who'll listen for a long time to come. Next time I am definitely scuba diving!

For more information, please visit the following sites"

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• Quicksilver Cruises

Next is the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation.