The Jones family at TNQ Cairns Rainforestation. Photo / Jesse Lindemann, Tourism and Events Queensland
Looking for a tropical escape that offers dollar-for-dollar value and doesn’t require a long-haul flight? Far North Queensland could be the answer to your tropical holiday dreams, writes Julie Jones.
As regular visitors to Far North Queensland, our family continues to unearth new adventures, and the area’s natural wonders never disappoint. From the rainforest to the reef, there’s an activity to suit every holiday style and ability.
Queensland is wonderful to visit any time of year, but for our family, escaping Sydney’s cooler months (May-September) is particularly attractive. Last year, we booked a getaway in August. As we wheeled out of Cairns airport, we felt the welcome familiarity of the city’s warmth, and we were glad to shed our winter layers to feel the sun’s touch.
On previous visits, we’ve based ourselves in Cairns and Palm Cove. This time, we headed north to Port Douglas. Our son, Braeden, believes life is best spent on the go, so we booked a hire car and created an itinerary that would keep him wheeling from one adventure to another. As a result, we had a fun-filled trip packed with new adventures for the whole family.
Due to Braeden’s disability, he is unable to snorkel, but that didn’t stop us from showing him one of the world’s seven natural wonders. We took to the skies with Nautilus Aviation, Cairns, with a 30-minute scenic ride. The flight was a truly spectacular way for the whole family to share the beauty and size of the reef.
Along the way, we spotted a whale and her calf frolicking in the turquoise waters, a shark, Green Island, Vlasoff Sand Cay and Upolu Sand Cay. A helicopter flight is always exhilarating, but add the Great Barrier Reef and it’s a visual treat that leaves everyone thrilled.
Accessibility: Guests taking a helicopter ride need to be able to negotiate a large step up. An accompanying friend or family member may need to assist in boarding the aircraft.
We continued our adventure at Trinity Bay, the waterways surrounding Cairns. Nothing beats the freedom of dropping anchor when and where the mood takes you. An accessible pontoon boat allowed us to do just that.
Skippering our own boat with barbecue supplies delivered the winning combination of self-paced adventure and full bellies. Despite the delicious aromas created by our burgers and sausages sizzling on the barbecue, we didn’t lure the crocodiles from the mangroves. Perhaps that’s just as well, because Braeden loves to put his hand out and wave to people passing on boats. We wouldn’t have wanted his arm to become a croc’s appetiser.
Accessibility: Cairns Boat Hire offers an accessible pontoon boat with step-free access, and room for a wheelchair user to remain in their wheelchair on board.
Heading into the rainforest of Kuranda, we embraced our Aussie roots with a visit to Rainforestation Nature Park. We immersed ourselves in authentic indigenous Australian culture and met plenty of our country’s most famous wildlife. You’re guaranteed to spot a croc, spy a cassowary, and be wooed by the cuteness of a koala cuddle (for an extra fee). The local Pamagirri guides love to impart their knowledge and captivate visitors with cultural demonstrations, including boomerang throwing. Don’t be fooled by how easy they make it look; getting that boomerang to do a round trip proved elusive for our family.
Braeden’s highlight of his time at Rainforestation Nature Park was a tour and ride in a restored World War II amphibious vehicle. After all, it’s not every day you get to tour the rainforest on land and then, without even changing modes of transport, cruise the lake in an Army Duck. Our guide shared various facts about the plants and wildlife in the rainforest. For me, the most magical moment came when I spotted the stunning Ulysses butterflies with their signature iridescent blue wings fluttering above.
After koala cuddles, boomerang throwing, a hearty barbecue lunch buffet and animal spotting, I was primed to embrace my inner McLeod’s Daughter (for those who don’t remember, it’s an Australian TV show where the women ran a farm like bosses). We drove to the nearby Kur-cow Barnwell Farm to try our hands at mustering cattle. Braeden was delighted when he and I were strapped into a buggy to round up cattle like pros. It’s always special to find a way to do these activities as a family. Braeden and I followed my husband, Mark, and our daughter, Amelia, as they mustered on the back of ATVs. We experienced a splashy creek crossing, a tour of the rainforest, and feeding of the cattle as part of our adventure.
By the time we were chilling out, sitting and relaxing and watching the sunset while barbecuing local Wagyu steak and vegetables on the Hibachi barbecue, we felt we’d earned our tasty reward.
Accessibility: Rainforestation Nature Park offers wheelchair access throughout, though some pavements are uneven and others are a little steep. The Army Duck offers an elevated bench seat, but visitors need to be able to transfer from their wheelchairs to access the seat. Kur-cow Barnwell Farm offers a buggy for visitors who are unable to ride an ATV. Booking ahead is essential.
We have had the honour of taking part in many indigenous cultural experiences, and we were thoroughly enchanted by Flames of the Forest. We felt like we’d been transported deep into the forest, and yet we were only a 10-minute drive from Port Douglas.
This multi-sensory rainforest dining experience offers a locally-inspired tropical menu, and entertainment provided by two Kuku Yalanji brothers who share the magic of their culture through Dreamtime storytelling by candlelight. Even our on-the-go guy was transfixed by the evening’s entertainment.
Accessibility: Guests with mobility restrictions should contact Flames of Forest to discuss access. There are stairs to access the bathrooms on site, and grass to negotiate to get to the bathrooms.
As returning visitors to Wildlife Habitat, we were privileged to take a private tour with Renee, a zookeeper at the park. Renee has an incredible wealth of knowledge up her sleeve, and it seemed no question could stump her. There are definite perks to touring an animal park with a zookeeper who is carrying food. Animals peered out of tree stumps, waddled beside us enthusiastically and hopped to attention as Renee entered their enclosures. Wildlife Habitat is an eco-certified sanctuary and offers an immersive experience for visitors who enter the animal enclosures rather than looking on from the outside.
Accessibility: Wildlife Habitat offers excellent accessibility throughout the park, including elevated boardwalks within the animal enclosures.
Despite visiting Cairns and its surrounding areas many times, we always seem to leave with a long list of places we “have to do next time”. I guess it just means we’ll have to plan another trip to Far North Queensland soon.
This story first appeared in Travel Without Limits.