Don’t miss:
- Walking in the Daintree Rainforest
- Cruising for crocs on the Daintree River
- Exploring a Spanish castle in the rainforest
- Relaxing at Josephine Falls
I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Cairns for a few days earlier this year for my best friends wedding. I had always dreamt of visiting Far North Queensland to check out some of our World Heritage Listed sites, some of which are even on my bucket list!
Cairns is a tropical city located in Far North Queensland and is home to the Yirrganydji people, whose territory includes the coastal land between Cairns and Port Douglas.
If, like me, you’re a military history fan, you might be surprised to find out that Cairns has links to Australian and world military history. Throughout WW2, Cairns was used as a staging base for operations by the US Airforce and Australian Airforce during the Battle of the Coral Sea. A Special Forces base was also set up during this time on Munros Hill officially known as ‘Z Experimental Station’ where a joint Allied Special Forces unit, Z Special Unit, trained. The Z Special Unit carried out 81 covert missions between 1942-1946.
How to get there:
If you’re not lucky enough to live within driving distance to this tropical paradise, most major Aussie airlines fly into Cairns airport daily. Check out flights on WebJet, Wotif or Last Minute Flights.
Things to do:
Daintree Rainforest
Sir David Attenborough said it best himself when he said that one of the most extraordinary places in the world is Daintree Rainforest. Why? It is roughly 180 million years old, making it the most oldest rainforests in the world – yes older than that other one, the Amazon Rainforest, by 10 million years. It’s a World Heritage Listed site that is also next to another World Heritage Listed site, The Great Barrier Reef.
There are plenty of walking tracks you can do in the Daintree Rainforest, so definitely pack a backpack full of snacks, plenty of water, warm clothes in case it gets cool, and take your time exploring. I visited the Daintree Rainforest as part of a tour group, and I must admit I was a little disappointed with how little time we spent there. My suggestion, skip the tour, grab some information pamphlet and maps at the information centre and go on a self guided tour.
Daintree River Cruise
Ok, so being on a boat in close proximity to a prehistoric predator is definitely not something I would have put on top of my list of ‘things to do’ in Cairns, and I will admit it took A LOT of convincing from the travel guide to get me to even do this. But I am so thankful he did. It was the most wonderful way to not only see another part of the Daintree but to also see crocodiles in a safe, non-confrontational way. These tours do not bait crocodiles, meaning they do not hang pieces of meat over the boat to try and get crocodiles to jump out of the water for tourists to get ‘those photos’. You’re also strongly encouraged to keep all limbs inside of the boat for that very same reason – those crocs can and will jump out of the water for a snack. But I digress – back to the tour.
On the river cruise you will also get a chance to see more bird life than you would in the rainforest. I’ve never been much of a bird-watcher, but I will admit it was fun spotting all the different birdlife and then learning about them.
The cruise will take around one hour to complete and I do suggest bringing a jumper just in case it gets a little cold on top of the water.
To book a Daintree Rainforest River cruise, click here.
Paronella Park
If you ever needed reminding that dreams do come true, then you need to visit Paronella Park. Located in the rainforest is a Spanish Castle built by dreamer Jose Paronella, who immigrated to Australia from Spain in 1913. Jose grew up with a dream of one day owning a Spanish castle, but when things got tough in Spain he moved out to Australia to make his fortune on the new frontier. In 1929 he purchased the land the castle now stands on and by 1935 the property was officially opened to the public to enjoy. People could come and play tennis, watch live performances in the garden, enjoy the man-made waterfall, enjoy light refreshments at the café and swim in the river (long before a crocodile was spotted, no one can swim in it now). These days, the castle is now a tourist attraction where people can learn about Jose and Paronella Park and go on guided day and night tours of the property. Don’t worry about packing a lunch or dinner if you are going on a tour, meals are generally provided for on this tour. This tour was one of the highlights for me when I visited Cairns, not only because of how surreal it is to have such a property in Australia but the story behind the castle was one you would read in a fiction novel. The magnificence of it all reminded me of Hearst Castle in California but on a much smaller scale (I’ll share that adventure in another blog soon!).
Josephine Falls
Don’t go chasing waterfalls…unless it’s Josephine Falls. Ranked as one of the most beautiful waterfalls and natural swimming hole in Far North Queensland, Josephine Falls is definitely a ‘must do’ when visiting Cairns. You can either sit on the rocks and have a picnic as the water rushes by, or take a dip in one of the designated swimming areas.
PSA: I don’t know how or why Josephine Falls got it’s name. If anyone knows, spill the tea!
Things to remember:
- Crocodiles are a real threat and can be found in any water way or beach. Don’t risk it. Swim in your hotel pool.
- Sunburns aren’t cute. Wear sunscreen, a hat and suitable clothing. The sun has an extra ‘bite’ in the tropics.
- Bring insect repellent on your trip to the Daintree.
- Cassowaries are not scared of humans. If you see one, do not run. They will chase you.
Useful Links
- Unsure of when to travel? Find out the best season and weather to visit Cairns here.
- Visit the local information centre for more information about Cairns.
- To learn more about the Indigenous history of Cairns, click here.
- To learn more about the Daintree Rainforest, click here.
- For places to eat, check out TripAdvisor here.
Much love,
Lara X
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