21 REASONS NOT TO BE BORED
THERE are 21 good reasons why kids in Tropical North Queensland should not get bored these summer holidays.
Mother of three, Texan and Tourism and Events Queensland digital marketing specialist Jennifer Heitzmann, has narrowed down a wide list of choices in an e-book of things to do this summer.
“Show the kids the real Jurassic world, where two World Heritage-listed areas — the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics — collide to create a tropical playground for the whole family,” she said.
“There are so many things to discover around Cairns and Port Douglas, you could easily spend two weeks or more getting to all the activities that make kids cheerful.”
Many are free, including exploring some epic waterfalls.
“If you’re tired of chasing the kids around, try chasing waterfalls instead. There is an abundance of waterfalls with equally magnificent waterholes and heaps of creek beds to explore around Cairns where you can tire out little legs in no time,” Ms Heitzmann said.
“Some are definitely better for young kids than others, so we’ve picked our favourite family-friendly spots to share with you but you’ll need your own set of wheels to get to any of these spots.
FREE
1. Crystal Cascades. Close to Cairns, this family-friendly spot is a favourite year-round for good reason. Just like the name suggests, you’ll find freshwater cascading over boulders and settling into crystal-clear rock pools that beg you to cool off in their waters. With public toilets in the car park and an easy, paved walking track all the way to the main waterfall (about 1.2km walk) it’s easily accessible for all ages. Pack a picnic for a nice afternoon in the rainforest.
2. Stoney Creek Falls: A bit further off the beaten path than Crystal Cascades, this spot also has an easy to moderate walking trail and several spots to take a dip. Note that the trail gets trickier the farther along you go, so for small ones, stick to the water holes closest to the car park. And, if you’ve been there and done that already, have a look at our Top 10 waterfalls post for even more adventure.
3. Curtain Fig Tree. Shrink next to a giant tree. Watch as your kids stare up in wonder at this magnificent specimen of hugeness. Not only is the curtain fig tree worth the drive to the Tablelands to see, it’s also worth the imaginative stories that might result from your visit (Think rainforest fairy
houses and Avatar inspiration). Keep an eye out for the elusive tree kangaroo, too.
4. Cairns Lagoon. Cairns may not be a great place for beach swimming, but the Cairns Lagoon right on the Esplanade will make your water babies happy. Shady palm trees, picnic spaces and Muddy’s Playground (complete with a splash park for tots) round this out as the perfect spot for a family day out.
5. Go cassowary spotting. If you want to see a cassowary in the wild, your best bet is around Mission Beach, otherwise known as the Cassowary Coast. Djiru National Park has a dedicated children’s cassowary walk and an information shelter where you can learn all about these endangered birds.
6. Sightsee along the Great
Tropical Drive. If your family enjoys a road trip, you can’t miss the Great Tropical Drive. From Cairns to Cape Tribulation, you’ll wind your way between two World Heritagelisted areas – the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef – with stunning, rainforest-dotted coastline and breathtaking lookouts. Stop at the Rex Lookout for some great family photos and pack a picnic and stop at one of the many beaches along the way.
NOT FREE
7. Kuranda Scenic Rail. A destination in and of itself, be prepared to spend at least a whole day around Kuranda if you want to see everything. The most popular method of travel is to go up on the scenic railway, where you get the novelty of riding in a vintage steam train, and come back down via Skyrail, where you’ll experience a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest and get stunning views of the coastline too.
8. Cuddle a koala. What child doesn’t like a zoo? At the Cairns Tropical Zoo you can introduce your kids to native Aussie animals as well as some international species. 9. Lunch with some lorikeets. If you’re staying at Port Doug, have breakfast with the birds or lunch with the lorikeets at the town’s Wildlife Habitat. Then spend the day enjoying the rest of their interactive environments of wetlands, rainforest and grasslands, where you’ll find native creatures of all shapes and sizes. 10. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. If crocs are part of your tropical bucket list, get yourself to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, where you’ll spend the day learning about the evolution and conservation of these prehistoric giants and cruising through a lagoon with crocs up to 5m in length. It’s just about as close to their natural habitat as you can get without the fear factor. This is only for the big kids, though. Children under 16 are not allowed. 11. Explore the Great Barrier Reef. You can’t visit the Tropical North without spending time on the Great Barrier Reef. There are dozens of ways that you can experience the Reef, but with a young family it can be difficult to know which operators are the best to escort you, but the best are Quicksilver Cruises, Sunlover Reef Cruises, Passions of Paradise, Great Adventures, Reef Magic Cruises, Big Cat Green Island Cruises, Green Island and Fitzroy Island. 12. See some bling at the Crystal Caves at Atherton. Enter a personal collection of crystals, gemstones, minerals and fossils that consists of more than 600 pieces and winds through 250sq m of purpose-built tunnels. Plus you don’t have to worry about saying “look with your eyes not your hands”, because at The Crystal Caves, kids are free to touch and feel to their hearts’ content. 13. Take a peek at Paronella Park. Transport your little tourists to another time and place at Paronella Park, the living remains of Spanish migrant Jose Paronella’s dream.
Here, you can explore 5ha of fairytale-worthy gardens, fountains, bridges, and even a castle. A cafe on site means you don’t need to bring a thing, except your imagination.
14. Discover the Daintree. Introduce your kids to the real land before time – part of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics – the Daintree Rainforest. There’s no better way to start than the Daintree Discovery Centre in Cape Tribulation, where you can experience every level of the rainforest from the forest floor to the top of the canopy via an aerial walkway and 23m tower. 15. Go nocturnal at Cairns Night Zoo. For a different spin on a wildlife experience – or if your days are packed but your nights are free – the Cairns Night Zoo will serve you dinner
and then introduce you to Australia’s nocturnal wildlife. Just be sure that the kids aren’t scared of the dark. 16. You’ll lava this experience. Head west to the Gulf Savannah to give your kids a history lesson and walk inside giant remnants of prehistoric volcanoes. The Undara Lava Experience will take you through one of the most wellpreserved lava tube systems on Earth. Extra bonus: Accommodation options include turn-ofthe-century railway carriages, which is sure to ignite adventurous imaginations. Note that November to January is “green season” when this area gets almost all their annual rainfall. Some tours and experiences may not be available during this season, so plan accordingly.
17. Catch a crab (or a fish). If the kids don’t have you feeling crabby, hand them over to Cairns Catcha Crab Tours. Owner Tony takes visitors of all ages out to explore the pristine waterways around Cairns to spot wildlife in their natural habitat and cast for mud crabs and barramundi. 18. Get marooned on Fitzroy
Island. Take one of the ferries over to Fitzroy Island (they leave every day from Cairns Marina) and spend the day snorkelling right off the beach, kayaking, hiking or just lazing around. The various operators have options that range from all-inclusive packages (travel, lunch and activities included) to just transfers, so choose the boat company that best suits your family. However you get there, we’re pretty sure your beach babies will thank you.
ALMOST FREE
19. Feel the magic at Mossman Gorge. While you’re in Tropical North Queensland, it would be a shame not to learn about the cultural heritage of the indigenous owners who have inhabited the land for centuries. The Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre are pure magic. Probably best for families with kids at least primary school age ( so they understand what is being shared), the walk through the rainforest to Mossman River is short and interactive so even little minds won’t wander. If you’re visiting Mossman Gorge just for the nature, walking around the park is free. It’s the Dreamtime walks that cost, but are worth it.
20. Enjoy hammock heaven. Palm Cove is a charming beach town is right off the main Captain Cook Highway, but feels worlds away from reality. Settle into one of the many family-friendly accommodation options then take the kids for a swim and nap in a hammock under the sway of the palm trees in the ocean breeze. Spend the afternoon wandering through the village, where your hardest decision will be where to stop for an afternoon gelato or ice-cream. 21. Bring your appetite to the Coffeeworks. If you venture to Mareeba in the Tablelands, stopping here is a must. Parents can refuel with a proper espresso (the coffee is grown and roasted on-site) while the kids eat their weight in homemade chocolate. Entry to the vibrant cafe is free, but we don’t think you’ll make it out of there without stocking up on some treats for the road. If you’re a coffee aficionado you might want to stay for the Coffeeworks tour too, but, after all the chocolate, we can’t guarantee that the kids will remain well behaved.