EXCURSIONS

Cairns Excursions

Whitsunday Islands

This group of roughly 160 beautiful tropical islands lies off the north-eastern coast of Queensland and is today one of the greatest tourist attractions in Australia, drawing more than 600,000 visitors a year. This aquatic playground lies 95 miles (150km) north of Mackay and 190 miles (300km) south of Townsville, which offer easy access to the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Holidaymakers flock to the adjacent mainland and island resorts to enjoy sailing, diving, exploring the reefs, or simply relaxing on thousands of sandy beaches. Seventy percent of the region has been declared a national or marine park. The main town in the area is the cosmopolitan resort village of Airlie Beach on the mainland that has a plethora of tour offices offering trips to the Whitsundays.

Transport: There are domestic air links to Proserpine Airport from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Queensland rail operates regular services to Proserpine from most major Australian cities, as do most coach companies. Once in Proserpine visitors have easy access to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays via bus and taxi services.

Cairns Excursions

Bowling Green Bay National Park

About a six hours drive south of Cairns lies Bowling Green Bay National Park. Covering 55,300 hectares, this is the largest National Park in the region, an area once home to the Wulgurukaba Aboriginal people who have left their mark in beautiful rock paintings. Bowling Green Bay National Park is sited between Townsville and Bowen and includes the Mount Elliot area and adjacent coastal wetlands, saltpans and mangrove swamps. Alligator Creek meanders through the park, with beautiful waterfalls and cascades crashing into deep pools, surrounded by tropical rainforest.

E-mail: tsv.infocentre@epa.qld.gov.au; Telephone: (0)7 4722 5224 (QPWS Reef and National Parks Information Centre); Opening time: The Park is open from 6.30am to 6.30pm and caters for campers and day visitors

Cairns Excursions

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island was named by Captain James Cook in 1770 when he believed that the landmass of the island affected the magnetic compass on his ship, ‘Endeavour’. More than half of the island, which is about five miles (8km) from Townsville, is a National Park known for its rugged landscape with granite boulders, hoop pines and eucalyptus trees. The island has 23 beaches and bays, some of which can only be reached on foot. There are more than 12 miles (20km) of walking trails marked out on the island. Part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park fringes the island, which is also home to the most northerly colony of free-ranging koala bears in Australia. The island offers a wide range of accommodation. Local transport is available on the island.

E-mail: info@magneticislandinformation.com; Website: www.magnetic-island.com.au; Transport: The island can be reached from Townsville by passenger or car ferry, or water taxi

Cairns Excursions

Hartley�s Creek

This working crocodile farm is to be found on the magnificent coastal drive 25 miles (40km) north of Cairns. 'Hartley's Crocodile Adventures' is reputedly the best crocodile show in Australia, but the farm, sited under a lush rainforest canopy, hosts other wildlife too such as cassowaries, dingoes, snakes, koalas and lizards. It is the 'Crocodile Attack Show' however that draws the crowds who are enthralled as keepers hand feed the creatures and relate fascinating facts. High quality crocodile leather goods are also on sale.

E-mail: sales@crocodileadventures.com; Website: www.crocodileadventures.com; Telephone: (0)7 4055 3576; Opening time: The farm is open daily 8.30am to 5pm; regular conducted tours are offered; Admission: AU$31 (adults), AU$15.50 (children 4-15 years). Family: AU$70.50 (2 adults and 2 children). concessions available

Cairns Excursions

Museum of Tropical Queensland

This fun museum is interactive and state of the art, designed to tell stories of the high seas like that of HMS Pandora, the ship that captured the Bounty mutineers before coming to grief on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791. The museum also details the natural and human history of tropical Queensland, and there is a fun science centre included. The building is set on the water and includes a shop and cafe.

Address: 70-102 Flinders Street, Townsville; Website: www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au; Telephone: (0)7 4726 0600; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC morning, 25 April, reopening at 1pm); Admission: A$12 (adults), A$7 (children 4-16 years); concessions available

Cairns Excursions

Skyrail

The most popular tourist attraction in Cairns is the Skyrail rainforest cableway, which travels nearly five miles (7.5km) from the Caravonica Terminal, the gondolas gliding above the canopy of the rainforest over magnificent waterfalls and gorges, to the village of Kuranda. En route passengers can alight temporarily at two stations to explore the boardwalks that have been constructed in the heart of the forest. Interpretative centres have been set up so visitors can learn about the ecology, fauna and flora of the fascinating ancient rainforest. The return journey takes about two and a half hours, and the gondolas seat up to six people. Booking in advance is advisable.

Address: Caravonica Terminal: corner of Kamerunga Road and Cook Highway, Smithfield; E-mail: reservations@skyrail.com.au; Website: www.skyrail.com.au; Telephone: (0)7 4038 1555 (bookings); Transport: Coach transfers from central Cairns and beaches to Caravonica Terminal are available; Opening time: Gondolas depart continually between 8.30am and 4pm daily; Admission: Return ticket: AU$99 (adults); AU$49.50 (children 4-14 years, under 4 free); other packages available

Cairns Excursions

Kuranda Railway

The 100-year-old Kuranda rail line stretches upwards for 21 miles (34km) from Cairns to Kuranda through tropical rainforest, winds through 15 tunnels and 98 breathtaking curves, and traverses 40 bridges, including one that spans the awesome Barron River Falls. The scenic trip is a must for all visitors to Cairns. The trip includes an educational commentary about the history of the line and the engineering feat of its construction. The journey takes about one hour, 45 minutes, one way. Advance booking is recommended.

Address: Departs from Cairns Railway Station, Bunda Street (adjacent to Cairns Central Shopping Centre); Website: www.ksr.com.au; Telephone: (0)7 4036 9333; Transport: Cairns Station is centrally situated within walking distance of most tourist accommodation; Opening time: Trains leave Cairns Station 8.30am and 9.30am daily, returning from Kuranda Station at 2pm and 3.30pm daily. Trains also pick up passengers at Freshwater Station en route; Admission: A$56 (adults); A$27(children 4-14 years, under 4 free); other concessions and packages available

Cairns Excursions

Paronella Park

Magical Paronella Park was the imaginative brainchild of a young entrepreneur, Jose Paronella, who built his dream castle on this site near Mena Creek, about 75 miles (120km) south of Cairns, in 1929. Since then the castle has come to be regarded as an architectural marvel, today a top tourist attraction, which has been used as a set for several movies. The picturesque grounds, overlooking Mena Creek Falls, feature interesting forest walks, bamboo gardens, a secret garden and 'tunnel of love'. Cultural performances and guided walks are offered to visitors as part of the admission price. In 1997, Paronella Park was recognised as a historical treasure and listed by the National Trust.

Address: Japoonvale Road, Mena Creek; E-mail: info@paronellapark.com.au; Website: www.paronellapark.com.au; Telephone: (0)7 4065 3225; Transport: Take a package tour from Cairns, or self-drive; Opening time: Open daily 9am to 7.30pm (closed Christmas Day); Admission: A$30 (adults), A$15 (children 5-15); includes map, Botanical Walk guide book, guided walks and cultural performances. Concessions available

Cairns Excursions

Daintree Rainforest

The oldest tropical rainforest still surviving on earth, Daintree is a World Heritage listed site containing the highest number of rare or threatened plant and animal species on the planet. This unique area covers around 1,200 km of northern Queensland, and is visited by thousands of tourists who access it usually from Cairns, via Daintree Village. Visitors enjoy an unrivalled natural experience, from the beautiful golden beaches to hiking through ancient forest ecosystems full of gorgeous birds, primitive flowering plants, and fascinating animals like the estuarine crocodile.

Address: About two hours north of Cairns on the Cook Highway; E-mail: centre@daintree-rec.com.au (Daintree Discovery Centre); Website: www.daintree-rec.com.au; Telephone: (0)7 4098 9171 (Daintree Discovery Centre); Transport: There are scheduled coach and bus transfer services from Cairns, and an airport shuttle service from Cairns Airport to most Daintree resorts. An airstrip provides access for light planes and helicopters. Numerous local tour operators offer trips to Daintree from the city; Opening time: The Environmental Centre is open daily, 8:30am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day); Admission: A$28 (adult); A$14 (children); other concessions available

Cairns Excursions

Great Barrier Reef

One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is as big as the total combined area of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and contains more than 1,000 islands, from sandy mounts to rainforest isles. Divers, snorkellers and nature lovers can reach specific sites by air or by water taxi. Non-divers can view this underwater world from a glass-bottomed boat. The Reef ecosystem has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to give life to almost 7,000 species of plants and animals. It is home to some endangered species like the green loggerhead turtle, and is a breeding site for humpback whales. Visitors can either cruise the islands or make a base in Cairns or one of the many seaside towns along the Queensland coast. Visitors can access the Great Barrier Reef from numerous regions in Queensland, from the southern gateway of Bundaberg, Coral Coast and Country to Gladstone, Capricorn, the Whitsundays, Mackay, Townsville and Tropical North Queensland, including Cairns.

Website: www.gbrmpa.gov.au; Telephone: (0)7 4750 0700 (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority)