Forum Fest 2016

[gertbysea]

Thoughts.

If Cairns. Fri or Sat train to Kuranda and Sky Rail back. Leave around 0830 and return at lunch time. Lunch around Pier area. Dinner  at wherever. Sun are the markets in Port Douglas only in the morning so early start for 45 min trip up. Lunch at the Tin Shed AKA RSL right on the water and cheap. Every man for himself.

Friday a trip can be arranged  around foodie theme up to the tablelands or can be Sat and Fri for train trip.

There is Fitzroy and Green Islands  if we want an island stay and to just chill out for the weekend. Nothing to do but relax.

Cairns is not a shoppers paradise by any means. It is a party town where the food is mediocre at best and expect Sydney prices. I can try for group  discount re train.  Hiring a bus or arranging a foodie tour as in local Dairy, Coffee farms including lunch you are looking at around $100 a head.

There is no public transport as such to Port Douglas so also not a cheap day. Have to figure that out.

I would think hotels would be  around the $200 + mark depending.

Also option of staying at Port Douglas. Also poor man's Port Douglas is Palm Cove right on the beach. Expensive crappy restaurants but nice location.  Also lots of apartment complexes there suitable. There are buses there into town.

I have in mind a place in Cairns that has apartments lets in an great location with at least 3 bedrooms and two bath, one of course is the ensuite. Large pool and on the esplanade. Normally I would not consider sharing but with this one I would.

Melbourne people shopped and we were not really cohesive as we were in Hobart so do we want to spend time with each other or do we want to shop? Personally I would rather spend time sitting and talkin'.

Q hotel in Port Douglas is ideal for a group such as ours. Not overly expensive. Lovely pool. Great restaurant. Bar/ lobby. Absolutely outstanding breakfast. Small enough. Outside of the town but regular bus.

That is but one. There are many many.

There is the reef. Boats departing in the morning.

There is a big lagoon pool in Cairns but most hotels have their own.

The beaches are crap. In stinger season they are often closed and or you have so swim in small net area. Outside of that not wonderful and often croc sightings.  A decent pool is good. Mind you most north Queenslanders  would not be swimming in October as it is too cold for us. Just saying as that is when we have had the FF in the past but no reason to stay with that.

Ther are crock farms to visit. Trips on the inlet. Trips to the reef. Trips  to the tablelands. More crappy restaurants than you can shake a stick at. All night bars. Train trips. Bus trips.

Ther is one major shopping centre in Cairns Centre that has a Myer, KMart, Target and other stores you have in every city. There are no speciality foodie shops or home wear shops. In slightly out of town there is a First Choice but no Dan Murphy close by. You cannot buy a cask of wine until 4 pm.

Your thoughts.

Gert


I suggest you all do your research on Cairns and surrounds. You are smart enough to find the websites.

If some want to add on I can help.

[judydawn]

You've either done your homework or know your area well Gert.  I don't need to shop but I would like to do some touristy things during the day and hang out with the group for the rest of the day.  Not particularly interested in crocodiles - either in the wild or in a controlled situation.  Perhaps we would need to have it earlier this year and come up there during our southern winter.  Lots of great suggestions in your posting Gert. 

[Bedlam]

Wow Gert, thank you for the informative post.
I agree it's nice to be able to chat and prefered the atmosphere of Hobart to Melbourne.
I'm not sure if we will make it this year though, so won't add my thoughts.  We will see what happens with out beautiful baby boy and keep our options open.

[cookie1]

Thanks Gert.
I loved how we spent time together in Hobart. It would be lovely to do some touristy stuff in Cairns. I haven't been there since about 2007. I loved what I saw of Port Douglas. I'm ready to go.

[jeninwa]

Thanks Gert lots of information I haven't been to cairns for 20 odd years. Would love to come, but cant commit yet.

[Cuilidh]

Great post, Gert.  Thanks for all that information.

I am definitely interested in the QLD option (and I think my DH would also enjoy some of the activities ... but not all, as he is not a patient 'foodie gossipy' sort of guy).  Can't commit until a date is set but will keep my eyes on this thread.

[achookwoman]

Thanks Gert. Lots to think about here. We will be there if at all possible. All depends on what is happening with selling house. We will go with whatever is decided.

[mcmich]

Lots of activities to choose from. Looked up the QT hotel and it looks great. I don't particularly need to shop but would like to see the sights. Will go with whatever is planned.

[obbie]

well it will be great to meet so many of you all at last if FF is in Cairns.

There is a lot to do in and around  Cairns. Heaps of day trips.  I find Palm Cove better than Port Douglas, as its no where as touristy.  Lots of great places to stay.

[mcmich]

I think that maybe we should say what we would prefer to do. It's sort of like when you ask the family what they would like for dinner and the answer is, whatever you cook is fine.

I would really like to do the Kuranda rail/sky trip. A day trip or stay at one of the Islands would be wonderful. Robyn's suggestion of Palm Cove sounds good too. A couple of long lunches with a glass of bubbles would be grand.

Thanks for all the research/local knowledge Gert. 

[gertbysea]

Before anything can be planned we need to set the date and approximate numbers. We cannot do it all in a weekend. A reef trip is a full day. Kuranda is nearly a full day. Lake Barrine and Port Douglas are a pretty full day.

There is absolutely nothing to do at Palm Cove except eat or beach. If anyone can tell me of a restaurant that has good food at a REASONABLE price in Plam Cove I would like to hear it. There is good pub grub at the Surf Club but It is just what you can get in any decent pub anywhere. It does have a nice location but all the restaurants in Palm Cove area are along the beach front.  We would have to get a local bus from the city get there.

Pert Douglas has the Sunday morning market which is very popular and plenty of touristy shops for looking. It has some really nice restaurants if you want a bit of up market there is the OUTSTANDING  SALSA  restaurant. Exxy but worth it. But for good pub grub in a great location on the water there is the Tin Shed. This is next door to the famous church, St Mary's on the Beach.

In Cairns itself You can walk around the entire city in less than an hour. Fri Sat and Sunday there is Rusty's Market which is an open air food market  with a few other  bits place with some food wagons. It is very colourful. I shop there sometimes. It is a very popular tourist destination and absolutely free.

I suggest those who would like to come to Cairns to do their research and look at the restaurants and menus which are all on line. There are endless websites with info on the area. Let me know what you are interested in and I will scout it out if I have not already been there.

The airport is 10 minutes from the CBD . There is no local bus due to the taxi mafia so the fare may be about $15/20. I would say we could get hotel rooms at under $200 a night depending on the season. In the high season expect a lot more but that can be negotiated. There are no 5 star hotels in Cairns in my opinion but a few approaching maybe 4. The casino hotel is pretty average and champers is 12 a glass if you an get any service.The Hilton  is very ordinary and they do not have a bar open during the day. The Rydges Tradewinds is on the Esplanade is short walk from the CBD. They do have a bar open all day and reasonable prices. Nice pool area and open balcony bar restaurant facing the ocean. Don't know about the room prices. 

Green Island is either a day trip with glass bottom boat ride, large lagoon style pool, crock spot, snorkelling off beach. Day trippers are confined to one part of the island. The food is below average and expensive. To stay there is about
$400 + a night from memory with party type pool. Breakfast is fine but you cannot leave the table or the Ibis  will steal your food. These rooms ARE  5 star. The restaurant is expensive. There are free drinks at sundown on the beach.

I have not been to Fitzroy Island in years and since it was upgraded but it is known as a party place. There is a nice pool and bar area  with snorkelling off the beach. Not far from Cairns by boat. Think it would be a good choice for a holiday but isolated from Cairns.

Think tropical , Palm trees and very low key. Do not think Hawaii. Far from it. There is no beach in Cairns to swim from . It is tidal and dirty. Think mud flats . Think backpackers, lagoon pool for swimming. The shops and restaurants GENERALLY cater for the one off visit by Japanese tourists. Sea food is outrageous in most and often NOT local. Consistently good but not real cheap is the RSL located on the Esplanade with seating undercover outside with good views of the boardwalk . This is not far from the Tradewinds Hotel. This is the northern end of the Esplanade which is 5 blocks long with the Pacific Hotel at the southern end. Not recommended. The Hilton is on block further south on the waterfront and is across the street from the Casino which is attached to the Sofital I think it is called. 

Big complex on the marina attached to the lagoon area with maybe 10 restaurants, a good pub with good grub and at one end the Shangrila http://www.shangri-la.com/cairns/shangrila/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=shangrala+cairns&utm_campaign=AU+-+Brand&WT.srch=1&gclid=CPj2maOBvMoCFYWevAodBK8Oiw&gclsrc=ds

I will give you this link so you can see the picture of the area. Don't be lazy and look up your own links. Lol!

You may want to know that as a tourist town it is pretty quiet in restaurants, bars and hotels during the day. People are expected to be out and doing things and that is why so many hotels are Dead from 0900 until the return of the patrons at about 5 pm. Reservations are needed for most restaurants in the evening when things get lively. There is lots of people watching along the Esplanade where there is a "you beaut" boardwalk for morning or evening walks. Generally too hot now for walking during the day. 32 here today with about  98% humidity.

Gertbysea

Give me your ideas so I can do the local research.




All year round is sandal weather. Some might need a cardi at night depending on season. I wear sleeveless all year round.

[cookie1]

Thanks again Gert, much appreciated. I must admit the first time I came to Cairns I was amazed at the Boardwalk but no beach. As you say mudflats.
I have peeked at a couple of hotels and I think it was the Hilton didn't have good reviews. I will have another look and post my thoughts. I want to spoil myself.
I have been to Rustys. I wonder if it has changed?  I've also been to Green Island but I'm sure that will have changed.
I'd love to come to Cairns again and will be guided in the best time of the year to come. Is it June/July? 

[gertbysea]

The only time south era don,t like it here is during the "Wet" which is late Nov to maybe late March. May is lovely not too hot. I normally would not go into the pool between June and October as it is too cold.

[Cuilidh]

The only time south era don,t like it here is during the "Wet" which is late Nov to maybe late March. May is lovely not too hot. I normally would not go into the pool between June and October as it is too cold.

Great work there, Gert, thanks.  I think 'cold' in this instance would be very subjective!!!

[courton]

Gert, what a fabulous detailed report on Cairns and its surroundings. I know that when I do go to Cairns (sometime in the future hopefully!) I will be guided by your insights.