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Tropical city by the sea

The city of Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - one of the main reasons that Australia is so popular among tourists. Cairns is a great place to acclimatise, either at the beginning or end of a trip. The temperature is tropical, the sea is nearby and there is plenty to do. During this our Cairns sightseeing trip, you'll spend the night in a luscious green tropical garden room of a boutique hotel. There will be plenty of time to explore the city, visit Fitzroy Island and discover the table mountains, lava tunnels, waterfalls and even tea fields outside the city. However, if you prefer, you can simply relax in the shade of one of the fig trees by the hotel swimming pool... it's completely up to you.

Duration	3 days/ 2 nights	Accommodation	2 nights in charming hotel. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation).
Price	Please see our Contact us page for more details	Includes	Transfer and accommodation for 2 nights
Transport	Transfer on arrival	Excludes	Meals

Day 1: Arrival - Cairns sightseeing

You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to the centre of Cairns, a 30-minute drive. After arrival you'll check into your hotel which is surrounded by tropical gardens. This area is also known as "Tropical North Queensland". The hotel has its own swimming pool, restaurant with cocktail bar, parking lot and BBQ facilities. Naturally your room will have air conditioning and it will also have a tea and coffee maker.

Most flights arrive in the morning, so you'll have the rest of the day to do as you wish. Stroll around the city and explore or perhaps you would prefer to go for a swim at the Cairn's large, free public pool known as 'The Lagoon'. This pool is actually a meeting point for locals, backpackers and other travellers. There are also several bbq's on the grounds; in Australia they are known as 'barbies'. Having a barbie is a genuine Aussie way to eat together. You'll find them all over Australia, even on beaches, and you can use them free of charge. So, buy some meat, veggies and sodas at the supermarket, for instance at the Cairns central shopping mall and live life Aussie style. Enjoy a savoury barbie while looking out over the Lagoon and enjoy these unforgettable moments of your Australia trip.

Kayaking off of the coast of Fitzroy Island

Day 2: Cairns and surrounding area or Fitzroy Island

You may be awakened by the sound of small coloured parrots chirping this morning as they fly through your hotel's tropical garden. Since most days are sunny here, chances are you'll be able to have your breakfast out in the garden (excluded). Today is yours to spend explore Cairns a bit more or to relax by the swimming pool. Cairns lies by the sea; however it doesn't really have its own beaches. The blue "Sun Bus" can take you to the golden beaches of Trinity or Clifton, only 45 minutes north of Cairns. A day ticket for the bus costs AU$ 10 per person. The beaches are long and usually nice and quiet.

If you would like to be physically active during your stay here, you can visit a tropical island covered by rainforest and lined with beautiful white sandy beaches. You can go on an adventurous, relaxing sea canoe trip around Fitzroy Island, located only 45 minutes southeast of Cairns by boat. The island is made up of approximately 340 acres of beautiful rainforest and it truly is a small tropical paradise. We can arrange this day trip for you prior to your departure. If you do so, you'll be picked up at your hotel at 8:00 in the morning and taken to Cairns harbour. You'll be taken back to your hotel at around 18:00. The price of this excursion is approximately £94 per person.

Day trip to Fitzroy Island

Rise and shine early this morning for the transfer to the harbour where you'll set sail to Fitzroy Island on a luxurious catamaran at 8:30. Your guide will meet up with you at the island and will give you a crash course in canoeing. There's no need to have canoeing knowledge; your equipment and any pointers you may need will be given to you on the spot. Afterwards you'll peddle around Fitzroy at your own pace for about three hours; the island is approximately 3km by 3km.

After a tropical lunch (included) on a private beach, you're free to go for a swim and to go snorkelling amidst coral and colourful fish. You can even do an introductory dive at the PADI diving centre (approximately AU$ 65). A glass bottom boat tour is included during this Fitzroy day trip and you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful beaches or to trek through the dense rainforest towards the island's lighthouse.

Back in Cairns, have a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants on the Esplanade or visit the night market. If you've never had the pleasure of dining on kangaroo, emu or crocodile, now's your chance. We recommend the Red Ochre Grill Restaurant. Every possible Australian food and drink can be found on the menu; from Australian wines to kangaroo steak and barramundi fillet.

Day 3: Cairns departure

Cairns International Airport is a gateway back to Europe. If you're just beginning your trip through Australia, you'll continue with Coral sea meets rainforest for a journey on and surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. The beaches Palm Cove (village with lots to see and do) or the romantic, somewhat spiritual Mission Beach are wonderful stops if this is the end of your journey and you would like to spend a few more days on the beach.

Need a few more ideas for your Australia trip? For inspiration have a look at our suggested itinerary Oz east coast escape.

Tips

Driving in and around Cairns
If you plan on picking up your hire car in the centre of Cairns, you can combine this with a visit to Kuranda, a village in the heart of the rainforest. A picturesque winding road will lead you straight through the jungle to this village. There are several different parks in this area, such as Birdworld, Butterfly Sanctuary and Koala Gardens, and Aboriginal markets. At Koala Gardens you can feed kangaroos and wallabies and even hold a koala bear. This is truly Australian and kids love it especially. The Atherton Tablelands are just a little further down the road. This area is known for various waterfalls, such as the Milla Milla Falls, and the tea plantations in the hills

Hot air balloon ride above the Atherton Tablelands
It's also possible to go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride above the Tablelands. This can be arranged locally. Keep in mind that it requires a very early start at 5:00. After a 30-minute balloon ride (approximately AU$ 165 per person) you'll have a champagne breakfast. Once you're up in the air you'll see the sun rise from behind the hills and you'll see kangaroos hopping around below you....

A peek at your accommodation