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Hi! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I'm actually in surgery right now! This is a scheduled post, because I didn't want to leave y'all hanging. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this post, and I appreciate you hanging in there with me! :)
Just a quick boat ride away from the Great Barrier Reef, and a car ride away from a magnificent rainforest, Cairns is the ideal stopping point for anyone looking to tour northern Queensland.
Before we dive in, two confessions to make:
One, I can’t really pronounce Cairns. I know. Terrible. Somewhere between cans and kerns, I tried my best, but even when I thought I was saying it perfectly, the highest praise I ever got was “well, close enough.” Once, I accidentally started an argument between two native Australians who couldn’t decide how to say it, either! So, yeah. I’d love to say I’m not one of those people, but I totally am. Two, I didn’t spend a lot of my time touring the city itself, choosing to spend most of my day exploring all the nearby sights. That being said, I’m confident in telling you that it’s worth the trip. Why? Cairns is relatively small and very welcoming, and honestly the best jumping-off point for any northern Queensland adventure you could want to have. The city has been called the Gateway to the Reef, and boasts easy access to everything you could possibly want to do in land, sea or sky. So, here is my list of the top things you should do in and around Cairns with only a weekend: Day 1: The Great Barrier Reef
In the morning, take a trip out onto the Great Barrier Reef. I've written a post about my experience at the reef here, which also features some tips for how to protect the reef, and a second post about how to make sure your trip is as ethical and sustainable as possible.
There are quite a few different ways to see the reef, but my personal choice was to take a boat out to a pontoon on the outer reef and spend the day there. I took the Quicksilver cruise, and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about taking this route. There are a variety of activities to choose from depending on your budget and interests, plus, you get a pretty decent lunch--always a plus in my book!
I spent my entire afternoon snorkeling, and it was absolutely incredible. The reef was so vibrant, and the fish were absolutely magnificent as they swam up to say hello.
This was such a magical experience, and I’m so thrilled I was able to experience the wonder of this reef. Day 2: The Wooroonooran Rainforest
Finally, a name I can pronounce! On your second day in Cairns, pick up pastries from one of Cairns’ many cafes, and head off on a round trip through the Wooroonooran Rainforest, a place that's even more fun to visit than it is to say. A stunning array of tropical plants and waterfalls will greet you here, which isn’t something you’d necessarily expect to see in a country known for its red deserts.
Start off with a visit to the Curtain Fig Tree in the Atherton Tableland. This is a massive, very unique tree with a backstory that's well worth a quick stop.
Next, drive south to the Mamu Canopy Walk, where you’ll walk among the rainforest canopy and witness the beauty of this land from above. There, we discovered rivers and lakes teeming with wildlife, and ferns wider than I was tall!
Leaning over the railway to catch a shot of a fern twenty-plus feet below. I actually had to buy these shoes at a mall in Cairns because my old ones wore out at Uluru! They're grey, bright blue and neon orange, so I was feeling pretty stylish ;) It ended up being a good stop, though, because I found a book sale at the mall that introduced me to two of my new favorite authors!
Josephine Falls and/or the Babinda Boulders is your next stop as you drive north back to Cairns. Both are perfect swimming spots, and excellent places to relax after a long day. Babinda Boulders has an interesting story you’re bound to learn about if you go, or if you visit Josephine Falls, be sure to ask a local for help finding the secret path to walk safely up the rocks before riding the waterfall back down! Visit one or both, but you’re sure to have an excellent time either way.
And there you have it! The ideal weekend in Cairns for adventurers. Have you ever been here, and if so, what were your favorite highlights? Do you understand the nuances of Australian accents? Can you teach me how to pronounce Cairns? I'd love to read your comments down below!
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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