Rallies, Reefs and Red Rocks: My Epic Australian Journey (Part 2)
Cairns and The Great Barrier Reef
Cairns
After leaving Melbourne, the next stop was Cairns. Cairns is a vibrant tropical city in far north Queensland, Australia, renowned for its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and lush rainforests that make it a premier eco-tourism destination.
Port Douglas is a city further north in Queensland that is also a popular access point for the Great Barrier Reef. Choosing between the two can be difficult but depends on what vibe you are looking for, what Great Barrier Reef excursion you choose and what other excursions you may want to do. Two popular destinations in Queensland are The Daintree Rainforest and Kuranda Scenic railway. Daintree is closer to Port Douglas while Kuranda is closer to Cairns.
Kuranda is a picturesque village nestled in the heart of Far North Queensland’s tropical rainforests, just a short distance from Cairns. It is celebrated for its vibrant markets, indigenous arts, and iconic attractions. While Kuranda is wonderful as a destination, it is the journey to and from the village that is really spectacular. The Kuranda Scenic Trailway winds its way through the rainforest and giving you breathtaking views. Once you reach Kuranda, there are cafes, shops and multiple attractions including the Butterfly Sanctuary and the Birdworld Bird Habitat. There are also a number of hiking/walking trails. Once we were done for the day, the Skyrail was our transportation back to Cairns. The views from the Skyrail were also spectacular.
A word of caution- Monday is not the best day to go as many shops are closed. Even so, we still had a great time. Also, the schedule of the Trailway and Skyrail somewhat limit the time you can spend in the village. If you can drive there yourself, you may have more flexibility but you’ll unfortunately miss the trailway and skyrail experiences. This whole day is something that can be booked very easily and less expensively via the Skyrail’s site rather than going through a 3rd party.
As for eating, you can find just about anything in Cairns. However, Dundee’s is a must-try. It is a waterfront restaurant with a large menu and a wide variety of food. Everything I had there was delicious and the service was excellent. While on vacation, I typically I like to visit different restaurants but this place was soooo good I didn’t mind going there 3 times.
Great Barrier Reef
In selecting an excursion for the Great Barrier, I took a few things into consideration. I am not a strong swimmer and do not scuba dive so I needed an excursion that would allow me to see a variety of wildlife with good visibility within my limitations. I discovered Sunlover Reef Cruises which had multiple options: I could snorkel, take a ride in a semi-submersible boat, float along in a glass bottom boat or do Seawalker helmet dive. I did it all except the snorkeling and had an amazing time. I booked directly through the Sunlover website instead of Viator (more about that later) and would highly recommend them. Now, if you are a strong swimmer or an avid scuba diver, you should definitely check out this website which goes over pros and cons of visiting different points of the Great Barrier Reef:
Uluru
Originally known to Europeans as Ayer's Rock (a misinterpretation of the local Indigenous Anangu name), the iconic sandstone monolith gradually gained recognition for its true identity rooted in Indigenous heritage. Today, it is officially recognized as Uluru, reflecting both a renewed respect for Aboriginal culture and the site's deep cultural significance.
When it comes to accommodations in Uluru, there really is only one game in town: The Ayers Rock Resort is comprised of several different lodging options including Sails in the Desert, Desert Garden Hotel, Emu Walk Apartments and a few others. I stayed in Sails in the Desert which is their ‘luxury’ hotel.
Of course, the main attraction in this area is Uluru which is located in the Ulura-Kata Tjuta National Park. Though we took a formal tour, park passes still needed to be purchased separately. The majesty of Uluru is difficult to put into words and sunset was just breathtaking.
Though I loved the views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the weather nearly took me OUT. I’m just gonna keep it real here: It was hot. . .as H-E-double hockeysticks. It was dry heat but HOT. This was the Outback/desert so this was expected given we were visiting in the summer but DAMN! It was HOT. I personally would never visit this area during the Australian summer. However, because I planned my visit around the Australian Open, I had no other choice. For packing purposes, I personally would not plan on repeating or re-using any article of clothing. I basically was sweating the entire time. Because. . . IT WAS HOT. The max temperature I experienced was about 111°F. The overnight lows were about 85°F.
Next up: The finale- my time in Sydney. Here is a sneak peak:
