Family holiday to Cairns

[Ngala]

Yeh I thought Cape Trib would be a bit remote but if we get a hire car we should be able get out of there and see some places.

Hopefully today will be a bit better with decided and I may get an idea of what the prices will be like..

[New Dawn]

I would say if you are wanting to see cape trib I would say you should stay in Port as its nice and family orantated(sp?) plus that way you could drive down to cairns if you wanted to and drive up to cape trib but most tours offer free transport and everything that leaves out of cairns will also tour out off Port... I think that Port is more like a hoilday place iykwim but that could be because I live in cairns so dont see it as a hoilday just see it as the place I live, But we love to go up to port and visit the market up there very worth a look... I have know I idea where to stay up there sorry but most place are pretty good with kids so dont think you will too much of a problem..

As for swimming I would say stick to the pool ( there was a croc swimming in the nets on the weekend ) I dont ever swim in the beach but I do know people who do though.... ( but I came from Darwin where you just cant ever swim dew to crocs lol)

[Visitor7]

Ditto to everything Tali has said.
The Daintree is probably too isolated from everything if you're going to stay there.
My suggestion would either be Port Douglas or Cairns.

As for The Lakes, that's a gorgeous place to stay. DH and I stayed there on our wedding night.

Cairns is a beautiful place. I come from Sunshine Coast originally, so the beaches there are a lot nicer. TBH, I don't go swimming here. I hate the beaches and the fact that there are stingers and crocs. We have a pool at home, so that does me just fine. But I have seen a lot of the sights, and definitely worth a trip over here.

[Ngala]

I always imagined Cairns and north Queensland to have beautiful beaches like the Whitsundays. The only swimming we will be doing is probably diving!! And in the pool. I would like to have atleast 1 full day of diving while over there, mosty places I am looking in to offer baby sitting so hopefully we will be able to go and do it.

Atleast I narrowed my selection down to Cairns or Port Douglas. I know the place in Cairns to stay (The Lakes) and now got to find something in Port Douglas. I know that when I call mum tonight (she travelled up QLD coast last year I think) she will suggest a totally different place!!

I would love to travel up the coast... How long would it take to travel from Brisbane to Cairns, stopping at some towns on the way up and spending a night or two in some of the really nice towns??

[Visitor7]

We travel to Brisbane yearly, and usually allow 4 days travelling time. That allows us to stay somewhere overnight each night, and have a look around at some places. We usually drive between 5-9 hours in a day. It's about 1600km or so distance.

[diva det]

sept is the best time to go up to cairns!
not too hot , SE have finished and no stingers! Hopefully the rain would have stopped by then as well as it is soo wet up there at the moment!
My nan lives at Clifton beach and love it there are its not to commercialised, half way between palm cove and cairns and the beach is beautiful.
there are heaps of apartments to stay in, there is the Novatel resort at Palm Cove which is great, but not sure of the prices
Definately a nice relaxing place to go, but no good if you are looking a doing heaps of things that amuse you and the kids. You have to drive to see things, and make the fun yourselves!
Kuranda by skyrail is beatiful and then come back by train.
Port Douglas is nice
Green Island for a day tour, or Fitzroy Island
there is the Pool in town at the espanlade for fun as well
The beaches are oh so beautiful and the scenery of the forrest meeting the sea is just breath taking!
Enjoy your trip!
odette

[chrysalis]

V a girlfriend and I stayed in Palm Cove at the Novotel about 2 years ago it is in between Cairns proper and Port Douglas so you would need to hire a car but the accom was very nice, family friendly, a lot cheaper than some of the other options around.
Enjoy!
Cheerio
Belinda