Cairns family friendly accommodation

[Doing my best]

Has anyone been to cairns recently?

After ideas on family friendly accommodation. We aren't planning on hiring a car, and with youngest being 3, not wanting to take pram (have a carrier though), so needs to be near transport.

Will be there 4 nights.

[Boo Boo]

We have been to Cairns a few times in the last year. If you are staying in Cairns itself, if you can get accommodation within walking distance of the lagoon and Muddies playground it is great for the kids. We stay at Harbour Lights right on the waterfront, they are self contained apartments and can walk to the shops, esplanade and playground and don't need the car unless we are going up to the northern beaches or inland. If you are going to walk to the railway station it would take about 20 minutes, that is where you get the scenic train up to Kuranda and can get the skyrail back and then shuttle bus back to your accommodation. A tour company would pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the rail station tho if you booked through them. Great to go out to Green Island. Ask anymore questions you need.

[Doing my best]

Cool, thanks for that.. It is so daunting looking online knowing what really is family friendly, LOL..

Kuranda is the main reason we decided to go to Cairns, rather than our other NQ destination. We went 6 yrs ago when I was pg with DD, so it will be nice to go again now with the kids.

But I will have a think about plans and if I come up with any other questions, I will let you know.

[RockingBaker]

I live in Smithfield (the bottom of the Kuranda range) and if you're going between Cairns and Kuranda you may want a hire car. The bus service goes once in the morning and once in the evening, your other options being skyrail or the train.

[*Efjay*]

If its been a while since your last visit to kuranda, trust me you will be disappointed and the kids probably bored out of their brains. The sky rail and train would be the only reason to go there in my opinion. Muddies, the lagoon, and maybe port Douglas? Would be your main attractions. I dunno maybe I'm a stick in the mud but kuranda just isn't what it use to be

[*Efjay*]

Be cash ready for the sky rail / train also it costs a fortune which is why we have never been on it

[Doing my best]

Thanks for the suggestions. If we find we need a car, we will hire one, but trying to go without We are flying up so if we decide on a car, we will grab it at the airport. The holiday is mainly just for us to spend time as a family. My Dad lives with us, and all our holidays for the last 3 years have either been with other people, or visiting family, so just the 4 of us is very rare..

Kuranda is only for the train ride on the old train, and maybe the butterfly sanctuary.. DH works for QR so we get heavily discounted tickets on the train, which is why we are also training it back to Brisbane via a few nights in Townsville with family (yes I know it is a loooong trip, but we have done Brisbane to Townsville twice, once was on my own with the kids)..

Think I am going to have to google Muddies, a few people have mentioned it. And also any other kid friendly things to do much appreciated.. DD is 5 and DS is 3, nearly 4 when we go up.

[Snacks]

We are going up at the end of May. We'll be staying at Waters Edge apartments which is also on the esplanade near Muddies. I have a great friend who lives there & a sister who lives further north so that's our main reasons for going, but having Muddies in walking distance means we're not hiring a car either, lol! Muddies is just a park with fountains & water play, and climbing/play equipment. It's free (yay!) and has a cafe (yay!) and therefore is everything I am looking for in a holiday activity
I would also suggest getting a car if you're going anywhere further north. (We are thinking about visiting the Daintree for a day and may hire a car just for the one day for that purpose.) It just makes you more free & flexible, especially when you're getting around with little kids.
Have a great time!!!

[Boo Boo]

Yep, definitely the lagoon, going on the scenic train is cool, Muddies - you could spend a morning or afternoon or my kids would love a whole day there, also if you were going to do a day trip, go up to Port Douglas, go to Hartley's Crocodiles....that's great your DH Will get a discount on the rail, will make a huge discount. All, these activities are expensive, Green Island is pretty exxy...

[RockingBaker]

My DD2 is 3 and crocodile obsessed, I took her to Hartleys and she loved it! She spent hours there and loved the boat tour.

[Boo Boo]

My DD2 is 3 and crocodile obsessed, I took her to Hartleys and she loved it! She spent hours there and loved the boat tour.

It is awesome!!!