Cairns Tours

Luxurious, relaxing, personalized.  These are the words that come to mind with Sailaway Low Isles.  Departing Port Douglas daily, this lush sailing vessel is a cut above the rest.  For a day of pure enjoyment and relaxation, there is nothing better than Sailaway.

The day started with a 7:20am pick up from our accommodation in a twenty seater air conditioned coach.  Heading north out of Cairns towards Port Douglas, we were able to take in the beautiful sights of the Coral Sea.  After arriving at Marina Mirage in Port Douglas around 8:30am we were welcomed aboard the incredibly luxurious Sailaway IV. Freshly brewed coffee, tea, and biscuits are served prior to departure so we grabbed a cup and settled down on the front of the boat, looking straight out over the ocean.

On the short one hour cruise out to Low Isles, we had our safety briefing and the crew gave us a rundown of how the day was going to go.  It all sounded a little like “relax, relax and when you think you’ve relaxed enough – relax some more!”  We were very lucky as there were only 12 people or the normally 30 person cruise so it felt like our very own private charter boat!

We arrived at Low Isles around 10:00am and the sailboat moored approximately 150 metres off the shoreline of Woody Island. After putting on our sun suits and grabbing all our snorkelling gear, everyone boarded the glass bottom boat for our ride over to the island.  Once on land, everyone donned their masks and fins and Peggy, one of the amazing crew members, took us all on a guided snorkelling adventure!  The tour took approximately 30 minutes but we saw so much marine life! There were turtles, and parrot fish, and heaps of giant Trevalli – all of which were enjoying lazy swims through the stunning orange, purple, and yellow corals.  The corals at Low Isles were like nothing I had ever seen before.  The colours were incredibly vibrant!

Since the purpose of our day seemed to be to relax as much as possible, after the guided snorkel tour we took full advantage of the beach and spent the next hour unwinding on the sand and cooling off with a dip in the ocean.

Around noon, everyone re-boarded the glass bottom boat and we departed the island for a tour of the reef we had just spent the morning exploring.  Brent, our knowledgeable skipper, explained different types of coral, the different impacts of the tides, and the species of marine life that lived in this particular are of the Great Barrier Reef.

By the time the tour ended we were definitely ready for lunch!  A lovely tropical smorgasbord had been laid out for us in the main cabin.  It included chilled prawns, fresh salads, cold meats and falafel, fresh bread, and tropical fruit.  We enjoyed our delicious lunch out on the front deck of the boat.

After eating we were eager to get back in the water and continue exploring the beautiful corals so we jumped off the back of the boat and snorkeled back towards Low Isles.  Located on the island is a stunning historic lighthouse that was built in 1878 and was in operation until 1993, when it became automated.  We took a short walk around the island, before snorkelling our way back over to the boat. 

It was time to head back to Port Douglas, and sadly, our beautiful day was coming to a close.  Coffee and tea, as well as some really delicious cakes were served before departure.  One of the highlights of the day was on the cruise back to Port Douglas, our skipper Brent shut off the engines and we sailed part of the way home.  With the sun falling low in the sky, and the Daintree Rainforest on one horizon and the endless blue ocean on the other, it was a truly memorable moment. 

Sailaway Low Isles is a beautiful day from beginning to end.  The crew, the corals, and the relaxed atmosphere of the cruise make Sailaway one of the best full day Great Barrier Reef trips on offer.  So go on – Sailaway!

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

For more information about this tour, please visit The Tour Specialists

Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Park: An amazing location in the Rainforest, approx. 153 Km North of Cairns.  There are lots of companies to choose from for this tour but I was lucky to experience it with Billy Tea Bush Safaris and I must admit: It was an AMAZING DAY!

Billy Tea is a family owned company since 1981.  They are an Eco Accredited Tour Operator and use purpose built long wheel base four wheel drives to cross the numerous creeks whilst you are sitting up high nice and comfortable enjoying the views. 

The pick up time is approximately 7:00am in Cairns.  During our drive along the scenic coast, Fin, our local, experienced tour guide/driver introduced us to the history and economy of Cairns and its area.

Our first stop was Mossman, a small town specialized in the sugar cane industry and located approximately 80 Km North of Cairns. We stopped at Raintrees Café for a short break (If you want to have breakfast).  It was now time to head up to our river cruise on the Daintree River.  In the mangroves we spotted birds, a snake and two baby salt water crocodiles. Amazing creatures!

After the cruise on the Daintree River, our guide took us to the Alexandra Range lookout, a beautiful location where you can enjoy the view of the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest and coast and take a photo.

Jindalba Walk was next. It is a boardwalk located in the national park. Fin took us on a 20 min walk through the rainforest and pointed out to us all the species of flora and fauna he could find.  Fin, having grown up in Cape Tribulation and Daintree, spent many years of his life being a local and subsequently knew everything and anything about the Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest and answered all of our questions in a heartbeat.

It was lunch time when we reached LyncHaven for our tropical Aussie BBQ: I have never seen steaks that size before, they were massive! Lunch consists of a choice of steak, reef fish or a vegetarian patty.  All meals were served with the freshest salads.  While the cook was busy preparing our lunch we went to the wildlife enclosure to hand feed the kangaroos. You can even pat these ever so friendly creatures.

After lunch we were all looking forward to our next adventure: The famous pioneer trail, Bloomfield Track for a swim at Emmagen Creek. The access to this creek is only by four wheel drive.

I must admit: The swim at Emmagen Creek was the highlight of my day. To be able to go for a swim in pristine water in the middle of the rainforest, especially when it is hot was so refreshing.Your body just cools down immediately with your senses taking in the purity of your surroundings. During our stop at Emmagen Creek our guide prepared for us a tropical fruit tasting including lady finger banana, Jack fruit, pineapple, passion fruit, black sapote as well as the traditional “Billy Tea”: How to prepare the tea the real Aussie way!

After our relaxing break it was time to go and visit the famous Cape Tribulation Beach, where the Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef: It is paradise on earth! We had spare time to go for a walk along the beach, take a peak at the lookouts and explore the boardwalks.

While in Cape Tribulation we did have time to stop at The Daintree Ice Cream Company to taste some daily fresh tropical fruit ice cream (More food – Delicious flavors!).

It was now time to catch the ferry across the Daintree River to go back to Cairns. We stopped at the Rex Range Lookout to take a shot of the scenery. We arrived back to Cairns at 6.30pm.

This tour is an all weather experience… But I personally think it is even better to go while it is raining to see the rainforest at its greenest best!

My tip for this trip: Bring swimmers, towel, camera, water, sunscreen, insect repellent, raincoat if you do have one.

Florence, TTS Consultant

For more information about this tour, please visit The Tour Specialists

To welcome her first day back after annual refit. Poseidon was met on arrival at the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs by a rare sighting of a whale in February! Onboard Marine biologist Herald Pinns identified this large whale as a Bryde’s Whales, commonly known as Brutus Whale.

 The Bryde’s Whale prefer tropical and temperate waters over the polar seas that other whales in their family frequent. They are largely coastal rather than pelagic. Bryde’s Whales are very similar in appearance to Sei Whales and almost as large. “Bryde’s whale” is sometimes misheard as “brutus whale”. They inhabit tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.

Bryde’s whales are considered medium-sized for balaenopterids, dark gray in colour with a white underbelly and grows to 11-12 meters in length with its very small dorsal fin far down its back.

All the guests on Poseidon vessel were delighted at the unexpected encounter on a perfect calm sunny day.  Photo taken by Trent, a happy guest onboard.

Billy Tea Safaris are experts in Far North Queensland travel.  Their Daintree/Bloomfield Track/Cape Tribulation full day trip is one of the best rainforest excursions on offer.  Take a day and explore the oldest rainforest in the world – with Billy Tea Safaris.

 Our day began with a 6:55am pick up from our accommodation in a purpose built overland vehicle which is spacious enough to accommodate two rows of two seats comfortably with seatbelts.  Our driver and guide, Mark, was full of information about Cairns, the weather, and our upcoming day.  We left the city limits and began our trek north towards the Daintree Rainforest. 

 Our first stop of the day was at Mossman for a quick break and breakfast (if you’re hungry!) at Raintrees Café.  The massive old trees that frame the road leading out of this little town are definitely worth a photo or two before continuing the drive up to the Daintree River Cruise departure point.  We were able to enjoy a cup of hot tea/coffee before boarding the boat for our hour long river cruise.

Cruising downstream we were surrounded by beautiful mangroves and picturesque mountains.  We saw loads of different wildlife including mangroves, cranes, and frogs – even a tree snake!  Our entertaining cruise guide took us right along the banks of the Daintree River in search of the elusive estuarine crocodile but no such luck.  Our guide said it happened to be nesting season and the majority of the female crocs were off hiding with their eggs.  After approximately an hour we docked at the cable ferry crossing where we met back up with Mark, our Billy Tea guide.  We climbed back into our sturdy ride and set off into the Daintree Rainforest – the oldest rainforest in the world!

The first stop was at the Alexandra Range lookout where we took in the views of the coastline, river and rainforest.  Soon enough we were back on the road and arriving at the Jindalba Walkway.  Jindalba in an Aboriginal word meaning ‘foot of the mountain’.  The walkway consisted of an elevated boardwalk that meanders through a small section of the rainforest.  Armed with cameras and our guide, we explored the short walking track while learning about different flora and fauna, insects, sounds, and even what damage had been created during previous cyclones.  The leisurely walk took approximately 30 minutes and by that time everyone was ready for a delicious traditional Aussie BBQ lunch!

Lunch is served at LyncHaven, a small restaurant/information centre located in the Daintree.  While the steaks and sausages were sizzling on the BBQ, we walked over to the kangaroo/wallaby enclosure where we actually got to hand feed them!  They ranged in size from knee height wallabies to shoulder height Grey Kangaroos but they were all equally hungry. There were also miniature crocodiles, cockatoos, and the more traditional: canine!  We were called over for lunch and helped ourselves to a variety of salads and barbequed meats.  

After eating we continued further north along the Bloomfield Track, an unsealed section of road north of Cape Tribulation.  Our destination was Emmagen Creek for a swim in the cool freshwater and to enjoy a tropical fruit tasting that included exotic selections such as mami sapote, passion fruit and custard apple.  Our driver also set up a small burner to brew the traditional ‘Billy Tea’, hence the name of the tour company!  Also available was Australian damper with golden syrup and chilled white wine.  Due to the fact that we were traveling in the wet season the creek was completely flooded over the road so our driver plowed right through! The weather and swollen waterways definitely added to the ambiance of our rainforest excursion.

Having cooled off in the creek we boarded our ride and began the drive south, out of the Daintree Rainforest and back towards Cape Tribulation!  We stopped at a small section of the Cape Tribulation beach and had a few moments to take in the gorgeous views of the only place in the world where two world heritage sites meet and it was incredible.  It was a perfect end to a very exciting day.  We departed the beach and made the crossing of the Daintree River by the cable ferry.  A short time later we had our final stop of the day at the Daintree Ice Cream Factory and had a chance to sample some uniquely flavored ice cream including wattle seed, macadamia nut, black sapote and wild blueberry.

After a very full on day we arrived back in Cairns around 6:15pm.  The Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and 4WD Bloomfield Drive Track with Billy Tea Safaris is a great option to fit many sights and experiences into a fully day trip.  I definitely recommend this tour to see some of the most beautiful areas on the planet in the span of a day!

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

For more information about this tour, please visit The Tour Specialists

The Quicksilver group of companies offers a wide range of snorkel and dive trips to the Great Barrier Reef.  This full day pontoon option is an excellent way to see one of the most pristine areas of the reef – the Agincourt Ribbon

Reefs.  This particular region is located along the continental shelf and provides an ideal environment for many species of coral and marine life to call home.

Our day started with a 7:55am pick up from our accommodation in Cairns. The full size air conditioned coach was easily recognizable with the Quicksilver logo decorating the sides of the bus.  Our driver provided a running commentary and history lesson about Cairns and surrounds on our northbound journey.  We even saw a whole field of wallabies grazing in the grass for their breakfast!  The hour long trip up to the coast from Palm Cove to Port Douglas is toted as one of the most scenic drives in the world, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

We arrived at the quaint Marina Mirage in Port Douglas at approximately 9:15am and headed over to reception to check in with the efficient staff.  After showing our boarding passes, we were welcomed aboard with tea, coffee or chilled cordial and some bikkies. Soon enough it was 10:00am and we were on course for the Outer Barrier Reef!

The travel time out to the pontoon located at Agincourt #3 took approximately one hour and thirty minutes.  Along the way we saw the Low Isles and other various sandy coral cays that were visible at the low tide.

Upon our arrival at the pontoon, lunch was served almost immediately.  It was a delicious buffet style meal that included salads, vegetarian curries, chicken, beef, and fruit.  There was definitely something for everyone!  At the same time as lunch was being served, the first semi submersible boat ride of the day was departing from the back of the pontoon, to be continued every 30 minutes for the duration of our time at the reef.  We enjoyed our meal and then climbed aboard the semi submersible for our 30 minute underwater tour.  The views were incredible, with the glass windows providing a 360 degree view of the ocean surrounding us.  We saw so many different varieties of coral; it seemed every minute the scenery floating past us was changing!  There were also heaps of sea turtles and reef fish playing in the current of the boat.

Once we were back on the pontoon, we were so excited by what we had seen on the semi-submersible submarine that we grabbed our snorkelling gear, threw on our sun suits and jumped into the water.  There was just so much to see!  All the different hard and soft corals, along with the contrasts of bright coral and deep blue ocean provided well over an hour of swimming and snorkelling. We saw turtles, parrot fish, giant clams, and more bommies than you can count.

All too soon we were called back to the pontoon by the watchful crew.  We had time to have a quick freshwater shower and change in the facilities located on the deck of the pontoon.  We boarded the boat where tea, coffee, cordial and yummy cheese and crackers were waiting for us.

On our homeward journey, the crew had a continuous slideshow playing with all of the photos they had taken throughout the day which were available for purchase as well.  It was a great way to enjoy some of those once in a lifetime moments again.  We arrived back at the marina at approximately 4:40pm where we hopped aboard our coach and relaxed for our return journey back to Cairns.

Quicksilver pontoon is a wonderful way to see the Great Barrier Reef whether it is your first time out or your fourth.  This was a day to remember on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!

For more information about this tour, please visit The Tour Specialists

For those lucky enough to have the opportunity to have the time in Cairns to head up to the Tablelands, Tropical Horizons is definitely the way to go.  With this full day option, you are guaranteed to be treated to a completely different perspective of Cairns.  The Tablelands is one of the most scenic and beautiful areas of Tropical North Queensland – it is Cairns best kept secret!

Our day started with a prompt 7:25am pick up from our accommodation.  Our bus driver and tour guide, Frank, welcomed us aboard the comfortable air conditioned mini coach with a friendly smile.  After picking up the rest of our fellow travelers, we headed inland along the Bruce Highway towards the Gillies mountain range.

Frank, our fantastic guide, gave us a commentary of the area and different things we could see on the drive towards Lake Barrine.  There are several stunning lookouts along the winding road and the scenery and views are absolutely breathtaking.

We arrived at the Lake Barrine Tea House at around 9:10am.  The tea house is a rustic looking building situated on the shores of Lake Barrine.  We were treated to hot tea and coffee, along with melt in your mouth scones with jam and cream.  We enjoyed our morning tea seated on the verandah overlooking the beautiful calm lake.

After morning tea, we hopped aboard our private Lake Barrine boat cruise!  It departed at approximately 9:30 and we set off on our 50 minute cruise around the lake.  Our boat driver and guide, Warren, was so entertaining and knowledgeable.  He had us looking n the water, along the banks, and up in the trees for all sorts of different animals including pythons, ducks, and turtles.  We arrived back at the dock around 10:20am and had just enough time to check out the famous ancient twin Kauri trees that call Lake Barrine home.  They are truly majestic!

Our next stop was the must see Curtain Fig Tree.  This tree is one of the oldest in Cairns Tropical North Queensland and it is definitely a sight to behold.  The intricate way the vines have continuously taken over the tree is almost an optical illusion.  There was also a spacious boardwalk and photo taking platform where Frank was more than happy to take our picture!

Departing the Curtain Fig Tree, our next stop was Millaa Millaa Falls, a world famous waterfall located on the waterfall circuit in the Tablelands.  We had the opportunity to go for a swim in the cool clear water and it was so much fun swimming right underneath an actual waterfall!

After a full on morning of sightseeing and swimming, it was time for lunch at the beautiful Mungalli Falls.  Tropical Horizons has its own private gazebo located just at the edge of the falls so the view could just not be beat!  Lunch was one of three options that we had selected earlier on the bus ride up, which made for an efficient serving of everyone’s meals.  It was a delicious two course meal served with your choice of beverage that could be purchased from the bar.  Afterwards, we had free time to walk it off and check out the magnificent views of Mungalli Falls and Mungalli Creek from the lookout platforms.

We were bid a friendly farewell on were on our way to the Mamu Canopy Tower Walkway.  This is a new addition to the Tablelands sightseeing circuit as it was just opened in June 2009.  An interesting fact about the Mamu Canopy Tower is that is was built entirely along the path of destruction left by Cyclone Larry in 2006.  No trees that weren’t already damaged from the storm were removed during the construction of the canopy walkway.  Mamu is an excellent 2.5km walking track with lots of flora and fauna.  Frank was an absolute fountain of knowledge when it came to different types of plants and flowers in the rainforest.  We ascended the canopy tower which is 37m high to take in the panoramic views of Queensland’s highest mountains – Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker.  It was so peaceful and beautiful with the South Johnstone River flowing between the mountain ranges.  We began our short descent and a golf cart was available for those travelers that were a little weary. 

Tropical Horizons definitely saved the best for last with this day tour – Paronella Park.  Although our day had already been filled with many gorgeous sites, we were in for a surprise with Paronella.

Upon our arrival, we had about 20 minutes to relax with a cold drink or hot coffee before meeting our tour guide, Luke.  We were taken through all the park’s main features and Luke was amazing guide who spoke with knowledge and passion about this stunning masterpiece.  The neatest thing about the grounds were that every building, every garden, was built with the waterfalls in its view. Incredible.  Each area had a different meaning and was built for a different purpose.  We were all enraptured with the story of Paronella Park and its mantra of “keeping the dream alive”. 

We left Paronella Park at approximately 4:45pm for our return journey back to Cairns.  Frank gave us a small commentary on some of the different townships we were passing through, but mostly we had time to sit back, relax, and re-live all the incredible sights that had been seen throughout our day.  We arrived back in Cairns around 6:15pm after a long but enjoyable day.

The Waterfall Circuit, Mamu Canopy Tower and Paronella Park are a few natural attractions that must be seen on your holiday to Cairns Far North Queensland!

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

For more informatiom about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists.

The majority of visitors to Green Island travel out by boat.  There are a smart few that opt for a helicopter scenicflight and I was lucky enough to experience it for myself with a 25 minute helicopter flight out to Green Island a few weeks ago.

The excursion started with my arrival at the Great Barrier Reef Helicopter office located at The Pier in Cairns.  After an informative safety briefing my fellow flyers and I had a few minutes to let the anticipation build up before being led up to the helicopter landing pad.  We were able to watch it land, coming over from Cairns Airport.  It was quite loud as you would imagine, and quite windy too.  The crew members efficiently led us out two by two in front of the helicopter where we had our picture taken before excitedly climbing aboard.  We were buckled in, had earphones placed over our heads and all of a sudden we were taking off to the skies above the Great Barrier Reef.

Flying in the helicopter felt like you weren’t flying at all.  It’s such a smooth ride with no turbulence like you would get on an airplane.  There are large domed windows to look out towards the horizon, and the shapes of the windows are also great for taking photos as the domed shape minimizes reflection and flash.  As we were flying out we were able to look back and see the coastline disappearing behind us and the Great Barrier Reef appearing before us.  To say it was beautiful is a total understatement.  It was absolutely exquisite.  The stark contrasts between the dark blue ocean and the pale green shallow water combined with all the patches of coral reef provide views that will leave you wondering why you hadn’t booked a scenic helicopter flight for longer.

We continued our scenic helicopter journey over Oyster, Upolu & Arlington reefs as well as Vlassoff Cay where we spotted a few lucky snorkellers taking the plunge on the Great Barrier Reef. Although it was raining when we departed Cairns, just a few short kilometres off the coast the sun was shining brightly lighting up Green Island, proving it’s nickname – the jewel of the sea – completely appropriate.

Much too short a time later we arrived at Green Island, landing on the helicopter pad there and we were greeted by the friendly and professional Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Group staff, who took a few photos of us departing from the helicopter.  We then had around two hours to explore Green Island, go snorkelling, and relax on the beach before our boat cruise back to Cairns.  It was a perfect way to sit back and replay all those stunning images from the flight in my head – and flick through them on my camera.

Taking a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef is an absolute must do.  There is no other excursion you can do in Cairns that will leave you with such beautiful images and photos.  This is not only another way to see the reef, in my opinion it is the ONLY way to see the reef.

Thank you Great Barrier Reef Helicopters and Great Adventures

For more information about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

For those looking for a relaxing way to wind down after a day out snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef or exploring the Daintree and Cape Tribulation Rainforest, the Sunset Cruise along the Trinity Inlet is wonderful.

Our evening started with a 5:15pm check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns.  We had a few minutes to check out some of the gorgeous boats that call the Cairns Marlin Marina home before being welcomed aboard the cozy boat with a chilled glass of Australian sparkling wine.  We immediately headed for the upper back deck where there was more than enough space to sit comfortably while sipping on our bubbles in the fresh air.  The boat began heading north out of the marina so we could take photos of the beautiful Cairns harbour at dusk.  It just so happened that there were a few luxury yachts that were in port and we were lucky to get close enough to them to get some great pics!

The skipper then turned the boat around and began heading inland down the Trinity Inlet where we were able to view the mountains in all their glory.  The contrasts between the fading skies, the mystery of the range and the calmness of the water was just gorgeous.  While we navigated the river, our captain gave us a little bit of history on Cairns, including hearing about the sugar cane factories and some of the unique residences along the banks of the Inlet all the time keeping an eye out for Saltwater Crocodiles and other local creatures that inhabit these waters. After taking it all in we were turning around and heading back to the marina where we had a reservation at one of the nicest restaurants along the waterfront – Dundee’s!

We arrived back in port at our 7:00pm arrival time and were fare welled by the friendly crew.  After walking the short distance over to Dundee’s we were shown to a lovely table for two right out front of the restaurant.  Dinner was a three course set menu from which we were able to choose one of three entrées, mains, and dessert.  There was a wide variety of options, including vegetarian choices.  The portions were quite generous and we had trouble making it through dessert.  While enjoying our meal we took in the sights and sounds of the marina all lit up at night.  It was a perfect backdrop on a really lovely evening.

The sunset cruise combined with a delicious dinner at Dundee’s is a great way to experience Cairns by night.  The overall relaxed vibe of the evening will leave you feeling chilled out and content – just as a holiday should.

Thank you Cairns sunset Cruises for a great evening sampling your tour

For more information about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists 

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

Ocean Freedom is a newly refurbished 20m, 5 star luxury cruiser.  The trip can be described best as a phenomenal 6 hours of diverse fun activities that allow you to get up close and personal to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns City.

My day began with a pick-up at 6:50 am out of Palm Cove going directly to the Marlin Marina, Cairns for a 7:30 am check-in at the Ocean Freedom boat and an 8:00 am departure.  The friendly staff are make contact with everyone and direct them towards the coffee/tea/pastries/muffins/croissants upon boarding Ocean Freedom.  As Ocean Freedom took off, the staff furthered their hospitable ways in a humorous but informative safety briefing for snorkeling and diving.  Unlike many other boats where you choose yourself which size of snorkel gear may fit you and may not, Ocean Freedom is different and the crew go around person to person fitting them for the accurate sizes.  The boat was not cluttered at all, as there is a separate room to store your bags and belongings therefore allowing for more space to move around and a roomy air-conditioned saloon. Ocean Freedom even has extra seating area on the roof for 10 lucky people at a time to relax. The forward deck is an area you can set down a towel and face into the warm wind and be the lookout for the sandy coral cay in the distance. The forward deck and aft is also a great place to snap a photo of the picturesque Great Barrier Reef. 

The boat ride was just over an hour until we reached our first destination Great Barrier Reef destination  “The Wonder Wall”.  The wonder wall is the edge of the Upolu Reef and is fantastic for both snorkeling and diving.  Here you can experience one or two dives, partake in hours of snorkeling, take a ride on the marine naturalists glass bottom boat tour or even the guided drift snorkel tour, where you are taken out in a dinghy along the edge of the coral garden and snorkel your way back along the wall of the reef.  This is definitely an adventure and you never know what you will find from starfish to turtles, anything is possible.  I took my first certified dive of the day here where I was really able to appreciate the beauty of this wall from the bottom to the top as it was crawling with marine life including numerous clown fish and even a giant crawfish amongst the elephant ear corals.

Next up, the bar was opened and lunch was served shortly after.  Lunch consisted of many delicious salads, prawns, salmon, cold meats, cheeses, breads and chicken.  The fresh food really hit the spot and left us feeling energized and ready for the rest of our day.

The next stop in our day was supposed to be the Upolu Cay but due to tides not being what they were supposed to be, the cay was much smaller than usual.  The skipper simply said “no worries” and veered the boat towards the Vlassoff Cay.  The Vlassoff Cay gives only officially exclusive rights and privileges to Ocean Freedom for reef charter boats.  The boat moors 400 meters away from the island and offers constant ferries back and fourth from the cay to the boat.  The best recommendation here is to snorkel from the boat towards the island as the best corals are in the vicinity of the boat.  I personally indulged in a second certified dive here where I was very impressed with the variety and colours of elephant, spaghetti & plate corals.  We also saw 3 lagoon rays.

From this point, I felt it was time to relax for a bit on the cay, where the sand was as soft as sugar and the calm waters were shallow and warm.  The lifeguard walked the cay continually to ensure that everyone was safe and enjoying themselves.

Unfortunately after a fantastic six hours at the Great Barrier Reef, it was time to make our way back.  Cheese/crackers/fruit are served throughout the whole ride.  I highly recommend this tour as they take a maximum of 50-65 people when the boat is actually surveyed to fit 109 people.  The staff are so attentive and personal and just love their jobs which makes the day enjoyable for everyone’s needs.  Ocean Freedom is one reef boat tour I would highly recommend as a boat to choose to see the Great Barrier Reef if you are a first time snorkeler or diver as the crew is right there ready to help you with any concerns.  Ocean Freedom spends less time in transit and more time at the reef including a fun packed six full hours.  Ocean Freedoms activities are great for anyone as they give you the chance to experience the reef in many ways including the guided snorkel tours, the glass bottom boat, snorkeling straight off the back of the boat as well as the privilege of going to a secluded sandy coral cay. 

No matter what your preference is, there is something for everybody on Ocean Freedom and the magic is simply awaiting you.

For more information about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Blythe Rallo, Tour Consultant at The Tour Specialists

This memorable morning starts with a pick up from your accommodation bright and early at approximately 4:30am. Your comfortable air conditioned ride then journeys up the Kuranda Range towards Mareeba so you can have a little sleep on the way. As you get to the top of the range, the sun is beginning to rise over the mountains, and the unique environment of the tablelands is a gorgeous backdrop against the budding pink sky.

Around this time your driver will start to explain to you what is going to happen once you arrive at the Hot Air balloon departure point. While you are cruising up the range, the Hot Air crew is busy setting up these massive balloons in farmer’s fields and your arrival is timed perfectly with the crew putting the finishing touches on the ‘aircrafts’. As you see them being filled with gas and hot air, it is like watching them literally come to life!

Climbing aboard and learning the ‘landing position’ is next and after a brief safety tutorial you are up up and away! Almost before you realize what’s happened – you’re off the ground and slowly climbing towards the clouds. It is absolutely amazing. The tablelands stretched out before you, a thin layer of foggy cloud hovering over the mountain tops and an absolutely breathtaking sunrise – and you are flying in a hot air balloon through it all! Looking towards the ground, there are sugarcane fields, farmer’s paddocks, mango orchards, banana trees – even wallabies bounding through the early morning scenery. Everywhere you look, it’s a different picture, a different memory. The only way to fully understand the beauty of this fantastic flight is to see it with your own eyes. At times you are as high as the mountain tops, and others you are close enough to the ground to say G’day to the farmers below. Due to the fact that you cannot steer the balloons, the pilots rely on wind currents for their direction. Therefore, the balloon is ‘steered’ towards the ground to catch a different wind current, and then back up again to head in a different direction.

All too soon, you find yourself in the landing position preparing to touch down. After a safe touchdown, you hop out of the balloon while the next group hops in and prepares for their flight. While they are taking in the views, the friendly crew snaps a few photos of you and then it’s back on the bus to‘chase’ the other balloon! Again, since the balloon cannot be steered, it is difficult to predict where it will land. This is half the fun though! It’s so exciting with the driver on the radio to the pilot trying to determine where to meet him on the ground. Finally, the second hot air balloon flight touches down in a different random field and its time to pack it up.

As with everything on this excursion, the crew makes the packing up process really fun and enjoyable for everyone. The hot air balloon is packed up with as much entertainment as possible before one final group photo is taken. After this, it’s back on the bus to head over to Ringer’s Rest for breakfast!

Breakfast is served buffet style with enough selection for everyone to be happy. There’s also more than enough champagne to go around! While you’re enjoying your breakfast, the crew is busy loading all the photos onto a slideshow that you are able to view while eating. From here, you can purchase the pictures individually or as a disc loaded with snaps of the history of hot air ballooning, as well as all the photos taken of you during the day.

After filling your boots, it’s all aboard the bus for the ride back to your accommodation. This morning is one of the most memorable experiences on offer in Cairns Tropical North Queensland and it is an absolute must do. As the saying goes – I’ve always wanted to do that!

For more about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant

Our trip began with a nice mid afternoon pick-up of 3:00 PM from Palm Cove.  This was just perfect for us considering that we wanted the morning to relax in the sun and not be rushed to catch an early morning tour.  I was quite excited about heading up to the mystical rainforest for the evening because at night, the Daintree really comes to life along with the animals that live amongst it.  The World Heritage Cape Tribulation Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world and is home to thousands of rare plants, trees and wildlife with new species being still being uncovered by scientists and botanists from around the world. 

 Our first stop was the Rex Lookout cliff face.  The view is absolutely magical, allowing you to see the coast at its best along with Double Island & Scout Hat Island.  Our friendly tour guide Joe was kind enough to take pictures of everyone with our cameras, capturing the best angles and background.

From the Lookout we headed north, hearing the histories of Port Douglas, Mossman & Wonga Beach.  There wasn’t a single question that Joe our tour guide could not answer.  We shortly found ourselves at Barrett’s Creek, which was right off the Daintree River.  We sat down with our group for cheese, crackers, biscuits, bubbles and soft drinks.  At this point we also met our enthusiastic Daintree River boat driver who packed an esky full of bubbles and snacks and we headed for the boat. 

As we took off for the 2 hour cruise to the beautiful Daintree River, I knew we were in for a great night.  Stories of Crocodiles, Snakes and the area were told by our guide while he also made sure to stop the boat close enough to each and every spotting of wildlife long enough for us to get some great photographs.  This was a great time to go out as it was the perfect temperature and atmosphere in the evening.  We felt relaxed and very at ease with the sun setting over the rainforest, it was just stunning.  Half way through the cruise, the snacks and bubbles are served again.  As we made our way back, we continued our wildlife spotting including Crocodiles, exotic birds & snakes.

Upon return from the ride, the pathway is lit up with torches to show you the way.  Time to hop back into the tour bus and head to the famous Thala Beach Lodge just south of Port Douglas for an incredible dinner.

Upon arrival at the Thala Beach Lodge, you are driven up a long winding palm fringed driveway to a hilltop reception and welcoming area. You will be instinctively sure you are in for a great dining experience at this resort built around Mother Nature’s natural beauty. 

The Thala Beach Lodge friendly staff will take you right up to your reserved table on the expansive deck that has views along the coast and into the rainforest. Choose from a table d’hôte menu of steak, chicken, fish or vegetarian dish of the day.  Then you also get to choose from three desserts of the day to complement the meal.

Whilst you are at this resort in paradise be sure to take a stroll around their lit up luxury lagoon, you will be astounded by the atmosphere and beauty the resort has to offer.

After dinner, it’s time to head back to your Cairns or northern beaches accommodation.  At this point the guide answers any further questions about the day and offers information about the other attractions and tours that you can do while visiting the area.  You will be back at your accommodation by 9:30 PM.  This afternoon tour is an ideal way to spend an evening while on holiday in Cairns and is not rushed and allows you to really feel relaxed and taken care of.

Australian Wilderness Tours specializes in small luxury four wheel drive tours leaving no rocks unturned in this expansive country with exclusive permits to breathtaking locations!  The secret to being in business for over 30 years?  Their driver guides are passionate and the best in the business; safety, fun and happy customers are the main priorities with Australian Wilderness Tours.   From Private to group charters or ½ day to full day, this is a great way of getting away from the crowds and immersing yourself in the beauty and vastness of what Cairns Australia truly has to offer.  The first-class professional service of Australian Wilderness Tours will ensure that your Australian adventure is everything you could have wished for and we are very confident, a great deal more…

For more information about rainforest tours please visit The Tour Specialists

This half day adventure is the perfect way to combine two of Cairns and Tropical North Queensland’s jewels – the rainforest and the Cairns Tablelands.  If you’re lucky, you might just get a little dirty.

Your Billabong all terrain vehicle aka ATV adventure begins with a drive up the Kuranda Range and hopefully you will make a stop at the Henry Ross Lookout to take in some of Cairns’ incredible views across the Great Barrier Reef. Not much farther on you reach the top of the range and head down a windy road towards Billabong Adventures!

The all terrain vehicles or ATV’s are lined up and safety gear is handed out before you are given a demonstration on how to use the quad bikes.  Even those who have never ridden a quad bike before will have no trouble learning how to ride.  All precautions are taken to ensure your safety and you spend some time doing a few practice laps and getting used to the feel of the machine.  Once the nervousness has vanished and the excitement takes over, its time to hit the track!

Grab your lunch vouchers and head into Kuranda to finish off this memorable morning with a delicious lunch at a traditional German Tucker House.  Take a while to meander through this small village and enjoy all the markets have to offer before heading back to your accommodation. 

The thrill of the ATV’s stays with you long after you’ve departed Billabong Adventures.  This is definitely a morning of memories that will last through the rest of your vacation, and for years to come.

For more information about family tours and much more please visit The Tour Specialists 

By: Andrea Teed, Tour Consultant

Flames of the Forest is an absolutely stunning rainforest dining experience that should be at the top of your holiday to do list.  This magical evening set in a World Heritage listed site will fill you with delicious food for the body and soul.

You are picked up from your Cairns or northern beaches accommodation in a luxurious air-conditioned coach bus and driven to your secret destination which is just south of Port Douglas.  After turning off the highway, you head down a road where the forest gets denser and denser.  All of a sudden, a path of flaming torches comes into view and you have arrived at your secret rainforest destination.  The friendly staff warmly welcomes you with a glass of chilled Australian sparkling wine and a selection of mouth watering canapés.  As you enjoy your drink and begin to take in your surroundings – it hits you.  You are dining in the oldest rainforest in the world.  The tent is a beautiful lush dark purple velvet and the most unique chandeliers are lighting it up.  There are candles everywhere and the scent of the forest is filtering towards your table.

After a brief welcome speech dinner is served!  It’s best to go famished to this night as the food is more than plentiful.  From gourmet salads to classic Australian cuisine there is something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.  The wait staff are constantly coming around topping up your drink as the Aboriginal dreamtime story telling begins!  It’s two Aboriginal brothers sharing stories from their childhood with you and they are just fascinating.  You really get a feel of how important family and nature are to the Aboriginal people.  They speak about different animals and what they represent to them.  They also speak about their ancestors and how important it is to them to carry on their traditions.  It is fascinating and intriguing listening to them describe their culture with such passion.

When you have finished eating, the Aboriginal brothers come out again only this time they sing and play the didgeridoo.  The sounds are almost haunting against the peacefulness of the rainforest.  The performance culminates when the chandeliers are turned off and all that surrounds you is candlelight.  As you look up you start to see tiny green lights dancing all over the tent and the effect of the tiny lights against the dark backdrop is just stunning.

For dessert, the most amazing Pavlova is served with freshly brewed tea and coffee.  Also at this time, you are able to hop up on stage and have your photo taken with the Aboriginal story tellers.  Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to meet the performers!  Finally, one last walk through the torch lit rainforest for your coach ride back to your accommodation.  This entire evening can only be described in one word: magical.  It is definitely one not to be missed.

For more information about Flames of the Forest please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Andrea Teed, Tour Consultant

The Cairns Wildlife Safari is an easy scenic 35 minute drive west from Cairns and just 9 kms west of Kuranda on the Kennedy Highway.  It is WELL worth the visit! The zoo is open daily and even has a breakfast with Australia’s largest pride of lions option or a day option but I chose to make my appearance there by trying out the “Dine on the Edge” or dinner with Lions which runs only Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.  This appealed to me as I knew that most animals really come alive at night and I was incredibly excited to see this knowing the wide variety of animals that I was about to see.

We were greeted by the staff who immediately offered us a complimentary glass of wine or beer, along with hors d’oeuvres and canapés.  The group is lead down by your personal guide to see the hippo feeding.  It was magnificent seeing these massive creatures devour an industrial sized dumpster of lettuce.  The guide informed us about the realities of hippos and despite the fact that they do not look fit or in shape, they are responsible for more human deaths in South Africa than any other animal in the entire world!  They eat primarily lettuce but maintain a high body weight due to their slow metabolisms.  Overall they were beautiful creatures but definitely not friendly enough to get close to. One of these Pigmy Hippopotamuses even showed off her new baby.

We next continued our stroll over to the monkeys, otters, assorted birds and then to our dinner setting.  We took a stroll into the dining area not expecting the excitement that was about to happen.  We suddenly realized that the eating area was fenced in… but why was this?  Soon enough the male lions are released and come parading your way for their feeding time.  It’s so amazing at how close you can actually get to them.

Moments later, your attention is pushed to the other side when the guide begins to point out the meats that are tied up into the trees.  This side is where the females live.  When they were unleashed, it was amazing to watch them attack their dinner by going as far as even climbing the trees.  It’s enthusing how high they can jump and how easily they can climb.  As this is happening, a plattered dinner is served to your table with chicken, beef, vegetables, soup and much more.  While you eat, the excitement continues as the lions on both sides of you continue their dinner until the bones are licked clean… and some even devoured.  Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the bar if desired.    

Next up is a tour of the rest of the Cairns Wildlife Safari zoo.  Everyone receives their own flash light as it is now beginning to get quite dark out.  On the tour, you will see bears, tigers, cheetahs; dingoes have and even get the chance to pet a full grown rhinoceros.  At night time, the zoo really comes alive, as for most animals, the night time is when they are awake and ready to go hunting. The day time is when they generally rest and hide from the heat of the day.  At night, if one animal howls, they all begin to do it together which is a sign of marking their territory.  The loudest animal is then recognized as having first choice of the area he/she wishes to be theirs.  This goes on all night according to the zoo keepers and has even been so intense that it has been reported by the residents of the houses 10 minutes drive away that they can over hear this at points.

After this fun and informative tour around the Cairns Wildlife Safari, you are brought back to the dining area for coffee/tea & dessert of the day.  It’s time for one final photo of the lions before saying goodbye.  The guide kindly walked the coach transfer guests and the self-drivers out to the car park to bid us farewell.

This is the only venue in Australia where you can dine with lions by your side so definitely be sure to find your way to the Cairns Wildlife Safari for this once in a lifetime experience.

For more information about family tours and much more please visit The Tour Specialists 

By: Blythe Rallo, Tour Consultant for the Tour Specialists.

Immediately the complimentary beer, champagne, wine and soft drinks are brought out… and yes you guessed it… it is complimentary all night.  On Thursday and Friday nights the show features 2 indigenous brothers who share their history, culture, didgeridoo, songs and stories of their ancestors that took place in the very area that you are situated many years ago.  While this is going on, the degustation meal commences and the dinner journey begins with bush damper with smoked semidried tomato pesto olive tapenade and herb infused butter.

The Aboriginal Cultural show continues while the rest of the meal begins to come out in very large platters for the table.  Be sure to save room on each though, because you have 6 main courses to get through as well as dessert.  The menu is as follows:

Salad of Thai style green pawpaw with local tiger prawns and nahm jim

Slow roasted roma tomatoes with bocconcini and lemon myrtle infused rainforest salad

Locally smoked crocodile and kangaroo pastrami tumbled with wattle seed linguini truffle oil and baby spinach

Tropical barramundi steamed in banana leaf wakami seaweed, plum coriander, marinade and fresh coconut salad

Vanilla poached tender chicken with walnut and orange glaze on a roast pumpkin and baby spinach salad

Slow roasted grain fed sirloin on rosemary beetroot and kipfler balsamic medley topped with pesto and leek straw.

CO-STARRING – Rocket and toasted macadamia nut salad with marinated feta and fig vincotta vinaigrette & bok choy, wombak and choi sum with sesame oil

After the brothers have taken a break to walk around and speak to the guests to ensure that everyone is personally having a fantastic evening, the show starts back up for a fantastic conclusion of intriguing stories mixed with more didgeridoo, songs and dance.  We then all take 5 minutes to turn the little lights that illuminate the area off and leave nothing but the flames and the forest to take you away.  The group sits still and no one speaks.  It truly does feel like an enchanted rainforest as your senses ignite listening to the rainforest sing its own song in the darkness.

After our 5 minutes of silence, the lights go back on and dessert is served: Lavish tropical fruit and berry pavlova smothered with caramelized passion fruit coulis and crowned with Mareeba coffee and bitter chocolate cream.  There’s time for one more drink before the bus has arrived to take you back to your accommodation.  Be sure not to forget your souvenir menu and Flames of the Forest postcard. 

This is truly a magical evening to experience and is well worth it for the incredible delicious “food for the soul” you get the opportunity to enjoy.  Flames of the Forest run 3 nights per week.  Thursday and Friday include all of the above at the rate of $199.00 per adult and $130.00 per child.  Saturday nights are a smaller package including the transfers, a 3 course meal in the rainforest setting, tea and coffee, champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks are included at the rate of $149.00 (adults and children).  For the extra $50.00, I would definitely upgrade to the Thursday/Friday show with the indigenous brothers as personally they made the night for me and really made the atmosphere feel like we were in another time era.   I was incredibly impressed at how accommodating they were to those who have special dietary requirements.  The staff was very prompt at ensuring that they had a special menu to suit their needs.  This venue is also commonly used for weddings/parties/get-togethers and conference groups.  Overall, this is a magical evening that is one of a kind and definitely not one to be missed when visiting North Queensland.

For more information about this tour and much more please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Blythe Rallo, Tour Consultant at The Tour Specialists, Palm Cove.

My day began with a perfectly timed pick-up from Palm Cove by the Quicksilver coach at 8:20 AM.  The driver names “Wazza” enthusiastically introduced us to our day by going over the highlights, inclusions and the importance of the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs.  Through studies and observation it has been found that the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs has the best weather conditions and visibility on the reef despite whatever is going on in-land with the weather.  Furthermore from that, it is incredibly visible from outer-space due to the large bommies of corals, the drop off at the continental shelf and the bright colours.  The company simply adds to this by using their Wavepiercing boat – Quicksilver which pierces right through those waves, allowing for minimal rocking of the boat and manages to get out and back from the outer barrier wall of the reef in the same length of time that most other boats would only get half the distance.

The option of flying out to the reef for an extra charge was available.  We figured that we were going to do this right and take advantage of this once in a lifetime experience.  We had 40 minutes to kill upon arrival at Marina Mirage Port Douglas so we headed next door for a scrumptious breakfast on the waters edge.  We were shortly picked up by the Great Barrier Reef Helicopter girls and taken down the road to their office for a brief safety lesson and weigh in.  As we boarded the helicopter, I knew I was in for an amazing ride!

As we took off, we headed towards the Daintree Rainforest and our friendly Captain Nigel excited us as he gave us an overview of what we were seeing as well as the history and importance of being able to fly and see the only place in the world where two world heritage sites meet!  We flew through magnificent dips until we changed directions and headed for the Great Barrier Reef!  Nigel pointed out every island/reef and everything under the sun that would interest us.  He even lowered the heli to almost sea level as we reached the undine coral cay, where the company takes many couples to get engaged!  There was no engagements planned for this particular day but we did manage to see a humongous turtle and an enormous manta ray.  As we uplifted away from the cay, Nigel was sure to fly on a slight slant so we could look right down into the crystal clear waters at the marine life and corals.

We continued our flight through the clear blue skies, starring down at the reef.  It really does give the impression of the Great Barrier Reef seeing it from above as a wall of corals.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  We were soon able to see the Quicksilver pontoon in the distance.  The boat was just pulling up.  Nigel flew us around the pontoon a couple of times in order to attract attention and make a grand appearance.  The guests in the helicopter said that they felt like “superstars!”  We landed on a platform about 500 meters from the pontoon and were met by another member of the Great Barrier Reef Heli staff.  We thanked our captain Nigel and hopped into the boat.  If you don’t get the chance to fly out to the reef, I highly recommend a scenic flight or even a charter with the Great Barrier Reef helicopter group as it is a memory that will last a lifetime.

It was now 11:15 AM and time to head in for some lunch.  The tropical buffet consisted of a wide variety of cheeses, meats, vegetables, breads, salads, pasta, curry, beef, lasagna and rice.  The bar is open for anyone wishing to purchase non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.  Upon finishing lunch, we realized that the semi submersible was going out for its next tour.  This would be our first adventure at the pontoon.

The semi submersible is best described as a boat with a basement and 360 degrees of window all around you to see the corals and fish.  As a passenger on Quicksilver, you get unlimited access on this adventure that takes approximately 25 minutes.  While you are driving around in the semi sub, you are bound to see a vast variety of fish, corals, shells and exciting marine life.  The tour is lead by one of the incredibly knowledgeable marine biologists onboard the boat.  You are destined to learn and see so much more than you’ll expect!

As you wander around this spacious 2 level pontoon, you’ll notice many areas to relax, take a seat and areas that are shaded from the sun as well as a sundeck.  There is a bar as well and safety bags where you can store personal belongings with the friendly staff.  Hot water and cold water showers are found on the main level as well as even a Great Barrier Reef Post office box so you can send a postcard directly to your friends and family from the actual experience itself!  The underwater observatory is a definite must see where you can walk down a short flight of stairs to see a clear view of the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs as well as the fish.  Below the windows is a brief description of the marine life that you will see.

The next stop was to the designated snorkel area.  This particular area is supervised by life guards.  There are also rest stations to take a break and an easy access into the water snorkel platform.  Interested in diving? This takes place just past the snorkel area and is available for intro divers and certified.  There is a chance to do up to 2 dives in which your guides will take you to 2 amazingly different but beautiful and unique sites.  If diving is not your cup of tea, perhaps the sea walker helmet platform walking will work for you.  A helmet is placed on your head in which fresh air is being pumped into.  You can even wear your glasses if you wish, as your face and hair will stay 100% dry.  This is suitable for non-swimmers too but you must be above the age of 12 years and not suffer from asthma nor be on other medications.

After 4 full hours at the Reef, it’s time to say goodbye and get back onboard to return back to Port Douglas.  The Quicksilver boat was beyond amazing in terms of stability.  It was so smooth and amazing how fast we were going and not able to feel any bumps. 

For those who are very prone to sea sickness, travel calm tablets and cordial are available free of charge. However we do highly recommended that you start your course of seasickness tablets the evening prior to your reef trip and then with breakfast the morning of your reef trip.  After an hour and fifteen minute smooth ride, we were back in Port Douglas.  The Quicksilver coach was there to meet and greet us.  We hopped onboard and made our way back to Palm Cove.

Overall, the reef, the staff, the activities on the pontoon, the wave piercing boat and the beautiful helicopter ride out to the reef all achieve a 10 out 10 and two enthusiastic thumbs up! 

For more about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Blythe Rallo, Tour Consultant at the Tour Specialists, Palm Cove

The Sam Powers Xtreme Illusions show is literally a magical way to spend the evening.  Enjoy the dinner package option or just the show – either way; you’re bound to be entertained!

The show takes place at the Velvet Underground at the Reef Hotel Casino.  It runs Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm.  If you would like to include dinner with the show, there are two flexible options to choose from.  You can either eat before the show, or after, with a choice of two restaurants.  Tamarind offers contemporary Asian dining while Pacific Flavours prides itself on its variety and fresh regional produce.  Both of these choices would be a fabulous compliment to your evening!

The show itself needs to be seen to be believed.  World famous magician Sam Powers, along with his assistant, will leave you wondering – how did he do that?  There is a huge amount of audience participation and the intimate setting of the show makes you feel like part of the performance.  The show features spectacular illusions and mind blowing magic.  You will be amazed!

For more information about Cairns tours and shows please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Andrea Teed, Tour Consultant

Green Island truly is a little piece of paradise.  Located just 40kms off the coast of Cairns, you will not be disappointed with all the wonderful things on offer at this exciting island.

Your day starts with an efficient check in at the very easy to navigate Reef Fleet terminal.  The friendly staff then helps you make your way over to the Reef Cat, a huge catamaran that will serve as your home base for the remainder of the day.  Upon boarding, there is a professional photographer who is more than happy to take your photo.  The staff’s excitement is contagious!  Combine that with sunshine and a sense of adventure and you are guaranteed to have an amazing day at Green Island!

Heading back to the boat to go for a glass bottom boat excursion allows you to take in some more of the beautiful tropical surroundings.  The glass bottom boat departs off the back of the Reef Cat every half an hour.  Your knowledgeable tour guide will inform you of all the different types of coral that grow around Green Island, as well as several different species of fish that call the coral home.  A fish feeding demonstration is the perfect addition to this short cruise.

Lunch is served buffet style aboard the Reef Cat.  There are several different hot and cold options, as well as a selection of beverages available for purchase at the bar.  Fill your boots and then head back over to the island for all your afternoon adventures!

A quick walk around the island ensured the excitement started building about what was up next – Underwater Seawalker expedition!  The friendly staff at The Dive Shop makes sure you are all kitted out and ready to go exploring an amazing under water world.  Once you’re all geared up, a tender will takes you from the island out to where all the magic happens.  After a brief demonstration, you are led down a ladder to explore a completely different world just below the surface of the water.  Adjusting to the change in pressure takes a few moments, but once you have adjusted, excitement takes over and you are on your way!  There is an underwater guide who takes you on this phenomenal journey, complete with different species of fish following along and a hands on coral presentation which makes this experience that much better.  Before you know it, time is up and you are heading back up to the real world.  The Underwater Seawalker is a brilliant way to explore the sea – without even getting your hair wet!

We caught the tender back to the island where we had some time for a quick snorkel and swim.  Seeing a turtle as soon as we got in the water absolutely made our day – even if it did swim off before we got a change to get too close.  Whoever said turtles were slow clearly hasn’t seen one swim!

All too soon, it was time to board the boat and head back into Cairns.  A cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea was available before we departed and the journey back to port just flew by.

Spending the day at Green Island was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone.  There is so much to do and see out there that you might just need a second trip out!

For more information about this tour please visit The Tour Specialists

By: Andrea Teed, Tour Consultant