The Tour Specialists Blog

With my family recently visiting from Melbourne we decided a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef was on the agenda.  As the wind was up most of the week we went out on the last day of there visit which was last Thursday.  Green Island was the perfect option for my family as my grandmother who recently turned eighty was up here on holiday with the family.  As she is not as agile as she used to be this was the perfect choice!  We booked to travel out on the 11.00 am Reef Rocket departure from Cairns as this gave us a little extra time in the morning to get ready but still allowed for four hours on Green Island.  On arrival we checked in at the Reef Fleet Terminal to collect our boarding passes.  On boarding the boat we were greeted by the photographer who snapped our picture before entering the vessel.  Once on board we were off on our 45 minute trip over to Green Island!  It was during this time that I planned out our day to best make the most of the time we had on the island.

On arrival we headed to the mother ship Big Cat to enjoy our buffet lunch.  The lunch was good with a choice of cold meats and salad plus a hot beef curry and very yummy vegetarian lasagna and some fresh fruit.  After this it was time for the semi submarine tour which was excellent and perfect for my grandmother as it gave up an up close view of the coral and fish on the reef she especially loved the sucker fish that sucked right on the window in front of her!  After the semi sub we boarded the glass bottom boat tour which the driver was excellent and gave a very good commentary on the Great Barrier Reef.  Both the semi sub and the glass bottom boat are a fantastic option for people wanting to see the reef without getting wet! 

It was now time to venture onto the island, were we made out way to Marineland Melanesia.  Marineland Melanesia is a nautical museum situated on Green Island the museum houses various artifacts, various types of marine life and is home to a number of crocodiles (which have feeding times throughout the day).  I was really fascinated by the tiny little epaulette shark embryo in the purse shaped egg, with the new tiny little shark wiggling away this was just amazing as it was only a couple of centimetres long…fascinating!  I could have stayed in here a bit longer but I new we had snorkelling yet to do so it was off to the beach to snorkel.  Well even Grandma got her fins and mask on, but standing on the beach ready she did not make it too far off the beach!  (Little did she know it very difficult to try walking with your fins on!)  My partner and I swam out as far at the Big Cat boat and in front of the under water observatory  to view the best area for the coral and fish as the current was a bit strong I would only recommend this if you are a good strong swimmer.  Lucky we both are!  After such a full itinerary it was now time for a quick freshen up on board the island and time to head back to our boat for our departure back to Cairns. 

My whole family (especially my Grandmother) had a fantastic day.  I know from her point it was one of the best days she had in years she was even calling out good bye Green Island I love you! Whilst waiting to board the boat back home. Green Island Information

Tammy Box-The Tour Specialists Palm Cove

 Ladies and gentlemen, something new and exciting is happening in Cairns! The Velvet Underground at the Casino has opened its doors to a new and truly entertaining magic show called Xtreme Illusions. It is one hour filled with fun, great tricks and modern choreographies. Yesterday it was my fiancées birthday, so I decided to celebrate by doing something a little different (as it was also a rainy Monday night and staying at home was not exactly fun) so I took him there for a bit of a look.
After reaching our seats, the waitresses asked us if we wanted something to drink and here we go, what we requested appeared in our hands! Just joking… but the service was really fast. Just a few minutes after the scheduled time, it was show time. After a nice opening routine performed by very nice dancers (at that point, my fiancée did thank me for taking him there…), our illusionist Sam Powers made his appearance. He was really catchy from the very first instant, charming and funny, a real entertainer. Sam performed some “old fashioned” tricks to start with, such as long threads and white doves appearing from his hands, but I must say, they have not lost their appeal. We were literally speechless and it was just the beginning! He did involve the audience for a few illusions, even inviting some people from the audience onto the stage. One trick that I was truly amazed by was a simple yet incredible one: he turned normal pieces of white paper into money just in front of our eyes! Like that! He did a lot in one hour, but I don’t want to spoil anything… it’s a must-see! And in between the different numbers, more dancing routines were performed. Also, I must say, the ladies will truly love Sam Powers!!
The show ended with the reproduction of a Houdini number: Sam, tied up with real handcuffs, had to escape from a locked big and solid box and… hey, I am not revealing the final! Whether you are a local or you are just visiting Cairns, this show is perfect for one easy hour of pure entertainment. And children are welcome too. Enjoy!! 

Valentina
The Tour Specialists - Hilton

Wooroonooran Safaris Canopy Skywalk Tour -  7th. September

If I could remember how to say ‘Wooroonooran’ I’d be recommending their safari tours to all my friends. 
Travelling with Wooroonooran safaris on the new MaMu canopy skywalk tour, was a wonderfully enjoyable day. Naturally we all wanted to see the amazing new construction but there were plenty of other interesting stops along the way. Oliver was keen to stress that his tour was taking the shorter Coast road route, saving 120 kms of travelling time for those who don’t like sitting in a bus all day.
Well, we had a plenty of time for a swim at the picturesque Josephine falls and a few brave souls took the plunge and revelled in the water slide. I thought I’d hang on for the sunshine (I hoped) later in the day when we visited Babinda Boulders.
Our next port of call was the Johnson River Crocodile Farm which is now under new management and is increasing the tourism side of its venture. Its many years since I was here last and I really liked the new additions – especially the gorgeous Dingo pups – well, I couldn’t resist a cuddle with those bundles of mischief. There are some impressive salt water crocodiles here now and they obligingly did their trick of trying to take the keepers arm off whilst being fed. Sorry, bad joke. The keepers were very entertaining with their stories of the floods and social life amongst the crocs. They brought forth snakes and lizards and parrots for close inspection or even to hold if it took your fancy. The most impressive thing to someone who thinks they’ve seen everything though, was a huge crocodile ‘hairball’ made from pig hairs and goodness know what else. Honestly, it was the size of a honeydew melon.
Speaking of which - our lunch stop at Roscoe’s Piazza in Innisfail is most definitely worth a mention. It’s a real Italian family venture and the pizza was as you’d expect – thin, crusty and delicious. Roscoes puts on a buffet of Pasta, Pizza, Roast meats, Chicken, Meat loaves (which were very special) Mediterranean veggies, Salads ,a myriad of desserts and much, much more.
Full and contented, we were excited to get to MaMu skywalk to walk some of it off. What a fantastic structure this is. They’ve catered for everyone and the whole skywalk is wheelchair and pram friendly. There are even several routes down to the forest walk (which runs amongst the trees alongside the canopy walk) in case people are tired or suffer with vertigo – as indeed one of our group did. There is also a buggy to transport those who need extra help.
The walkway was excellent, providing birds eye views of the surrounding forest. The cyclone damage is noted in the information placards, as there are some hefty fallen tree trunks around. It’s quite amazing to see some 20metre ‘new growth’. Throughout the tour Oliver, the owner of Wooroonooran Safaris was a fountain of knowledge and made it all especially interesting
The one place that is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams is the Viewing Tower. It climbs through a series of stairways to 37 metres above the forest floor. Yikes, from here you can see to Babinda and beyond. The scary thing though, is that the Tower is not such a fixed structure as the canopy walkway seemed to be. It sways just a little. There was no wind at all on the day of our visit so I did wonder how thrilling it would be on a blustery day.  Of course it is designed and built with this flexibility in order to withstand cyclonic winds, but as the brochure notes ’be aware of your response to heights’. As the sky darkened we hastily returned to our vehicle. By the side of the pathway we spotted a pile of cassowary poo, but alas no cassowaries.
At this point the weather decided to live up to its ‘Wet Tropics ‘tag so at Babinda Boulders we had to get out the brollies for our walk. It was interesting to hear the full Aboriginal legend of the Boulders. I seemed to have only heard the condensed version in previous visits. It’s a beautiful spot though and reminds me why I live in this tropical wonderland. The rain stopped long enough for a dip in the surprising warm, shallow pool near the picnic ground and the turtles came for a visit so that really completed my day. Thanks to Oliver and the crew for making it special.

Lesley – The Tour Specialists, Clifton Beach.
 

On a perfect balmy night I boarded the Cairns Habitat Sunset Cruise catamaran which leaves Cairns from the Reef Fleet Terminal at 5-30 pm every night except Sunday and Wednesday. I was welcomed aboard, and invited to use my voucher for a free drink (which the friendly girls at the Reef Fleet Terminal had given me). It was too perfect a night to stay indoors on the main deck, so I made my way up to the top deck to enjoy the views as we glided along the Trinity Inlet. Most of the other guests had the same idea and so I met some lovely couples and families who wanted something interesting and interactive, yet still relaxing
It is a perfect pre-dinner outing, and the Captain provides us with an interesting commentary, pointing out the area where the new pier redevelopment will take place, the Naval ships that usually patrol the area between Papua New Guinea and North Queensland, the Ferry that was transferred from Manly NSW and was supposed to be refurbished, but now sits in the front yard of a house as a garden ornament facing the river. We passed many houseboats with friendly, waving occupants while we marvelled at how some of them stay afloat given their designs.
With the mountains changing colour through the sunset on one side, and the lush green foliage of the mangroves on the other, it was a magnificent sight. The Captain pointed out the various mountains and you could clearly see Walsh’s Pyramid which is nearly 1000 metres high. It is said to be the highest natural pyramid in the world and very popular with Hikers.
By the time the sun had descended, we were headed back to the Reef Fleet Terminal and the bright lights of Cairns City coming to life. The new, completed wharf area with the riverside restaurants filling up looked beautiful, and we were treated to a light show when all the lights on the small cruise ship in port suddenly came on.
At 7pm we ended our Sunset Cruise, said farewell to our new acquaintances, were so relaxed, and ready to go for dinner at our favourite restaurant, I can honestly say I felt totally spoilt.
A big thank you to Cairns habitat Cruises for both the Day Cruise and the Sunset Cruise.
From the wonderful staff, to the great amenities and comfortable cruise, I believe these cruises are ideal for people of all ages ,and really suited to those looking for something pleasant for a half day or a few hours.

Sharon
The Tour Specialists Cairns Habitat Sunset Cruise Information and Bookings

Bright and early, (but not too early), on Saturday morning, I and my companions headed for Breakfast at the Cairns Tropical Zoo. Breakfast starts at 8-30 am and is a truly wonderful experience for people of all ages. To all the parents out there, the Zoo caters for any fussy eater with a fantastic choice of cereals, breads, muffins, pancakes, cooked breakfasts, juices and tea and coffee.
While breakfasting you are surrounded by an enclosure of funny, cute little cotton top tamarin monkeys skittering about. Next to them are some sleepy Koalas hugging their trees, and there is a lake behind us where dozens of little heads pop up out of the water to greet you. They are beautiful little tortoises that are hoping a few scraps might fall their way.
The staff at the Zoo are full of great information, friendly and very accommodating and you can tell they love their jobs and the animals.
In the restaurant is also a glass cage with a very healthy looking python and a Stumpy tailed Lizard. The young man that introduced these creatures was asked very politely by me to skip that introduction, given that I am not a reptile friendly person. We were able to pat a furry little koala however, which is much more to my liking.
Breakfast finished, we had just enough time to catch the Red Pandas at feeding time. These incredible and very pretty creatures look like a cross between a cat and a bear. Here we learn that the Red Panda lives in the forests of South Asia and are considered endangered, as the forests are being destroyed. With their habitat dwindling, so is their population. Then it was off to feed the wallabies and Kangaroos in the walk through enclosure. Lucky we thought to buy them some food at the gate as they were very interested in our bags and pockets.
The Zoo is beautifully maintained with lush greenery along every path, seats you can stop and have a rest on, and easy paths to negotiate with great signage. We still got lost, though others probably won’t! There are bird enclosures that house birds of prey, birds of the rainforest and flightless birds. Yes Cassowaries- our own endangered species.
We saw the crocodiles, both fresh and saltwater, alligators, visited the koala nursery to see the new additions, walked through the bird enclosures and found the ring tailed Lemurs whilst my companions were fascinated by the biggest snake; it looked more like an Anaconda than a python.
There is a gorgeous little Chapel at the Zoo where they are now holding weddings, and I did in fact spy a cute Japanese couple in their wedding finery holding a koala for their wedding photos. The chapel holds about 50 people and can be booked for any time. The Chapel sits on the edge of a lake with butterflies everywhere, beautiful flowers and a little bridge and tiny gate.
Not far from there is where the Free Flight Bird Show is held. This was fascinating. We sat on a small grandstand and the birds were flying over us to their handler and back again so close you could feel the wave of cool air as they missed us by that much!! We saw cheeky cockys, macaws, magpies, and the crown jewel, the Wedge tailed Eagle.
The children in the audience were enthralled when the eagle took off into the sky way above us and yet could see the handler hold out the food. She swooped down so fast and yet lighted on the tree with so much grace. Truly amazing.
From there we visited with the waterbirds, the dingoes and??? What, no elephants!!! Well, they seemed to have everything else! Yes, I did avoid the snake show, the reptile house but sent my companions in for a report. They loved it and it must have been good as they spent so much time in there. Personally, I was fascinated with the birds of prey. I was in the enclosure and it was almost impossible to spot the owls, their camouflage is just so incredible that I nearly missed the one sitting right above me. I know, never stand underneath a bird!
This zoo is able to keep any child (or child at heart) amused. It teaches them so many things, and introduces people to wildlife they might otherwise never see, appreciate or even understand why they are so important to the ecosystem.
Come on parents-what a fun way to educate yourself and your children. Also, they can ask the wildlife carers any where, why, how question that used to be directed at you! This zoo is so well worth a visit and congratulations to all the staff for the happy, energetic and knowledgeable environment they preserve. A beautiful day was had by all.
Sharon Vogel
The Tour Specialists Cairns Tropical Zoo Information & Bookings

Yesterday I went on the Daintree Explorer tour with Trek North. It was an early start – 7.10am – well I am not a morning person but it was totally worth it! Mario, our guide and driver, picked me up from the Hilton hotel and after collecting a few more people from other locations we started heading north. It took about one hour drive to Mossman Gorge, during this time Mario gave us an overview of our day while explaining to us a few curious things about Cairns and surroundings.
First stop: Mossman Gorge. What a beautiful place! We did not get to swim in the Mossman River because the time was a little limited, but if you are not a local it is one of those places that really makes you want to come back to Tropical North Queensland! Big boulders, crystal clear water and luscious rainforest: very inviting! We also had a walk on the swing-bridge for a few good pictures.
Next: Daintree River Cruise. After a simple yet replenishing Morning Tea (and such friendly staff), we headed towards the river for our 1-hour cruise. Our cruise conductor welcomed us with a true blue Aussie charm. He was great, he knew a lot about all the river wildlife and his explanations about plants and aquatic fauna were interactive and interesting, never boring. We saw quite a few amazing birds (so it is great for birdwatchers!) but we did not spot any crocodiles unfortunately. We have been a bit unlucky though, tide was high and water was very warm (about 26^C) so with these conditions crocodiles normally are quite comfortable underwater and have no reasons to merge and say hi!
After the cruise it was lunchtime already, so we headed towards the Daintree Tea House were the friendly and very efficient staff welcomed us. I found the Tea House very cozy and the presentation about the varieties of tropical fruit was extremely interesting. I didn’t know that certain types of fruit even existed!
Some people had chicken for lunch, but I chose barramundi of course. The food was fresh and delicious, served with salad, chips and a taste of tropical fruits. After lunch we headed towards The Rainforest Habitat Park which is in Port Douglas, one of the highlights of the tour. Everybody (me included, I admit!) was looking forward to feed the kangaroos and take a picture with the koalas. But there is more: the park is divided in different sectors, each recreating the different environments found in our area – and in Australia (grassland, rainforest, wetland, etc.). It is very interesting and I am sure that bird lovers and overseas travelers would truly enjoy it. The park offers a bit of everything: emus, lots of different species of birds all flying free around you (there are no cages!), kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, koalas, etc.
Also, I had my picture taken while holding a koala. What an amazing experience! Also you can have your photo taken while holding a little crocodile or a python.
After 1 hour at the Park (which was bigger than what I thought!), we headed towards Port Douglas for the last stop of our tour. Mario took us to the lookout where we admired a great view of the famous Four Miles Beach, and then we stopped quickly in town to take a look at a nice little chapel and at the Marina Mirage just to buy some refreshments for our trip back to Cairns.
I had a very nice time and I believe this tour is perfect if you wish to have a nice, relaxing day. Thank you Trek North for such a lovely day! Daintree Explorer Information and Bookings

Valentina - The Tour Specialists Hilton