Travel & Fun Things to Do

Travel & Fun Stuff to Do - Printable PDF

Conference Dates: July 20-22
Student Preconference Date: Juy 19

Acknowledgement: Kindly created by Dr Andrea Salins for the SSSR2023 local organising team - sponsored by the MQ Centre for Reading

FLIGHTS:

Canada:

1. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) > Vancouver International Airport (YVR) > Brisbane Airport (BNE) > Cairns Airport (CNS) [27h 10]
2. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) > SFO San Francisco International > Sydney > Cairns [27h 50]
3. Vancouver > Tokyo Narita > Cairns [21h10]
4. Vancouver > Sydney > Cairns [21h 05]

Europe:

1. LHR London Heathrow > SIN Singapore Changi> CNS Cairns [22h]
2. LHR London Heathrow > MUC Munich > SIN Singapore Changi > CNS Cairns [22h 25]
3. FRA Frankfurt am Main > SIN Singapore Changi > CNS Cairns [20h 30]
4. HEL Helsinki Vantaa > HND Tokyo Haneda > NRT Tokyo Narita > CNS Cairns [26h 35]

USA:

1. MCO Orlando International > SFO San Francisco International > SYD Sydney > CNS Cairns [28h 52]
2. MCO Orlando International> IAH Houston George Bush Intercntl. > SYD Sydney> CNS Cairns [27h 40]
3. LAX Los Angeles International > YVR Vancouver International > BNE Brisbane > CNS Cairns [25h 05]
4. LAX Los Angeles International > YVR Vancouver International > BNE Brisbane > CNS Cairns [25h 05]
5. DFW Dallas Fort Worth International> SYD Sydney> CNS Cairns [22h15]
6. DFW Dallas Fort Worth International > YYZ Toronto Pearson International > NRT Tokyo Narita> CNS Cairns [28h35]

Cairns to Port Douglas shuttle (~1hr 15):

1. Shuttle bus/ airport transfer/ group transfers
   • https://www.portdouglastransfers.com.au
2. Car rental (only return to same location available) – rent at the airport; can pre-book
   • https://www.cairnsairport.com.au
3. ​Taxi (book at the airport; AUD 180 one way)
4. Group charter services
   • https://www.portdouglasbus.com.au
      

THINGS TO DO:

Great Barrier Reef

• Snorkel or dive with tours 
• Outer reef (further away from the mainland, but more hard coral species, and larger fish species): 1.5 – 2 hours by high- speed catamaran.
• Inner reef - can visit two spectacular inner reef locations from Cairns (closer soft corals which smaller fish species)
  • https://quicksilver-cruises.com/obr_activities/snorkel/index.html
  • https://greatbarrierreeftourscairns.com.au/tours/great-barrier-reef-pon…
  • https://reeftrip.com/tours/sail-snorkel-michaelmas-cay/
  • https://downundercruiseanddive.com.au/product.php?id=7

Daintree Rainforest

Oldest surviving rainforest in the world; 51min from Port Douglas

• Marrdja Boardwalk, Daintree Forest
  • https://www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com/places/marrdja-boardwalk
• River snorkeling
  • https://backcountrybliss.com.au
• The Daintree (vehicular) Ferry (8.30am-5pm) provides access into the Cape Tribulation area
  • https://daintreeferry.com.au
• Food trail:
  • https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/food-and-drink/daintree-f…
• Crocodile spotting
  • https://tourismportdouglas.com.au/solar-whisper-electric-wildlife-cruise
• Mossman Gorge dreamtime walk (Mossman is a small township nestled at the foot of the mountains. It is also the region's sugar capital – July is sugarcane crushing season!)
  • https://www.mossmangorge.com.au/things-to-do/dreamtime-walks
     

Kuranda Rainforest

• Kuranda rainforest (1hr 11min from Port Douglas)
  • https://www.kuranda.org
• Take the train or sky-rail  from Cairns
  • https://www.skyrail.com.au/plan/skyrail-kuranda-train/
• Birdworld (including the Southern Cassowary)
  • https://www.birdworldkuranda.com
• Koala gardens
  • https://www.koalagardens.com
• Riverboat cruises
  • https://kurandariverboat.com.au
• Markets and dining

Outback and Gulf Savannah

• Chillagoe Caves: 4WD from Cairns for limestone towers and fossils
  • https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/chillagoe-caves/journeys/cave-tours
• Undara Volcanic National Park – lava tube cave systems which was formed around 190,000 years ago following a volcanic eruption; 300km from Cairns
  • https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/undara-volcanic
• Cobbold Gorge – natural oasis in the outback; only by private tour
  • https://www.cobboldgorge.com.au
• Some of the best fishing Australia has to offer! (e.g., Barramundi, mud crabs on Albert River)
   

Hinterland

• Wineries and vineyards
  • https://www.kurandatours.com.au/australia_outback_tasting_tour.htm
  • https://www.cairns-australia.com/cairns-wineries.html
• Bushwalks (e.g., in Lamington National Park, Tamborine National Park)
  • https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/lamington/journeys/walking-tracks-su…
  • https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/tamborine/things-to-do
• Sunshine coast hinterland for small historic towns, waterfalls, and swimming holes
  • https://visitsunshinecoasthinterland.com.au
     

Other Fun Stuff

• Barron River White Water Rafting
  • https://www.adventuresportdouglas.com
  • https://www.whitewaterraftingcairns.com
• Janbal Aboriginal Art Gallery
  • https://www.janbalgallery.com.au
• Flames of the forest
  • https://www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com/port-douglas/flames-of-the-for…
• Wildlife Habitat for the Australian Wildlife Experience – Port Douglas
  • https://www.wildlifehabitat.com.au
• Wellness retreats
  • https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/articles/day-spas-yoga-retre…
  • https://tourismportdouglas.com.au/daintree-eco-lodge-spa
• Popular islands near Cairns/ Port Douglas
  • Low isles
    • https://www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com/low-isles
  • Whitsundays
    • https://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/drive-itineraries/cairns-to-the-w…
  • Fitzroy
    • https://www.getyourguide.com/cairns-l298/from-cairns-fitzroy-island-ret…
    • https://fitzroyislandadventures.com/book-now/