Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cairns. The Daintree is part of the Wet Tropics, a World Heritage-listed area
that stretches from north of Townsville to south of Cooktown, beyond Cairns,
and houses half of Australia's animal and plant species.
If you are spending more than a day or two in the area, consider basing your-
self on the city's pretty northern beaches, in Kuranda, or in Port Douglas (see
“Port Douglas, Daintree & the Cape Tribulation Area,” later in this chapter).
Although prices will be higher in the peak season (Australian winter and early
spring, July-Oct), there are affordable accommodations year-round.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE By Plane Qantas
(
&
13 13 13
in Australia) has direct
flights throughout the day to Cairns from Sydney and Brisbane, and at least one
flight a day from Darwin and Uluru (Ayers Rock). From Melbourne you can fly
direct some days, but most flights connect through Sydney or Brisbane.
Sun-
state Airlines
(book through Qantas) also flies several times a day from
Townsville, and
Airlink
(book through Qantas) has flights from Alice Springs
and Uluru.
Virgin Blue
(
&
13 67 89
in Australia) flies to Cairns direct from
Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Several international carriers fly to Cairns
from various Asian cities, and from New Zealand.
Cairns Airport is 8km (5 miles) north of downtown, and a 5-minute walk or
a A$2 (US$1.30) shuttle ride separates the domestic and international terminals.
The
Australia Coach
(
&
07/4048 8355
) shuttle, which costs A$7 (US$4.55)
adults, A$3.50 (US$2.25) children 3 to 12, meets major flights at both termi-
nals for transfers to city hotels.
Sun Palm Express Coaches
(
&
07/4099 4850
)
provides transfers from the airport to the city and northern beaches. The one-
way fare is A$13 (US$8.45) adults and A$7.50 (US$4.85) children to the city,
and A$16 (US$10) adults and A$8.75 (US$5.70) children to Palm Cove.
A taxi from the airport costs around A$15 (US$9.75) to the city, A$30
(US$20) to Trinity Beach, and A$40 (US$26) to Palm Cove. Call
Black &
White Taxis
(
&
13 10 08
in Australia).
Avis, Budget, Hertz,
and
Thrifty
all have car-rental offices at the domestic
and international terminals (see “Getting Around,” below).
By Train
Long-distance trains operate from Brisbane several times a week.
Queensland Rail's
Traveltrain
(
&
13 22 32
in Queensland; www.qr.com.au)
operates the services. The new 160kmph Tilt Train takes about 25 hours and
costs A$280 (US$182) for a business class fare between Brisbane and Cairns.
Northbound services leave Brisbane at 6.25pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays; southbound services depart Cairns at 8:15am on Wednesdays, Fridays,
and Sundays. The train features luxury “business class” seating, with an enter-
tainment system for each seat including multiple movie and audio channels.
The Sunlander,
which runs twice a week between Brisbane and Cairns, takes
32 hours and costs A$187 (US$122) for a sitting berth, A$235 (US$153) for an
economy-class sleeper, A$352 (US$229) for a first-class sleeper, or A$646
(US$420) for the all-inclusive Queenslander class. Trains pull into the Cairns
Central terminal (
&
13 22 32
in Australia for reservations or inquiries 24 hr. a
day, or 07/4052 6297 for the terminal from 8am-6pm, 07/4052 6203 after
hours) on Bunda Street in the center of town. The station has no showers, lock-
ers, or currency exchange booths, but you will find 24-hour ATMs outside the
Cairns Central shopping mall, right above the terminal.
By Bus McCafferty's
(
&
13 14 99,
or 07/4051 5899 for Cairns terminal)
and
Greyhound Pioneer
(
&
13 20 30,
or 07/4051 5899 for terminal) buses
