Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The price is A$141 (US$92) for adults, A$71 (US$46) for kids, and A$353
(US$229) for a family, from Cairns.
Introductory dives on either trip cost A$107 (US$70). Certified divers pay
the same price, including all gear. Both cruises include lunch and transfers from
Cairns and northern beaches hotels. Both boats depart from the Reef Fleet Ter-
minal in Cairns at 9:30am daily.
Great Adventures, Quicksilver, and Sunlover all offer helicopter flights over
the Reef from their pontoons—a truly spectacular experience. There are also fly/
cruise trips.
An alternative to motoring to the Reef is to sail to it. Ocean Spirit Cruises
( & 07/4031 2920; www.oceanspirit.com.au) operates two sailing cats that take
no more than 100 or 150 passengers to Michaelmas Cay or Upolu Cay, lovely
white-sand cays on the Outer Reef surrounded by rich reefs. This trip is a good
value because it includes a pleasant 2 hours sailing to either cay, a guided snor-
keling safari, guided beach walk, and a free glass of bubbly and live music on the
way home—in addition to the usual reef ecology talks, semisubmersible rides,
lunch, and transfers from your Cairns or northern beaches hotel. Another plus
is that you spend your out-of-water time on a beautiful beach, not on a pontoon
or boat deck. You get about 4 hours on the Reef.
The day trip to Michaelmas Cay is A$155 (US$101) for adults, A$78
(US$51) for children 4 to 14, and A$425 (US$276) for a family. The day trip
to Upolu Cay costs A$89 (US$58) for adults, A$45 (US$29) for kids, and
A$240 (US$156) for a family. Transfers from Cairns and the northern beaches
are free, but from Port Douglas they cost an extra A$39 (US$25) adults and
A$19 (US$12) children. Introductory dives cost A$89 (US$58), and certified
divers pay A$59 (US$38) for one or A$95 (US$62) for two, all gear included,
at Michaelmas Cay, less at Upolu. The boats depart Reef Fleet Terminal at
8:30am daily.
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN & AROUND CAIRNS
If you're staying in Cairns, also check out what there is to see and do in and
around Port Douglas (see section 3 of this chapter) and Mission Beach (see sec-
tion 4 of this chapter). Many tour operators in Port Douglas, and a few in Mis-
sion Beach, offer transfers from Cairns.
LEARNING ABOUT ABORIGINAL CULTURE
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Don't miss this. Whether you
choose the day or night experience, the Tjapukai (pronounced jab-oo-guy) cul-
tural park is one of the best chances you'll have to discover the history and cul-
ture of the Aborigines without going to Central Australia. American theater
director Don Freeman and his French-Canadian dancer wife, Judy, founded the
dance show in 1987, working with local Aborigines, including acclaimed dancer
and songwriter David Hudson. Today it is a sophisticated, multi-award-winning
cultural park with an international reputation. Don and Judy are still heavily
involved, but the park is 51% owned by the Aborigines who work in it.
Housed in a striking modern building that incorporates Aboriginal themes
and colors, the Tjapukai experience needs at least 2 to 3 hours. Start in the Cre-
ation Theatre, where the latest in illusion, theatrics, and technology are used to
tell the story of the creation of the world according to the spiritual beliefs of
Tjapukai people. Actors work with spectacular special effects and holographic
images to illustrate the legends. The production is performed in the Tjapukai
language, translated through headsets.
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