Places of Interest - Australia

"Cairns" and cape "Tribulation"

introduction

Cairns is the largest and most important city in the remote northeast of Australia in Queensland. The city is a popular travel destination because of the tropical climate and the proximity to many attractions. The Great Barrier Reef is only an hour and a half away by boat. And also the National Park Daintree and Cape Tribulation, about 130 km north of the city, are popular areas to experience the tropical rainforest. It is also a starting point for people who want to explore Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula and the Atherton Tableland. The city itself can be a bit of a disappointment because of the commerce although it is a great city to go out and party. The city has used its natural environment to its advantage by building a number of small theme parks for tourists. The Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the Kuranda Skyrail cable car, which runs 7.5 kilometers across the rainforest, are just a few examples.

highlights

Cairns town center:

The city of Cairns lacks major sights. Most people use this as a basis to visit further sites, to store bags and other stuff or to go out – discotheque, bar or restaurant. You can therefore take a look at the regional gallery or on the "Trinity Wharf" where the oldest buildings of the city can be seen. There are also the Esplanade Walking Trail, the Cairns museum, Rusty's bazaar markets, the Pier marketplace, Mud markets, Undersea World, Flecker Botanic gardens and Royal Flying Doctor service.

Cape "Tribulaton" and "Daintree" river:

Cape "Tribulation" and "Daintree" rivers are the most popular (day) trips from Cairns and many organizations offer tours to these sights about 100 kilometers north of Cairns. Cape Tribulation is located in the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. The village of less than a hundred permanent residents contains a small number of tourist resorts, backpacker hostels, and bed & breakfasts. The village also has two small supermarkets, two cash machines, a takeaway restaurant and five restaurants. A paved road from the south gives access to the area via the ferry across the Daintree River. North of Cape Tribulation the road continues unpaved to the Bloomfield River, Wujal Wujal and Cooktown during the rainy season (Feb-Apr) this road is often closed. The Great Barrier Reef is located about 19 kilometers east. Activities offered at Cape Tribulation include guided night walks, 4-wheel-drive tours, horse riding, kayaking, exotic fruit tasting, jungle surfing and crocodile tours. There is also an interesting sculptures path to visit through the rainforest around the Rainforest Hideaway B & B. This area is also the territory for the endangered cassowary, you sometimes see them crossing the road or you can encounter them on forest walks. The cassowary is related to the emu and ostrich, but has much brighter colors, and is known for its (agressive) temperament and people are sometimes attacked. Many crocodiles are present in the rivers and streams.

The original inhabitants of the area are the Kuku Yalanji. Cape Tribulation, is named like this by the English explorer James Cook on June 10 1770, after his ship got close to the reef. He recalled "because all our problems started here". The first inhabitant of European descent in Cape Tribulation was Andrew Mason who arrived in 1932. Descendants of the Masons still live in Cape Trib and are the owners of the Cape Trib Shop. The Dutch were also early in Cape Tribulation: early sixties, when there was still no way to Cape Tribulation, the Rijkers came ashore after a sailing trip on a raft and took almost all Cape Tribulation Beach with all the land behind it. In the 1970s Cape Tribulation was discovered by the hippies and it became the final stop of the adventure from London via Kathmandu to Cape Tribulation. In the 1980s, the first backpacker hostel was built and since then Cape Tribulation has been a tourist destination. In 1981, the area around Cape Tribulation was proclaimed National Park by the Australian government in Canberra, under protest by the municipality and state government, and on the World Heritage List in 1988, again under protest.

Daintree options:

Cruise to the mouth of the river;
Different walks (including through the rainforest).

Options "Cape Tribulation":

"Dubuji" boardwalk: one of the many "rainforest" walks;
Cape "Tribulation" beach walk;
The "Emmagen Creek" walk (where you can swim in different swimming "holes").

history

Cairns was founded in 1876, to shelter and take up miners seeking gold in the "Hodgkinson River" goldfield. It was named after William Wellington Cairns (the then governor of Queensland). This goldfield was about 100 km inland from Cairns. The settlement fell into disrepair when a simpler route was discovered from Port Douglas. However, the future of Cairns was secured when it got a rail connection through the Kuranda rainforest and it became an important point in the export of sugar cane, gold, precious metals and agricultural products from the surrounding coastal and inland areas. Nowadays it’s a very populair tourist destination.

tips & advice (2003)

Cairns International Airport is located 7 kilometers north of the city, between the center and the northern beaches. Regarding the number of national and international passengers passing by this airport it’s the sixth busiest airport in Australia. A shuttle bus from "Australia coach" runs between the airport and the center for 7 AUS $. The Cairns train station is just west of the city center while the "Trinity Wharf" (harbor) serves as a bus station including the populair "Greyhound" buscompanywho’s stationed here.

Cairns - Mission Beach: there is a "Greyhound" bus from the "Transit center" at 09:00 which arrives in Mission Beach at 11:10.

In the middle of the center of Darwin is the very popular "Woolshed Chargrill and Saloon" located where you can eat and drink as the name suggests. It organizes (drinking) games and backpacker themed evenings.

Name: "Caravella Backpackers 77" (Cairns)

Address: 77 the Esplanada

Price: 15 AUS $ (dormitory)

Phone nr. : 4051 2159

Content:

Located on the busy "Esplanada" this is one of Cairns oldest establishments. You can choose between a 4 bed dorm with air conditioning and private bathroom or for the cheaper version with 6 to 8 beds with fan. There are also possibilities with a single or double room. It is somewhat dilapidated but still a great option especially if you only come here to sleep and want to meet young fellow-travellers.

Name: "PK's Jungle Lodge" (Cape "Tribulation")

Price: 24 AUS $ (dormitory)

Phone nr. : 4098 0197

Content:

You can choose between a camping spot or a bed in a kind of cabin or shed with 8 beds. It is not fantastic modern and new but the lodge is very central for different activities. "Myall" beach is close by but also the lodge has a perfect bar / disco where it is often busy and cozy with other travellers. We came here with a tour from Cairns.

Tour to Cape Tribulation and Daintree:

DAY 1:

07:30 picked up at hostel with the touring bus;
To "Mossman" valley in "Daintree NP";
Lunch in "Daintree" village;
To Cape "Tribulation" check in hostel (free).

DAY 2:

14:00 touring bus to "Daintree" river (cruise);
18:30 back in Cairns.