The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC) is located on Fitzroy Island, near Cairns in far north Queensland, Australia. CTRC is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation dedicated to rehabilitating sick and injured turtles, brought in from the Great Barrier Reef and Cape York Peninsula.
We visited the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre during our two-night stay on Fitzroy Island. You can read about our stay at the Fitzroy Island Resort here.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, many of whom are threatened by natural and human factors. Spoiler: it’s mostly human behaviour that’s harming the turtles.
Turtles arrive suffering at CTRC suffering from disease and/or injuries caused by boats, discarded fishing gear or have eaten plastic after mistaking it for food. “Floaters disease” is a very common ailment that turtles are brought in with, where air is trapped between the shell and body, making it impossible for the turtle to dive underwater and feed itself. If not treated, turtles with “floaters disease” either starve or are eaten by predators. There are also a number of turtles brought in from the Cape York Peninsula suffering horrible injuries from getting entangled in discarded fishing nets. The injuries are often so bad that the turtles can’t be saved.
The CTRC has been doing amazing work in its 15 years of operation, with the success rate in rehabilitating turtles and returning them to the wild has improved from 20-30% to ~85%. Satellite tracking of these released turtles has shown that even after long periods of rehabilitation that once released the turtles do well, some quickly covering very large distances in the ocean.
CTRC relies on the generous donations from supporters and volunteers to continue their excellent work.
Visitors to Fitzroy Island can take a tour of the CTRC. The tours are limited to 15 people and are available to book on the day of the tour only, once you are physically on the island. Resort guests can book at the hotel reception. Day trippers can book at the General Store. Tours book out extremely fast so make it the first thing you do on arrival if you are day tripping to the island, or book it first thing in the morning if you are a resort guest. The turtles can have “rest” days where the tours are not run, so call Reception on (07) 4044 6700 ahead of booking your trip check that the day you’re visiting isn’t a rest day.
The tours run daily from 1pm, and are approximately 45 minutes in length. Often if the tours are booked out, additional tours are added. Tours cost Cost: $11.50 Adult, $7.00 Child (4-13 years), infants free of charge.
Our turtle tour experience
We took the turtle tour and were so glad that we did. We were given an excellent tour by Azri, the resident marine biologist. He gave the group an incredibly educational tour, talking a lot about the reasons turtles ended up at the CTRC and what we can do as individuals to protect the turtles (don’t use plastic, recycle rather than contribute to landfill, don’t release helium balloons).
The tour is a fantastic way for kids in particular to learn about how their actions contribute to harming turtles so they can make good decisions as they get older. We learned about the effects of turtles eating garbage – it traps air and makes the turtle float to the surface unable to dive for food and protection, resulting in “bubble butt” or “floaters disease”.
While the situation for our turtles is quite grim the tour is also uplifting and positive as the educational component also focuses on the turtle species and lots of fun facts about them.
Kids are encouraged to ask all their turtle questions and we learnt lots of interesting details such as how old do turtles get, how big do they grow (Leatherbacks, the largest, grow up to 2m, and green sea turtles are the 2nd largest), where do they lay their eggs (Heron and lady Elliot Islands and how many eggs to do they lay at a time (100!). We learned how to tell male and female turtles apart (males have long tales, females short), and so much more.
There were seven turtles in the facility when we visited, only only one of which was able to be viewed due to her healthy condition – she was almost well enough to be released back into the wild.
At the end of the tour kids get a special certificate to take home and remind them of their tour and to be a good turtle ambassador. It was an eye opening experience for us adults on the poor situation for turtles, as well as extremely interesting for the kids – particularly the older ones.
Note that there is a lot of talking and listening required on the tour and nothing in the facility to be played with. Turtles can’t be touched! I would suggest the tour for kids maybe aged 6+ or younger if they have good listening skills and won’t get bored from all the talking.
Fitzroy Island is a tropical paradise with lush rainforest and unspoiled beaches, accessed by a 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns, Qld, Australia. Stay at the Fitzroy island Resort for the ultimate escape from it all!
We spent two nights at the Fitzroy Island Resort in July and really loved being on “island time” relaxing, hanging out in the pool, wandering up and down the beach and through the rainforest.
We didn’t feel the need to overload with activities because it’s a gorgeous spot to just sit around and do nothing! While the weather was excellent in July, if swimming is your prime purpose for visiting I would suggest coming in warmer months as I found it too cold to swim in July.
Fitzroy Island is the perfect retreat for families, so it’s not surprising that the island was packed with kids of all ages. It was great for our daughter to make friends with other kids and have someone to play with in the pool, or while we ate dinner at Foxy’s Bar in the evenings.
The resort offers daily complimentary activities for guests – check the board each morning to see what is on offer.
If you’re visiting with kids, pick up a free Fitzroy Island Activity Book from reception. It’s a really fun little booklet for kids to tick off things they do and record their stay.
Getting to Fitzroy Island
Located 29km south-east of Cairns, Fitzroy Island is extremely easy to reach by the regular ferry transfers on the Fitzroy Flyer. The ferry departs from the Cairns Marlin Marina Birth 20 three times a day.
Cairns – Fitzroy Island: 8am, 11am and 1:30pm
Fitzroy Island – Cairns; 9:30am, 12:15pm and 5pm
If you’re planning to stay overnight on Fitzroy Island, this is the only way to get to the island and back again.
Since we were staying at the resort, we booked the Fitzroy Flyer as part of our accommodation package. Once your departure times have been booked, you are able too change them if you need to.
Wanting to day trip to Fitzroy? You have some additional options, with two other boats taking day trips to and from the island and optional inclusions for lunch and activities.
The boutique hotel on Fitzroy Island is a beautiful place to spend a few days relaxing on island time. We were blown away but how gorgeous the very well appointed rooms are. While the website advertises rooms with a kitchenette, it’s basically a full kitchen with all the equipment needed to make meals.
If we stayed on Fitzroy Island again, I would take my own food over to the island in a cold bag on the ferry and make our own meals in the excellent kitchen. While there is a general store on the island it doesn’t stock a lot of items and what it does stock are expensive due to the cost of transporting them.
Sunset from our balcony was absolutely divine and we loved sitting there and just watching the beach and the colours float across the sky. It is absolutely worth paying for the balcony and ocean view.
Fitzroy Island Resort facilities
While the island is open to dray trippers, the resort and its facilities are only for use by the hotel guests.
Outdoor pool & spa
Swim up pool bar
Arcade games room
Children’s play room
Movie theatre
Dive & Adventure Centre
Massage services
24-hour reception
Tour desk
Conference & meeting venues
Wedding ceremonies & functions
The movie theatre shows two movies a day, one for kids and one for teens / adults.
Reading/board games room
The reading room had a shelf full of books that could be borrowed as well as board games.
Games roomToddler play room
We used the pool a fair bit even though it is not heated and it was way too cold for me to swim. The cold didn’t bother the kids in the slightest.
The arcade room is also popular, as is the table tennis table – free to use, just ask reception for the paddles and ball.
Fitzroy Island also has a general store and a casual restaurant and bar called “Foxy’s Bar”, both of which are available for use by resort guests and day trippers.
Fitzroy Island Resort Island Suite
We stayed in a Fitzroy Island Resort Island Suite – a one bedroom suite with seperate dining and balcony. The bedroom included a queen bed with a pullout sofa bed in the living room.
The suite also contained a kitchenette with microwave, toaster and full size fridge and tea and coffee facilities, TV, lounge and dining area and a massive en suite black marble tiled bathroom. The suite was air conditioned, which we didn’t need to use in July.
Use of shared guest laundry with lifts to all floors.
The resort building has rooms on three floors – ground, first and second, with long, sheltered outdoor boardwalks joining the rooms to the elevators and main resort area.
There are elevators and stairs to access each level.
I would highly recommend requesting a room at the very end of the boardwalk if possible even though it makes it a longer walk to get back to the resort facilities. We found that each morning at around 6am small children would run up and down the boardwalks relentlessly, which would wake us all up.
Zephyr restaurant
Zephyr restaurant is open in the evenings for dinner and at breakfast, which we had included in our package.
Breakfast was a very decent buffet with pre-made hot food and continental options.
Things to do on Fitzroy Island
Fish feeding
A free daily activity. Twice a day the resort staff bring out a small amount of fish food and throw it off the jetty. It attracts all kinds of fish and if you’re watching you’ll get a very educational talk on what they fish are and their place on the reef.
General store
The general store sells souvenirs and basic groceries, with a few takeaway food items (such as pies). I highly advise taking your own groceries and pharmaceutical items as when we visited they had run out of things like Panadol.
Foxy’s Bar
Open for lunch and dinner, Foxy’s is popular with day trippers as well as hotel guests. It has a casual atmosphere and a real “island” vibe. We loved the pool tables at the bar that were also free to use.
There is a dedicated kids’ menu at Foxy’s Bar. The menu for lunch and dinner is almost identical, with the removal of some lunch items on the dinner menu. This makes for a bit of a limited choice of food (as well as expensive) if you’re staying on the island for a few days so I recommend definitely planning to make some meals yourself if you are staying longer than one or two nights. As a vegetarian I struggled with the food options being limited, too.
Nudey Beach
Take the short Nudey Beach Track to reach the beach (info below). The beach is absolutely stunning, but note that it is a coral beach not sand, so reef shoes are advisable.
Walking and exploring
There are several bushwalking tracks on the island of varying lengths and difficulty.
Secret Garden Track 1km return – 45 mins
This is an easy, inland trail through the rainforest . Look out for the various native birds that life on the island and the skinks that dart around your feet. You might even see butterflies.
Nudey Beach Track 1km return – 45 mins
An easy walk that has some steep steps to climb up and down, the track goes through the rainforest and down to the stunning Nudey Beach. Take water and a picnic with you. There are no bathrooms on this trail or at the beach.
Lighthouse Road 3.6km return – 2 hrs
This hike goes up a steep concrete road, passing several viewing platforms, culminating at the lighthouse. There are excellent views of the island from the lighthouse – which can be accessed if a ranger is on duty.
Summit Track 2.6km return – 3hrs
Graded “difficult”, this is a hike recommended for fit hikers as it takes in very steep terrain. The track goes through rainforest and opens up to stunning island and ocean views. During the warmer months, it’s best to attempt the summit hike in the morning before it gets too hot. Take plenty of water and sunscreen, and wear good walking shoes.
Diving
Visit the Fitzroy Island PADI accredited Dive & Adventure Centre to dive with qualified and experienced instructors. The dive centre offers PADI certified courses and plenty of dive options for experienced divers.
Snorkelling
It’s easy to swim out from the beaches and experience snorkelling around the fringing coral reefs. Marine life includes clownfish and sea turtles. You can hire equipment from the Dive & Adventure Centre.
Giant ocean trampoline
The ocean trampoline is located 25m offshore, so you need to be a strong swimmer to reach it.
Glass bottom boat tour
Want to see the fish without getting wet? Take the glass bottom boat tour and get a good look at the reef and marine life without needing to dip a toe in the ocean. There are dry and wet glass bottom boat tours available – on the wet one snorkellers are welcome to get in the water and then back into the boat again. Glass Bottom Boat Tours depart twice a day, 10.30am and 3pm, bookings essential.
Sea kayaking
Hire a kayak and paddle around the island. Kayaks offer the chance to visit private beaches and snorkelling spots that aren’t available by foot or boat. Sea kayaks are available for hire from the Dive and Adventure Centre.
Stand up paddle boarding
Hire a stand up paddle board and enjoy being on the ocean. Stand up paddle boards are available for hire from the Dive and Adventure Centre.
Sunlover Reef Cruises
If you’re staying on Fitzroy Island and want to visit the outer Great Barrier Reef, the Sunlover Reef Cruises take visitors to the outer Moore Reef Pontoon for snorkeling or diving.
Eye Spy Sailing
Another option best suited to those staying on the island, the luxurious Eye Spy Catamaran takes guests on a midday Scenic Sail or an afternoon Sunset Sail from Fitzroy Island.
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
Visiting the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC) was one of the main reasons we visited Fitzroy Island. CTRC is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation dedicated to rehabilitating sick and injured turtles, brought in from the Great Barrier Reef and Cape York Peninsula.
The tours of the CTRC run daily from 1pm, and are approximately 45 minutes in length. Often if the tours are booked out, additional tours are added. Tours cost Cost: $11.50 Adult, $7.00 Child (4-13 years), infants free of charge.
Located in the southern part of the World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park in Far North Queensland, Mossman Gorge is part of the traditional homeland of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people.
Mossman Gorge was the highlight of our entire trip. It was serene, blissful, a bit, dare I say it, magical.
Getting to Mossman Gorge
Mossman Gorge is around 80km north of Cairns and 5km from the nearest town of Mossman. It’s also about a 20 min drive from Port Douglas. It is easily reachable by car or as part of an organised tour.
There is a large car park at the Mossman Gorge Centre, which is the end of the road for commuting to the Gorge.
From the Mossman Gorge Centre, take the shuttle bus to the heart of the Gorge. No cars are permitted to drive past the Mossman Gorge Centre bar the official shuttle bus. You can walk, however it is a narrow road with no sidewalk and is also quite a long walk especially for kids.
The shuttle bus service departs departs every 15 minutes, between 8am and 5.30pm daily.
Mossman Gorge Centre
Start your Mossman Gorge experience at the Mossman Gorge Centre. As well as being the place to buy shuttle bus tickets, the centre also houses an Indigenous art gallery, gift shop, cafe and restrooms.
The staff at the Mossman Gorge Centre can help you organise your Gorge experience, including planning your route as well as booking you onto a Dreamtime Walk.
Indigenous culture
Visiting Mossman Gorge is a golden opportunity to experience the lives, culture and beliefs of the Australian Ingenious community, especially regarding their connection to the natural world.
The Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk tour is an extremely popular way to learn about Kuku Yalanii culture. Guided by the local Indigenous people, the tour takes visitors along private tracks to visit culturally significant places. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in local Kuku Yalanji language.
The Dreamtime Gorge Walk welcomes visitors with a traditional ‘smoking’ ceremony that cleanses and wards off bad spirits. The walk then takes place, with the Indigenous guide demonstrating traditional plant use, bush food sources and sharing stories of the rainforest. The tour ends with a traditional bush tea and damper.
Dreamtime Gorge Walk Features (from the Mossman Gorge website):
Traditional smoking ceremony Stories of the Kuku Yalanji culture and traditions Experienced Indigenous guides Intimate group tour (approx 15 guests) Exclusive access to Kuku Yalanji land Visit a sacred ceremony site Soap & ochre paint making demonstration Bush tea and damper Free access to the Mossman Gorge shuttle bus Duration: approx 1.5 hours Departs: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 3pm daily Level/Grade of the walk: Easy – however please note the track is on uneven terrain, slippery when wet and has some inclination Wheelchair accessibility: No
Mossman Gorge Walks
We decided to take our own adventures through the Gorge, along one of the shorter walking trails and spending most of our time at the main water hole. The tracks we selected were the Baral Marrjanga, which starts at the shuttle bus stop, and the Rex Creek bridge, which joins it. The walks combined took about 20 minutes. The information below on the different walks is from the Mossman Gorge website.
Baral Marrjanga—270 m (5–10 mins) Grade: easy Baral Marrjanga leads through the rainforest from the shuttle bus stop to a lookout with views of the Mossman River and the mountain ranges beyond. The track includes two sections of elevated boardwalk which pass through the lower rainforest canopy. The track is suitable for wheelchairs, strollers and the vision-impaired.
Lower river track—300 m (5–10 mins) Grade: moderate to easy This track starts at the shuttle bus stop and winds along the Mossman River before joining Baral Marrjanga. Several small lookouts along the track provide views of the river. Although most of the lower river track is easy walking, the steps can be slippery. Please take care and use the handrails provided.
Rex Creek bridge—460 m (10 mins) Grade: moderate to easy To reach the Rex Creek suspension bridge, follow Baral Marrjanga to the lookout and take the short, sign-posted track to the left.
Rainforest Circuit Track (from Rex Creek bridge)—2.4 km return (45 mins) Grade: moderate to easy This track begins on the far side of Rex Creek bridge. On the left, 80m from the bridge a small lookout provides views of Manjal Dimbi (Mount Demi). A little way past the lookout the track divides to form a circuit that meanders through the rainforest.
Swimming in Mossman Gorge
The highlight of our visit was swimming in Mossman Gorge. It was too cold for me but I loved sitting on the giant rocks and watching the bright blue ulysses butterflies flittered over head and the fish swimming in the clear water. I spotted catfish and other unidentified species from my perch.
Swimming in the Gorge is not recommended as the water conditions can make it a dangerous experience. Mossman Gorge is unsupervised and unmonitored. If help is needed, it is a long way away – with no mobile phone coverage in the Gorge to call for assistance. Note that people have been injured and died swimming in the Gorge and take every precaution if you choose to swim.
If you’re planning on swimming at Mossman Gorge, be prepared. Wear swimmers under your clothes and bring a towel. The water can be icy cold, too.
Wheelchair accessibility
The shuttle bus, picnic area, toilets and the rainforest boardwalk Baral Marrjanga, which leads from the shuttle bus stop to the Mossman River lookout, are all wheelchair accessible.
What to pack
Insect repellent
Light weight cotton clothing
Hat
Sunscreen
A comfortable pair of walking shoes
Umbrella/Poncho
Snacks/picnic lunch
Water bottle
A Journey Above The Trees With Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
The iconic Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is an immersive journey through and above Australia’s World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest.
Where does the Skyrail begin and end?
The Skyrail winds it’s way between Smithfield Terminal, located 15 minutes from Cairns and 50 minutes from Port Douglas, and Kuranda.
We chose to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns to Kuranda and the Skyrail from Kuranda to Smithfield Terminal. When booking your package you can elect to also get a bus transfer from Smithfield Terminal back to Cairns, however we called an Uber. The Uber took about 12 minutes to arrive and our drive was indeed around 15 minutes back to Cairns.
The full Skyrail experience takes approximately 1½ hours one way, or 2-2½ hours return, including time spent at two rainforest stations.
I highly recommend jumping out and taking a look at both of the rainforest stations along the way.
Barron Falls
If you’re travelling from Kuranda back to Smithfield Terminal, the first stop is Barron Falls, approximately 10 minutes from the Kuranda Terminal and 15 minutes from the Red Peak Terminal.
Alight here for a spectacular view of the Barron Gorge National Park, including the 260-metre Barron Falls. There are two separate viewing platforms to take in the view, including the new Edge Lookout. The steel and glass structure provides unimpeded panoramic views of the spectacular landscape.
At this stop you can also visit the CSIRO Rainforest Interpretation Centre and learn more about the area’s pioneering past at the historical display.
Plan to spend around 20 – 30 minutes discovering the rainforest, Barron Falls and the Barron Gorge National Park. The walkways here provide easy access to the two separate lookouts.
Barron Falls is at its peak during Cairns’ wet season (December to March).
Red Peak
If you’re travelling from Kuranda back to Smithfield Terminal, the second stop is Red Peak, home to complimentary ranger-guided boardwalk tours and the Rainforest Discovery Zone.
This is a great stop to really learn about the ancient rainforest through the interpretive signage and by strolling along the boardwalks through the landscape.
Upgrade to Glass Floor Gondolas (Diamond View)
We have previously taken the standard gondolas so this time wanted to try something a bit different and take the Skyrail’s glass floor gondolas, called “Diamond View”. The regular gondolas have been given an upgrade for this experience with the addition of a glass floor so you can look down onto the rainforest as you fly over the top.
It’s quite a dizzying experience, truly like flying over the to, with such a cool perspective of the trees from directly above.
Diamond View gondolas carry a maximum of 5 passengers and depart stations every 7 minutes (approximately). Diamond View passengers can enjoy dedicated boarding queues at all terminals and stations – however the queues were very light when we visited.
Additional fees apply: One Way Skyrail Diamond View upgrade $20.00 Adult, $10.00 Child
Things to do in Kuranda
Allow plenty of time at Kuranda Village exploring the markets, attractions and restaurants. You can get more information on things to do in Kuranda Cairns here.
Kuranda Skyrail packages
Book your entire package online, including self-drive options and coach pick-up or return to Cairns city, Cairns beaches, Palm Cove and Port Douglas locations.
Freshwater Railway Station (an option for boarding the Kuranda Scenic Railway) is approximately 7km from Skyrail’s Smithfield Terminal so a coach transfer is required.
Kuranda is a mountain village that has become a popular tourist attraction near Cairns, in Qld, Australia.
Kuranda Village is accessible by car, however it is a popular destination to reach by taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
There are two market locations at Kuranda. The Original Markets are located near to the Skyrail and Kuranda Station, making them the first you will come across when visiting Kuranda. The Heritage Markets are further down the main street of Kuranda and contain the entrances to Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda.
The Kuranda Markets are a fun place to browse and pick up handmade goods such as jewellery and woodwork. Aboriginal artefacts are also available for sale, and local produce like macadamia nuts and honey.
The shops are mostly locally family owned businesses, which makes it even better to know you’re supporting the local community with purchases made.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Home to over 1500 butterflies, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly light aviary and exhibit in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Wear something bright (red, white or hot pink) if you want a butterfly to land on you.
The majestic green and yellow Cairns Birdwing and the Monarch butterfly can be spotted flittering about the aviary.
We enjoyed watching the butterflies hatching and eating nectar from flowers.
Be sure to walk through the breeding laboratory which houses 4000 caterpillars in their varying stages of development.
We did have some luck with butterflies landing on our bags, heads and clothes, but they are so fast that it’s hard to get photos! Some butterflies were extremely tame and landed on people’s shoulders and hats and remained there for quite a long time.
There is a free shuttle service operating from the Kuranda Skyrail Terminal and the Kuranda Scenic Railway Station to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, or it is only a short 10-minute walk.
Cuddle a koala at Kuranda Koala Gardens. The garden is home to a reasonable selection of iconic Australian animals including koalas, wallabies, wombats, snakes and lizards, bilbys gliders and Australia’s freshwater crocodile.
Allow around an hour to walk around and meet all of the animals at Kuranda Koala gardens.
The attraction is located in the Kuranda Heritage Markets. Free shuttle service operates from the Kuranda Skyrail Terminal and the Kuranda Scenic Railway Station to Koala Gardens, or it is only a short 10-minute walk.
Get up close to over 350 birds roaming freely at Birdworld Kuranda, one of Australia’s largest collections of free flying birds and the giant rainforest cassowary. The birds come from all over the world, including plenty of native Australian species.
We spotted Amazonian macaws, the cassowary, rainbow lorikeets, bright coloured parrots, pink galahs and many more. As we entered we were given a handy information sheet with all of the bird species along with coloured pictures of birds to help with identification.
Many of the birds are quite happy to get up close to visitors and will swoop down and land on your head, shoulder or arm. You can buy a small bag of bird seed and nuts at the entrance to entice the birds to land on you or feed from your hand.
The birds are attracted to shiny things so you will be asked to remove jewellery and hats when you enter to avoid them being stolen. Also note that while the birds are comfortable around people they are not tame animals and will give you a nip if you get too close and they don’t want a bar of it, so give them plenty of respect and space and you will make some happy feathered friends.
The attraction is conveniently located in the Kuranda Heritage Markets. Free shuttle service operates from the Kuranda Skyrail Terminal and the Kuranda Scenic Railway Station to Birdworld, or it is only a short 10-minute walk.
Allow plenty of time for your visit to Kuranda, including a stop at one of the many cafes and restaurants. You can find a full list of the cafes and restaurants in Kuranda here.
Winding its way through the World Heritage-listed Barron Gorge National Park, the Kuranda Scenic Railway is an unforgettable journey through hand carved tunnels and spectacular scenery.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway has been running from Cairns, Qld, over the Great Dividing Range to the town of Kuranda on the Atherton Tableland, since 1891.
The journey takes approximately 2 hours, including a 10-minute stop at the Barron Falls Station for a quick look at the Barron Falls, and passing through 15 hand carved tunnels, 37 bridges as well as spectacular waterfalls.
Passengers can choose to start their journey in Cairns or at Kuranda, and can also select to take the train in a single direction and take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway the other, or take the train in both directions.
We selected to start in Cairns and end our journey at Kuranda.
Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class vs Gold Class
The Kuranda Scenic Railway offers two ways to take this special journey – “Heritage Class” or “Gold Class”.
Heritage Class just includes the basic journey in an original carriage with no added extras.
Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage ClassKuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class
Gold Class offers the ability to travel in comfort with individual lounge-style chairs and dedicated host service.
Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class
We have previously travelled in Heritage Class but decided to try Gold Class this time. Gold Class includes includes morning or afternoon tea featuring a selection of Queensland and local Tablelands produce such as Gallo Dairyland Cheese, Skybury Coffee, Wondaree Macadamias, Mango to Go (100% pure mango treat), freshly baked muffins, Sirromet wines and Great Northern Brewing Company Super Crisp Lager as well as a complimentary gift pack.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway gift pack includes Kuranda Scenic Railway badge, pen and postcard.
Gold Class also includes the option to take an exclusive tour of the Heritage-Listed Signal Cabin at Kuranda Station (for morning Gold Class service only. Ask your Guest Service Attendant for details).
Other Gold Class benefits on select departures: welcome tropical mocktails served in the pavillion area 20 minutes prior to the arrival of the train when boarding at Freshwater Station in the morning, and welcome drinks served onboard the train, 20 minutes prior to departure, when boarding at Kuranda Station in the afternoon.
The menu can’t be altered if you have any dietary requirements, however the regular menu does always feature a gluten-free / vegetarian option.
Travelling Gold Class made the journey incredibly special. It was a relaxing, comfortable experience with constant snacks and drinks being supplied, in incredibly comfy chairs. We would absolutely travel this way again in the future.
The journey from Cairns to Kuranda
We boarded at Cairns, the igirinating stop. The next stop is Freshwater, where the bulk of passangers board, followed by a pit stop at Barron Falls Station. There is ample time to get out and take photos of the beautiful Barron Falls during this time.
Keep cameras at the ready as the scenery on both sides of the train is spectacular the entire journey.
More information about Kuranda Scenic Railway
The Kuranda Scenic Railway operates daily all year, except Christmas Day.
TO KURANDA TIMETABLE
Depart Cairns station 8.30am & 9.30am
Depart Freshwater station 8.55am & 9.55am*
Arrive Kuranda 10.25am & 11.25am
FROM KURANDA TIMETABLE
Depart Kuranda 2.00pm & 3.30pm*
Arrive Freshwater 3.32pm & 5.02pm
Arrive Cairns 3.55pm & 5.25pm
*Gold Class is available on selected departures
Bookings are highly recommended. Our Gold Class cabin was completely full. I suggest combining the journey aboard Kuranda Scenic Railway with a Skyrail Rainforest Cableway experience in the other direction, and also allowing plenty of free time in Kuranda to explore.
Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class
Gold Class offered on the following services:
9.55am departure from Freshwater Station to Kuranda
3.30pm departure from Kuranda to Freshwater
Please Note: No Gold Class service is offered between Cairns and Freshwater Station. All customers are welcome to commence or end their journey at Cairns Station, however the special service does not run between Freshwater and Cairns Stations.
Information regarding prams and strollers
Collapsible prams and strollers can be stored under the Heritage Class seats provided they are no more than 25cm in height once collapsed.
A limited number of non-collapsible or large collapsible prams and strollers may be accepted on a Kuranda Scenic Railway service. They can be stored in the Accessibility (PWD) carriage wheelchair spaces if they aren’t being used for wheelchairs, in the guards van or in the luggage storage section on each service. The acceptance of larger prams and strollers on each Kuranda Scenic Railway service is at the discretion of the onboard staff and subject to available space on the day. Children are not allowed to travel on the train in a stroller or pram for safety reasons.
Wheelchair accessibility
Wheel chair access at Cairns, Freshwater & Kuranda stations
Wheel chair Ramp at Cairns station
Wheel chair lift at Freshwater & Kuranda stations
Wheel chair access at Barron Falls station is unavailable
When booking please advise Reservations you require wheelchair access, so that we are able to provide the appropriate assistance
Things to do in Kuranda Village
Allow plenty of time at Kuranda Village to visit the attractions, markets and restaurants. Read more about things to do in Kuranda Cairns.
Visiting the Frankland Islands, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
The pristine Frankland Islands are located 10km offshore, 45km south-east of Cairns. Surrounded by healthy coral that is teeming with sea life, a day trip to the Frankland Islands is one of the best and easiest ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef.
There are five islands comprising the Frankland Islands: Normanby, High, Russell, Round and Mabel. The islands are part of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
How to get to the Frankland Islands
There is only one way to visit to these uninhabited islands: booking through Frankland Islands Reef Cruises. The islands are uninhabited, which means no bathroom or running water. While camping is allowed on Russel Island, Frankland Islands Reef Cruises are the only company to hold a permit to visit Normanby Island.
The day trips depart from Deeral. You can self-drive like we did, or take the Frankland Islands Reef Cruises air conditioned coach that departs Cairns daily at around 7.45am. Transfers are also available from Mission Beach.
The drive takes about 45 minutes. It’s a gorgeous drive south, past fields of sugar cane and the iconic Gordonvale Pyramid.
The departure point also has no facilities so prepare to board the luxurious boat Turtle Islander straight away, where there are restrooms and drinkable water available. The boat has two levels, air conditioning, shade and plenty of comfortable seating inside the boat.
It’s a 30-minute calm water cruise along the Mulgrave River, which is lined with rainforest and mangroves, before a short 6-mile open water crossing to the Frankland Islands, which takes about 15 minutes. If you’re lucky like us, you’ll see crocodiles on the banks of the river.
Morning and afternoon tea is provided on board the boat – tea, coffee and some bikkies are very happily received.
If you’re like me and suffer from extreme seasickness but still want to see the reef, then this is the best option for you. The Frankland Islands day trip is the shortest open water crossing of any Cairns reef day tour (approx 15 minutes).
What’s included in the price
Included in the price is generous buffet lunch, which is served on the island. The menu includes a choice of several salads, chicken, ham, prawns, breads and an abundance of fresh tropical fruit. I received fresh vegetarian wraps.
Also included in the price are flotation devices, snorkeling gear (prescription masks are an extra $15), seasonal protection suits, free guide for certified divers. Wetsuits are available for an extra cost ($15).
When we visited in July the water was too cold for me to swim without a wetsuit.
Things to do on the Frankland Islands
Once you’ve arrived on the island, there are plenty of activity options and the day just flies by.
Snorkelling is easy to do right off the beach. Only a few metres out we saw parrot fish, clown fish, giant glams, sea cucumbers and more.
While it would be quite easy to spend the day just snorkelling, walking around the island and relaxing, there are optional extras that can be added on to make the day more adventurous.
I chose to do the Adventure Snorkel Safari ($10). The onboard marine biologist took took swimmers around to the other side of the island where the coral is in abundance and the sea life similarly so.
It was incredible to see the healthy coral teeming with fish, giant clams, and I even spotted a sleeping green sea turtle. Sea life that is found in this part of the reef also includes anemonefish, nudibranchs, sea stars, stingrays, feather stars, wrasse, butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, damselfish and manta rays.
While I was doing the adventure snorkel, Alec and Cheese took a ride on the semi-submersible ($5). The tour went to the same reef that my snorkelling tour visited, but from the comfort of the enclosed boat. It’s a great option for kids who aren’t strong snorkellers. From their excellent position they saw the same stunning coral and fish life that I did on my snorkelling tour.
After lunch we did the Guided Island Walk ($5) with the cruise’s marine biologist. The walk was one of the highlights of the day for us. We took a very slow walk around the island, through the rock pools, rainforest and beaches, learning about the islands and their unique creatures.
One of the distinctive features of the Frankland Islands are their coral beaches, rather than soft sand. On the walk we learned that in the ocean coral only lasts around 10 years, after which it washes ashore and eventually forms the rock shelf.
We also learned that the islands were made into a National Park after a special star protozoa was found on Normandy Island, in one small spot on the shore. The protozoa (too small to photograph) is only found in one other place in the world, Okinawa, Japan, making is a special place in need of protecting.
Other optional activities: scuba diving (from $99), clear kayaks ($15), stand up paddle board ($15), sea-doo scooter ($70).
If you want to camp on Russell Island, you can also be transferred to the island for a fee. Permits apply.
Photography on the Frankland Islands
There is an underwater photographer onboard daily. Ours was excellent at getting lots of photos of us snorkelling and on the beach. He also brought his drone so we were able to get the fantastic shot of us on the beach from above. I thought his package to buy all of the photos at the end was very reasonable (I can’t remember how much it was however!).
You can hire an underwater camera ($35) from Frankland Island Reef Cruises. I used my GoPro underwater, however the water was a bit cloudy on the day we visited so I didn’t get amazing shots that do justice to how beautiful the reef was.
What you need to know about a Frankland Islands Day Trip
Check in at 8.15am for an 8.30am departure
The tour returns to Cairns around 5.15pm.
Bring shoes to walk around on the beach as it is coral, not sand. We took reef shoes but thongs/flip flops would also be fine.
Pie time in the Southern Highlands is the most delicious time of year. Located only an hour and a half southwest of Sydney, the Southern Highlands make for an easy day trip. Throughout the month of June the region is host to a plethora of delicious pie experiences.
Pie Time in the Southern Highlands, NSW
The Big Pie and Visitors Centre, Mittagong
The Southern Highlands is the home of Australia’s newest Big Thing – the Big Pie! Located at the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre in Mittagong, the Big Pie has been erected in recognition of pie month in the Southern ‘Pie-lands’ during June. The Big Pie sits at over 2 metres wide by 1.5 high. Following Pie Time ‘The Big Pie’ will be positioned in the forecourt of the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre to promote the year-round Southern Highlands Pie Trail.
Drop into the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre while you’re there to read up about the history of pies and try their award-winning toilets.
Stones Patisserie, Bowral
This beautiful bakery is lovingly run by owner Mark Stone, turning out award-winning pies and delicious dishes daily. After winning the Best Pie and Best Artisan Pie 2018 for NSW/ACT with Stone’s ‘head to tail’ pie, this bakery is a must to try their hero pie created for pie month, the Superman pie (a beef bourguignon with peas, bacon, mushroom and a veal jus). There are also vegetarian options to be found at the patisserie, and I particularly enjoyed their apple crumble pie.
The iconic roadstop pie shop serves up small batches of handmade pies, baked under the watchful eye of owner and pie man Russell Cox. Each filling is cooked to a specific recipe rather than a generic base being made with flavours added to it. The result is the most delicious pies that keep people coming back time after time. As well as a large range of savoury pies and sausage rolls, Heatherbrae’s has a fantastic range of retro sweet pastries.
While the Jillaroo (beef, bacon, cheese and onion) is a popular savoury pie, I highly enjoyed the vegan Red Lentil Curry pie and will be going back for more. Cox commented that the vegan pie is the fasted growing pie on the menu in terms of popularity.
Cuttaway Hill is the place to stop to try the Pie Time Festival’s Pies and Pinot. Enjoy a Cuttaway Hill Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris with a specially made Heatherbrae venison pie. Vegetarians can enjoy the Sweetie Pie and Bubbles for Pie Time, where you can enjoy their traditionally-made sparkling with a sweet Heatherbrae pie.
Families are welcome at Cuttaway Hill and are catered for during Pie Time. The Pie in the Sky event looks particularly fun, where you can enjoy a glass of wine, a Heatherbrae’s pie and peering at the stars through telescopes from the vineyard.
Drop by for the Pie and Pinot and stay for the spectacular views from the cellar door restaurant at the Southern Highlands Winery.
Head chef Marco Salvestrin has crafted a rabbit and Pinot Noir pie for this special time of year, for a bargain $22. There are vegetarian options on the menu. I enjoyed the eggplant parmigiana and spinach. Kids also are catered for on the menu.
Choose between the Pie and Pinot with a braised beef brisket and tunnel mushroom pie or Sweetie Pie and Bubbles with a apple, ricotta and mulberry pie and glass of the vineyard’s Brut Rosé for only $15 during pie time.
Take a vineyard tour with a difference at Centennial Vineyards with restoration expert and owner of Military Vehicle Tours Vinh Tran. During Pie Time he is offering visitors a 15-minute drive around the vines in a refurbished personnel carrier or jeep. All money raised from the tours goes directly to Vietnamese orphans and people affected by the Vietnam War. Tours go every 30 minutes during Pie Time.
This warehouse of wonders is usually closed to the public. Fairground Follies is a collection of antique musical machines from the 1800s onwards, and is open this Pie Time on June 1 and 15 with a 1.5 hour tour by curator and owner Craig Robson with an apple or fruit pie and a hot drink. With proceeds going to Meals on Wheels, this is an incredible opportunity as well as a good cause.
Highlights from the collection include the original steam-powered carousel from Luna Park, pre-clockwork gravity-driven musical machines, a 1950s Decap Robot Orchestra and the grand Taj Mahal.
Housed inside a 1890 heritage building, the Glass Café is hosting a special Paint Pinot event for Pie Time, with alpaca pie and Pinot Noir from award-winning winery Artemis. Paint your own alpaca using pie condiments such as ketchup, brown and yellow mustard.
Burn off the pies on an e-bike with Cycle Tours NSW. Kick off and let the battery kick in, giving you power-assisted peddling. The tours take visitors through the regions breweries, wineries and restaurants and commence at the Mittagong Visitors Centre.
This famous patisserie attracts day trippers like us from Sydney and a line out the door is not an uncommon sight. Gumnut Patisserie are famous for their savoury pies and exquisite pastries. Their individually-made single-serve cakes and tarts are masterpieces, but we also loved the nostalgic, old school pastries like their vanilla and caramel slices.
On the NSW South Coast, around 3 hours south of Sydney, you’ll find the whitest sand in the world at Hyams Beach. Located in the Jervis Bay Marine Park of the Shoalhaven region, Hyams Beach is one of 16 stunning white sand beaches in the area, however has shot to fame in recent years after it was awarded the Guinness World Record for the whitest sand.
Hyams Beach is a quiet residential beach with fine white sand and clear, gentle water. It’s the perfect family beach.
While most beach seekers choose to just lie on the sand or paddle in the water, Hyams Beach is also good for snorkelling, paddleboarding and fishing.
On the southern shores of the splendid Jervis Bay Marine Park, Hyams Beach is a charming seaside village in the Shoalhaven region with an eponymous stretch of fine white sand. Gentle waves from the bay lap onto the beach, a beautiful area for rolling out your towel and relaxing on the soft sand.
We love the north end of Hyams Beach which is a smaller little bay area that is very well protected from the ocean, and has rock pools at its south end.
Hyams Beach is also the last stop on the White Sands Walk includes Hyams Beach, which starts at Nelsons Beach in nearby Vincentia and takes you through Blenheim Beach, Greenfield Beach and Chinamans Beach before ending at Hyams Beach. The walk takes around 90 minutes one way.
To the south of Hyams Beach is the stunning Booderee National Park. You can read more about the Booderee National Park as well as other things to do in Jervis Bay here.
If you’d like to stay in Hyams Beach there are plenty of holiday homes available for rent. You can find out more regarding accommodation options in Jervis Bay here.
There is just the one cafe in the area: the Hyams Beach Store and Cafe. They are renowned for their excellent coffee.
If you are headed to Hyams Beach be aware of the limited parking situation. On busy days the streets are blocked off and rangers patrol the area. There is also only the one public toilet.
Dogs are permitted but must remain on leash at all times.
Jervis Bay, in the Shoalhaven region of NSW, is a seaside haven with white sand beaches and wildlife galore. Located two-and-a-half to three hours drive south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is the perfect spot for a getaway for all ages. Stay a weekend or longer if you can. Jervis Bay will steal your heart and make it hard for you to leave. There are so many things to do in Jervis Bay!
Things to do in Jervis Bay
Huskisson
The main town in Jervis Bay, Huskisson is always pretty busy during tourist season. It’s full of cafes, places to shop, galleries and other amenities but it’s also hard to find a parking spot. Huskisson is on the shore of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, which is full of marine life including bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, little penguins and weedy sea dragons.
Boat tours leave from the jetty here and you can also hire kayaks. Kayaking is the perfect way to explore the stunning waters of Jervis Bay.
The Huskisson Bakery & Cafe
Drop by the iconic Husky Bakery for a pie. They are famous for their pies for a good reason – they’re delicious! The bakery has a large outside undercover eating area with play equipment to keep kids entertained, too.
If you don’t like pies, not to worry – there are plenty of things on the menu to choose from that aren’t pie-related, too. Veggie pies and other options such as sandwiches and egg dishes are on offer.
This vegetarian cafe serves up wholesome meals in generous portions. The menu is healthy and full of both vegetarian and vegan options for vegetarians.
Sweet tooths will adore this little shop, packed with a huge range of traditional confectionery such as house-made fudge, toffee, Turkish delight, nougat, rocky Road, Coconut Ice and a range of Chocolate-coated products.
Not just a bookshop, Boobook is a quirky collection of the most interesting, popular and ‘never want to put down’ books, handpicked by staff. There is an excellent kids section plus a 2nd hand bargain area.
The next town south from Huskisson is Vincentia. It’s only a few minutes drive but is much quieter. It still has a few cafes and supermarkets but without the crowds. Vincentia has plenty of pretty beaches to choose from including the dog friendly Nelsons Beach.
Nelsons Beach
One of the quieter beaches in Jervis Bay, Nelsons Beach has lots of white sand and nothing else in sight. You won’t find shops or cafes here but you will find space to spread out on the beach and spend a peaceful day at the beach with your family. Dogs are welcome at Nelsons Beach and in the mornings and evenings it resembles a dog park! Sunrise and sunset are both stunning at Nelsons Beach.
Greenfield Beach
Another stunning beach set in the Jervis Bay National Park, Greenfield Beach has crystal clear water and powdery white sand. It also has walking tracks, free electric barbecue, clean drinking water, cold showers, flush toilet, sheltered eating area and wheelchair access, making it a perfect day at the beach. There is also a lot of wildlife in the are to be discovered on the walking tracks.
Greenfield Beach is also the start of the White Sands Walk.
Image courtesy of Destination NSW.
White Sands Walk
This beautiful walk takes you through the Jervis Bay National Park, past some of the South Coast’s most stunning beaches.
The walk starts at Greenfield Beach picnic area in Vincentia and takes you past beaches that include Chinamans, Seamans and Hyams beaches, with easy-to-follow directions. Bottlenoiose dolphins are often seen from this trail, as are fur seals, little penguins and humpback and southern right whales during their annual migration along the coast between May and November.
At Hyams Beach, where the walk ends, return via the Scribbly Gum track that goes inland through tall forests, back to the top of Greenfield Beach picnic area.
Callala Beach
Callala Beach is the longest beach in Jervis Bay and is also dog-friendly. Calalla is a small town that is quiet and has only a few basic amenities, and is a bit further drive north out of Huskisson.
Hyams Beach
A residential area, Hyams Beach is now inundated with tourists and busy during the popular tourist times. There is one cafe to drop by for lunch or a coffee – a better idea is to pack your food for the day.
With the influx of tourists, driving and parking around the area can be painful – however, the beach itself is lovely and well worth visiting. The rock pools between the north and south beaches are a lovely spot for kids to splash around. Hyams Beach is a short drive south of Vincentia.
Farm Stay at The Woods Farm
A 15 minute drive inland from Huskisson, The Woods Farm is a farmstay with a bit of luxury. Daily animals feedings of the chickens, alpacas, feisty goats horse and miniature pony are a hit with the kids.
There are eight individual cottages to choose from, each with three bedrooms and 1.5 bath plus a glamping tent out the front that can be added on for an extra $150 a night. We stayed for two nights and enjoyed our stay, however found it a bit pricey for the experience offered. Be aware that there is a cleaning fee of $250 in addition to the nightly rate.
The largest town on the late of the same name, St Georges basin is perfect for those who love fishing, boating and swimming. St Georges Basin is on the northern shore and near Sanctuary Point, only a short drive from Huskisson and Vincentia.
A top spot to swim with kids! The entrance to the Moona Moona Creek is popular with families who love to swim in the shallow water. Nearby Moona Moona reserve is a great spot for a picnic with barbecue facilities, outdoor showers and shady areas.
I love a good lighthouse! It’s a bit of a drive to get to Point Perpendicular, but the view at the end of Jervis Bay escarpment is worth it. The historic lighthouse was active from 1889 to 1993. There is no access inside the lighthouse but I thought the view was worth the drive.
Booderee is a spectacular place to visit and stay, with white sand beaches, dramatic cliffs and teaming with wildlife. You need a park pass to enter the Booderee National Park, which you can buy at the entrance.
Jervis Bay Village
The Jervis Bay Village is the spot to to stop to pick up supplies from the general store or order a meal from the takeaway shop. We ordered burgers that came out old style and delicious. They even had several veggie options on offer including a spinach and ricotta roll and veggie burger.
Green Patch
Green Patch is a popular spot for its spectacular beach. The white sand and bright blue water is just as stunning as nearby Hyams, with the added tranquility of a bush surrounding. You will find plenty of wildlife in the surrounding bush such as kookaburras and kangaroos. There are extremely clean public restrooms here.
We rated Green path as the prettiest beach and as one of our favourite things to do in Jervis Bay.
Cave Beach
Cave Beach is famous for residential kangaroos who can usually be found munching on grass in the camping area behind the beach. Be careful as the kangas can get a bit aggressive if they smell food on you so leave food in your car.
Hole in the Wall Beach
We loved walking along the beach to the sandstone rock wall at its eastern end with a U shaped hole in it that gave the beach its name: “Hole in the Wall Beach”.
The hole (well, now U shape) is a popular photography spot especially in the early morning. We also enjoyed the rock pools we found walking up the beach to the rock wall at the end. Around the U hole are more rock pools and a longer walk. Exploring amazing places like this is one of the best things to do in Jervis Bay.
Murrays Beach
The perfect family beach, Murrays has pristine, calm water perfect for swimmers and snorkelers with sparkling white sand. Murrays Beach is located in a protected bay which is sheltered by Bowen Island.
You can take several walks around Murrays Beach for stunning views of the bay as well as Bowen Island, which is off limits to tourists and is a haven for penguins. We didn’t see any penguins but we weren’t there in peak penguin season.
Where to stay in Jervis Bay
There are plenty of options from hotels to vacation rentals and camping.
