Cairns (pronounced ‘cans’) - known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - is the closest coastal city to the reef and therefore a place you shouldn't miss!
From diving the Great Barrier Reef to standing at the point where two world heritage sights meet, Cairns is an ideal destination from which to explore the wider Tropical North Queensland region.
Despite the beauty that surrounds Cairns, it can be quite touristic and expensive if you don't know your way around. As a budget traveler and someone eager to explore what is off the beaten path, I've compiled my thoughts and experiences in this blog post with the hopes to help you have a unique journey that won't burn a hole in your pocket!
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND CAIRNS?
Cairns is surrounded by breathtaking nature & views that you won't get tired of. I highly recommend renting a car while you are there because it is a convenient way to explore the surrounding areas. Be careful renting from the larger companies or using third party booking - there are often hidden fees, they require an expensive safety deposit, and they charge extra/day for drivers under 25. Instead, look around or ask your host for recommendations for trusted local rental car companies.
Traveler's Tip: We rented our car from Cruising Car Rental and we couldn't have been happier with their friendly service. They picked us up from our villa to get our car and dropped us off at the airport when we returned our car. I've never had such a pleasant experience with a car rental before. Check them out here.
WHAT CAN YOU DO AROUND CAIRNS?
So you've rented your car & you're ready to explore? But where do you start? Below, find a list of must see places that are accessible on a budget.
1. WALSH'S PYRAMID
Walsh's Pyramid is the highest free standing natural pyramid in the world. One might think it is a tree covered man-made pyramid – the shape is so distinct. But no, this is a natural phenomenon. Walsh's Pyramid is located just 12 miles (20 km) south of Cairns.
From our accommodation in Yorkeys Knob, it took us about 45 minutes driving to arrive to Walsh's Pyramid. The drive was more than worth it - so beautiful that we actually did it 3 times. The first time it was cloudy when we arrived, the second it was rainy and the third visit was just perfect!
You can also hike Walsh's Pyramid and although we didn't this time around, I would definitely love to next time. I am sure the views are wonderful, but the view from down below is pretty epic too.
2. BABINDA BOULDERS & JOSEPHINE FALLS
Babinda Boulders is a cool & casual swimming hole where you can go to relax surrounded by nature. If you are looking for a place to cool down for a while, Babinda Boulders is it.
Babinda Boulders are located 1.5 hours from Yorkeys Knob, and about 20 minutes south of Walsh's Pyramid - so you can visit them in the same day if you would like!
Nearby Babinda Boulders are the Josephine Falls, another great stop because you get to walk through a lush rainforest on your way to them.
Perhaps the best part about Babinda Boulders and Josephine Falls is that they are completely free to go and explore. If you are traveling on a budget, you can make a day out of these two stops alone.
Traveler's Tip: Try going to Babinda Boulders early morning if you would like privacy (usually places are less crowded before 8 am).
3. WATERFALL CIRCUIT ON THE TABLELANDS
The Atherton Tablelands are a vast plateau extending inland from the Cairns coast. The region is made up of tropical forests and rivers rushing towards the coast to create a plethora of incredible waterfalls.
Although you can explore this area on a guided one-day waterfall circuit tour, we much preferred to use our rental car and go around on our own, which is extremely doable.
Traveler's Tip: Plan in advance. Look on maps to see where the waterfalls are located and plan out which ones you would like to see. Keep in mind the distance they are from each other and be mindful of how much time you would like to spend at each one. We originally thought that we could hit most of the waterfalls in one day, but quickly realized that is not so realistic!
Since we were short on time, we chose 2 of the 10 waterfalls to visit, so I will start by sharing the ones that I have personally seen and then I'll include the others in case you have time to chase them all!
We started at Ellinjaa Falls, which was my personal favorite. There's a 200 meter walkway to the base of the falls where turtles and platypus are often spotted. The falls are also a great spot for swimming, although we chose to simply enjoy the view for a while.
Ellinjaa Falls is only about 10 minutes away from Millaa Millaa Falls, which is the second waterfall we visited. Since they are so close, it is easy to reach them both in one day.
Millaa Millaa Falls is an 18-meter waterfall that is said to be the most visited on the famous circuit, but also the most majestic. It was raining when we arrived, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless - and definitely worth the stop.
In case you are interested in checking them out, here are the other waterfalls that you can spot on the Atherton Tablelands:
1. Malanda Falls
2. Zillie Falls
3. Dinner Falls
4. Millstream Falls
5. Mungalli Falls
6. Nandroya Falls
7. Tchupala Falls
8. Wallicher Falls
Traveler's Tip: As with the Babinda Boulders, I recommend leaving early morning for this circuit, especially if you want to see all of the waterfalls. The earlier you go, the more time you will have and there will be less (if any) people. It is so worth waking up before the sun for!
4. CAPE TRIBULATION
Cape Tribulation is where two Unesco World Heritage Sites meet, the rainforest and the reef.
This place is more than worth the 2 hour drive north of Cairns, and if you need a rest, a popular spot to stop along the is Port Douglas.
First things first - Cape Tribulation is huge. On the day we arrived the road was closed, so we had to take a ferry across the river. That was fine, but once we arrived to the other side we had no idea how to get anywhere.
Travel teaches you a lot, but one of the best lessons I've learned is this: things have a funny way of working out. Shortly arrive we arrived, a bus came that scooped us up and drove for what felt like an hour through the jungle until we finally arrived within walking distance to the Cape Trib lookout. We walked along the beach and stayed out of the water because the area is known to have crocodiles that we certainly didn't want to get close to! Eek!
It was so empty there -no one in the water and just a few others roaming on the beach. I admired how lost you can feel in nature there- it felt like traveling back in time before people came along and built up so much infrastructure along the shorelines. You actually see the rainforest and the jungle coming right up to the beach. Neat right? I have never seen anything like it.
Traveler's Tip: Ask questions. If you arrive and the road is closed, ask about taking the free ferry and what to do when you get across to the other side. There will likely be many other travelers, so you can also ask them where they plan to go or even stay together to find a bus that can take you around. A map can be handy, but we also walked into a convenience store where the bus dropped us off and asked the man working there for some guidance on how to get to the viewpoint. He kindly put us in the right direction. Don't be afraid to ask questions - sometimes it's the best way to see a place that you are completely unfamiliar with!
5. CROCODILE RIVER TOUR
The crocodile tour isn't free, but for the small price that you pay it is of great value! We decided to go on a tour with Bruce Belcher's Daintree River Cruise because it is family owned and we wanted to support this small business.
We were warmly welcomed with a cold beer and pleasantly surprised by the vast knowledge Bruce had to share with us about crocodiles and the surrounding nature, my favorite was learning about Mangrove trees.
Fun Fact: The Mangrove trees are surrounded by what looks like twigs sticking up out of the water. These 'twigs' are actually aerial roots that Mangrove trees grow because the underground root system needs and demands oxygen, and the soil is not able to support it, so the underground root system outgrows aerial roots (or air roots as Bruce called them) that grow vertically up to the air above the soil.
6. DIVING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Stretching for 2,300km along Australia’s northeast coast and composed of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef covers an area about the size of Japan. Wow!
On a bucket list that I wrote in 2014, I included "Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef." Needless to say, it felt amazing to finally experience this dream of mine! Giacomo and I decided to take a boat that was a bit more expensive simply because it included 3 different sites and was recommended to be a place where we might spot a sea turtle. Sure enough, we found one at the second dive sight and swimming with him is one of my best memories yet.
Traveler's Tip: If you are on a budget, the GBR can get complicated. Be careful because there are so many options and I am sure that you can easily spend more money than necessary if you don't do your research! Ask locals for advice and do what feels best for you and your budget.
ACCOMMODATION TIPS
I almost always use, and highly recommend, searching for a place to stay on Airbnb. This is a great way to stay in someone's home and it often costs much less than a hotel or resort. You usually have the perks of using the kitchen, so you can cook food at home and save money that way too.
Traveler's Tip: Be sure to read the reviews of the place before booking. You can also check out what is included in your stay by reading the 'Amenities' and if you have any questions, you can message the host before booking. I have done this many times to be sure that I am confident about the place before I book it.
Another option, if you are on a tight budget, is to do work exchange, so that you can stay at a place for free in exchange for some help. Depending on what your host needs, this could be just a few hours of work a day so that you have most of your time to explore! I recommend visiting workaway.info and searching for opportunities that could work for you.
In my travel experiences, these are the best two ways to find comfortable accommodation on a budget!
SUMMARY
Before traveling to Cairns, I didn't know much about the area apart from that it was located in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. I am so grateful that I had the chance to explore the surrounding area of Cairns and the GBR in North Queensland. I hope my experiences can help and inspire your travels too!
xx
Kimberly
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