Oct 4 2010
My Short Break In Cairns, Tropical North Queensland
Here’s the next blogpost as promised just about my Holiday in Cairns.
Passions of Paradise. This was our only opportunity to do the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns and we were happy with our decision. The boat takes about 30 passengers and that was about the right number for us. Big enough to have a bar and toilet facilities, but small enough that you didn’t feel you were on a cattle truck either. The staff were thorough and courteous. Your enjoyment was their first concern and they also wanted to make sure you got your money’s worth out of your once in a lifetime experience. They stopped at Upolo Cay and their own coral cay for bird watching and reef snorkelling and diving. While we were in the water, they kept a sharp lookout for sharks. Nobody on this trip even got sick so we did OK. They feed you a BBQ luncheon and they have a bar you can purchase water, soft drinks and beer at. On the way back to Cairns they put up the sail but still drive in. I can’t think of a better day trip to the reef. At the end of the day each crew member hugged you getting off the boat. It’s touches like that that make me want to recommend them.
Coffee Works is situated about an hour drive from Cairns, near Mareeba. You can do tours on the coffee plantation here, which they extremely recommend – although I can’t say anything about it, as I was enjoying the cool surroundings too much to go on the tour.
The Centre’s café is a very calm, beautiful place which a large outside area, where you can sit and savor the view of eucalypt timberland. It’s a not cheap, but I think it’s worth it, as the atmosphere is so nice and relaxing. Everything is made of wood and there is also a gift shop where you can buy coffee and everything to do with it. They also care for some injured kangaroos , so you can go and have a look at them, and maybe feed them if you ask.
Just opposite the Flecker Botanic Gardens you find the rainforest boardwalk that leads to the Centenary Lakes and Saltwater Creek. The boardwalk goes directly through the forest, so you can really feel like being in the wild 
So just enjoy the lush, green forest and also seeing some animals, like kookaburras.
Centenary Lakes and Saltwater Creek look very idyllic – but don’t go too close to the water, as there have been crocodiles reportedly in the lakes!
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