Cairns Not Recommended
by Sarah O'Sullivan
(Ireland)
Turtle
Honeymoon in the Great Barrier Reef
The glass bottom boat was the best. It went through shallower sections so we got up close to all sorts of marine life, including 3 turtles!
The trip had its ups and downs; we didn't like Cairns or our hotel, but still it was an experience that we wouldn't trade.
Travel Logistics
We booked with Trailfinders and went out on a Quicksilver boat.
We used lots of internet to plan this trip and a little bit of guidebook I think.Boat
The boat was big katamaran, I think it took about 400 people.
If I recall, lunch was included. The food was a huge buffet which was actually pretty good.
The facilities could have been better (e.g. changing, showering etc).Weather and Sea Conditions
The weather was beautiful. The visibility was ok, lots of tiny tiny jellyfish, and pretty deep.
I think my husband got seasick and then he used some tablets we had with us.
Snorkeling/Diving
I actually found the snorkelling a little disappointing. We had just been snorkelling in Malaysia in the beautiful calm shallow Andaman Sea.
On the Quicksilver tour we were on a floating platform, and the jumping off point was actually at a pretty deep section. I'm not a very experienced snorkeller so I couldn't dive down to the coral, therefore couldn't see very much.
The water absolutely crammed with people, the current was quite strong so it was difficult to swim.
Lots of people looked to me to be having the same issues I was having; coral too far down, too many people, strong current.
Having said all that, we had a great time and it was unforgettable.Accommodation
We stayed in Cairns, but should have stayed in Port Douglas.
Our hotel was Ridges Tradewinds. We thought it was tatty and dated; didn't deserve four stars. The food was dreadful.
The one redeeming feature was an AMAZING view from our room. Other than that couldn't wait to leave. Definitely would not recommend it.Tips and Advice
Don't stay in Cairns, go somewhere much nicer! Also maybe go for one of the tours were you can swim off the beach, I think there are some islands? We wanted to go further down the reef to the Islands for our trip to the Great Barrier Reef, and the guy in Trailfinders convinced us Cairns would be better! Drat!
My most useful item was maybe a hat? It was really hot. Or else my sports sandals, good for the water too.
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