Cairns in tropical north Queensland is the best known city on the Queensland Coast. When we arrive at the airport and transfer to the hotel, the holiday makers always like the laid back attitude Queensland has, with its night markets and excellent outdoor swimming pools and of course it’s tropical weather.
What everybody comes to Cairns for is to enjoy the tours on offer. The Great Barrier Reef is not to be missed, so for a memorable trip we go to the Outer Barrier Reef by Catamaran, on the way, Reef Naturalists give a talk on what you will see and also a demonstration on how to snorkel. Once the boat gets to the pontoon, it’s on with the gear and into the water, I’ve even taken none swimmers into the water with me and they had a great time, everybody has a lifejacket on, so we all look the same. For those that don’t want to get wet, glass bottom boat and semi submersible tours are available, theres even an underwater theatre to view the fish being fed. All the group’s I take to the Barrier Reef are impressed by the hot and cold buffet lunch served on board, and the way they are looked after by the crew. It really is a “Great Day Out”.

This is a great way to travel. We get collected at an early hour from the hotel and travel into the Atherton Tablelands where we join the Balloon. It's a fantastic sight as at dawn, the balloon is inflated and the sun rises, once it's ready, the first group get into the basket while the rest of us follow on in the support vehicles, as it's the wind that gives the direction, the support vehicles track the balloon by highway and sometimes dirt road. After around 35 minutes it's times for the group's to change. Once into the basket we lift off and are soon drifting over the trees and vineyards, the views are fantastic and before long we start our decent, just clearing the top's of the tree's, we get to see, Kangaroo's hopping around in the fields below, then we are onve again on the ground and it's time for all the group to help roll up the balloons and pack them into the trailers, so after a fantastic start to the day, we get taken for a Champagne breakfast, and our flight certificates.

Another Great excursion is to the Kuranda. First we board the historic Kuranda Scenic Rail and travel through some of the oldest rainforest, the train has one stop, at “Barron Gorge” for photo opportunities, I take a picture here every time, before arriving at Kuranda. Here we have free time to enjoy the Heritage Markets for some retail therapy or visit the butterfly farm, then its off to the Rain forestation where we have a BBQ lunch before a tour of the area by Army Duck, Amphibious WW11 Army DUKW, and on foot, for the Pamagirri Dreamtime Walk, where everybody gets the chance to try their hand at boomerang throwing, spear throwing and playing the didgeridoo!!, I even get to cuddle a Koala. Blimey!!

G’day as they say, this is a night out to remember, I normally arrange for it to be on our last night in Cairns. The guides greet you at the entrance and take you to their famous Aussie BBQ, its great, and after a few drinks and a hearty meal, you get a torch and you’re off into the darkness with the guides. It’s a really informative tour, but light hearted. You see Possums, Koala’s and even Crocodiles close up, during the tour we get to enjoy “Billy Tea” and “Damper” with a “Swaggie", even the Kangaroo’s join in. After the tour, we head back inside for some famous Aussie Bush Dances and a sing along, oh yes, and a few beers, Cheers!