Exploring Cairns
Conor O’Neill | Fall 2023
If you are like me and you love wildlife of all kinds, Cairns is a great place to discover some of what Australia has to offer. I started my trip by taking a Jetstar flight from Sydney to Cairns, which took around 3 hours. I then took an Uber to my hostel, which cost me 20 Australian dollars and took me 15 minutes to get into the city center. After that, I spent the day in Cairns, exploring the city. I really recommend the botanical gardens and walking along the coast.
Before going to Cairns, I booked a 3-day liveaboard boat ride to see the Great Barrier Reef and go scuba diving with Mike Ball Diving. If the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, booking a liveaboard is the best way to do it because they go to spots that are far away from the mainland where the reef is flourishing. Mike Ball diving was more expensive, but Pro Dive offers some less expensive options. The trip began with a flight from Cairns to Lizard Island, offering a breathtaking aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island, situated on the northern part of the reef, serves as a gateway to the famous Cod Hole dive site. After our arrival, we boarded a dive boat for a 3-day expedition to different dive sites around the Great Barrier Reef, with the highlight being Cod Hole.
Cod Hole is renowned for its massive Potato Cod that interacts with divers. We encountered many kinds of fish, and the clear waters and vibrant coral gardens enhanced the overall experience. I am certified for open-water scuba diving, but there were also guided tours led by experienced dive instructors that provided insights into the marine ecosystem and ensured a safe and enjoyable underwater adventure. The whole trip offers a unique opportunity for up-close encounters with the marine inhabitants, creating lasting memories for enthusiasts of underwater exploration. There were also opportunities for snorkeling at each site we went to, which allowed you to see the amazing coral without having to get any certifications.
Cairns doesn’t only offer a chance to see the Great Barrier Reef; there is also the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest. A visit to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest in northeastern Australia offers a unique experience exploring ancient rainforests with diverse ecosystems. The region, designated a World Heritage Site in 1988, is known for its rich biodiversity, including rare and endemic species like the Southern Cassowary. I recommend taking a guided tour to see the landscapes and waterfalls, which are visually stunning. On the tour, they explain the significance of the Aboriginal people in the area and how they maintained the area. The Daintree Rainforest and Barron Gorge National Park are popular attractions to take a tour to see.
Another thing to look for when touring Cairns are the trips to the surrounding beaches and islands. Fitzroy Island is a stunning island near Cairns with crystal clear water and is a great place to snorkel. Nudey Beach on Fitzroy Island was voted the most beautiful beach in Australia in 2018.