Holiday up to Townsville/Cairns, need ideas.

[acarmody]

So basically in early March I am going on a holiday, now I've never been up North Queensland before, hell I've never been further than Caloundra, so I'm after some ideas.

Now I haven't got a huge amount of money to spend, but I can save up some more if I really like the idea. But really don't want to go over $1500

I'm not much of a sights/looks type person, I mainly like to do stuff, eg, driving for a few hours for a good lookout wouldn't really appeal to me. But stuff that is hands on really does appeal to me.

This is a basic run down of what I have planned so far.

Saturday 3rd, fly up to Townsville, get hotel room, watch first Cowboys game
Sunday 4th, go to aquarium or maritime museum, or both.
Monday 5th, rent car, go to Townsville zoo for half day, than drive up to Cairns, stopping at Ingham, Tully, Innisfail on the way.
Tuesday 6th, drive up to Port Douglas, mess around, come back to Cairns.
Wednesday 7th, go to Blazing Trails place, do half-day horse riding, half-day quad biking. Will have sore arse that night.
Thursday 8th, fly back to Townsville, where my brother will pick me up and take me into Greenvale for a week.

Now I was tossing up the idea of renting a 4x4 and doing the Bloomsfield Track (?), the coastal road from Cairns to Cooktown. Weather conditions permitting of course. Apparently the track is beautiful and not to hard for as 4x4 newb like myself, but can anyone comment on that?

Chuck up some ideas people, this will be my first real holiday in my life, so I want to make it memorable.

[Robbo_c]

Hey mate if you are going to Townsville you defiently have to go too magnetic island while you are there.Its a great place and theres lots of stuff to do over there.

[acarmody]

Actually another question, and I'm probably being a bit paranoid here.

If I'm going to be driving a fair bit, would it be worthwhile getting my hands on a half-decent UHF CB radio?

[dumpedvs]

Actually another question, and I'm probably being a bit paranoid here.

If I'm going to be driving a fair bit, would it be worthwhile getting my hands on a half-decent UHF CB radio?

If you are going to be 4x4 driving and going to places where there is no phone reception its probably a good idea, and to talk to other drivers if need be.
Or even better im pretty sure you can hire a sat phones, for a month at a time.

[VS 5.0]

Port Douglas is a beautiful place. Also gives good access to the Low Isles and the Great Barrier Reef...both good for snorkelling or diving if you have your ticket.

A ride on the Kuranda railway is pretty good...especially if Barron Falls are flowing.

Cruising up around Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the sea.

White water rafting on the Tully River is also a great day out.

[acarmody]

Ohhh White Water Rafting, going to look at that now.

[acarmody]

This look epic, Xtreme Tully River White Water Rafting - Mission Beach Australia with Raging Thunder Adventures

[VS 5.0]

That looks pretty much like what I did...mind you it was nearly 20 years ago....but either way it was a reasonably small group, BBQ lunch on the side of the river etc all the same and plenty of wicked rapids. You will be pretty tired after that day.

[acarmody]

That looks pretty much like what I did...mind you it was nearly 20 years ago....but either way it was a reasonably small group, BBQ lunch on the side of the river etc all the same and plenty of wicked rapids. You will be pretty tired after that day.

But fun as hell?

[VS 5.0]

But fun as hell?

Ooohhh yeah !!!

[Big_Simmo]

After a year in cairns id say...avoid the whole area )

Best thing about it is the road from cairns to port douglas, unless you get stuck behind one of the billion vic drivers doing 25-30km down the street

[VS 5.0]

Best thing about it is the road from cairns to port douglas...

That is a nice drive.

[acarmody]

After a year in cairns id say...avoid the whole area )

Best thing about it is the road from cairns to port douglas, unless you get stuck behind one of the billion vic drivers doing 25-30km down the street

Well I'm going to visit my brother in Greenvale, so I might as well make a holiday out of it, and frankly I've never been further north than the sunshine coast, so I would like to enjoy my probably only chance at North Qld.

What did you dislike about it?

That is a nice drive.

I'm hoping the 4x4 track from Cairns to Cooktown is even more beautiful.

[Ado]

Bloody hell,Townsville is humid mate.I just came back from there the other day.Im back up there in a week of two and then to Magnetic island in Feb.
I should be there now but i cracked the shit and came home
.

[Big_Simmo]

I just found cairns boring was all.
Beautiful place when its not humid as sin or raining so much that everything floods, Just watch out for tourists in the town centre as they do not look they just walk and expect you to avoid them no matter what

[Mk2]

There's a place in Mossman called Mojos and they do a ####ing killer deep fried brie with honey and walnut. Go there.

[acarmody]

I just found cairns boring was all.
Beautiful place when its not humid as sin or raining so much that everything floods, Just watch out for tourists in the town centre as they do not look they just walk and expect you to avoid them no matter what

Well I've done a preliminary itinerary and I have made sure its not boring, so heres hoping.

Saturday : Cowboys Match
Sunday: Aquarium, Maritime Museum
Monday: Zoo, drive up to Cairns
Tuesday: White water rafting
Wednesday: 4x4 driving
Thursday: Quaddie and horse riding
Friday: visit brother

I know Townsville and Cairns aren't the most exciting places in Australia, but I'm going to Townsville to visit my brother anyway.