GETTING AROUND
- INDEX
- DESTINATIONS
- YOUR ITINERARY
- ACCOMMODATION
- THINGS TO DO
- TRANSPORT
- TOURS
- ATTRACTIONS
- WEDDING / HONEYMOON
- CAR HIRE
- DINING OUT
- BACKPACKERS
- INTERNET@CAFES
- EQUIPMENT HIRE
- MAPS and INFO
- SAFE TRAVEL
- LINKS
Don't worry, Cairns is the third most visited destination in Australia. Millions of visitors have been here before you, and we are well used to their need to 'get around'. Cairns itself is well serviced within the area by all forms of public transport, and there are a multitude of shuttlebus and tour companies, all ready to take you where you need to go. Of course, you can also take things into your own hands and rent a car! Hey, if you book your rental car through Cairns Unlimited, we'll even arrange to have you picked up from the airport or station when you get here!
ALL PRICES ON THIS PAGE ARE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS, AND ARE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF WRITING (DECEMBER 2007). PLEASE USE THE LINKS IN THE RIGHT COLUMN TO GO TO THE SECTION OF YOUR CHOICE.
GETTING AROUND TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
For the freedom and flexibility to explore the diverse beauty of Tropical North Queensland at your own pace during your vacation, we suggest renting your own vehicle. Please visit our CAIRNS CAR HIRE page, where you can fill out an obligation free enquiry form. We will get back to you - usually the next working day - with the best deal on a vehicle to suit your needs. We've included some useful maps on our MAPS AND INFORMATION page. And if you're coming from overseas, don't forget to check out our important information about DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
QUICK CAT CRUISES
Clump Point Jetty, Mission Beach
Phone (07) 4068 7289 / Fax (07) 4068 7185
www.quickcatcruises.com.au
Quick Cat Cruises offers boat transfers to Dunk Island from Clump Point Jetty, in Mission Beach, twice a day. The transfer takes about 20 minutes. They provide coach connections from Cairns Airport, Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. One way tickets vary from $21 from Mission Beach to $85 from Port Douglas. Kids pay 50% of adult fares. Private charters are also available upon request.
RESORT CONNECTIONS
Shingley Drive, Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach
Phone (07) 4946 4662 / Fax (07) 4946 4382
www.cruisewhitsundays.com
Resort Connections operates from the Abel Point Marina in Airlie Beach, providing regular services to Daydream, and Hamilton Island, as well as from Hamilton Island to Daydream Island and South Molle Island. For more details of prices and timetables, please visit the individual Whitsunday Islands pages.
SAVANNAH AVIATION
Phone (07) 4745 5177 / Fax (07) 4745 5211
Freecall 1800 455 445
www.savannah-aviation.com
Servicing North QLD and the Northern Territory!
Savannah Aviation offers charter flights to many destinations in the Outback and around North Queensland.
* Alice Springs * Tenant Creek * Burketown * Mornington Island * Doomadgee * Lawn Hill * Century Zinc Mine * Mt Isa * Camooweal * Normanton * Karumba * Katherine * Townsville * Cairns * Borroloola * Robinson River * Merlin Mine * Argyle Mine * Katherine * Darwin *
Savannah Aviation are also available for scenic flights over many of the magnificent sights of our Northern Outback and Gulf region.
CORAL REEF COACHES
35 Front Street, Mossman
Phone (07) 4098 2800 / Fax (07) 4098 1064
Tollfree 1300 781 404
www.coralreefcoaches.com
Connecting Tropical North Queensland!
Coral Reef Coaches provides daily transfers between Cairns, Port Douglas and Mossman, as well as airport transfers from Cairns to the Northern Beaches, Port Douglas and Mossman. They are also available for charters and group bookings.
Coral Reef Coaches is a locally owned company, providing an efficient, reliable service to all of their passengers with helpful, friendly staff in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles. The staff are personally committed to working together and continually improving their quality of service to meet the requirements of their customers.
For more information about Coral Reef Coaches schedule and limousine hire service, please visit their website.
AIR WHITSUNDAY
Whitsunday Airport, Airlie Beach (MAP)
Phone (07) 4946 9111 / Fax (07) 4946 9100
www.airwhitsunday.com.au
Experience the wonder of the Whitsundays!
Air Whitsunday are able to connect with all Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin flights entering or departing both Whitsunday Coast airport and Hamilton Island airport. With Air Whitsunday you will connect quickly to your island destination without wasting time... The aircraft are "amphibious" allowing them to land on runways and water.
Transfers are available to / from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Hamilton Island, Whitsunday Coast Airport, Whitsunday Airport, Hayman Island, Long Island, Club Med Lindeman Island and Brampton Island. Transfer prices are per aircraft, one way. Air Whitsunday can also transfer you straight from your domestic flight to your chartered yacht or vice versa.
SKYTRANS
Tollfree 1800 818 405
www.skytrans.com.au
Connecting Queensland!
Skytrans operates scheduled routes which service regional North Queensland extensively. In fact, Skytrans pride themselves on providing professional aviation services to some of the most remote parts of Australia. Skytrans are constantly expanding the routes offered with the company’s primary vision being to connect Queensland, specifically regional Queensland. Their fleet connects Cairns and Townsville with Karumba, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and also Cooktown and destinations around Cape York Peninsula.
Skytrans is also one of the most experienced charter airlines in Australia. Planes can be chartered for a range of uses from commercial to recreational, including fishing adventures, film crews, passenger transport for group bookings and birdwatching.
SKYSAFARI
Phone (07) 4099 3666 / Fax (07) 4099 1669
www.skysafari.com.au
Airport Transfers and Private Aircraft Charters!
Private Aircraft Charters (3 and 4 passenger helicopters and 5 passenger aeroplanes) are available for your exclusive use to your nominated destinations.
Suggestions: Helicopter ex Port Douglas, Palm Cove, Cairns to: Cooktown, Dunk Island, Hinchinbrook Island, Chillagoe, Laura and Mount Mulligan. Aeroplane ex Cairns to: Karumba, Weipa, Lizard Island, Bamaga, Undara, Tully, Townsville.
Airport Transfers: Reduce your need to compete with the populous. Allow yourself to be delivered in style and experience a door to door journey over one of the most outstandingly beautiful and idyllic locations on earth.
Cairns to/from Port Douglas direct - Flight time approx 20 min.
Cairns to/from Palm Cove direct - Flight time approx 10 min.
Would like a little more? Upgrade your Airport Transfer to enjoy an extended scenic flight or delight in an Air Tour, via the Great Barrier Reef, the Wet Tropics Rainforest, rthe outback, or even take in a Sand Cay Experience.
THE SAVANNAHLANDER
Phone (07) 4053 6848 / Fax (07) 4053 6818
Tollfree 1800 793 848
www.savannahlander.com.au
The Outback rail experience!
The Savannahlander is a unique way to see Australia's outback. Once a week the classic 1960's rail motors head out from Cairns on their 4 day, 850km return trip to Forsayth. For much of the journey the Savannahlander has the railway line to itself and this allows passengers to experience a type of train travel that most won't have come across before. Want the driver to stop so you can take a photo? Just ask! The Savannahlander stops overnight in three different outback towns, Almaden (Chillagoe), Mount Surprise and Forsayth, each offering the traveller something different. Where to stay overnight? There are many options from the inexpensive to the not-so inexpensive. There are side trips to be done too. You can take a tour of the famous Chillagoe caves, take a tube tour at Undara or see the spectacular Cobbold Gorge.
Qantas connects Cairns with a number of Tropical North Queensland destinations, such as Townsville, Mackay and Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. The company runs at least one flight per day from Mackay and Townsville and a daily flight from Hamilton Island.
Macair is the leading regional airline, connecting the Northern Outback with the East Coast. Macair flies from Cairns to Normanton, and from Townsville to destinations such as Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, and Hughenden, with connecting flights between many outback centres. For more details, please choose your outback destination in our NORTHERN OUTBACK section.
Greyhound buses ply the popular Brisbane to Cairns route up to five times a day, stopping at most points along the way. Greyhound also connects the east coast with the Northern Outback, travelling daily from Townsville via Charters Towers, Cloncurry and Mount Isa, to Tenant Creek in the Northern Territory. A Greyhound 'bus pass' will give you the flexibilty to stop off at interesting destinations along the way.
The innovative and comfortable 'Tilt Train' sweeps up the east coast from Brisbane twice a week, leaving Brisbane Mondays and Fridays at 6:25pm.
After more than 24 hours journey, the train gets into Cairns at 7:20pm Tuesdays and Saturdays
The classic 'Sunlander' plies the route three times a week. If you want to try the exclusive luxury experience in the 'Queenslander Class', note that Queenslander Class is only available on Sundays and Thursdays northbound, and Tuesdays and Saturdays southbound.
SUN PALM EXPRESS
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AERO TROPICS
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GETTING AROUND CAIRNS
Most Cairns hotels and hostels, including Cairns backpackers hostels, offer a pick up service from the airport. Book your Cairns holiday accommodation through Cairns Unlimited and forget any other hassle. We will get back to you right away with all the details about your hotel as well as the pick up service.
The local taxi company is Black and White taxis. Taxi fares in Queensland are regulated by the government, and a trip from the airport to the city should be no more than $15. But hey, book your Cairns holiday accommodation or Cairns rental car through Cairns Unlimited, and that's fifteen bucks we could save you! While you're in town, phone 131 008 to book a taxi.
Sunbus is the local bus company servicing Cairns city, suburbs and northern beaches. They run a dozen or so different routes around the city and operate a 'Hail and Ride' system. You can find a Sunbus route map and timetables of their services on their website.
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Or maybe you're feeling energetic. How would you fancy seeing the sights of Cairns by bicycle? Well, surprise, surprise! Cairns Unlimited can even help you there. That's right; we've got a fleet of bikes for hire, from little girls' tricycles, to ladies bikes and rugged mountain bikes. Our rates are unbeatable, and all our bicycles are kept in tip top condition. To view the range of products that are available for hire, please visit our HOLIDAY EQUIPMENT HIRE page.
