Where to stay in Cairns area?

Anyone any suggestions about where to stay in the Cairns/ Port Douglas area as the plans I'd made have been thwarted?
I had booked a 5 night stay in August at the Mandalay in Port Douglas but have now received an e-mail advising they are fully booked and will be refunding my deposit[:(!].I particularly wanted to stay at Mandalay due to the great reviews.All advice and pointers gratefully received.
Thanks
Julie

[honey lamb]

I stayed in the Sheraton Mirage Hotel in Port Douglas. I wrote this review of it and other hotels on our trip to Australia which you might find helpful

[HighFlyer]

I also stayed at the Sheraton Mirage in 2005 and was very happy with the resort! It isnt the most luxurious hotel but i had a large suite overlooking the beach which was more than enough for me, and found the hotel staff very accommodating. It is a trek from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas but well worth it when you get to walk on the sandy beach each morning.

Thanks,
Sarah

sorry I stayed in a hostel when I was in cairns, but if you're interested... [:p]

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I also stayed at the Sheraton Mirage in 2005 and was very happy with the resort! It isnt the most luxurious hotel but i had a large suite overlooking the beach which was more than enough for me, and found the hotel staff very accommodating. It is a trek from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas but well worth it when you get to walk on the sandy beach each morning.

Thanks,
Sarah

Actually, I didn't highlight that in my report. The setting was very good - straight on to the beach. We didn't have a beach view but the garden view was also great. The lobby area and the breakfast area were bright and airy and as I said before, the breakfast buffet was the best I had seen. The Guest Services department were excellent and very knowledgeable.

If you stay in Port Douglas I would recommend a Quicksilver trip to the Outer Reef

I stayed in a hostel as well- a very nice one with all the luxuries--IMHO Cairns is very much geared for the backpacker rather than your hotel lover.

Port Douglas on the other hand is more for the hotel lover- when I worked in NZ it was a popular place for families to go on holiday and Air NZ have a large section of hotels sold thru their travel agents. Although as Honey points out it is a mission from CNS to PD- remember CNS is nothing more than a medium sized town.

We've been thinking about a trip to Port Douglas
in June, at the moment the sea temple resort and
spa is at the top of our list of places to try
and get booked into.


robert

When I went to the Cairns area 2 years ago, we stayed at Palm Cove, about 25 minutes north of Cairns. Stayed in a family run hotel called "Paradise on the Beach" - it was great.

Palm Cove is a small village, and is very beautiful indeed. You are not far from Port Douglas either, if you want to do some Scuba diving etc.

If you do go there, the Pizza place is just ace!

Mark

Originally posted by mark my words
When I went to the Cairns area 2 years ago, we stayed at Palm Cove, about 25 minutes north of Cairns. Stayed in a family run hotel called "Paradise on the Beach" - it was great.

Palm Cove is a small village, and is very beautiful indeed. You are not far from Port Douglas either, if you want to do some Scuba diving etc.

If you do go there, the Pizza place is just ace!

Mark

Got to agree with Mark, Palm Cove is beautiful. Decker and I stayed in the Marriott there a few years ago.

We had a wonderful time in the area. Loved the Rain Forest,the Kuranda Railway and the Wetlands. Decker enjoyed the diving and I had fun snorkelling.

Mrs D

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by BelfastFlyer
sorry I stayed in a hostel when I was in cairns, but if you're interested... [:p]

Which one?

Thanks for all the suggestions. Having explored a private villa rental we've now booked a 2 bed apartment at Reflections. This seems to be fairly near the village centre so we won't need to use the car much in the evenings. We plan to do Kuranda but don't know whether to book an excursion or "do it ourselves" (I have a hatred of being herded). The reef thing is abit of a quandry too - big or small operator (want to dive and snorkel)? Are the Low Isles also worth a trip?
Plan to visit Palm Cove and Cairns at some point too. DB wants to see koalas and kagaroos. Anywhere local that anyone can recommend?
Thanks
Julie

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Thanks for all the suggestions. Having explored a private villa rental we've now booked a 2 bed apartment at Reflections. This seems to be fairly near the village centre so we won't need to use the car much in the evenings. We plan to do Kuranda but don't know whether to book an excursion or "do it ourselves" (I have a hatred of being herded). The reef thing is abit of a quandry too - big or small operator (want to dive and snorkel)? Are the Low Isles also worth a trip?
Plan to visit Palm Cove and Cairns at some point too. DB wants to see koalas and kagaroos. Anywhere local that anyone can recommend?
Thanks
Julie

There is a wildlife park at the entrance to Port Douglas. I can't remember its name but you can be photographed with koalas and feed kangaroos. The kangaroos are so tame they come up to you when they see the bag of feed in your hands - they must all be male [:w]

[HighFlyer]

I know the park you are thinking of but cant recall the name, i'll look it up when i am back home. Its not far from Kuranda either, a short walk from the cable car and village. You can cuddle the Koalas and feed the Kangaroos - many of whom are definately boys! I'll dig some pictures out for DragonBaby!

You can do Kuranda yourself, i did. I cant stand organised tours either so i just got a map from the concierge and headed off myself.

Thanks,
Sarah

[Decker]

and you can eat the kangaroos... yummmm

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I know the park you are thinking of but cant recall the name, i'll look it up when i am back home. Its not far from Kuranda either, a short walk from the cable car and village. You can cuddle the Koalas and feed the Kangaroos - many of whom are definately boys! I'll dig some pictures out for DragonBaby!

You can do Kuranda yourself, i did. I cant stand organised tours either so i just got a map from the concierge and headed off myself.

Thanks,
Sarah

That would be great Sarah. Thanks.

Originally posted by Decker
and you can eat the kangaroos... yummmm

Um, I think we will pass on that one. This is a holiday not a Bush Tucker Trial!

[Decker]

Kangaroo is quite tasty DB (Kangaroo meat is tender, very high in protein, low in cholesterol (less than 2% fat)) as is Crocodile see here for other exotic meats. Funny thing is with kangas they're virtually seen as vermin so they try and make maxiumum possible use of them. So in addition to eating them you can buy kangaroo paw back scratchers and other assorted goods. .

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by Decker
So in addition to eating them you can buy kangaroo paw back scratchers and other assorted goods. .

Ah, yes! A bottle opener made from kangaroo's testicles was on the top of Aer John's shopping list [ii]

Originally posted by DragonBaby

Originally posted by Decker
and you can eat the kangaroos... yummmm

Um, I think we will pass on that one. This is a holiday not a Bush Tucker Trial!

I had a Kangaroo steak in Palm Cove, it was gorgeous. Just like a piece of lean steak. Had a nice redcurrant sauce to go with it. It's not bush tucker at all.

Enjoy your time there, you will love it.

Mark

[Decker]

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by Decker
So in addition to eating them you can buy kangaroo paw back scratchers and other assorted goods. .

Ah, yes! A bottle opener made from kangaroo's testicles was on the top of Aer John's shopping list [ii]

Was unsure of DBs age so didn't mention the wallets

Originally posted by Decker

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by Decker
So in addition to eating them you can buy kangaroo paw back scratchers and other assorted goods. .

Ah, yes! A bottle opener made from kangaroo's testicles was on the top of Aer John's shopping list [ii]

Was unsure of DBs age so didn't mention the wallets

DB is 14 (going on 34)- are the wallets as unmentionable as Aer John's bottle opener??[:0](they can't be something worse surely?).

[Decker]

Nah same materials - standard joke - rub them they become a handbag...

[HighFlyer]

Julie & Becca,

This is one of the places i visited in Port Douglas to see Koalas and Kangaroos; The Rainforest Habitat

It's quite well done there, very natural habitat for the animals, and you can buy bags of food (pellets) to hand feed the animals, including Kangaroos. There are several species there from Grey to Red kangas. You can spend as much time as you like with the Kangas in a large open space, and they will come up to you for food as soon as they see the pellet bag. Some of the large Red kangas are quite intimidating as they are rather tall. The Koalas there are quite carefully guarded and you can visit them at certain times for a photo opportunity - get there early as there will be hoards of children queuing.

Alternatively, when you are in Kuranda head to Kuranda Koala Gardens. You can actually hold and cuddle the Koalas there (for a limited time as they get stressed easily). I didnt want to hand mine back. Some of the Koalas have/had babies there, and you can see them and learn about them. The Koala Gardens also have Kangas and other animals, but the park isnt as well done as the Rainforest Habitat.

Hope that helps?

Thanks,
Sarah

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Julie & Becca,

This is one of the places i visited in Port Douglas to see Koalas and Kangaroos; The Rainforest Habitat

It's quite well done there, very natural habitat for the animals, and you can buy bags of food (pellets) to hand feed the animals, including Kangaroos. There are several species there from Grey to Red kangas. You can spend as much time as you like with the Kangas in a large open space, and they will come up to you for food as soon as they see the pellet bag. Some of the large Red kangas are quite intimidating as they are rather tall. The Koalas there are quite carefully guarded and you can visit them at certain times for a photo opportunity - get there early as there will be hoards of children queuing.



Thanks,
Sarah

Yep! That's the place I was thinking of. It's very good

Hi

We stayed at the Bay Villas Resort,apartments in 2003, which we found very good. Within walking distance of Macrossan Street and the beach. From my recollection most of the larger hotels were not within walking distance - although a shuttle bus ran around the village - I think.

Kuranda itself has to be the worst place I have been to in Oz. We did a cable car up and train down trip from PD and the couple of hours in Kuranda was awful - nothing but tourist shops selling rubbish. However can thoroughly recommend the cable car and train.

For flora & fauna we did a trip up to Cape Tribulation spectacular scenery and lost of f & f. It should be bourne in mind a rainforest is so called because it rains a lot - something that escaped a couple on the trip who persistently whined about being wet.

As far as the wildlife goes - and understand that I despise zoos etc - the only way to see koalas is in their natural habitat. Down here in Victoria (and I didn't know there were koalas here until I moved here) they can be seen up in the trees from the side of the road - sleeping generally! Something my mother found irrestible and had to keeping stopping for pics whenever they were spotted. Although it is an offence to disturb them. And I have to admit a far superior experience than the zoo etc experience. The same be said for the kangaroos - but mainly around dusk - although they, like rabbits, get startled by the headlights at night and just stand motionless in the road. From experience bearing down on a 5ft kangaroo is an extremely alarming event when it happens - although with good brakes and luck that no one was coming in the other direction and all was well.

Hope that helps and enjoy this marvellous country.

Rob