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Family Friendly Great Tour Options For Families with Young Children
From
$99.00
Per Person
$99.00
Per Person
Fitzroy Sea Kayaking is a tour that allows you to Kayak around the stunning and tropical Fitzroy Island. Stop for lunch and some snorkelling at little Fitzroy. This day trip departs daily from Cairns.
From
$63.00
Per Person
$63.00
Per Person
Fitzroy Island is one of 600 "Continental" or "High" islands on the Great Barrier Reef which means it used to be part of the mainland before rising waters separated this tranquil paradise.
From
$108.00
Per Person
$108.00
Per Person
The Barron River is perfect for anyone who has never tried White Water Rafting or those looking for an afternoon of fun and excitement close to Cairns.
From
$160.00
Per Person
$160.00
Per Person
Enjoy the Best the Daintree Cape Tribulation and Bloomfield Track has to offer in one of our custom built 4WD vehicles (max 14 people). A Total Rainforest Experience! Longest established company to Cape Tribulation 28 years and also advanced Eco Accredited.
From
$160.00
Per Person
$160.00
Per Person
Join us for a small personalised tour to Chillagoe Caves & Outback tour includes cruise & Mareeba Wetlands, Outback historical towns, Chillagoe Smelters, Guided Chillagoe Caves Tour, delicious Aussie pub lunch, Australian Coffee Centre and see amazing wildlife.
From
$209.00
Per Person
$209.00
Per Person
If you are into history, botany, adventure, getting away from it all, seeing the rainforest and the outback, or 4 wheel driving then this is the trip for you. Our North Queensland tours to Cooktown depart from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas
From
$190.00
Per Person
$190.00
Per Person
Hot Air's balloons fly daily from Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Yungaburra, Trinity Beach, Cairns Beaches and the Atherton Tablelands.
From
$69.00
Per Person
$69.00
Per Person
Transfer to the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda for three attractions: Army Duck Rainforest Tour on land and water, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience with Dance Performance and Dreamtime Walk, and Koala & Wildlife Park. Free time in Kuranda Village before returning to Cairns.
From
$105.00
Per Person
$105.00
Per Person
Native bush & rainforest surroundings provide adventurous trails & also many native wildlife. Spectacular views over the tablelands provide wonderful memories. Tours include courtesy coach transfers from all hotels in Cairns and the Northern Beaches, meals and safety equipment.
From
$44.00
Per Person
$44.00
Per Person
Palm Cove is a seaside village situated 25 minutes drive north of Cairns City Centre and 45 minutes drive south of Port Douglas. Palm Cove Watersports offer Half Day Sea Kayaking Tours around Double Island and watersports hire from Palm Cove Beach
From
$93.00
Per Person
$93.00
Per Person
Kuranda in a Day! is an unguided budget tour option which combines the famous Scenic Rail and Skyrail Cableway into a relaxing scenic day trip.
From
$105.00
Per Person
$105.00
Per Person
The scenery of the Cairns Southern Tropical Highlands will astound and invigorate your senses.
From
$149.00
$149.00
From Cairns, we begin our day as we ascend the Hinterland Mountain region to the Atherton Tablelands and into the first of our World Heritage National Parks at 2400 feet above sea-level (800M). Here we enjoy morning tea in the tranquility of the rainforest on the edge of an Volcanic Crater Lake....
Results: 1 - 13 of 13
- About Family Friendly for Cairns
Mother Nature has provided us with the perfect playground for family fun and the list of things to do is endless...
When you are in North Queensland make sure you go out to the Great Barrier Reef. Ideally the Outer Reef is the best place to visit however if you have small babies you may prefer to spend time on an island.
Low Isles has some lovely coral gardens around it and a glass bottom boat tour. This tour departs from Marina Mirage in Port Douglas but does offer pickups from Cairns hotels.
Michaelmas Cay is also a very pretty little cay and offers a semi submarine tour included.
Green Island is the most visited island and is a very pretty little coral cay with many facilities. There are glass bottom boat tours here also.
If your kids are able to swim and want to try snorkelling head out to the Outer Reef. The Outer Reef is home to an enormous variety of tropical fish and colourful coral and there are pontoon trips that make your day more comfortable. These have underwater observatories, semi submarine tours, glass bottom boats and many floatations devices. The number and style of Outer Reef trips is very broad and makes it possible for families in all budgets to access this amazing area. Many operators offer special family discounts.
There are many very pretty little escapes to take the children in a car from Cairns for an afternoon or morning.
A 15 minute drive from Cairns city is Crystal Cascades. This is a beautiful water with many areas where you can sit in the dappled rainforest sunshine on a warm rock and occassionally immerse your self in the freezing rainforest waters. It is beautiful and refreshing. The waters rise and fall with the seasons subject to the rain but are always running. This could be an easy afternoon trip.
A 15 minute drive from Cairns city is also Lake Placid. Lake Placid has some jumps from rocks in the lake below that is very popular. It is a more populated and not as serene area to visit but is popular for kayaking and having a big swim as opposed to just sitting in a natural waterfall taking in the surroundings.
The Cairns Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes is also a lovely place to visit. It is free entry and there are many beautiful gardens with bridges and walkways and flowers to look at with the Botanical Gardens. There is also a cafe here open for breakfast, morning and afternoon tea and lunch. There is parkland and boardwalks and a playground at the Centenary Lakes. There are also free council BBQ's here and it is an easy spot to enjoy.
A very pretty drive is to head up to Lake Morris. This is about 35 minutes driving to get here through a narrow and winding road and you will see the Cairns Water Reserve which sits at the top of the mountains behind the city. The drive gives you some lovely views over the city and you feel the temperature change as you climb up and through the rainforest. This is a very popular ride for bike riders so please drive very carefully at any time of the day. There is a little bit of loose gravel on the road and it is not a highway so take care. At the top there is a wonderful view that really does look like a feature film and a sweet little cafe where you can order a devonshire tea. There is also a small childrens playground and a free BBQ facility. This is a very easy afternoon drive and enjoyable for all.
Most people take the Train and Skyrail to Kuranda as getting there is 90% of the fun. However, Kuranda is a very pretty little village and it is only a 30 minute drive from Cairns city. The village has many cafes and attractions and if your budget does not allow for the train and skyrail or you do not have the time to do the whole day it is a very nice drive with lovely views over the city. Locals sometimes pop up for breakfast and buy gifts in the local shops here. Artists have been drawn to this area and Kuranda has a stimulating artistic community. There are parks and playgrounds and this is a very family friendly destination. Some of the photographic art stores feature dramatic shots of nature that everybody can enjoy.
If it's a windy afternoon take the teenagers out to Yorkeys Knob. We have a passionate kite-surfing community in Cairns and windy afternoons become a festival of colourful kites at Yorkeys Knob only a 15 minute drive north of the city.
Or, if you prefer a coffee to soak up paradise drive to Palm Cove only a 30 minute drive north of the city. Palm Cove Watersports hire out kayaks and other wind blown water toys if you want to get out amoungst it. The Angsana has a superb absolute beachfront restaurant and bar called Far Horizons where you can enjoy the most perfect tropical setting while the children have a little frolic on the beach in front with no road inbetween. There is a surf lifesaving club here.
Go a little further and head up to Ellis Beach. Ellis Beach does not have a bus service from Cairns so you will definitely need a car. There is a very popular caravan park here and the beach itself is excellent. When you are swimming in the ocean here you look straight up to the enormous high mountains directly behind the beach and it is a picture of perfect paradise. Ellis Beach has a cafe where you can order a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is not upmarket and sometimes has bands playing on a Sunday afternoon. There is also a surf lifesaving club out here.
Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and Yorkeys Knob all have swing parks for kids and free council BBQ's. These beaches are also great swimming beaches. Another very popular pastime is to throw in a line. The kids love to have a fish and sometimes they may even catch something. At Trinity Beach there is a rocky walk with many interesting crabs and shells and water pools to look at.
Holloways Beach is only a 10 minute drive from the city and has a beachy bohemian rustic cafe with good hearty food and a very child friendly atmosphere. You could pop out here for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. It's all alfresco under the trees and is fine at any time of the day. Holloways Beach is a local community that has not yet been developed by tourism.
A day driving on the Tablelands includes visits to popular and pretty sites such as :
* Taking photos at the Curtain Fig Tree
* Looking at the platypus in the river near Yungaburra
* A visit to Lake Eacham and a swim and possibly a BBQ or just a lay down on the grass
* A visit to Lake Barrine for a little lake boat cruise and a Devonshire Tea
* A wander around the village of Yungaburra
* A visit to the Tinarro Dam Wall
* Visiting the excellent display of gems and crystals and stones in general at the Gem Museum in Mareeba
* Taking a photo of the superb Milla Milla falls
* Enjoying a meal or afternoon tea at the Mungali Organic Dairy
* Visiting a coffee plantation and picking up some supplies
* Visiting a cellar door winery or distillery and having a tour
* Keep an eye out for roadside stalls and farm gate sales as you drive around
* We generally have strawberries, roses, gerbera's, tropical fruit and bananas etc;
If you are staying overnight we have a Drive in movie theatre on weekends at Mareeba.
When you are in North Queensland make sure you go out to the Great Barrier Reef. Ideally the Outer Reef is the best place to visit however if you have small babies you may prefer to spend time on an island.
Low Isles has some lovely coral gardens around it and a glass bottom boat tour. This tour departs from Marina Mirage in Port Douglas but does offer pickups from Cairns hotels.
Michaelmas Cay is also a very pretty little cay and offers a semi submarine tour included.
Green Island is the most visited island and is a very pretty little coral cay with many facilities. There are glass bottom boat tours here also.
If your kids are able to swim and want to try snorkelling head out to the Outer Reef. The Outer Reef is home to an enormous variety of tropical fish and colourful coral and there are pontoon trips that make your day more comfortable. These have underwater observatories, semi submarine tours, glass bottom boats and many floatations devices. The number and style of Outer Reef trips is very broad and makes it possible for families in all budgets to access this amazing area. Many operators offer special family discounts.
White Water Rafting is a very popular activity in North Queensland and we have a couple of excellent rivers for this activity. This activity can be very challenging and there are age and height restrictions on the Tully and Russel Rivers but the Barron River is very easy and fun for the whole family.
We also have many Wildlife Parks and attractions such as dining next to the lions cage at the Mareeba Zoo or having breakfast with the Birds at Rainforest Habitat or lunch with the Lorikeets. Dinner is offered at the Cairns Tropical Zoo where you also have some bush songs and see a croc show. Some zoo's have facilities to have a family BBQ and all of them have a cafe or restaurant. Some are huge free flying aviary for birds or butterflys while others are traditional sprawling zoos with many dangerous animals in enormous componds, and generally all put on feeding shows. It is also often possible to have a photo taken with fluffy friendly animals such as koalas which is a very memorable experience.
Other very popular activities for families who are trying to fit as much as possible into their time frame are Parasailing, Jetskiing, Bumper Tube Riding, Cableskiing, Skydiving and Bungy jumping. It is possible to participate in some of these varied options at different times over the course of any day.
Conquer your fear of heights at the AJ Hackett Bungy Jump in Smithfield. They will come and pick you up and spectators can come too for a very small cost. There are 16 different ways to leap off the 50-metre bungy tower whether you decide to have a prop such as a bicycle, leap into the air blind-folded or dive off head-first on a moonlit night. This activity is suitable for children aged 10 and over.
Blazing Saddles have a 1200-hectare cattle station where you can ride the ATV QUAD BIKE through sheep and cattle paddocks, splashing through rivers and doing jumps. It is also possible to take the Extreme terrain options for those who like a challenge. The guided tours include safety briefings and groups are divided up to cater for all abilities. It is great fun in all weather types including rain. This activity is suitable for children aged 12 years and over.
If the children are too young for Quad Bikes how about Horseriding? This is a suitable activity for children 4 years and older and is also possible to enjoy at the same property. You do not need any experience for Horseriding.
Thunderbolt snorkel tours have a turbo-charged, combination aluminium hull and inflatable speedboat. This is the fastest and only JET BOAT tour operating out of Cairns that gets you to your snorkel site on the inner reef in only 30 minutes. Speeding through the sea at 70kmh giving you time to enjoy four hours of snorkelling. Children over 120 cm tall can participate.
Cable Ski Cairns is a relatively new attraction to Cairns and is very popular with tourists and locals. This purpose built lake is one of only three such water parks in the country. Waterskiers, wakeboarders and kneeboarders speed around the lake attached to a 10 metre-high cable system that drags them at speed in sweeping circles. Basic instruction is included and all are welcome. Special equipment is available for children.
One of our local Cairns Beaches, "Yorkeys Knob" is a great location for kite-surfing and has developed a huge following for this sport with many passionate kite-surfers showing off all weekend. Make sure you visit Yorkeys Knob on a windy weekend afternoon to see the spectacular colours and amazing tricks. Yorkeys Knob is the perfect beach as it receives constant SE tradewinds during the winter months from April - October.
If you are interested in learning how it is done Chris who owns Kite Rite can teach you how to kite surf safely. It is possible to do a 2 day course and learn how to be safe and in control over the 10 hour certificate course. This can be done at your own pace if you have more time. Chris also has a license to take people kiting on the Great Barrier Reef. Improve your strength and get a real buzz on the water in Cairns. This activity is not suitable for young children.
If you are interested in learning how it is done Chris who owns Kite Rite can teach you how to kite surf safely. It is possible to do a 2 day course and learn how to be safe and in control over the 10 hour certificate course. This can be done at your own pace if you have more time. Chris also has a license to take people kiting on the Great Barrier Reef. Improve your strength and get a real buzz on the water in Cairns. This activity is not suitable for young children.
There are many very pretty little escapes to take the children in a car from Cairns for an afternoon or morning.
A 15 minute drive from Cairns city is Crystal Cascades. This is a beautiful water with many areas where you can sit in the dappled rainforest sunshine on a warm rock and occassionally immerse your self in the freezing rainforest waters. It is beautiful and refreshing. The waters rise and fall with the seasons subject to the rain but are always running. This could be an easy afternoon trip.
A 15 minute drive from Cairns city is also Lake Placid. Lake Placid has some jumps from rocks in the lake below that is very popular. It is a more populated and not as serene area to visit but is popular for kayaking and having a big swim as opposed to just sitting in a natural waterfall taking in the surroundings.
The Cairns Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes is also a lovely place to visit. It is free entry and there are many beautiful gardens with bridges and walkways and flowers to look at with the Botanical Gardens. There is also a cafe here open for breakfast, morning and afternoon tea and lunch. There is parkland and boardwalks and a playground at the Centenary Lakes. There are also free council BBQ's here and it is an easy spot to enjoy.
A very pretty drive is to head up to Lake Morris. This is about 35 minutes driving to get here through a narrow and winding road and you will see the Cairns Water Reserve which sits at the top of the mountains behind the city. The drive gives you some lovely views over the city and you feel the temperature change as you climb up and through the rainforest. This is a very popular ride for bike riders so please drive very carefully at any time of the day. There is a little bit of loose gravel on the road and it is not a highway so take care. At the top there is a wonderful view that really does look like a feature film and a sweet little cafe where you can order a devonshire tea. There is also a small childrens playground and a free BBQ facility. This is a very easy afternoon drive and enjoyable for all.
Most people take the Train and Skyrail to Kuranda as getting there is 90% of the fun. However, Kuranda is a very pretty little village and it is only a 30 minute drive from Cairns city. The village has many cafes and attractions and if your budget does not allow for the train and skyrail or you do not have the time to do the whole day it is a very nice drive with lovely views over the city. Locals sometimes pop up for breakfast and buy gifts in the local shops here. Artists have been drawn to this area and Kuranda has a stimulating artistic community. There are parks and playgrounds and this is a very family friendly destination. Some of the photographic art stores feature dramatic shots of nature that everybody can enjoy.
If it's a windy afternoon take the teenagers out to Yorkeys Knob. We have a passionate kite-surfing community in Cairns and windy afternoons become a festival of colourful kites at Yorkeys Knob only a 15 minute drive north of the city.
Or, if you prefer a coffee to soak up paradise drive to Palm Cove only a 30 minute drive north of the city. Palm Cove Watersports hire out kayaks and other wind blown water toys if you want to get out amoungst it. The Angsana has a superb absolute beachfront restaurant and bar called Far Horizons where you can enjoy the most perfect tropical setting while the children have a little frolic on the beach in front with no road inbetween. There is a surf lifesaving club here.
Go a little further and head up to Ellis Beach. Ellis Beach does not have a bus service from Cairns so you will definitely need a car. There is a very popular caravan park here and the beach itself is excellent. When you are swimming in the ocean here you look straight up to the enormous high mountains directly behind the beach and it is a picture of perfect paradise. Ellis Beach has a cafe where you can order a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is not upmarket and sometimes has bands playing on a Sunday afternoon. There is also a surf lifesaving club out here.
Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and Yorkeys Knob all have swing parks for kids and free council BBQ's. These beaches are also great swimming beaches. Another very popular pastime is to throw in a line. The kids love to have a fish and sometimes they may even catch something. At Trinity Beach there is a rocky walk with many interesting crabs and shells and water pools to look at.
Holloways Beach is only a 10 minute drive from the city and has a beachy bohemian rustic cafe with good hearty food and a very child friendly atmosphere. You could pop out here for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. It's all alfresco under the trees and is fine at any time of the day. Holloways Beach is a local community that has not yet been developed by tourism.
A day driving on the Tablelands includes visits to popular and pretty sites such as :
* Taking photos at the Curtain Fig Tree
* Looking at the platypus in the river near Yungaburra
* A visit to Lake Eacham and a swim and possibly a BBQ or just a lay down on the grass
* A visit to Lake Barrine for a little lake boat cruise and a Devonshire Tea
* A wander around the village of Yungaburra
* A visit to the Tinarro Dam Wall
* Visiting the excellent display of gems and crystals and stones in general at the Gem Museum in Mareeba
* Taking a photo of the superb Milla Milla falls
* Enjoying a meal or afternoon tea at the Mungali Organic Dairy
* Visiting a coffee plantation and picking up some supplies
* Visiting a cellar door winery or distillery and having a tour
* Keep an eye out for roadside stalls and farm gate sales as you drive around
* We generally have strawberries, roses, gerbera's, tropical fruit and bananas etc;
If you are staying overnight we have a Drive in movie theatre on weekends at Mareeba.
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