HT Travel Blog

I’m convinced it’s impossible to not become hooked on Australia once you make the long trip across the Pacific to the Land Down Under. At least that’s what happened to me! I’ve been to Australia 3 times already and somehow I can never get enough. The highlight from my most recent trip? Cairns, located in tropical North Queensland.

The city itself is a starting point for countless adventures. After staying the night in a hostel and enjoying the nightlife that Cairns has to offer, the next morning I woke up and went on an 8-hour excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. The boat ride was only 1-hour long to the outer reef where I snorkeled, drank coffee and tea, had a delicious Australian BBQ lunch, and enjoyed the tropical heat and sunshine. Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket list item for so many people, and I can see why! Admiring the colorful coral, huge reefs, sharks, thousands of tropical fish, and even giant clams (yes, they’re a real thing!) is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

The next day of my Cairns trip, I went to the Sky Rail – a 7.5-kilometer tram that takes you to the village of Kuranda. Right after hopping on my individual tram, I was amazed at how dense and lush the tropical landscape was. This hour-long ride was full of waterfalls, wildlife, and a glimpse of the wetlands of tropical Australia. On the last 10 minutes or so of the trip, the astonishing Barron Falls comes into view. This 410 ft tall waterfall starts from the Atherton Tablelands and drops into the Cairns coastal plains, providing water and irrigation for sugarcane and other agricultural products. After spending a few hours browsing at local art galleries and sipping on ginger beer in Kuranda village, I took the Kuranda Railway back to Cairns. This iconic 2-hour long train ride takes you from Kuranda right to Cairns Central Station on a railroad built by early Australian pioneers. Viewing the jungle up close on such a historic train ride is something I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.