From the cool swimming lagoon to the mountainous rainforest, Cairns has been an absolute pleasure. When we set off on the road in December 2020, we were worried about not being able to adjust as a family with kids and thought it would be difficult to constantly try to keep the kids entertained. They’re kids, they’ll get bored, so it was up to us to create a road trip where not only us adults, but our kids would have fun too. Traveling to Cairns, a gorgeous but underrated region, our plan was simple: go everywhere kid-friendly. Pleasantly, Cairns had a lot of places that kept our three munchkins engaged, and Andrew and I were able to have little moments to ourselves too.
Of course, the first thing we did was, planned where we were going to stay in Cairns. We decided on the Coconut Cairns Ingenia Holiday Park because it has generous-sized caravan sites, and we liked the idea of being somewhere the kids could enjoy themselves while we catch up on some jobs and got ourselves ready to travel to the tip. It’s also a safe spot; we were able to go many places with the caravan parked right there. The Coconut Ingenia Holiday Park turned out to be a blast; the 18 Hole Mini Golf course was up to par (see what we did there?) The Garden Pool was perfect for a lazy day-we just laid on the sunbeds while the kids played Marco Polo in the pool. The Park has tons of family-friendly activities; there’s the Kids Adventure Land, crafted specifically to amuse kids, the Splash Water Park, which cools you off on a thong melting day, and the Sun Lagoon Pool is a family adventure waiting to happen.
Even though the Park is a great place, we couldn’t let the opportunity to explore stop us. So, we made our way to Foreshore Lagoon at Trinity Beach, which gave us many Instagrammable clicks. The sparkling blue water and pearl-like sand truly looks like a paradise, but the best part was having to walk across the natural heaven and experience a romantic ambiance. The kids weren’t fussy either; the weather was pretty cool, and the calm shores called for a good day making sandcastles on the beach. Thankfully, there were public toilets on the beach, so we didn’t have to worry about bathroom breaks.
We decided to try Muddies Cafe, and it was probably one of the best decisions we’ve made. The food quality was impossible to disappoint, and the kid-friendly menu was a delight; burgers, fries, nuggets, tacos, chips, and fish were just some of the options. Their breakfast and drink menu were impressive too. And they all came at reasonable prices!
Having heard a lot about Kuranda Markets, you bet we made our way there. We took the camper and made the short drive to the rainforest market. What we saw there blew our minds. Dainty little stalls and shops lined together with colorful displays caught our eyes from far; even the kids were attracted. The ethereal, green rainforest added a certain “oomph”, and the locals were all lovely. Weexplored the market while chewing on some macadamia nuts. It was a classic Australian experience.
Being adventure lovers, we were waiting to try out the Skytrain/SkyRail, and let us tell you, if the whole adventure wasn’t mint, we’d be lying. Walking into the rainforest is one thing but having to see it from above was awesome. The cable cars were safe, and once we were on board, the fear completely drove off. Trust us on this; the SkyRail is one thing you cannot miss.
Let’s face it: we Aussies cannot stay away from the shore, which is why we made the trip to Palm Beach, another incredible enclosure. The seashores were wild enough to surf but not too hard for the kids, and we were thankful for the netting, which let us know where to go. The centuries-old melaleuca trees gave it a rustic feel, and the atmosphere is perfect for keeping that romance budding. You can easily have a great time with your family; kayaking, swimming, surfing, taking walks and strolls, and exploring the beachfront markets are just some of the family-friendly activities. We had tons of fun, and our stay in Cairns couldn’t have gone better.
Lastly, we got our vaccine doses from Cairns, and everything went smoothly. We didn’t have to wait for a frustrating time, and the people were lovely. We’re thrilled than ever and looking forward to another great experience. We have to say goodbye but don’t worry; we’ll be back soon with the details of our next trip. Stay tuned!
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