5 Reasons to choose Cairns Boat Hire

Explore FNQCairns

May 1

A couple of memories stand out for me as a kid holidaying in Cairns.

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef, tubing down freshwater creeks and heading up Trinity Inlet on our very own ‘fishing’ boat. Why the last one do you think? After doing it again, this time with my own kids I reckon I know why.

**Steering with your hands is optional**

Here’s my 5 reasons you need to go out with Cairns Boat Hire…

1. No Boat License Required

None of my family were very nautical minded. We lived in Alice Springs so when it came to boat skills, we had minimal knowledge. And yet suddenly we were given full command of our very own boat of the day. And what made it doubly exciting was ‘us kids’ were allowed to drive it!!

I’ve since learnt that we were officially allowed to drive the boat because my kids pretty much drove the whole way around this time. The engine is so small and the speed minimal, that its deemed OK for a child to be skipper for the day.

2. Family Time

On a boat together, for the day…. that’s how it rolls up the inlet. My parents worked pretty hard so it was glorious to have their undivided attention and company all the time we were on the boat.

Same goes this time around. Believe it or not I turned the Social Media off…after I had posted the obligatory family selfie of course. And then focused on the driving, or at least the kids driving, and I took in our surrounds and everything else that was going on around us.

3. It’s a Wilderness up there

Cairns was a long way off becoming the city it is today when I first travelled up the inlet in the 80’s BUT a few things set it apart from my home town Alice – an international airport, multi-story hotels and a major port so heading up Trinity Inlet amazed me at the time.

**Admiralty Island in Trinity Inlet is a virtual wilderness**

It’s a virtual wilderness up there of mangroves, mud flats and mountain views. And to be honest, it hasn’t changed much.

**You’ll see plenty of bird life amongst the mangroves**

Perhaps a few more boats than I initially remember but once you duck into a side inlet it feels like you’re the only ones on the water and the sounds of the mangroves envelop you (fish jumping, shrimps popping and the bird calls).

4. The Fish are biting

Fishing was never our strength. But it you are dropping a line in its nice to actually feel a bite occasionally. The Inlet can certainly deliver that.

This time around we were watching Josh's reel spool out as a big ray had obviously found the bait and was resisting all efforts to pull it back to the boat.

The good news is we’ve since learnt about ‘drag’ on a fishing line and have worked out how to fix that problem it it ever pops up again.

5. Shipwrecks and other distractions

Vessels of all sorts are up the Inlet. Navy boats, reef boats and reef pontoons, liveaboards yachts, boats on slipways and shipwrecks.

All will fascinate children.

Years ago we took our son, age 3 out on a similar day and was amazed that for an active toddler, he was happy to be contained on a vessel for most of the day.

I believe it was his inquisitive nature and keenness to learn about the new environment that kept him calmer than usual that day. Ultimately, a cruise like this seems to suit all ages…..

Good Things to Know:

Bring a hat, sun block, insect repellent, snacks, drinks and a mobile phone.
Esky’s, ice, crab pots, bait and fishing equipment are available to hire if you do not have your own.
Children under 12 are required to wear a life jacket, which are supplied.

Please Note: We received our tour complimentary BUT all views, opinions and photos in this article are 100% my own.

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