The BIGGEST Insider Guide to Family Adventures in Far North Queensland & Beyond!
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Clean Up Australia Day at Cairns Machans Beach. SAVE THE DATE for this annual clean up of one of your favourite hangouts that needs some TLC.
Bad Fishy is just that. A Bad Bad Fishy that gets you very WET WET WET!! As a jet boat experience this is to be slightly expected, But when you’re in the Tropics of North Queensland it is slightly welcomed too.
I always like to gain some perspective of places that I visit. Cairns, my hometown, is no exception. I love the way the mountains meet the coastline
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a myriad of corals and sea life that it is undoubtedly one of the most visited destinations in the world.
Most people dream of spending a day chilling on a Tropical Island BUT when you have an active family you need more on offer than just pristine beaches and a blue ocean.
Take your kids skywards in a Hot Air Balloon and watch their eyes fill with wonder at the pure magic of the experience. From the very start of our Hot Air Balloon Ride my kids were
“Best Day Ever Mum! Best Day Ever!” was my son’s chant as he crossed the Finish Line at the Ironman Cairns IronKids Event. And trust me – the week leading up to the event hadn’t been an easy journey.
There’s something about going bush, out of digital range 📲📺📡 (we can only hope) and setting up camp 🏕, hanging out around a campfire 🔥 and chilling for a couple of days (at least).
Ask any Cairns local where are the best playgrounds and you’ll undoubtably hear Muddies, The Pirate Shop, Figtree and Goomboora park. These are certainly fantastic playgrounds, but…
It would be quite easy to spend a week in Palm Cove and not leave, such is the appeal of this little seaside village.
As we chugged up the river onboard the Lady Douglas with a beer in our hand (parents only) and our kids in major croc spotting mode I knew we had booked the right tour for the day.
Thanks to this you’ll find a heap of activities in Cairns and its surrounds that will entertain you and your kids and guarantee you fond family memories for years to come!
Sugarworld Gardens will forever hold a special place in my heart because our little Edmonton Mothers Group began meeting there beneath the raintree each week once our term at the health clinic was completed.
The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival is guaranteed to saturate your senses. It’s a three-day celebration where the indigenous communities of Cape York come together…
Divers Den is seeking new recruits for its kids' scuba program and what better way to get started than with a fun series of Aquamissions!
I must admit to being pleasantly surprised when I opened the cover of 100 Things to see in Tropical North Queensland and started reading the pages within…
Because of the potential impact on development, we usually think of nature-deficit disorder as a concern relating to our children
Muddy's is amazing, don't get me wrong. I do love the generous selection of playground equipment suited to a variety of age ranges and abilities. But...
“Epic” was the resounding reply I got when I asked the kids what they thought about their morning spent wakeboarding and tubing
COVID-19 has hit with a vengeance and things are changing by the hour. Both Rob and I work in the tourism industry so this pandemic has had a dramatic effect on our family life and our future earnings, as no doubt it has had on everyone
Who better to turn to for advice on the best adventures and experiences in Far North Queensland than the region’s very own Adventure Mumma.
Want to know a way to appear super cool to your teenage kids? Just take them White Water Rafting!
There’s something about Mission Beach. With its beach that stretches for miles, its laid-back hippy vibe and the high possibility of seeing a cassowary around every corner, that induces the perfect holiday feels in you.
Situated just one block back from Wongaling Beach, Litoria Mission Beach AirBnB has everything you want and more. Especially designed for AirBnB rentals it’s a pavilion style home.
If you stand in Cairns and look towards the hills chances are you’ll find Glacier Rock hard to miss. From most places in Cairns you can spot the large slab of rock-face that sits like a sentinel
“Ahhh, the serenity” said Rob my partner whilst we were paddling down the creek with Babinda Kayaking. This was just before our kelpie Archie decided that being in the water was more fun than being on a kayak.
Sometimes at Christmas we can get carried away and load each other up with gifts that can be counter-productive to our ‘nature-loving’ personas.
With two juddery steps backwards I was off the Stand Up Paddle Board and taking a swim in the cool rainforest waters of the Barron River. Moments later I was back on the board trying to redeem myself as the Pro Paddler I had thought I was!
It’s hard to get the concept of crocodiles out of your head as you swim in the inky black waterhole at the bottom of Hartley’s Creek Falls. It doesn’t help that Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm is just down the road.
Machans Beach Cairns
JOIN me for a CLEAN UP Australia Day and make a difference at Cairns Machans Beach and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef
Walks & Waterfalls
If you stand in Cairns and look towards the hills chances are you’ll find Glacier Rock hard to miss. From most places in Cairns you can spot the large slab of rock-face that sits like a sentinel
Sometimes at Christmas we can get carried away and load each other up with gifts that can be counter-productive to our ‘nature-loving’ personas.
It’s hard to get the concept of crocodiles out of your head as you swim in the inky black waterhole at the bottom of Hartley’s Creek Falls. It doesn’t help that Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm is just down the road.
Windin Falls has been on our radar for a while before we actually made the journey to get there. Why? Mainly because of the drop-dead photos on Instagram.
Want to know a secret? I rarely visit the beaches during summer. WHY? Well when you live in Tropical North Queensland the creeks and waterfalls offer MUCH more during our official ‘wet’ season.
If you like your walks gradual, easing yourself into a state of exertion then the Smith’s Track is NOT for you. Think Glacier Rock on steroids and you have some concept of what this track has in store for you.
I went to Emerald Creek Falls the other day and always get a little upset if I find rubbish lying around beautiful parts of Tropical North Queensland.
There’s only two things you need to know about Behana Gorge. There’s a definite NEED to do it, AND it’s NOT the easiest place to get to………..but HELL it’s worth it!!!!
I’ve been showcasing via my Instagram account, the TOP family-friendly things to do in my corner of Australia, Tropical North Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef, the World Heritage Rainforest AND…
Everything about Peet’s Falls spells Tropical North Queensland – the drive through the canefields to the start of the track, the walk through tropical rainforest and the plunge into the cool refreshing waters at the bottom of Peet’s Falls.
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I always like to gain some perspective of places that I visit. Cairns, my hometown, is no exception. I love the way the mountains meet the coastline
I must admit to being pleasantly surprised when I opened the cover of 100 Things to see in Tropical North Queensland and started reading the pages within…
Muddy's is amazing, don't get me wrong. I do love the generous selection of playground equipment suited to a variety of age ranges and abilities. But...
It’s hard to get the concept of crocodiles out of your head as you swim in the inky black waterhole at the bottom of Hartley’s Creek Falls. It doesn’t help that Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm is just down the road.
Want to know a secret? I rarely visit the beaches during summer. WHY? Well when you live in Tropical North Queensland the creeks and waterfalls offer MUCH more during our official ‘wet’ season.
If you like your walks gradual, easing yourself into a state of exertion then the Smith’s Track is NOT for you. Think Glacier Rock on steroids and you have some concept of what this track has in store for you.
With the Commonwealth Games set to hit the Gold Coast this April, 2018 we got asked by Queensland Tourism to share our local secrets with visitors.
It’s a 2,700km ‘shortcut’ through the Heart of Australia that links Queensland to Western Australia via a great central road and it will take you past iconic landmarks, through remote Aboriginal communities and isolated Outback Stations…
Head into the Outback with the kids in the back seat of your car and you realise you’re on a family road trip like no other…
I’m pleased to say our first official Happy Hour run by ourselves (and with the support of the Done & Dusted crew, Peta and Kirk) was a Rip Roaring success
Let me get one thing clear – when you arrive in Cairns there is no shortage of activities to choose from. But we all know kids, sometimes its hard to work out which things will really tick all their boxes AND which activities will work for you the adult (after all we count as well!!).
It’s a hip, laid-back, funky little resort town that sits on the doorstep of World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, BUT is Port Douglas really that family friendly?
As I zip-lined over the massive Saltwater Crocodile I had to remind myself that I was doing this for my son’s birthday party.
Laura Qinkan
Dance Festival -
The Great Indigenous Dance Off
The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival is guaranteed to saturate your senses…..it is not refined, shortened or watered down to suit tourist’s sensibilities. It’s the REAL THING.
Things to do in Cairns
Bad Fishy is just that. A Bad Bad Fishy that gets you very WET WET WET!! As a jet boat experience this is to be slightly expected, But when you’re in the Tropics of North Queensland it is slightly welcomed too.
Ask any Cairns local where are the best playgrounds and you’ll undoubtably hear Muddies, The Pirate Shop, Figtree and Goomboora park. These are certainly fantastic playgrounds, but…
It would be quite easy to spend a week in Palm Cove and not leave, such is the appeal of this little seaside village.
Thanks to this you’ll find a heap of activities in Cairns and its surrounds that will entertain you and your kids and guarantee you fond family memories for years to come!
Sugarworld Gardens will forever hold a special place in my heart because our little Edmonton Mothers Group began meeting there beneath the raintree each week once our term at the health clinic was completed.
Divers Den is seeking new recruits for its kids' scuba program and what better way to get started than with a fun series of Aquamissions!
I must admit to being pleasantly surprised when I opened the cover of 100 Things to see in Tropical North Queensland and started reading the pages within…
Muddy's is amazing, don't get me wrong. I do love the generous selection of playground equipment suited to a variety of age ranges and abilities. But...
If you want BIG views, then you often need to put the effort in and do some BIG walks. Cairns is no exception and around the city there are some excellent walks that will get you up high enough for some really superb Cairns views (and beyond).
“Can I do it again” were Charlie's first words after doing the Giant Jungle Swing (Minjin) at AJ Hackett Cairns for the first time. You certainly feel like once is not enough when you’ve completed this thrill ride.
There’s nothing like getting out on the water to get a view of the town you may be visiting. Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise allows you to do that.
“This is the best reef experience by far, because I went Scuba Diving” said Charlie, my 12 year old after a day out on Reef Experience.
Reef Adventures
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a myriad of corals and sea life that it is undoubtedly one of the most visited destinations in the world.
Most people dream of spending a day chilling on a Tropical Island BUT when you have an active family you need more on offer than just pristine beaches and a blue ocean.
“This is the best reef experience by far, because I went Scuba Diving” said Charlie, my 12 year old after a day out on Reef Experience.
The Great Barrier Reef is looking good, damn good – although you may think travelling out in the comfort of Divers Den new boat, AquaQuest could skew our thinking.
It was almost a case of nature overload the day we took the kids out on Great Adventures to the Outer Barrier Reef. Charlie was peaking after her snorkel with ‘Crush’ the green sea turtle
Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef has been making headlines around the world again! This year (2017) more bleaching is being observed around the central part of the Reef
Wander down to Cairns Marlin Marina in the morning and you may be lulled into thinking that this is the only way you can do Great Barrier Reef tours.
What’s better than visiting the Great Barrier Reef? How about staying a few days on the Great Barrier Reef! That’s right, ditch your accommodation on the mainland and tick the option to sleep on the reef.
It’s time to share the BEST of the BEST. I’ve been showcasing via my Instagram account, the top 3 family-friendly things to do in my corner of Australia, Tropical North Queensland.
So you’ve been contemplating a day out on the Great Barrier Reef but haven’t found the time or the inclination to get out recently? Well it’s time to change that!!
5 Tips on being
an Outdoor
Family
Here is some info about me BC (Before Children) and how to keep having ADVENTURES after the kids come along……
Rainforest Adventures
“Epic” was the resounding reply I got when I asked the kids what they thought about their morning spent wakeboarding and tubing
Want to know a way to appear super cool to your teenage kids? Just take them White Water Rafting!
There’s something about Mission Beach. With its beach that stretches for miles, its laid-back hippy vibe and the high possibility of seeing a cassowary around every corner, that induces the perfect holiday feels in you.
“Ahhh, the serenity” said Rob my partner whilst we were paddling down the creek with Babinda Kayaking. This was just before our kelpie Archie decided that being in the water was more fun than being on a kayak.
Sometimes at Christmas we can get carried away and load each other up with gifts that can be counter-productive to our ‘nature-loving’ personas.
With two juddery steps backwards I was off the Stand Up Paddle Board and taking a swim in the cool rainforest waters of the Barron River. Moments later I was back on the board trying to redeem myself as the Pro Paddler I had thought I was!
It’s hard to get the concept of crocodiles out of your head as you swim in the inky black waterhole at the bottom of Hartley’s Creek Falls. It doesn’t help that Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm is just down the road.
“Can I do it again” were Charlie's first words after doing the Giant Jungle Swing (Minjin) at AJ Hackett Cairns for the first time. You certainly feel like once is not enough when you’ve completed this thrill ride.
Now is the time to visit Explore Tropical North Queensland and head out with Behana Canyoning . The water is pumping and these guys run such a fun tour.
Up on stage they were dancing, and you could see the twitch of a kangaroo’s ear, the stamp of a paw, and the cheeky attitude of the youngster as he stirred the big roo into action.
Unstructured play outdoors, especially in nature, is a vital part of a child’s development and Tropical North Queensland is the perfect place for kids to experience nature at its best.
It’s loud, busy, dusty and dirty and sometimes even muddy BUT aficionados wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s the UCI MTB World Cup
Explore Further Afield
Set off for the Kimberley and not only are you spoilt for choice but where do you start? Well now there’s a book that not only will give you serious wanderlust for this part of the world but will help you navigate through the stunning choices.
Everybody NEEDS some time out. Who agrees? But what is it with mums that they always place themselves last on the list?
It’s a thriving outback town in far west Queensland that has plenty to do and see, and oh don’t forget, it’s the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda.
When you arrive at Australia’s most iconic holiday destination, you’ll quickly realise that you’re spoilt when it comes to finding something that suits.
Drive into Kalgoorlie from the East and you can almost taste gold in the air – the roads get bigger and wider, the traffic larger and heavier and mine sites become liberally scattered on the side of the road
It’s a 2,700km ‘shortcut’ through the Heart of Australia that links Queensland to Western Australia via a great central road and it will take you past iconic landmarks, through remote Aboriginal communities and isolated Outback Stations…
“You give us Western Education. We give you Cultural Education” said Daisy Ward to the kids and I as we stood absorbing the words of Aborigines today in a remote roadhouse in Outback Australia.
We travelled across the heart of Australia on an Aussie road trip that every kid (and adult) needs to experience at least once. The Outback Way is due to be sealed in the next 5-10 years BUT I wouldn’t wait!
Head into the Outback with the kids in the back seat of your car and you realise you’re on a family road trip like no other…
Plonk two very active and adventurous kids from the country into a thriving metropolis like Melbourne and what happens next? Can the Big Smoke seriously entertain children like mine?
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Imagine accommodation with Barramundi that lurk in amongst ponds that wind through a ‘jungle zone’ complete with secret paths, bridges and fountains AND a table tennis table! PLUS Cookies upon check-in!! It’s obvious that family fun with a sprinkle of quirkiness is part of DoubleTree Cairns mission.