executive summary by Darmansjah
In the center there is also a Laguna which is an artificial lake which is a popular tourist spot. According to a story we can sunbathe topless in the lagoon with this. But what is striking is the shops that sell the equipment of sea sports, like diving or snorkeling surfing and the many young tourists both local and foreign countries like Japan, Korea and so on.
When our plane landed Qantas Domestic Terminal at the Cairns International Airport after flying for nearly three hours from Sydney, it appears that the airport is in the process of expanding so that the passengers had to walk quite a distance from garbarata towards the arrival terminal. It seems Gabarata built first compared the passenger terminal building so that should even out once the new terminal to log in again to pick up luggage. The air was friendly with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius cooler than Sydney at the end of June.
By taxi we headed to downtown Cairns and the tropical scenery immediately greeted by warm, the sun shone brightly and the temperature on land is quite hot even though June is winter in this Kangaroo Continent. The number of palm trees and the green of nature makes us feel like at home alone.
Cairns city center known as the CBD is an area that is not too broadly consists of three or four main roads that cut several roads. Setting it within a few blocks makes orientation easy. With the help of a tourist map we can explore the CBD with a walk. Abbot Street became the main street where is located the Cairns Art Gallery, and also the Cairns City Library.
Cairns City Library is open to anyone, we can read books or use the internet for free. After seeing some of the literature about the city of Cairns, it is known that the origin of this city began to be inhabited in the late 19th century and intended as a haven of gold mining in the Hodgkinson River. The name of the city with a population of only about 130,000 souls are taken from the name of the Governor of Queensland in 1876 that William Wellington Cairns.
Cairns city center known as the CBD is an area that is not too broadly consists of three or four main roads that cut several roads. Setting it within a few blocks makes orientation easy. With the help of a tourist map we can explore the CBD with a walk. Abbot Street became the main street where is located the Cairns Art Gallery, and also the Cairns City Library.
Cairns City Library is open to anyone, we can read books or use the internet for free. After seeing some of the literature about the city of Cairns, it is known that the origin of this city began to be inhabited in the late 19th century and intended as a haven of gold mining in the Hodgkinson River. The name of the city with a population of only about 130,000 souls are taken from the name of the Governor of Queensland in 1876 that William Wellington Cairns.
Currently Cairns is an important tourism destination in Australia as well as the sugar industry which can be found in many sugar plantations around the town. Cairns became the base for visiting nearby attractions such as the exact Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, Tjapukai, and the Daintree Rain Forest.
Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda
In the center there is also a merupaka Laguna artificial lake which is a popular tourist spot. According to a story we can sunbathe topless in the lagoon with this. But what is striking is the shops that sell the equipment of sea sports, like diving or snorkeling surfing and the many young tourists both local and foreign countries like Japan, Korea and so on.
In the center there is also a merupaka Laguna artificial lake which is a popular tourist spot. According to a story we can sunbathe topless in the lagoon with this. But what is striking is the shops that sell the equipment of sea sports, like diving or snorkeling surfing and the many young tourists both local and foreign countries like Japan, Korea and so on.
Cairns Night Market.
When Australia's major cities like Sydney, Brisbane began to close the shopping center at about 18 or 19. Cairns is a very different atmosphere, shops and restaurants with a very relaxed atmosphere remain open until the evening. One place that should diikunjungi Cairns Night Market is also located on Abbott Street in this place lies a collection of restaurant or food court that sells a wide assortment of good culinary Asia such as China, Thailand, and Western cuisine, even the typical Australian as worried about the kangaroo meat , koalas, crocodiles and so on. Of course for those who dare to try the food. Besides souvenir shops are also easily found at the Night Market is.
Port Douglas and Mosman Rainforest.
One of the places we can visit with a day trip from Cairns is Port Douglas and Mosman Rain Forest. For those who like driving yourself, hire mobl and having a good tour map is an excellent choice. However, joining the local tour became a better choice because we just call and ask for pick up at the hotel we stayed in downtown Cairns. There are several choice of departure time, either 9 am or 11 am. After that a mini bus which attract special luggage trailer with the words www.portdouglas.com will pick us up almost on time. Understandably in Cairns almost no traffic jams.
Once again pick up some tourists in hotels other, our mini bus will leave immediately leave the city of Cairns to Port Douglas via the Captain Cook Highway No. 44. Not long after the dead center of the city starting to look a large sugar plantation. But some have started to be converted into housing for the anticipated rapid growth in Cairns. Not long after the Cairns Airport, in the suburb called Smithfields, James Cook University is located. Apparently James Cook leaves a huge footprint in the state of Queenslands that immortalized his name to the name of the City of Cook's Town, highways, Captain Cook Highway and also the University. After up to 30 miles from downtown, we will also pass through the Cairns Tropical Zoo is also an interesting tourist spot. After that Captain Cook Highway started a little narrower and will fit down the cliff at the waterfront degan very charming scenery. About 20 miles further we will pass on the winding road between the beach and cliffs with few places to stop to enjoy the scenery.
Approximately 45 minutes after leaving Cairns on the left side of the street nameplate looks striking Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farm,. The tour guide told me that this place is a breeding crocodiles which produce crocodile skin and meat for both domestic and export purposes and began operating in 1930. Besides crocodiles, here also can be seen Koala, Kangaroo, Bird Cassowary, Dingo, and assorted snakes and reptiles native to Australia. Hartley's Crocodile Farm has a famous star named Charlie who was aged around 70 or 80 years, and he is a crocodile.
There are a few interesting about the crocodile. Just after passing Hartley's Crocodile Farm, about 10 minutes before the Port Douglas, Mowbray river there. The driver was always told that the river is wild crocodiles often encountered and he recommends passengers to look to the left, which eventually can be viewed from a distance back of crocodiles in the rivers. What is interesting is the same story is also mentioned by a bus driver who took us to Port Douglas for the second time and crocodiles are seen there is also positioned in the same river. Is it an alligator or crocodile rock for real?
There are a few interesting about the crocodile. Just after passing Hartley's Crocodile Farm, about 10 minutes before the Port Douglas, Mowbray river there. The driver was always told that the river is wild crocodiles often encountered and he recommends passengers to look to the left, which eventually can be viewed from a distance back of crocodiles in the rivers. What is interesting is the same story is also mentioned by a bus driver who took us to Port Douglas for the second time and crocodiles are seen there is also positioned in the same river. Is it an alligator or crocodile rock for real?
Four Miles Beach
After about 1 hour bus journey then turn right onto Port Douglas and is our arrival at the port city which is also the base for trips to the Great Barrier Reef cruise. This port city itself is quite beautiful with a beach atmosphere relaxed and casual as well. Many restaurant yan and also travel agencies offering package tours around Queensland. One place to visit in Port Douglas is FourMiles Beach. The tour guide told me that the real long beach with white sand that slope is only about a quarter of a mile, instead of four miles as the name suggests. Name Four miles beach itself is said to be given appropriate name of the person who first discovered this beach.
Once satisfied in playing on the beach, the journey continues to Morsman Rain Forest about 30 minutes from Port Douglas via the Captain Cook Highway. Mini buses crawl through the township aborigines and then scour the streets with lush rain forest on the left side.
Here there is a protected tropical forest and has a variety of flora and fauna. In addition there are also circular track along approximately 2.5 miles to explore the dense forest without fear of getting lost because we simply follow a predetermined path. There is a suspension bridge swaying in the breeze that always passes the river with rocks and water rushing underneath. In one part of the river there is a place where visitors can swim with ease while enjoying the natural scenery of lush native forest and cool.
Swim with Nemo on the Great Barrier Reef.
Of course the main attractions around Cairns is the Great Barrier Reef. The name is so famous and known also as the Great Barrier Reef. Surely he is not a single place, but consists of rubuan coral island or atoll that extends to the east of Australia. According to the literature of the Great Barrier Reef consists of more than 2900 reefs and more than 900 islands stretching over 2600 kilometers located in the Coral Sea. Barrier Reef is also one of the seven wonders of the natural world. (seven natural wonder of the world). This place is not an exaggeration to be included in the list of World Heritage for its underwater beauty with unique fish and coral that looks very attractive.
One way leading to the Great Barrier Reef, is to sail directly from Cairns or closer than Port Douglas. Because of that bus trip back to Port Douglas via the Captain Cook Highway can be enjoyed by more clearly.
Sailing the Great Barrier Reef begins from the Marina Port Douglas where many moored boats, yachts and other vessels for either private or public, Catamaran that can carry about 500 people set sail towards the outer reef. Travel by speedboat takes about a half an hour.
And at around 11:30 the ship arrived at a kind of dock in the middle of the ocean. On the way passengers are offered a variety of additional activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, walk in the ocean, even fly helicopters. Of course with an additional fee. However, lunch and sail with the boat is kind of half-submarine with a glass wall to enjoy the underwater beauty of the Great Barrier Reef for 25 minutes was included in the tour package. In the dock was also contained underwater observatory where visitors can enjoy the beauty beneath the sea, including some who were swimming and diving. The air was hot sunny so many interested visitors to swim or snorkel.
Fauna is very famous here is the smaller fish yellow colored white striped famous lines in the movie Finding Nemo. This fish is referred to as the Clown Fish and becomes a kind of icon on the Great Barrier Reef. In addition there are many Pari or Sting ray fish and turtles. Of course, countless variety of corals with a charming variety of forms.
Visitors can also swim among the fish, for those who want to rent a swimsuit can pay 5 AUD for adults and 2 AUD for children. Goggles and snorkel equipment as well as duck feet for swimming are also available. Of course to preserve the natural visitors should not throw rubbish into the sea and take the rock to take home.
Travel to GreatBarrier Reef is indeed a journey that is quite unique and not easily forgotten. And this is one of Australia's tourism options.
Snorkeling equipment
Tip for telecommunications
Travel in Australia It is currently quite expensive for the size of our pockets, especially with the Australian dollar exchange rate which is currently primarily to the U.S. dollar nearly equal. Meanwhile, for the purpose of communication is useful to have a local simcard. Because it will make it easier to register a tour contacted by telephone usually ask no mobile phones. If we use Indonesia certainly no roaming charges will swell. I myself had bought a local prepaid card costs 31 dollars and get a bonus to speak more than 150 dollars so it can be satisfied bertelpon and sms. What is unique to activate the prepaid card before we have to register and talk to a computer that could recognize our voices.
Tip for telecommunications
Travel in Australia It is currently quite expensive for the size of our pockets, especially with the Australian dollar exchange rate which is currently primarily to the U.S. dollar nearly equal. Meanwhile, for the purpose of communication is useful to have a local simcard. Because it will make it easier to register a tour contacted by telephone usually ask no mobile phones. If we use Indonesia certainly no roaming charges will swell. I myself had bought a local prepaid card costs 31 dollars and get a bonus to speak more than 150 dollars so it can be satisfied bertelpon and sms. What is unique to activate the prepaid card before we have to register and talk to a computer that could recognize our voices.
