July 2009

The Wild Life

With fantastic animal attractions and adventures to entertain the kids, they won’t even notice their holiday in Cairns is a learning lesson too!

The Wild Life

WORDS MIA LACY

Withsunshine year-round, loads of outdoor adventure options and the reef and rainforest as your playground, Cairns is well set up for entertaining the little ones. And boasting more than 650 day tours and attractions to choose from, many with family deals, you’ll be spoilt for choice in this tropical town.

Go Animal Spotting
The Cairns Tropical Zoo is an oasis to keep the children entertained for hours. Amidst the gorgeous gardens, they’ll meet Australian animals like dingoes, cassowaries, wombats, wallabies, koalas, kookaburras and big croc “Sarge” measuring 5.1m and weighing 300kg, as well as exotic species like the Madagascan lemurs, the cotton-top tamarins and Nepalese red pandas. The Wildlife Detectives activity is a real hit with kids here; it’s a clever idea which encourages children to ‘track down’ Australian animals at the eight stamping stations throughout the zoo grounds, learning facts about the different animals they encounter.

Owner and dad of two, Peter Freeman, says the zoo is ‘edu-taining’. “Children get to experience the animals close-up here and there’s a big education factor in the experience. They leave with a greater understanding of why conservation is so important for the future of our wildlife,” says Freeman.

Island Adventures
Green Island, a fast 45-minute catamaran trip from Cairns, is a fantasy isle for any child. A small, protected island surrounded by coral gardens and sparkling white sands, it’s the only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with a rainforest.

The Green Island Eco Adventure tour departs three times a day so you can operate at your own pace.

Try the nature walk around the island which takes about 45 minutes. Then, depending on the age of your children, choose between snorkelling straight off the beach (equipment provided) or a glass-bottom boat tour where you get a bird’s eye view without getting wet. There’s also an island swimming pool, plus restaurant and bar.

Green Island’s claim to fame is that it’s where the movie star clownfish Nemo was introduced to the world. Director of marketing, Megan Bell, remembers the impact the famous fish made. “We held the launch of Finding Nemo right here on the beach,” says Bell. “The film created an awareness of the Great Barrier Reef and the importance of conserving it for future generations.” Ask kids to look for the clownfish and blue tangs in the island’s coral gardens.

Dine with a Lion
For a thrilling dining experience, eat dinner with the lions at the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday night. The “Dine on the Edge” experience at the reserve is the only place in Australia where people can dine beside a lion enclosure.

A cyclone chain link fence is all that separates you from the pride of about 20 beasts and when they roar, you can feel the vibrations. While the lions tuck into their feast, yours is served: a superb gourmet barbecue of barramundi and Wagyu beef presented on long dining tables.

The Little Engine that Could
The original Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the iconic images of Cairns, and a must-do if you’re travelling with children — they’ll love the twists and turns, tunnels, waterfalls and wildlife. The century-old railway carriages are very roomy and the train trip has one stop at Barron Falls, where everyone disembarks for 10 minutes to marvel at the cascading waterfalls and the chiselled gorge.

Robyn Ross, the railways marketing co-ordinator and mum of two, says the train has always been a favourite for kids. “To most children, any trip on a train is fun, but the special feeling of this vintage experience is really memorable,” she says. “For the older kids, it’s all about the adventure and excitement — plus they’re always thrilled by the 14 tunnels the train passes through!”

Jumping Jackeroos
Discover the excitement of a real working cattle station at the new AU$10 million Australian Muster Experience. Stunt riding and bucking bulls make this spectacular entertainment, complemented by a delicious Aussie barbecue.

Owner and manager cattleman Gordon Pringle says: “What makes our muster unique is its location — it’s in a clearing in a sweeping valley surrounded by rainforest and it has the most amazing views all the way to Port Douglas.

We’re right between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef — you can see both from here! The Australian Muster experience brings an outback cattle station to life. Many families haven’t had the chance to see this first hand and here they can meet station animals like cattle dogs, calves, milking cows and our working horses. During the evening show, they can even ride a mechanical bull!”

Aboriginal Introductions
Ten minutes north of Cairns is the highly acclaimed Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, where separate theatres showcase Aboriginal history and indigenous culture in creation stories, traditional dances, bush food and medicine.

The park’s “Bibunbay” program provides additional cultural activities for children outside of the main theatre shows and is free to all children who pay the park’s child admission price.

The program starts each day at 10am with a didigeridoo class, then kids can learn how to throw boomerangs and spears at the park’s cultural village. Afterwards, it’s boomerang and message stone painting classes in Tjapukai’s retail gallery and canoe rides on the lake (look out for the turtles and eels).

Tjapukai’s cultural officer Ernest Brimm says children love Bibunbay. “It’s an extra option designed just for kids which involves them in fun activities about our indigenous stories, art, music and dance,” says Brimm.

Fly through the Rainforest
What child wouldn’t love gliding like a bird across the top of a rainforest canopy? Skyrail checks all the boxes for a great children’s holiday experience — it’s interactive, fun and educational.

At 7.5km in length, the Skyrail is the world’s longest cableway and kids will love the comfortable, six-person gondolas that accommodate strollers and offer views across the rainforest canopy.

On boarding, children are given an activity sheet to complete during the journey. There are two stops along the route: a rainforest boardwalk and an interpretive centre with touch screens, audio-visual displays and puzzles. Skyrail holds an enduring appeal to children of all ages, says general manager Max Shepherd. “It’s the ultimate day out for families to experience the World Heritage-listed rainforests.”

Easy Days at Esplanade
  Situated on the downtown waterfront parkland are two of the city’s best attractions — and they’re both free. Muddy’s Playground is the ideal place for kids with energy to burn. There’s a water play area that features water channels, hand pumps, water jets and “Muddy”, the sculpture of the mudskipper the park is named after. Muddy’s is open daily from 8am to 8pm.

A 10-minute stroll down the boardwalk is the lovely Esplanade Lagoon, where both locals and visitors can cool off in a 4,800m2 saltwater swimming pool. It’s patrolled by Surf Life Saving Queensland lifeguards during hours of operation, offering a safe year-round swimming location, daily 7am to 9pm. Children love the sandy beach edges where they can build sandcastles and play in the shallows. There’s also a shower block beside the lagoon.

BoThattractions feature barbecue and picnic facilities, and a café each.  

Bree James, mum and owner of Cairns children’s entertainment company Th e Bopstars, says families holidaying in Cairns can learn while having fun.
“Cairns is a very family-oriented, educational destination where kids can learn about two World Heritage areas: The Great Barrier Reef and The Daintree Rainforest. Our favourite family attraction is the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary, where you’re literally immersed in the animals’ habitats. ‘Breakfast with the Birds’ is my favourite time to go as you can have a fantastic breakfast surrounded by beautiful birds, it’s incredible”.

Mark Littler, dad and announcer on radio  
99.5 Sea FM, says there are endless family activities around Cairns.
“From the natural swimming holes like Crystal Cascades and Mossman Gorge to collecting shells and exploring uncrowded beaches and wandering the Port Douglas Sunday Markets, Cairns is a family destination in a very special part of Australia which every family should experience.”

FIND IT

Cairns Tropical Zoo
Captain Cook Hwy, Palm Cove, tel: +61 (7) 4055 3669  

Green Island Eco Adventure
Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, tel: +61 (7) 4044 9944

Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve
Kennedy Hwy, Kuranda, tel: +61 (7) 4093 7777

Kuranda Scenic Railway
Bunda St, tel: +61 (7) 4036 9333  

Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary
Crn of Captain Cook Hwy and Port Douglas Rd, tel +61 (7) 4099 3235

Australian Muster Experience
 Kingston Rd, Whyanbeel Valley, tel: +61 (7) 4098 1149  

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Western Arterial Rd, Caravonica, tel: +61 (7) 4042 9900  

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Cnr Captain Cook Hwy and Western Arterial Rd, Caravonica, tel: +61 (7) 4038 1555  

Esplanade Lagoon
Tel: +61 (7) 4044 3715






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