NT blogger Jen swaps tropical destinations and hits Cairns for a getaway with a dose of luxury and adventure.
This month, I headed back to my home state to explore a little of one of Australia’s most beautiful tourist attractions – The Great Barrier Reef. With my Brisbane based sister joining me for the trip, Cairns was the perfect “meet me halfway” spot.
Cairns here I come!
Over the weekend, my sister and I stayed at the luxurious Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Recently taking home two Tropical North QLD Tourism awards in the Luxury Accommodation and Meetings & Business Tourism categories, this prestigious five star hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the CBD, overlooking the beautiful Trinity Inlet.
Whether you are in Cairns for a few nights on business or for a few weeks on holiday, the Pullman Reef offers everything under the one roof for all your entertainment needs. There are multiple restaurants (my favourites were Flinders Bar & Grill and the Tamarind Restaurant) to satisfy everyone’s tastebuds and wallets, a live music venue, underground nightclub, incredible casino, and not to mention the Wildlife Dome on the rooftop!
Tamarind Restaurant
Cocktails & canapes by the pool? Yes please!
Each room is equipped with a generously sized spa bath and balconies, a stylish beach theme, and oh-so-comfortable beds! The Pullman will soon be home to the largest indoor LED screen in Queensland with construction of the state-of-the-art sports entertainment venue commencing earlier this month – so sports fans, this is the place to be!
My superior room!
On Friday, my sister and I were in for an unforgettable (really unforgettable) day of snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, courtesy of the fantastic family owned business Calypso Reef Cruises, located in Port Douglas. We road tripped our way up to Port Douglas in our little Nissan Micra hire car, through a landscape which resembled something out of a fancy car advertisement, cruising along winding roads with the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.
Road trippin’
After about 80 minutes of driving and singing (I use that word loosely), we arrived at the Marina Mirage. Once on board we were given the lowdown on the safety aspects and the plans for the day by the awesome staff, then I heard the words that will forever haunt me. “It’s going to be a rough ride.”
We sailed for 90 minutes in winds of 20 – 25 knots to the first of three spots out at Opal Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef. If you’ve read my earlier posts, you will know that I am the queen of motion sickness, so needless to say, sea sickness got the better of me (and quite a few others) for a majority of the day. Keep in mind that the ride over isn’t usually this rough – just unfortunate weather during the wet season!
On a lighter note, once I was able to stand, I got in the water and explored Australia’s underwater beauty – it was absolutely breathtaking! There were so many bright and colourful fishes and different types of coral, it was way too easy to get lost in the moment!
Absolutely amazing!
The weather may not have been the greatest, but that definitely didn’t dampen the snorkelling experience, and the caring, funny and easy going team on board made up for it. Their knowledge and expertise in what they do is why I would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone who wants to explore the Great Barrier Reef for the first time or for the 17th time!
Their diving and snorkelling experiences are incredible, with full day excursions (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea included) held on their purpose built stylish and comfy catamarans catering for apprehensive first timers and experienced divers/snorkellers!
During our short stay in Cairns, we had a ball walking along the Esplanade and taking in the views, enjoying the popular night markets and having a delicious breakfast at The Sweet Bistrot, a cute café across the road from the hotel.
It was so great to catch up with my sister and explore one of Australia’s most beautiful natural gifts, an experience everyone should include during their travels to Queensland.
P.S: Although Darwin and Cairns share many similarities, Darwin still owns at having the biggest crocs… sorry Cairns! 😉