Taking Kids to the Tropical North

Is the cold winter weather getting you down? Every year my family and I escape the winter chill with a tropical getaway. One of our favourite parts of the world is Tropical North Queensland – short flight times, no passports needed, beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, lots of sunshine and so much more. Cairns is a popular jumping off point for exploring the north. Don’t get stuck here though – two destinations that Expedia families love visiting are Port Douglas and Palm Cove … and for good reason.

Port Douglas

Only 50 minutes north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a popular base for exploring the UNESCO World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

Port Douglas itself is a wonderfully laid back family friendly place to relax and unwind. Four Mile Beach is patrolled by surf life savers and from November – May a stinger net swimming enclosure is in place to provide a safe swimming environment. The cafes and restaurants are very welcoming of children so you can relax and enjoy a meal out.

There are several great family friendly accommodation options. Take trendy tweens to QT Port Douglas, which offers two bedroom villas, a cool pool and a Moonlight Cinema running through to the end of October, with regular kids flicks on the program. If you prefer to self cater, try the Rendezvous Reef Resort Port Douglas for two and three bedroom villas with free internet, kids pool on site, a kitchen and laundry facilities.

The main attractions of Port Douglas, however, are the amazing excursions available to reef and rainforest.

Snorkelling: There are several family friendly trips out to the Great Barrier Reef – many are on cruise liners which go out to a pontoon in the middle of the reef. The Wavedancer Low Isles Cruise is aboard a luxury catamaran. It zips out to a secluded island where the whole family can frolic on the beach or in the water. Kids under 3 are free and there’s snorkelling gear and floaties available for toddlers and older. It’s a full day on the water but the staff look after you with morning and afternoon tea and a buffet lunch on the beach.

Kuranda Scenic Railway: This is top of my list for our next trip north! The Kuranda Scenic Railyway and Skyrail Tour is a great way to do the scenic loop. You’re picked up from your hotel (in Cairns or Port Douglas) and taken to the Cairns train station. The train climbs through the rainforest all the way to Kuranda, the hippy-friendly town famous for markets, tie dye t-shirts and Devonshire teas. You’ll head back down to ground aboard the Skyrail, the cablecar sliding down through the rainforest canopy, with a stop at the CSIRO Interpretive centre and a great boardwalk through the trees.

Rainforest: The Daintree Discovery Centre is a lovely way to give children a taste of the magnificent Daintree Rainforest via a boardwalk, 23 metre high canopy tower and aerial walkway.

For children aged 6 and over the Aboriginal Cultural Experience would be a lot of fun as a family outing. Spend an evening in the middle of the rainforest and learn all about authentic Aboriginal culture through theatre, music, storytelling, and food.