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. Seeing large Parrot Fish, Turtles or ‘Nemo’ is sure to be a highlight for the kids.

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.

Palm Cove

Only 25 Minutes north of Cairns, Palm Cove is not a big place, but the village atmosphere is why we like it. It has just enough of everything to make it a beautiful place to unwind and enjoy some family time in the sun.

There’s a beautiful beach to stroll along and build sandcastles on. The enclosed swimming area ensures swimmers are protected from Box Jellyfish (November – March). There’s a lovely enclosed playground for the kids, with wooden benches available for parents. Grab a coffee from across the road first and enjoy the view.

Dining options are plentiful along the beachfront. Choices include local Italian Pizza, fine dining, fish & chips on the beach, several bar and grills and even a traditional Greek Taverna!

If you want to do more with your day than relax on the beach, you can access Daintree and Great Barrier Reef tours easily from Palm Cove.

Consider taking a day trip down to Cairns. Kids will love a visit to the Cairns Tropical Zoo which specialises in a wide range of Australian animals. My daughter loved being able to hand feed the kangaroos and I will never forget the size of some of the crocodiles!

There are plenty of choices available in terms of accommodation. If you’re looking to be pampered you can’t go past the Pullmans Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa, which offers 2 bedroom apartments, babysitting, kids pool and is beach front. Even if you don’t stay here, I highly recommend booking in for a massage or facial at the day spa. Beachview Apartments at Villa Paradiso has apartments with kitchenettes, so you can cook for yourself, and washing/drying facilities in your room – great for washing swimmers. Free wifi and a kids pool make this a good family friendly option.

Regardless of which tropical Queensland destination you escape to for your next winter getaway, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Images by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway and QT Port Douglas