Monday 13 April 2020

THE BEST TIME TO COME TO CAIRNS

Being in tourism, people often ask me what is the best time of year to come to Tropical North Queensland and visit Cairns. Well.... we are approaching one of those times of year as I write this.

The shoulder seasons are the best time to visit for many reasons. These are:

May - After the Easter school holidays have finished
October/early November - After September/October school holidays have finished and before the silly season in December

Cairns has 2 distinctive seasons. A wet season and a dry season. Cairns is located in the tropics of Australia in the state of Queensland. We are 1884 kilometres (1171 Miles) south from the equator in the Southern Hemisphere and above the Tropic of Capricorn. To put that in perspective for you... Orlando, Florida is 1972.43 miles from the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere. See the map below.

Wet season technically runs from November until April/May (our "Off Season") and the dry season in the other months. When the country is in winter, especially in the southern states in June/July & August, because of our warmer climate in those months we are a very attractive holiday destination for Australians and are very busy (our "Peak Season"). We are particularly busy in the Australian June/July school holidays with lots a families visiting us. Our temperatures in the winter months are very agreeable to most. Those visiting from the south leave their winter world behind and in one flight are magically transported to spring/summer like days. For us locals, it's the one time of year we can wear our jeans! Check out the below stats. 👇


In May, we have cooler days & nights than in summer and mostly sunny days. The sea temperature is still warm if you are visiting the Great Barrier Reef. In tourism, it is traditionally one of our quietest months so all tour attractions are quieter than usual and hotels offer cheaper room rates. There is also an abundance of cars and campers to hire where as in other busier months they can be scarce.

The same goes for October/November (outside of the Australian school holidays). Days are warming up and are nice and sunny. The sea temperature is much cooler (it feels cold top us locals!) with very stable weather conditions overall.

*This collage of pics was taken not long before the pandemic hit and we all went into lock down. It's photos of the beautiful Cairns swimming lagoon, shaped like the state of Queensland we are in. Warm sunny days with fewer visitors.Just beautiful!

Now, I know I know... you can't get here right now during the pandemic... this is for your next trip next year 😜 You better start planning!


Tuesday 7 April 2020

A GREAT BARRIER REEF STORY - LIVING & BREATHING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF


Imagine growing up on the Great Barrier Reef... nothing quite like it anywhere else on earth. You can even see it from space!


Around 2300 kilometres long (that's 1400 miles for the metric system challenged) from Cape York Peninsula  on the tip of Queensland right down the coast to around the town of Rockhampton. See the above picture.

I am not a Marine biologist so I am not about to give you a full detailed multi page blog of the reef... if you are interested in learning more you can click the below 👇👇👇


I am here... posting my first blog during self isolation/social distancing/interesting times, with so much sadness being broadcast on TV 24/7... to post something a bit more light and fluffy, and downright enjoyable.

Hayley is a Marine Biologist on board Quicksilver Groups mother ship of a reef product, located around 35-40 kilometres from land (accessible by a smooth schmick catamaran for a 90 minute journey from Port Douglas). For more information on that cruise option.click the link here 👇👇👇

*Please note during the COVID-19 crisis due to health and safety of our customers and staff and for visitors inability to travel into Australia or within Australia Quicksilver Group has temporarily suspended all of it's vessels with the exception of Green Island day trips - as of March 2020.

Now... back to Hayley! This little movie was part of the latest Tropical North Queensland Tourism campaign earlier this year. In her own words, Hayley describes the first time she experienced the Great Barrier Reef, her sheer wonderment that eventually led her into a lifelong passion and love for the reef.

I am not going to tell you any more... just watch it! It will only take a moment of your time however during the current circumstances I am sure you have loads of that!

Check out the video via Quicksilver's Youtube Channel.