Best day tour from Cairns

In a recent article describing our holiday in Cairns I mentioned that one of the day tours we took was an absolute standout and therefore rated a special mention on this website. It was a tour from Cairns to Innisfail, and everything in between, conducted by a lovely and very informative lady called Jane Moores from Northern Experience Eco Tours in Cairns.

The trip began when we were collected at our accomodation by Jane in a comfortable mini-bus and introduced to our fellow travellers. She instilled a friendly atmosphere from the outset which was maintained throughout the trip. Once out of Cairns we proceeded past Gordonvale and onto the Gillies highway which climbs through rainforests providing spectacular views of the valleys and mountain ranges and up onto the Atherton Tablelands. Jane’s knowledge of the ecology of the region was evident in her excellent commentary ensuring our trip was educational as well as entertaining.

Our first stop was for a Devonshire morning tea at the Lake Barrine Teahouse which sits on the edge of one of the volcanic crater lakes. After this excellent snack we embarked on a boat tour of the lake and listened to a very informative and interesting commentary by the boat guide, who pointed out native ducks, turtles, huge eels and large pythons by the lake’s edge. We learned how the rainforest evolved around the lake and how long it took the huge trees to grow. There’s also a 5 kilometre walking track around the lake through the rainforest. Another attraction 800 metres from the Teahouse along another walking track are two giant 1,000 year old Kaurie Pines.

We boarded our bus again for the short drive to just outside Yungaburra and a rainforest walk to see the giant Curtain Fig Tree, reported to be over 500 years old. Back onto the bus and a very pleasant drive through rolling hills and farmlands with Jane’s commentary providing interesting information on everything we passed including patches of rainforest and sugarcane and the entire history of the area from Yungaburra through to Millaa Millaa. On most tours I’ve been on there are always parts that have been somewhat boring, but not this one. This tour held everyone’s interest from beginning to end as was evident by the non-chatter of the passengers.

We stopped at the Mungalli Creek Organic Dairy for cheese tasting and lunch at the quaintly named ‘Out of the Whey’ Tea House. The lunch was exceptional and served in a beautiful setting and consisted of two main choices followed by a mouth-watering dessert with tea or coffee.

After lunch it was a short drive to the famous Millaa Millaa falls which proved to be as spectacular as we expected. It provided a very relaxing place to stretch our legs after lunch and watch the water cascading into the pool below. The pool provides an excellent swimming spot but the water is very cold and none of our party were prepared to take a dip. Chickens!

A longer drive this time through to the main objective of our tour, Paronella Park at Innisfail. Paronella Park is a decaying Spanish castle built in the rainforest by Jose Paronella in 1930. He became a millionaire through developing and selling cane farms and decided to build his dream castle for he and his wife near Innisfail. Sadly it is now in decline, but in it’s heyday it was a grand establishment. The story of Jose Paronella and the building of the castle is narrated by the very informative tour guides at the site and involves a fascinating walk around the grounds and inspection of the castle itself. Paronella Park is truly a life enhancing experience and is voted number one on the RACQ’s “150 Must-Do’s in Queensland” list.

Our last port of call before home was at the Babinda Boulders, a popular swimming hole and picnic area of spiritual significance to Aboriginal people just near Babinda. We enjoyed the 1.3 kilometre walk from the picnic area and back along Babinda Creek down to what is called the Devil’s Pool. Jane warned us not to swim in this area as several people have drowned in the fast-flowing water and washpools amongst the huge boulders. Some of our party enjoyed a refreshing swim in the rock pool back up near the picnic area in the calmer waters of the creek. We then sat down to tea and biscuits before boarding the bus for Cairns.

Back to Cairns after a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining day with our heads spinning with knowledge from what we’d learned from the number one eco-tour guide in Cairns, Jane Moores.

If you’re holidaying in Cairns and would like to book a tour with Jane, please contact her here.