Cairns & the Atherton Tablelands

 

Lake Barrine

Hello Cairns! While we've certainly embraced the rhythm of sea days, we very much cherish our port stops, and today was our first taste of Queensland charm. As the ads go, "Queensland...beautiful one day, perfect the next!". The locals informed us that we had just missed a bout of heavy rains, and Cairns greeted us with glorious sunshine and a balmy 27 degrees –  perfect!

I was relieved to find the Cruise Terminal in Cairns operating with far greater efficiency than our experience in Darwin. We disembarked swiftly after docking, hopped into a quick Uber to our awaiting rental car near the airport, and soon enough, we were cruising in our trusty little MG3. We had outsourced ChatGPT to craft an itinerary in the Atherton Tablelands for us which covered sightseeing, swimming opportunities and, crucially, delicious food stops.. It delivered. With drive times, addresses, and stops timed to the minute, we completed our circuit with 45 minutes to spare. Good job ChatGPT!

Breakfast with a view

Cruising into Cairns

Stop #1 - Lake Barrine 

We were in cassowary territory! Unfortunately we didn't encounter any this trip

The very large and tall curtain fig tree

Hearty bacon and potato soup at Gallo Dairyland

Some of their chocolate selection

Milla Millaa Falls

Our "tropical" uber ride back to the cruise terminal

Coffee Works

The roads were pleasantly quiet, winding through a picturesque landscape of lush, vibrant greens. A word of caution for those prone to motion sickness: the ascent and descent to the Tablelands involve a fair share of windy turns and twists, so be prepared! For those curious about our meticulously planned day of exploration, here's the ChatGPT-generated itinerary that guided our adventure:

8:00 AM -Pick Up Rental Car

• Location: Cairns Airport Car Rental Center (Hours 7am-7pm)

• Address Bargain Car Rentals, 410 Sheridan Street, Cairns, QLD 4870

• Drive Time to Stop #1: ~1 hour 5 minutes

9:15 AM - Stop #1: Lake Barrine Tea House & Rainforest Walk

• Description: Enjoy a light breakfast overlooking the serene crater lake. Stroll along the easy 5 km circuit track through lush rainforest.

• Location: Lake Barrine, Gillies Highway, Yungaburra QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #2: ~15 minutes

10:45 AM - Stop #2: Curtain Fig Tree

• Description: Marvel at this enormous 500-year-old strangler fig, an iconic natural wonder. Short walk from the car park.

• Location: Curtain Fig Tree Road, Yungaburra QLD

• Drive Time to Stop #3: ~10 minutes

11:30 AM - Stop #3: Gallo Dairyland

• Description: Sample locally made chocolates and cheeses. This family-run dairy also serves lunch made with fresh, local ingredients.

• Location: 721 Malanda-Atherton Road, East Barron QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #4: ~25 minutes

1:00 PM - Stop #4: Millaa Millaa Falls Circuit

• Description: Visit the famous Millaa Millaa Falls, a postcard-perfect waterfall set in the rainforest. Take a refreshing dip if you're feeling adventurous. Optionally, explore nearby Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls.

• Location: Theresa Creek Road, Millaa Millaa QLD

• Drive Time to Stop #5: ~40 minutes

2:45 PM - Stop #5: Mt. Uncle Distillery

• Description: Mt. Uncle Distillery offers a beautiful café where you can enjoy a coffee or locally sourced treats. The grounds are stunning with friendly animals roaming around.

• Location: 1819 Chewko Road, Walkamin QLD

• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #6: ~30 minutes

4:00 PM - Stop #6: Coffee Works

• Description: End your adventure with a visit to Coffee Works, where you can sample world-class coffee and chocolate.

• Location: 136 Mason Street, Mareeba QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Cairns Airport: ~1 hour

5:30 PM - Drop Off Rental Car

• Location: Cairns Airport Car Rental Center

Other helpful information:

The Uber set-down and pick up area was clearly marked and right at the Cruise Terminal. The uber ride from the port to the airport will set you back $12-25 depending on demand, but the wait was quick. 

With our Atherton Tablelands adventure wrapped up with time to spare, we seized the opportunity for a refreshing dip in the ship's pool. For dinner, we decided to shake things up and try the onboard Gastropub, a welcome change from the main dining room scene. I mean...they had me at lobster mac and cheese. 

And the evening's entertainment? Well, it turned out to be my absolute favourite so far! A magician comedian by the name of Johnny Balance took to the stage, and he delivered an unexpected torrent of laughter. I'm so glad I didn't decide to skip the show – a truly fantastic end to a wonderful day in Queensland!

Dinner venue

Starter

Lobster mac and cheese! Delicious with lots of lobster chunks