mta travel cairns

• Sandy Sirianni MTA - Mobile Travel Agents
• Cairns, QLD

I love to travel and am always on the lookout for the next great deal for my family. We love to ski and experience different cultures and I think the best thing I can give my kids is the gift of acceptance and understanding. I love the research that goes into making the perfect trip and while travel is unpredictable, it is exactly this that makes it so addictive.

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I can help you make memories you will never forget, have experiences that will last a lifetime and tick things off your bucket list.

Let’s face it, everyone loves to go on a holiday, to relax, to unwind, to rediscover, to over-indulge. I’m no different. I never say no to a trip and coming across those hidden gems, be it a restaurant, a market, a hidden valley, a celebration, whatever it is; makes the difference between a holiday and an experience. It’s all about giving those personal recommendations, tips and suggestions that help to make a holiday really special. I love the research that goes into making the perfect trip and while travel is unpredictable, it is exactly this that makes it so addictive. I’ve found over the years my bucket list just keeps growing longer as I plan my clients trips and keep discovering so many wonderful places that deserve a visit. The world truly is an amazing place.

Being a mobile agent means that I am always available for my clients, and meet with them at a time and place that suits them. I treat my clients the way I expect to be treated, with prompt, professional service and I listen to their needs to help plan their trip of a lifetime. My clients mean the world to me, without them I don’t have a business, so it is imperative that when they book with me, that I am there 100% for them and no question or request is too big or too small. My clients can contact me through our travel app, email or phone at any time of the day or night and they know that I will be here to have their back and help if things go pear shaped.

I can’t imagine a life without travel and I’m lucky to have a career in an industry that I love and that allows me to indulge my passion. Not too many people can say that!

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Travel to, from and around Cairns

Transport and getting around in cairns, cairns is home to a busy international airport.

Cairns International Airport  (domestic and international terminal) is 7km from the CBD and provides air links to a range of domestic and international locations.

Cairns Airport is the seventh busiest airport in Australia in terms of passenger movements.

It takes around 6 hours to fly to Jakarta or Denpasar in Indonesia, under 7 hours to get to Singapore with a direct flight,  and less than 8 hours to fly to Japan.

Cairns Airport has many direct domestic city and regional connections

Cairns is a two-hour flight from Brisbane and just over three hours to Sydney and Melbourne.

You can fly direct  to all Australian state and territory capitals from Cairns.

Direct routes also operate from Cairns airport to at least 15 regional towns and areas, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mount Isa, Gove, Groote Eyelandt, Townsville and Mackay.

As a result, Cairns is a base for visitors and fly in fly out (FIFO) workers headed towards Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria and Papua New Guinea.

The airport’s general aviation precinct is a base for freight consolidation businesses, rescue fire fighting services, avionics, maintenance, charter flights, engineering, aviation skills training and more.

With a large network of integrated transport services, it’s easy to get around the Cairns region.

Getting here is simple too. We have all transport options covered with busy air, sea and road hubs for people, freight, cargo and trade.

The  Port of Cairns  is a multi-purpose regional port that caters for bulk cargo, luxury cruise liners, fishing fleets and reef passenger ferries.

• Australia’s busiest international cruise ship terminal
• Home to the HMAS Cairns naval base
• Among the largest commercial fishing fleet bases in Australia

Queensland Rail operates regular passenger services between Brisbane and Cairns on the  Spirit of Queensland . The winding Kuranda scenic rail also operates between Cairns and nearby Kuranda, a rainforest village about 30 minutes drive from Cairns.

Road and public transport

Parking is inexpensive in Cairns ($1.80 an hour on weekdays and Saturday mornings) and plentiful ... there are more than 6400 metered parking spaces across Cairns, with 4700 of these in the CBD.

Local's tip: keep an eye out for a centre park in the city - they're free!

Public bus services in Cairns are provided by  Sunbus under contract to the Queensland Government. Sunbus operates throughout the city, running from the northern beaches to the southern suburbs via the CBD. Private bus lines operate services covering Port Douglas, Kuranda, the Atherton Tablelands, and Innisfail / Mission Beach.

Long-haul coaches come and go several times a day in Cairns.

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TransitCare is a not-for-profit organisation providing a range of services to seniors, people with disabilities and those who have difficulty getting around.

Our fleet of vehicles provides door-to-door transport to people in local communities who are unable to get out and about.

We also offer a Social Support programme for those looking to enjoy some time away from home and Home Care packages which include a variety of care and supports.

This year, TransitCare celebrates 30 years of service, assisting our clients to maintain their independence and remain connected to their local communities.  We celebrated with a staff function on Saturday night and a client function today.

We are a very proud local organisation, founded in Logan City back in 1992 by a lady by the name of Ann Langley.  Ann helped form a support group for people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) with one of the main aims being to assist with transporting each other to their hospital and medical appointments. This initial service was voluntary and we received government funding in 1994, becoming incorporated as Logan and Albert North Disability Services (LANDS) and rebranding to TransitCare in 2012.

From these humble beginnings, a lot of dedication and the many people who gave selflessly of their time, TransitCare is now Australia’s largest and most experienced community transport provider, delivering over 270,000 trips per year. We now proudly service not only Logan City, but Redlands, Brisbane South, Mt Tamborine, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Charters Towers, Ingham, and surrounding areas.

We are only one call away……. Please enjoy our 30 th anniversary celebration video.

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Transport & bus services

Public bus and coach services, local buses.

TransLink's public bus service, Sunbus, operates throughout the city, running from the northern beaches to the southern suburbs via the Lake Street bus terminal (located between Shields and Aplin streets).

TransLink is a division of the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads. Cairns Regional Council does not operate the public bus service or set bus schedules.

For the latest public transport information including bus routes, fares and bus service updates, visit the TransLink Cairns website, download the free MyTransLink app to your smartphone, or phone 13 12 30.

TransLink Cairns website

Long distance coaches

Long distance and interstate coaches operate from a central depot at the Reef Fleet Terminal on the Cairns Esplanade.

The Spirit of Queensland travels the spectacular 1681km route between Cairns and Brisbane five times a week. Visit the Queensland Rail Travel website for fares, timetables and bookings.

Queensland Rail Travel website

Cairns International Airport

Cairns International Airport is the nation's sixth busiest in terms of combined international and domestic passenger movements. It handles around 130,000 aircraft movements per annum, and brings in over 1 million visitors each year.

QANTAS, Virgin, Bonza and Jetstar operate daily flights to and from cities all around Australia. Most international airlines service the Cairns International Airport.

Cairns International Airport website

Ports North is the closest port to the Great Barrier Reef and is located on Trinity Inlet.

This small, multi-purpose regional port is becoming increasingly popular with tourist craft, private craft, and as an international cruise ship destination, as well as an R&R destination for visiting Naval ships.

Ports North website

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Welcome to Paradise – Tropical North Queensland. Whether it's an indulgent break or a thrilling adventure, this stunning region offers you a magical and life-changing experience. The gateway to Queensland's tropical north, Cairns is a stylish city, which is also renowned for its relaxed, tropical climate and laid back ambience.

Feel the energy of a vibrant tropical culture of Cairns brought to life with festivals, events and experiences shaped by the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Revel in the outdoor lifestyle and ease of an intimate cosmopolitan city that is adventurous by nature.

Refine your senses with an exotic getaway to an absolute beachfront tropical hideaway where every day is all about you. Indulge in beachfront dining, decadent day spas and tropical resorts to uncover Palm Cove or journey through the natural wilderness to the top of Australia and discover the landscapes of Cooktown, Cape York and follow in the footsteps of early explorers on an epic adventure taking in memorable pubs, Aboriginal culture and Australian pioneering history.

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An east coast Australia road trip: My Sydney to Cairns itinerary

• Post author: Amanda
• Post published: 3 June, 2020
• Post category: AUSTRALIA
• Post comments: 14 Comments

Doing an east coast Australia road trip is a must for most backpackers in Australia. I’ve done the road trip twice – there’s just so much to explore! In this post, you’ll find my Sydney to Cairns itinerary where I’ll show you all my favourite places along the east coast, everything between paradise beaches to impressive skyscrapers!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means no extra costs for you – but I may earn a commission if you click and make a purchase.

What to know before going on an east coast Australia road trip

There are a few things you should know before going on this east coast Australia road trip:

Let’s get it over with directly: As mentioned in my post about Daintree Rainforest , if you’re not from Australia you may not be aware of certain things when it comes to safety . Australia has several dangerous animals (but also a lot of cute ones!) to be aware of. Be crocwise , make sure you know when it’s stinger season and pay attention to bush fires – just to mention a few things to keep track of.

If you can’t find all the answers you need regarding safety online, try asking at a tourist information centre or perhaps at the reception at your accommodation.

How do I get from Sydney to Cairns?

If you love being able to stop or go wherever you want when travelling to see as much as possible, the optional way to do a Sydney to Cairns road trip is by car or van . However, if you don’t want to rent a car or drive by yourself, you can easily go by bus instead. I’ve tried both Greyhound and Premier , and they both worked fine. Yes, sometimes they’re late, sometimes it’s crowded and sometimes it’s really hot on the bus (or cold…) However, they’re fairly cheap and they’re a good option if you can’t go by car. Greyhound is more expensive but comes with amenities such as wifi. They also have more departures to choose between. Premier, on the other hand, is cheaper – if you’re travelling on a budget, they might be a good option!

How far is it from Sydney to Cairns?

The exact amount of kilometres will vary depending on what detours you choose to take, but if you follow this itinerary, the whole trip from Sydney to Cairns will be around 3000 kilometres. If you go by car, remember to drive on the left side!

What’s the weather like on Australia’s east coast?

The weather can vary a lot between Sydney and Cairns. Plan your visit and know what to pack by reading about Australia’s different season . Depending on when you plan to visit, you might benefit from going from Cairns to Sydney instead.

How many weeks does it take to do a Sydney to Cairns road trip?

It completely depends on how long you’d like to stay at each place. If you’re in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, you could easily spend a whole year just travelling the coast! However, if you don’t have a whole year to spend, I wouldn’t do this road trip in anything less than 3-4 weeks. To get more out of your trip, add a couple of weeks and you will have enough time to explore all the stops in this Sydney to Cairns itinerary!

My Sydney to Cairns itinerary for an east coast Australia road trip

Here’s my east coast Australia road trip itinerary, filled with all the stops you should check out, going from Sydney to Cairns. If you plan on staying in hostels, I’ll also let you know of a few good ones that we stayed at.

Let’s start this east coast Australia road trip! You’ll be starting in Sydney, the biggest city on the east coast. You’ll soon find that there are a lot of things to do in Sydney – depending on how long you plan on staying here, you might have to choose between some activities. Since there are lots of things to do in Sydney, I’ve made a list of my favourite things to visit:

The Royal Botanic Gardens

This is heaven for anyone loving flowers, plants and beautiful views. Stroll around the gardens and admire the view of the Opera House and the Harbour bridge!

Sydney Opera House

After you’ve been to the Botanic Gardens, you have the perfect opportunity to continue along the walkway towards the Opera House. This is a must-see, even if visiting tourist attractions isn’t your thing.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

When you’re at the Opera House, you’re rather close to the Harbour Bridge. I can highly recommend walking along the water between these two popular attractions as well, it’s a beautiful walk!

While you’re in the area, check out The Rocks! This is a neighbourhood perfect for anyone interested in history, art and architecture.

Manly Beach

Another great thing with Sydney is the possibility to go to a lot of nearby places by ferry. If you plan on exploring Sydney by public transport, you might buy the Opal card – good news, it’s working on the ferries as well! One of my favourite places to visit by ferry from Sydney is Manly Beach. In Manly, you can walk along the coast, hang at the beach or visit the cute shops and cafés. And oh, don’t forget to enjoy the ferry ride as well!

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is another nice harbour in Sydney with several restaurants and shops. There’s a lot of skyscrapers in Darling Harbour and it feels very “modern” – you won’t see skyscrapers for a while after leaving Sydney!

Bondi Beach

If you haven’t seen a photo of it before, I’m sure you’ve at least heard of it – Bondi Beach. A must-see for a lot of people, way too crowded for me. Still, I’ve been there twice. But hey, it’s a (famous) beach – I’m sure most of us like beaches!

If you have time, you can add a lot to the list of things to do in Sydney, but these are my favourites. I also highly recommend getting up early in the morning to catch the sunrise while you’re here but, if you prefer to sleep in, there are also several fantastic sunset spots in Sydney to check out!

Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney

I would consider adding at least one day extra in Sydney to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains – or maybe even add a night or two in Katoomba or somewhere near the mountains. If you’re going by public transport, consider travelling by train on a Sunday – it only costs around 3 AUD one way! Since I’m backpacking on a budget, I planned my day trip to the Blue Mountains on a Sunday. Even if you’re not on a budget, it’s always nice to save some money, right? Plan your Blue Mountains day trip here .

Port Macquarie

We were supposed to stop here, and I really wish we would’ve, but the weather conditions forced us to continue to Coffs Harbour. However, if you do get the chance, I would for sure do the coastal walk and check out the lighthouse. Of course, there are beautiful beaches as well!

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a beautiful hidden gem between Sydney and Cairns! I didn’t go here the first time I was travelling the east coast in Australia, but I’m so glad I gave this beautiful place a shot during my second visit. There’s a lot of things to do in Coffs Harbour – there are beaches, hikes, cafes and shops. We even saw dolphins close to the beach one day!

Are you planning on staying in hostels on this trip to save money or perhaps meet new friends? That’s what we did, and I can recommend checking out the place we stayed at – YHA in Coffs Harbour . It was very well taken care of and the manager was helpful and welcoming. Oh, and as most hostels that we stayed at in Australia, it has a pool!

Your next stop is Byron Bay – a place you probably have heard of before. There are a lot of things to do in Byron Bay. This charming town is known for its beaches, surfing, shops, restaurants and festivals. It’s a must-see in Australia for most visitors!

If you’re looking for hikes in Byron Bay, you could go to Cape Byron, which is only 3 kilometres from the Main Beach in Byron Bay. There you’ll find the easternmost point of mainland Australia and a beautiful lighthouse. The hike itself is quite nice as well!

There’s a lot of accommodation to choose between in Byron Bay, but we stayed at Backpackers Inn On The Beach . The hostel has a private walkway to the beach!

Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast is a pretty unique stop on this Sydney to Cairns road trip. It’s basically a long beach with skyscrapers next to it. It’s known for its nightlife but even if you’re not into partying, it’s quite a cool place to have seen. You can hang at the beach, visit a market and watch the surfers – or why not try it out yourself!

Brisbane is the second largest city on the east coast. Most people I’ve met while travelling in Australia either hate och love Brisbane – go explore Brisbane yourself to form your own opinion. If it turns out to not be one of your favourite cities along the coast, don’t worry – there are several day trips and weekend getaways from Brisbane that you could go on!

My favourite part of Brisbane is the South Bank. Here you’ll find interesting architecture, parks, restaurants, swimming pools and even a Ferris wheel.

Toowoomba is Queensland’s largest inland city, 125 kilometres west from Brisbane. This is probably not a common stop when going on an east coast Australia road trip, but we found this hidden gem during our last visit to Australia so I decided to add it to this Sydney to Cairns itinerary!

If you decide to go to Toowoomba, I’d recommend hiking up the Table Top Mountain – it offers beautiful views. Toowoomba is situated around 700 metres above sea level, which makes this city even more unique on this Sydney to Cairns road trip. It’s also called “The Garden City”, because of its many parks and gardens, and has a lot of historic buildings and places to visit.

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast has a lot of beautiful beaches to explore. We only did a quick stop here, but if you have some extra time, I’d recommend visiting Mooloolaba!

Noosa is probably one of my favourite places to visit on the east coast of Australia. There’s a lot of things to do in Noosa, but the major one you can’t miss is hiking Noosa Coastal Trail. Along this trail, you’ll find beautiful beaches, amazing nature, koalas (I’ve seen one every time I’ve hiked the Coastal Trail!), Noosa fairy pools and maybe even some dolphins playing around in the water.

If you’re planning on visiting Noosa fairy pools, remember to check the tides and go early in the morning if you can to avoid the crowds.

We stayed at Noosa Flashpackers . At the time, they were a bit more expensive than other hostels in the area, but offered free access to surfboards and bodyboards – if you plan on catching the waves, keep this in mind!

Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach is a cool place to stop along the east coast. Hire a sandboard and go sandboarding at the Carlo Sand Blow in Rainbow Beach while having beautiful views of the sea.

Rainbow Beach is also the perfect place to jump on a ferry to explore Fraser Island, which is a popular stop on Australia’s east coast.

We stayed at Pippies Beachhouse in Rainbow Beach. They let you borrow their sandboards for free!

Visit Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world – how cool isn’t that? This place is one of the must-sees in Australia for many travellers.

You can visit Fraser Island either by going on a tour, renting a 4WD or bringing your own. Driving on the world’s largest sand island is quite special, so make sure you’re prepared and have read about the different ways of exploring Fraser Island before you go.

Seventeen Seventy

Seventeen Seventy is a seaside village with several opportunities to try activities such as surfing and paddleboarding. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling well during our visit, so I had to stay at our accommodation for our whole time there. However, a lot of travellers I’ve met in Australia say they loved visiting Seventeen Seventy. If you have the time, consider adding it to your east coast Australia itinerary!

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a cute resort town with lovely walks along the water and a great centre for nightlife. However, most people go to Airlie Beach since it’s the gateway to the magical Whitsunday Islands.

We stayed at both Nomads and Magnums in Airlie beach – two pretty big party hostels.

Whitsunday Boat Trips

Going on any of the Whitsunday boat trips is on the bucket list for a lot of people visiting Australia, and after having been on a Whitsunday sailing trip myself, I completely understand why. What an amazing way to explore this beautiful part of Australia!

We went on a 2 days-1 night Whitsunday sailing trip with Matador Whitsundays , which was perfect for us, but there are many different Whitsunday boat trips to choose between depending on what sort of experience you are looking for.

It’s time for another gateway city – Townsville. A lot of people that come to Townsville jump on the ferry to Magnetic Island directly and miss what this city has to offer. There are several nice walking tracks in Townsville, but my favourite is the one up to Castle Hill Lookout – the view is amazing!

Take the ferry to Magnetic Island

When you’ve explored Townsville, take the ferry to Magnetic Island . This is another one of my favourite places to visit on Australia’s east coast.

There’s a lot of things to do on Magnetic Island! Do the Forts Walk while looking for koalas, watch as the rock wallabies show up in the evening at Geoffrey Bay or explore some or many of the beautiful beaches Magnetic Island has to offer.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach offers beautiful beaches, several hiking trails and the possibility to see a cassowary in the wild – Mission Beach has one of the highest concentration of this endangered flightless bird.

Want to try out living in a treehouse in the rainforest? That’s what we did! Staying at Jackaroo Treehouse was such a cool experience. We spent the days going on hikes in Mission Beach, chilling by the pool or visiting the beach, and the evenings playing board games with other travellers.

We mainly used Cairns as a starting point for several day trips in the area, such as to the Daintree Rainforest, but Cairns itself has a lot to offer as well. If you love nightlife or would like to learn how to scuba dive, this is the place for you!

We had a great stay at Summer House Backpackers . This was the most affordable hostel during our whole Sydney to Cairns road trip, but still one of the best ones! There was always something happening every night, breakfast was included in the price and they run a free shuttle bus several times a day to the city centre. Great value for the money!

Daintree Rainforest day trip

The last thing in this Sydney to Cairns itinerary is going on a day trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation . We had an amazing time visiting the Daintree Rainforest!

By now, I hope you’re super excited about going to Australia to do a Sydney to Cairns road trip and create your own memories – have a wonderful visit!

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This Post Has 14 Comments

Loved reading this post! Now Australia is really on the top of my bucket list! Thanks for the treehouse tip!

Thanks Amber, I’m happy you liked it and really glad you’ve put Australia at the top of your bucket list – it’s such a cool place!

My honeymoon was actually split between these 2 cities, but we flew. A road trip certainly looks like it would allow you to see far more than we were able!

Oh but wow, that must have been such an amazing honeymoon though, both places have so much to offer!

Fraser Island is so high up the bucket list! I loved Western Australia so next time it will be the east coast, I hope this European winter/ Australian summer!!

Oh I was supposed to be in Western Australia right now! Hopefully I get to go another time. Enjoy the east coast, it’s amazing!

This is a great itinerary. I have done the road trip from Sydney to Cairns and above and I agreed that these places are absolutely amazing. I have visited all except Toowoomba. Maybe I should plan a road trip again just to see Toowoomba.

Oh how lovely! Yes, I didn’t visit Toowoomba the first time I did this road trip either – it’s not really a common stop for people travelling the coast, but definitely a place to check out if you have the time!

I would love to do this road trip! Australia is so beautiful and has so much to offer! Thank you for all the info!

I’m glad you liked the post and I agree with you – I’d love to do this road trip again, haha!

Such good memories to read about your road trip! I did it the other way round, from Daintree all the way to Brisbane.

Yes it was a lovely trip, so much to see and do! Oh that must have been such a nice road trip as well!

Thank you for this post Amanda :). Australia has always been in my top 5 on my bucket list. I pinned this post for later to organise our road trip. The hiking Noosa Coastal Trail sounds awesome. Do you have any picture of a koala meeting during one of this trail ;)? How long / many kilometres is about this trail?

Oh thank you Lauriane, I’m glad you like it! Australia is such a cool place to visit, very unique! Haha yes! I actually do have a blurry photo of the koala, but it’s hiding high up in the tree behind leaves and branches 😉 I think, if you make it a loop, it’s around 10-11 kilometres, but there are also lots of different paths you could take!

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Travel Advice

Stay safe while you travel

Tropical North Queensland has a myriad of adventures to be had, but it’s important to stay safe and take necessary precautions. During weather events, adhere to guidance provided by the local council of the region you’re in. Council disaster dashboards listed below.

For Travellers

Major roads have reopened, including the Palmerston Highway, Bruce Highway, Kuranda Range Road, Gillies Highway, and Captain Cook Highway. Before you travel, please check Department of Transport & Main Roads alerts. 

Daintree Ferry

As of 19 February 2024, the Daintree Ferry opened for visitors and registered commercial small tour operators (under 12.5m length). Please note north of Thornton Beach is currently closed.

Cape Tribulation

Visitors can return to Cape Tribulation from 27 March. The road north of Noah Range will reopen in a limited capacity between 6:00am and 7:30pm daily.

Some sections, including Noah Range, will be one lane only and will be managed by traffic controllers. Travellers should expect delays of at least 20 minutes, especially during peak times. The Bloomfield Track remains closed.

Please refer to the Douglas Shire Dashboard and Douglas Shire Council for the latest information.

Cairns Disaster Dashboard

Refer to the Cairns Disaster Dashboard for all information regarding the Cairns Regional Council area.

More Regional Council Dashboards

Tropical North Queensland spans approximately 380,000km² and is made up of 25 local council areas. As such, what’s going on in one area of the region can be very different to the next. Refer to the relevant dashboards depending on where you are planning to travel.

Burke Shire Council Road Conditions

Cairns Regional Council Dashboard

Carpentaria Shire Council Road Report

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Dashboard

Cook Shire Council Dashboard  (Cape York)

Douglas Shire Council Dashboard

Etheridge Shire Council Road Conditions

Mareeba Shire Council Dashboard

Tablelands Regional Council Dashboard

International travel border information & advice

International travellers can travel through Australia and Queensland with minimal disruption.

Find out more

Parks & Road Closure Information

Queensland Parks and roads may close teporarily due to severe weather and general maintenance. Before you hit the road, check the latest road conditions and advice to avoid unexpected hazards on your drive. Check Queensland Parks and never venture into out of bounds zones, flooded waters or dangerous areas to prevent serious injury or death.

Dept of Transport & Main Roads alerts Queensland Road Conditions (RACQ)  Queensland Park alerts

COVID-19 advice

Domestic and international travellers can enjoy the open spaces of Tropical North Queensland. Find out all you need to know about Australian travel and exploring Tropical North Queensland below.

More resources

Wildlife safety, getting around, weather & seasons, privacy overview, accessibility, accessibility modes, online dictionary, readable experience, visually pleasing experience, easy orientation.

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement

• tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
• April 20, 2024

Compliance status

We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email

Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.

Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Disability profiles supported in our website

• Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
• Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
• Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
• ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
• Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
• Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

• Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
• Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
• Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
• Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
• Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
• Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
• Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

Browser and assistive technology compatibility

We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

Notes, comments, and feedback

Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to

Book now and save $100 on tours

Are you visiting Tropical North Queensland soon? Take advantage of our Tropical Dollars and get $100 off tours and experiences* when you book through Experience Oz! Use code TNQ100

*Min spend $200. T&C’s apply. Travel by 21 June 2024.

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While the Captain Cook Highway remains closed between Cairns and Port Douglas our fabulous industry has stepped up and are offering visitors 2 different ways to get into Port Douglas either by water or road (via Mareeba) - see below the current information we have.

BOAT TRANSFERS

While the Great Barrier Reef Drive is on a scenic detour, the “water taxi” ferry service between Cairns and Port Douglas is your ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime view of the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical North Queensland coastline

QUICKSILVER REEF CRUISES

Quicksilver will be providing a short-term ferry transfer service between Port Douglas and Cairns. Departure from Port Douglas will be at 8:00am and a 2:30pm departure from Cairns back to Port. Cost is $50 per person one way, children under 3 years travel free.

Book online or contact the Quicksilver Reservations team on 4087 2100.

Departing Cairns at 8.00am and arriving in Port Douglas at 9.30am

Departing Port Douglas at 4.15pm and arriving in Cairns at 6.00om

REEF UNLIMITED

Reef Unlimited will be operating ferry services from Cairns to Port Douglas return, on an ongoing basis until further notice. Their ferry service operates everyday with some days offering 2 departure times, please refer to their booking page for these additional times

Departure Times: Cairns Marlin Marina: 9.30am (arrive 45 mins prior) Port Douglas Crystalbrook Marina: 1.30pm (arrive 45 mins prior) Cost: $50pp Online bookings available here.

Please contact the team on 0427 498 042 for times and availability.

EXEMPLAR COACHES AND LIMOUSINES

Are offering ground transfers in Cairns to meet the ferry after landing at the airport, as well as transfers to the pax' resort once they arrive at the Marina in Port. You can call the team on 07 4213 3333.

ROAD TRANSFERS

Take the scenic route on a bus or private transfer via Mareeba! Take in the magic of the Kuranda range and Atherton tablelands before you arrive in Port Douglas.

Exemplar Coaches and Limousines will be operating their transfers as of Saturday 23rd of December, they will be taking the scenic route through Mareeba with the below schedule;

Exemplar are also still offering private transfers. Please contact their reservations teams for more information or to make a booking on 07 4213 3333 or email [email protected]

PORT DOUGLAS TRANSFERS

Port Douglas Transfers are offering transfers daily, up to 4 times a day, via the inland road. Please contact the team on 0488 090 823 or email [email protected]

ROGERS RIDES

The team at Rodgers Rides are offering coach transfers via Mareeba. Contact the team today to make a booking on 0450 804 495.

#VisitPortDouglasDaintree

Added to list

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree acknowledges the custodianship of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef by the local Kuku Yalanji and Yirraganydji people whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect our natural assets for future generations, and we pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging.

Watch CBS News

SEPTA hits the brakes on double-decker train cars for regional rail system

By Jessica MacAulay , CBS News Philadelphia Staff

April 14, 2024 / 8:18 PM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- SEPTA is hitting the brakes on a project that's been in the works for over seven years. The transit company halted its $185 million project to implement double-decker train cars in its regional rail line system.  

"SEPTA has terminated its contract with CRRC MA for cause. The Authority is assessing its options for recouping funds that have been spent on the project," SEPTA media relations told CBS Philadelphia Friday. 

A project description for the double-decker railcars, provided by SEPTA, shows  CRRC MA  was set to produce 45 railcars with an option for an additional 10 push-pull railcars. 

According to SEPTA, at this time the transit company is working to get back $50 million already spent on the project.

The project description also showed the double-decker railcars would be ADA-compliant and include passenger perks like a state-of-the-art climate control system, a bike storage area and onboard Wi-Fi. 

According to the company's website, CRRC MA specializes in railcar manufacturing and green transportation. The company makes high-speed trains, mass transit vehicles, passenger coaches, wind power equipment and engineering machinery. 

CRRC MA is a combination of two large Chinese railroad vehicle manufacturers. The railcar producers' North America office is based in Boston.

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Jessica MacAulay is a digital producer for CBSPhiladelphia.com. Jessica started out her career in broadcast journalism originally as an intern for CBS Philadelphia. She covers breaking news, local community and crime stories.

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Advice on ANZ Tour for 2025 - Land or Sea? - Australia Forum

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Advice on ANZ Tour for 2025 - Land or Sea?

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Last year we did a Viking RIVER Cruise in Europe and LOVED it. Mornings planned for us, but plenty of free time each day. No packing/unpacking. If we choose an ANZ cruise would be a very different vibe on a larger ocean ship compared to the 150 passengers we were with in Europe.

A couple options we are considering:

*Viking Ocean Cruise (15 days) Sydney , Melbourne , Tasmania, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua, Auckland. We do lose "tourist" time to sailing between larger distances.

* Exploring Australia & New Zealand (19 nights/Odysseys) - Small Group 12-24 ppl/Bus. Mostly spending 2 nights in each place: Sydney, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Cairns /Great Barrier Reef, Christchurch, Mount Cook, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Auckland.

Land or sea? Tour sources? Considerations?

Thanks for any recommendations!

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NEWS ALERT: House advances a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, teeing up final votes this weekend

FAA investigating near collision of two jets at Reagan National Airport

Dan Ronan | [email protected]

April 18, 2024, 10:01 PM

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The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to WTOP it is investigating a near collision that occurred Thursday morning at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Two passenger jets came within 400 feet of each other before controllers took last-minute evasive action and immediately stopped the two planes. It’s not clear why the jets were authorized to be on the same runway at the same time.

At 7:41 a.m., one controller frantically yelled, “JetBlue 1554 stop! 1554 stop!” This took place 30 seconds after JetBlue flight to Boston was cleared for takeoff and was on Runway 4, beginning its movement down the runway.

The plane was gaining speed when a controller frantically radioed to the crew of nearby Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 to immediately stop its movement. The Southwest flight bound for Orlando was moving close to the runway, and it appears the two planes were on a collision course.

“Southwest, stop! Southwest 2937, stop!” a controller yelled.

“JetBlue 1554, traffic holds off your right. Wind calm, Runway 4, cleared for takeoff,” another controller said. The JetBlue pilot acknowledged the air traffic controller and began the flight.

“Cleared for takeoff, Runway 4, JetBlue 1554,” the pilot replied.

Radio traffic then shows another unidentified voice urging an air traffic controller to stop the Southwest Airlines flight, after the JetBlue flight is moving and just before the controller issues her urgent call.

“Tell Southwest to stop,” the transmission states.

The Southwest flight had crossed what is called a “hold short line,” and the pilots stopped the plane before it crossed onto the runway. It ended up facing the oncoming JetBlue plane at an angle at the intersection.

The Southwest pilot replied: “We stopped. We were cleared to cross Runway 4.”

“We’re stopping, JetBlue 1554,” the pilots of that plane said.

“An air traffic controller instructed Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 to cross Runway 4 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while JetBlue Flight 1554 was starting its takeoff roll on the same runway,” the FAA said in a statement emailed to WTOP. “The FAA will investigate.”

“This is very worrisome”

“This is unacceptably close,” retired Alaska Airlines captain and aviation safety analyst John Nance told WTOP. “We have a dichotomy between two controllers who did not have situational awareness of exactly who was doing what. This is very unusual, because they usually coordinate as seamlessly as possible.”

Nance said the JetBlue flight was moving at an estimated 34 knots, or 39 mph, before it stopped. The plane would become airborne at about 135 knots, about 45 seconds after first beginning its acceleration.

“This one is going to take some study. We were out of options in this case. The crew had minimal time,” he said.

Both the JetBlue and Southwest flights taxied back to different runways and, a short time later, departed to their respective destinations.

Nance emphasized that the system worked in preventing a collision. However, there were several breakdowns.

“There was no margin left, if there had been a failure to communicate to JetBlue and they were on a high-speed portion of their take off, they would not have been able to swerve, more than likely with someone entering the intersection at exactly that point,” Nance said.

“Had the controller failed to issue the warning, you might have easily had a collision. We have backup systems, sometimes they’re human and sometimes they’re mechanical, but when you run out of backup systems and one more problem is going to give you the high likelihood of a major collision, this is very worrisome,” he added.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Weekend anchor Dan Ronan is an award-winning journalist with a specialty in business and finance reporting.

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• Public Notices

Freedom Transit holding public comment sessions on proposed fare changes

Apr 16, 2024 2 min read.

Freedom Transit is holding several open houses and public comment sessions over the few weeks as it prepares to restructure its fixed route bus service.

The proposed fare changes include reducing the number of fare categories from four down to two, and then establishing a fare of $2 for all fixed route travel in Washington County, along with a $4 fare for all fixed routes traveling to and from Allegheny County.

Freedom Transit has not adjusted its fares since 2012, so it is requesting public comment on the proposed fare restructure. The public can learn about the proposed changes and offer feedback at one of the following open house meetings and public comment sessions:

*Tuesday, April 23, noon to 7 p.m., at the Freedom Transit, 50 E. Chestnut St. in Washington.

*Tuesday, April 30, noon to 2 p.m., at Heritage Public Library, 52 Fourth St. in McDonald.

*Tuesday, April 30, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Frank Sarris Public Library, 35 N. Jefferson Ave. in Canonsburg.

*Wednesday, May 1, noon to 7 p.m., at Freedom Transit, 50 E. Chestnut St. in Washington.

All interested parties are invited to attend the meetings and provide comments on the proposed changes. Comments will also be accepted in writing through May 1 to Freedom Transit Fixed Route Fare Adjustments, 50 E. Chestnut St., Washington, PA, 15301, or emailed to [email protected] or by phone at 724-223-8747. For more information on public transportation in Washington County, visit www.freedom-transit.org or call 724-223-8747.

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San Francisco Sues Oakland Over Airport Name

S an Francisco is suing Oakland over that city's planned use of "San Francisco" in its airport name, alleging that the renaming will cause "widespread passenger confusion and "avoidable travel mishaps."

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against the City of Oakland on Thursday, a week after the Port of Oakland unanimously approved plans to change the official name of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. The airport code, OAK, would not change.

In the complaint filed in the Northern District of California, Chiu argues that adding the words "San Francisco" to OAK's official name will only serve to puzzle the flying public— particularly international fliers unfamiliar with the region—who may accidentally book flights to OAK thinking they are flying into San Francisco International (SFO), and may end up missing connections, rental car reservations and facing other costly delays.

The suit specifically mentions travelers headed to or from SFO via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), who may also be confused because the light-rail system uses "San Francisco" as one direction in which its trains travel and SFO and OAK are on opposite ends of the same rail line.

The suit further notes that at least one airline, Azores Air, has already started using the new name on their booking site, causing SFO "economic harm" by allowing OAK to "receive substantial profits based on the strength of SFO's reputation and services," pointing to several awards won by SFO over the years for everything from its customer service to dining options.

SFO, which is the second-busiest airport on the West Coast and serves as a major entry point to the U.S. for travelers coming from Asia and other points east, was only notified of Oakland's proposed name change 30 minutes before the first press release went out, the complaint alleges. SFO's airport director immediately objected and offered to discuss the matter further, but officials with the Port of Oakland did not respond, according to the complaint.

Both airports serve the Bay Area, though SFO is significantly bigger and busier, carrying 50 million passengers last year compared to OAK's 11 million. While both serve international carriers, nearly all overseas flights bound for the area fly into SFO's giant International Terminal—a point noted by Clint Henderson, the managing editor of the travel site The Points Guy .

"Could there be some confusion? Absolutely. But the truth is there are very few international flights going into OAK," he told Newsweek , with the majority of those coming from Mexico.

Henderson said he suspects the two sides will reach an agreement that could include modifying OAK's new name to put "San Francisco" somewhere other than in the front—similar to how a tiff between Orlando-area airports was resolved several years ago.

"I don't think San Francisco will be successful here," he said. "OAK is physically on the San Francisco Bay." Meanwhile, SFO is not even technically in San Fransisco, but some 15 miles south in San Mateo County.

The Port of Oakland said in response to the suit that it plans to "vigorously defend our right to claim our spot on the San Francisco Bay. We are standing up for Oakland and our East Bay community."

In a previous statement to Newsweek after the name change was first approved last week, the Port defended the renaming as a simple business decision: "The proposed name modification "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport" is both pro-Oakland and pro-jobs. Our goal is to boost local jobs and economic activity for Oakland and the region."

"The whole point of this for Oakland is to take some of San Francisco's traffic," Henderson said. "It's understandable, from Oakland's point-of-view, why they want some of that business."

Oakland is currently struggling with a confluence of intertwined economic and social issues, from public safety to a slow post-pandemic recovery of its downtown. The city has lost all three of its professional sports teams in recent years.

San Francisco, for its part, is dealing with many of the same problems, though its population and tax base is significantly wealthier.

In a press release announcing the lawsuit, Chiu acknowledged Oakland's struggles: "We want to see the entire Bay Area thrive as a tourist destination and expand our offerings to visitors, but the renaming is not a legal or practical way to go about it."

Barring an injunction by the court, as requested by Chiu, the new name will go into effect after the Port of Oakland gives its final approval at a meeting on May 9.

Update 4/18/24, 3:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from OAK.

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