Sometimes the best travel plans begin with an unexpected opportunity. A bargain airfare, a complimentary hotel night, and suddenly we found ourselves heading to Cairns for a long weekend.
Having visited Far North Queensland many times, Cairns wasn't necessarily somewhere we had been planning to return to. Palm Cove has always been our preferred place to stay, but this time we decided to do things a little differently.
Rather than revisit all our usual favourites, we set out to explore a few places and experiences we'd previously overlooked.
And sometimes, that's exactly what makes a familiar destination interesting again.
A walk along the Wangetti trail
After collecting our hire car at Cairns Airport, we headed north towards Palm Cove, one of our favourite spots in Far North Queensland.
This time, however, we had something new in mind — the Wangetti Trail.
The trail is well signposted and easy to follow, although the tropical heat certainly adds to the challenge. It's also a shared walking and cycling trail, but personally, I think tackling some of those hills on a bike would be considerably harder!
The section we walked finishes at Ellis Beach, approximately 7.5 kilometres away, before turning around for the return journey.
My recommendation? Start early, take plenty of water and insect repellent, and make Ellis Beach your destination for a leisurely lunch at the beachfront café before heading back to Palm Cove.
A lovely way to discover a different side of the region.
Rainforest swimming at Crystal Cascades
One of the best ways to escape the tropical North Queensland heat is to head inland, where the rainforest offers a welcome change of scenery.
Around 35 minutes from Cairns, near Redlynch, Crystal Cascades is a beautiful series of freshwater swimming holes surrounded by lush tropical rainforest.
The water is wonderfully refreshing, and we enjoyed swimming beneath one of the waterfalls, taking in the beautiful surroundings.
Apparently, the swimming holes are crocodile-free, although we can confirm they're certainly not eel-free! Fortunately, the eels seemed far less interested in us than we were in them.
It's an easy place to visit, with convenient parking, clean toilets and changing facilities nearby.
A lovely way to spend a few hours, and a reminder that some of the best experiences in Far North Queensland are found away from the coast.
A little Palm Cove indulgence
Palm Cove has always been our favourite place to stay in Far North Queensland, and it's not difficult to see why. With its palm-fringed beachfront, boutique shops, inviting cafés and beautiful accommodation, there's something effortlessly appealing about this little coastal village.
We spent a leisurely afternoon wandering through Palm Cove before heading to Nu Nu Restaurant for an early dinner. We'd deliberately booked a table before sunset, hoping to enjoy the changing colours of the sky and ocean as the evening unfolded.
The menu looked wonderful, but on our waiter's recommendation, we decided on the Taste of the Tropics tasting menu — and I'm so glad we did.
Every course was a delight, beautifully presented and full of flavour. The kitchen has a wonderful way of incorporating tropical ingredients into its dishes, with pineapple making a particularly memorable appearance!
It was one of those dining experiences where everything just came together — beautiful food, a relaxed atmosphere and a stunning coastal setting.
Would we return? Absolutely. And I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Nu Nu to anyone visiting Palm Cove.
Port Douglas for lunch
With a late flight home, we decided to make the most of our final day and take the scenic coastal drive to Port Douglas.
The sun was shining, the ocean was calm and an incredible shade of blue, and even the occasional roadworks couldn't spoil the drive. With views like these, we certainly weren't complaining!
Port Douglas has a similar relaxed tropical charm to Palm Cove, just on a slightly larger scale. Its streets are lined with boutique shops, inviting cafés and restaurants, many offering lovely alfresco dining.
Finding somewhere for lunch wasn't difficult, and with coral trout on the menu, Michael was particularly happy! The seafood in Far North Queensland really is something special.
After lunch, we wandered towards the waterfront, where the Sunday markets were just beginning to pack up. From what we could see, there was a wonderful selection of stalls, with plenty of beautiful, locally made products.
We enjoyed one last stroll along the water's edge, taking in those gorgeous coastal views before it was time to head back towards Cairns Airport.
On our way out, we drove past Four Mile Beach, which was bustling with people enjoying the sunshine. It was lovely to see so many people making the most of such a beautiful Sunday.
A relaxed and enjoyable way to finish our little tropical escape.
Sometimes a long weekend is all you need to rediscover a familiar destination.
From walking the Wangetti Trail and swimming in the rainforest at Crystal Cascades, to a beautiful dinner at Nu Nu and a leisurely final lunch in Port Douglas, we managed to experience a different side of Far North Queensland.
It may not have been a destination at the top of our travel list, but it turned out to be a lovely few days away.
And sometimes, the unexpected little escapes are the ones that surprise you.
