Suzanna (08-Feb-11)
Quite helpful, but could have assisted us with some additional information - eg, for the tour to Green Island, the bus collects from Palm Cove first and takes over an hour to get to the city which means a very early start with young children - we would have been better off getting a taxi of our own for only marginally more cost. In fact we did this on the return and skipped the bus ride. I would not recommend the half day tour for families as it is a lot of travelling to and fro including the boat ride for really just a short glass bottom boat tour. Also it is very crowded and the beaches are pretty ordinary. If you are travelling with little kids you would have to take a lot of stuff to have a day on the beach as there was limited food available and there is not a lot of room on the boat for many bags/towels/beach umbrella etc. Should really allow the option of cancelling if weather is bad - we rescheduled once to try to find a less windy day and still the ride over the reef was quite bumpy and the water wasn't very clear.
Also, on the day of the fishing tour which started early and went for four or five hours, there was no food provided. It would have been useful to know this beforehand so that we could have organised a packed lunch, snacks and drinks. My husband and his father were returned to Cairns at about 1pm rather than Palm Cove and had to then find their own lunch and their own way back to Palm Cove.
The local zoo is not really worth the money or the effort - don't include this as an essential for families with little kids. We wasted half a day or more on it which could have been spent just relaxing at the Amphora or on the beach.
Probably would have been helpful to suggest not to do too many activities as it means you don't get enough time to just relax and enjoy Palm Cove and the Amphora.
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