Cairns is a popular destination for Australian and international tourists alike, offering the perfect base for exploring the beautiful Far North Queensland region. While the city itself has plenty to keep visitors entertained, there are also a number of great day trips that can be taken to nearby landmarks. The most popular destination is undoubtedly the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Visitors can take a boat tour from Cairns to explore the reef, swimming and snorkelling amongst the colourful fish and corals. Other popular day trips include visits to Kuranda, Port Douglas, and Daintree National Park. No matter what your interests are, Cairns is sure to have something for you.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Cairns? You’re in luck – there’s accommodation to suit all budgets in this picturesque Queensland city. If you’re on a tight budget, there are plenty of backpacker hostels to choose from. For something a little more comfortable, there are a range of motels dotted around the city. And if you’re looking to really relax and indulge on your vacation, there are several luxurious resorts with all the amenities you could ever want, including swimming pools, spas and restaurants. Plus, with all the great day trips on offer in Cairns, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do!
Fitzroy Island
Doing a day trip to Fitzroy Island from Cairns is an easy and enjoyable way to spend a day in the tropics. The island itself is relatively small, but its diverse landscape – including rainforest, beaches, and coral reefs – offers plenty to see and do. Visitors can take a scenic hike through the rainforest, relax on the sandy beaches, or snorkel among the colourful fish and corals of the Great Barrier Reef. There are also several restaurants and cafes on the island, making it the perfect place to enjoy a meal with friends or family. Best of all, day trips to Fitzroy Island from Cairns are relatively inexpensive and can be easily arranged through most tour operators. So if you’re looking for an affordable way to enjoy the tropics, then a day trip to Fitzroy Island is definitely worth considering.
Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge
The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most popular tourist destination in Australia. The rainforest is located just north of Cairns, and it is easy to reach by car or bus. Visitors can explore the rainforest on foot, or take a scenic drive through the forest. There are also many guided tours available, which can provide visitors with an educational experience. The Mossman Gorge is another popular tourist destination in the area. The Gorge is located within the Daintree Rainforest, and it is a beautiful place to relax and take in the scenery. There are many swimming holes and hiking trails within the gorge, and visitors can also take a scenic cable car ride to the top of the gorge. day trip to both the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge is a great way to experience all that this region has to offer.
Great Barrier Reef
A day trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns is a great way to see one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. The reef is home to an incredible variety of marine life, and the clear waters make for excellent snorkeling and diving. There are many operators offering day trips, so it’s important to do some research to find one that suits your needs and budget. A reputable operator will provide all the equipment you need, as well as trained guides who can help you make the most of your time on the reef. With a little planning, a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef can be a truly unforgettable experience.
Many people travel to see the world’s natural wonders, but few have the chance to play an active role in their preservation. Citizen science offers a unique opportunity to do just that, by combining conservation efforts with tourism. By joining a citizen science project, tourists can help with important data collection and field work, while also getting an up-close look at the local wildlife. In recent years, citizen science has played a vital role in monitoring and protecting endangered species, as well as tracking the spread of invasive species. In some cases, tourist involvement has even helped to turn the tide in the fight against extinction. With citizen science projects increasingly popping up around the world, there has never been a better time to get involved. So whether you’re interested in helping out with research or just want to see some amazing animals, consider a citizen science project on your next trip…
When I jumped in my car and headed on what I thought was going to be a fun little road trip to see some turtles, I had no idea that I was visiting one of the most globally significant conservation programs for endangered sea turtles, and one of the most successful citizen science conservation efforts in the country. Citizen science programs, when planned and prepared effectively, like at Mon Repos, can also equip people with the information and tools to make significant positive changes to their local area and, most importantly, see direct outcomes of science and conservation efforts; making citizen science a promising tool for environmental protection and biodiversity, informing policymaking, fostering public input and engagement, and promoting direct action.
Citizen science is a powerful tool for tackling conservation challenges
Citizen science doesn’t just provide a way to collect data; it also engages the general public in scientific issues and can be a powerful way to tackle conservation challenges. In an article about the benefits of citizen science for conservation (1), the authors conclude that “citizen science informs natural resource management, environmental protection, and policymaking and fosters public input and engagement.”
Citizen science programs can also be a tool to inform and educate the public about conservation challenges, and some of the solutions to the problem. One reason that members of the public aren’t motivated to address climate change and other local or global environmental challenges is that the impacts are relatively distant from their day-to-day life. But engaging people first-hand in these issues, and showing them the consequences that we face, stops it from being such an abstract concept, and motivates them to at a minimum care about the issue, and hopefully to act.
Case Study: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Queensland
Mon Repos Conservation Park, 14 kilometers east of Bundaberg at the Southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, is a globally significant site for research on and protection of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle, a prehistoric species thought to have emerged around 40 million years ago. The unique ecological conditions at Mon Repos Beach support a key stage in the ancient life cycle of the loggerhead and two other species – flatback and green turtles.
While loggerhead turtles spend decades at sea reaching sexual maturity and forage and breed many hundreds (or thousands) of kilometers away, the beach at Mon Repos where they were born is where the females return to lay their eggs from November to February. In February and March, the final clutches of hatchlings make their way into the ocean and travel via the East Australian Current past New South Wales and New Zealand, before making their way to South America. Only 1 in 1000 of the turtles will reach maturity, at about age 30, when the lucky survivors return to Mon Repos. The others will face threats like plastic waste; by the time the hatchlings have made it from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast, 50% of them will have ingested plastic.
Only 1 in 1000 of the turtles will reach maturity… by the time the hatchlings have made it from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast, 50% of them will have ingested plastic.
Turtle research has been ongoing at Mon Repos since the late 1960s when biologist Colin Limpus began tagging turtles to study them. At the time he was a high school teacher, who would bring his students down to the beach to learn about the turtles. As he became increasingly interested in finding answers to his questions about the turtles— like how far and how long they travelled before returning to Mon Repos— Col took up researching the turtles full time.
From the 1990s onwards, when the waters off the coast were established as a marine park, ecotourism to the region grew, formalised through the design and construction of a visitor centre, and by 2013, the visitor centre at Mon Repos was receiving more than 30,000 people annually to experience night-time turtle nesting and hatching through a ranger-led “turtle encounter.” Each night, from October to March each year, the team at Mon Repos also spend the entire night collecting data for the research centre, protecting the eggs and turtles from predators, tagging hatchlings, and ensuring that the hatchlings make their way safely to sea. In order to do this, Mon Repos relies on volunteer citizen scientists to assist rangers in their data collection and efforts to care for the turtles, making it one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the country.
When I visited Mon Repos, I was inspired by the ways in which decades of citizen science, that began with a curious high-school teacher, has created the world’s most significant loggerhead turtle conservation site, and aided the world’s understanding of the manifold ways that humans impact on species loss, including fishing-related harms, plastic ingestion, ocean contamination and, more recently, climate change.
This project is just one example of how citizen science has made, and will continue to make valuable contributions to our understanding of the natural world. One of the things that has made Mon Repos so successful is that it carefully matches the right type of science project and the right method of public participation.
Mon Repos Turtle Encounter
A trip to Mon Repos beach in Bundaberg is not just a great chance to get in some sun and sand – it also offers visitors an incredible wildlife experience! Every Spring, over 20,000 Loggerhead Turtles make their way up the beach to lay eggs. Once laid, these eggs incubate anywhere between 45-55 days before hatchlings break through the sand surface in search of the ocean. There’s nothing quite like watching the baby turtles race towards the waves and hope that they escape predation long enough to begin the next chapter of their lives in the ocean. Visitors are required to adhere to several rules while witnessing these adorable hatchlings, such as keeping a healthy distance from them and avoiding flash photography due to its disorienting effect. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience with nature in Queensland then Mon Repos should definitely be on your list!
Turtle tour season operates nightly from November to late March, and you’ll want to get in quick to secure your spot. You can book through the official Bundaberg Tourism website. If you’re keen to learn about turtle conservation and contribute to the research program, you can volunteer during the turtle nesting season with QLD Parks.
Changemaker chat with a conservationist
While visiting Mon Repos, I met Elisha, who I’d previously only connected with online, for a changemaker chat for the podcast. Elisha is not only a ranger at Mon Repos turtle centre, but also combined her love for travel with her passion for conservation, to create her very own eco-travel company, Chasin Clean Coasts, and a podcast, Chasin Travels.
I got to chat with Elisha and hear all about her story, travel tips, and of course, what it was like starting her very own travel company… right before the coronavirus pandemic. With the world opening up for travel post-covid, I know that I’m super keen to get back out there and experience the world— and I definitely recommend Mon Repos if you’re ever on the QLD coast!
It was also great to be reminded that if you want to start your own business or passion project, you don’t need to have the whole path mapped out, you just need to take the first step, and figure out the next step as you go…
