Queensland is a destination like no other and recently our staff have been lucky to experience that Queensland holiday feeling ensuring that at If Only we can give you the best advice on what your customers can expect on their Australian adventure.
Read on to find out more about our product manager Caitlin McAvoy, and tailormade executives Jason McCrum and Thomas Innes’s recent trips to Queensland and some of the highlights of their trips!
Caitlin McAvoy - Product Manager
“We started our trip staying in the Daintree Rainforest (The Worlds oldest living rainforest) at Silky Oaks Lodge. The rooms are set on stilts and each accommodation has its own balcony with a hammock overlooking the rainforest and Mossman River and a large bathtub – a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon. We went on a cultural tour with Walkabout Cultural Adventures. Our Aboriginal guide did a fantastic job of teaching us all about the history of the region, the Australian Aboriginal people, their language, how they use different plants for food and medicine. We even tried some native bush food and spear throwing.
This was followed by a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef with Sailaway (small group cruising) this was definitely a highlight for me, I had been lucky to snorkel in French Polynesia recently and seen lots of fish, reef sharks and manta rays but I was yet to see a turtle so that was my mission for the day, and I was lucky enough to spot one very quickly. We then went to a sand cay where there was even more turtles swimming close by and they kept popping their head up out of the water – a truly amazing experience.
We then took a helicopter transfer to Mt. Mulligan Lodge and the transfer was an amazing experience in itself. We watched the landscape change from the busy city of Cairns as we ventured into Queensland’s outback. We were greeted off the helicopter with champagne in this stunning setting with a prime view of the lake and mountain. Guests can choose between a spacious room with a large deck area and outdoor soaking tub or tented accommodation is on offer for those who want the true outback experience. Everything from gourmet meals to quality wine, beer and spirts and daily experiences are included. Other highlights of my trip included driving through the outback on an ATV tour, and paddle boarding in the lake, unforgettable experiences on an unforgettable trip!”
Jason McCrum - Tailormade Sales Executive
“I had two amazing experiences on my recent famil to Queensland that just put the cherry on top of an already wonderful trip. My first was snorkelling off the coast of Moreton Island to a local reef system that was made up of 15 sunken vessels that is home to over 100 species of fish. We were taken out on a boat to one end of the reef so that we could slowly drift up along the vessels to view the amazing marine life and abundance of brightly coloured fish. And to make this experience even better we got to watch a green turtle swim alongside us to a spot on the reef where it stopped to eat some tasty sea grass.
The second experience that blew me out of the water was doing a 15 min scenic flight over K’gari (Fraser Island). This experience is regularly offered to guests that do the “Beauty Spots Tour” of K’gari (from Kingfisher Bay Resort) and it was great value for money. Our runway was the long sandy stretch of beach on the Eastern side of the Island which was a thrill in itself and then once we got into the air we were taken on a leisurely tour over the interior of the Island to see the amazing expanse of the rainforest/bush that covers the “Largest Sand Island” in the world. We then took a detour where we got to see Humpback Whales making their annual migration up from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Northern Queensland to breed. A highlight on that flight was being able to see a mother and calf breaching the water and playing as they made their migration – our guide did mention that we were very lucky as it was only the start of the migration and usually, they don’t sight whales that early so this was amazing to see. The whale season runs from July to October."
Thomas Innes - Talirmade Sales Executive
“I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who has an interest in nature and wildlife. We were guided by James who is the owner of the touring company who really made the experience thanks to his wealth of knowledge. Guides know the flora and fauna inside out - so animal spotting including platypus and tree kangaroo is almost guaranteed. This is a totally personalised experience on private tours, and guides will tailor the day to suit the clients and includes a delicious lunch at local spots such as the stunning tea house at Lake Barrine, where we visited and indulged in fantastic homemade food!
Kuranda, the picturesque village nestled in the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland, is just a short trip from Cairns and is known for its vibrant markets, stunning natural beauty, and rich cultural experiences and the best way to travel is by skyrail cable cars. The Skyrail itself will take 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how long you spend at each stop as there are two stops at Red Peak and Barron Falls stations, where you can explore the rainforest on boardwalks and enjoy spectacular viewpoints. Rangers are positioned at each stop to give short guided walks or you can explore on your own. This is a fantastic experience for all ages and is even suitable for those with mobility issues and I would recommend around 15 to 20 minutes should be spent at each stop. I would definitely allow a full day to do the Skyrail up to Kuranda, to allow the chance to explore Kuranda, have lunch, visit the butterfly sanctuary etc., and then travel by train back to Cairns in Gold Class.
This adults only sailing is a great way to spend an evening and ideal for those with a morning or early afternoon arrival into CNS as it begins at 4.30pm, and gives the perfect introduction to Port Douglas. We relaxed onboard this first class sailing catamaran and soaked up the peace and tranquillity of the tropical sunset over the Coral Sea as we sailed along the breathtaking coast off Far North Queensland. They also offer a Low Isles afternoon reef cruise, which is a great option for those who want to experience the reef but are not strong swimmers and is very popular with guests staying at Silky Oaks.”
If you have customers looking to travel to Queensland you can be rest assured that thanks to our own experiences, If Only have the expert knowledge to take care of their needs for an unforgettable trip!