The story.

The prices for most attractions are going up (don't they always) so what we are being offered is the pre price rise at worst and on most things a substantial discount as well.

Friday Lunch
Mondo Café Bar and Grill associated with the Hilton Hotel is a good kick off place if there are any starters. HPC discounts apply!

Friday pre dinner drinks.
There are three suitable bars each within crawling distance of the next. The Pier Bar and Grill, Ba8 Lounge Bar and Bellavista at the Marina and each have a good happy hour(s) options as posted below. They are all beneath the Shangri-La Hotel and are as close to the water as it's possible to be without getting wet.

Friday dinner.
The Esplanade in Cairns is a great place for families and has many eateries available. The only issue is that it is a little 'touristy.' Having said that I believe it would be a good place for people to hang out on Friday evening to get a feel for Cairns. Everywhere in The Esplanade area is located between the Hilton at one end and the Holiday Inn at the other. This includes the boardwalk, jetty and the bars mentioned below.

The venue for Friday Dinner is North Food and Wine Bar associated with Ba8.

See post # 828 for details.

Saturday morning.
Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail with TRANSFERS included.
Normal price $102 per person special rate $98. Train up pick up time 8.45 am from accommodation with approximately 3 to 3.5 hours in Kuranda depending on departure time. I have suggested 3pm Skyrail down with return transfers to accommodation.
With this there are discount vouchers available to get you into butterfly sanctuary bird sanctuary and koala gardens at reduced rates. I do need to know ahead of time who is interested in these whilst at Kuranda. Please advise when booking details of total numbers so these can be provided for you. If anyone specifically wants to go to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park please let me know. This will change the transfers cost and have the Cultural Park cost added.

Saturday evening.
The Harbour Dinner Cruise normal price is $89 per person and we have a special rate of $66 per person. (a saving of $23 per person off normal rate) The Harbour Dinner Cruise features an award winning 4 course dinner hot and cold buffet including seafood featuring some of the regions best produce. Dinner is on board a luxurious catamaran whilst cruising on the calm waters of the Cairns Harbour and inlet. Also included is glass of champagne on arrival, a 2.5 hours cruise on the catamaran and live entertainment. Be at the Marlin Marina to collect the cruise and embark 6.30 pm with the return at 9.30 pm.

Sunday
Option 1
Green Island eco adventure cost is $66. Lunch is not included. This includes the trip to Green Island and back and choice of snorkle equipment or glass bottom boat.
Option 2
Green Island discovery tour cost is $81. This includes snorkle equipment, glass bottom boat tour, a beach bag and use of the island facilities pool.

Lunch can be pre booked with either option 1 or 2 (at $20) or you can purchase lunch separately on island options. These range from hamburger to hot and cold buffet.

Departure times from Cairns are 8.30 or 10.30 am and return from the island at 2.30 or 4.30 pm. The journey takes 45 minutes. Bookings must include the specific boat upon which people wish to travel in both directions. You can travel at any combination of times. ie
08:30 - 14:30 OK
08:30 - 16:30 OK
10:30 - 14:30 OK
10:30 - 16:30 OK

Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour & Green Island and Outer Reef Tour for those who wish a little more adventure. This tour includes lunch and snorkle equipment, glass bottom boat submersible and underwater observatory and a hot and cold buffet lunch.
Option 1
Departure is 10 30 am with returns to Cairns at approximately 5.30 pm. The boat stops at Green Island briefly to pick up passengers before continuing out to the reef pontoon. Cost $168 plus $5 tax.
Option 2
Departure is 8 30 am which includes 2 hours on Green Island and then continuing out to the outer reef pontoon. Return to Cairns at approximately 5.30 pm. Cost $185 per person plus $5 tax.

The times for the reef trip are not as flexible as for Green Island and are locked in at what is posted above.

For ALL boat trips a walk to marina is advised due to the central location though transfers can be arranged if required. Check in for the Cairns departure is 30 minutes prior to the respective boat.

Sunday dinner
Options will of course be available for those who are still there. There are numerous restaurant options so we'll worry about that a little later.

Platy and I explored several Bars (research purposes only) along the foreshore and they all have some pretty good Happy hour (5 - 7pm) options available. eg A bucket of 4 Coronas for $15 at the Pier, a pint of local beer (a huge range available) for $4 at Bellavista and all Hahn stubbies for $4 at Ba8.

Platy is also talking to the owner of a 'genuine' Ozzie apparel outlet at the Night Markets to see what can be organised.

General.
ALL OTHER TOURS, Fishing Trips, Ballooning, Skydiving, Carhire, Daintree, Cape Tribulation Tours, Harbour Tours, Cruises, Croc Farm OR add on or variations to existing tours, Intro or certified diving when going to Green Island or the Reef etc. Peter can organise for you as they have over 250 different trips to choose from. Just ask. phone Peter at Cairns Discount Tours on 61 7 4055 7158 or email [email protected] or [email protected] and mention you are part of Bill’s, Oz Fest Group, Peter can also book any tour that an individual in the group would like and also they have car hire at very good rates available from airport or from your hotel.

Peter will provide us with discount vouchers to get you into the Butterfly Sanctuary, Bird Sanctuary and Koala Gardens at reduced rates whilst at Kuranda. We will need to send details of total numbers so he can provide these for us.

Also available is accommodation at Cairns Beaches, 10 minutes north of Cairns. They have options available from budget to deluxe villas, fully self contained, air-conditioned, 50m from the beach and facing rainforest. View at www.villamarine.com.au


**** Originally in Post #36 I had the Saturday & Sunday itineraries in the reverse order. At the request of a number of people I have put them up in the reverse order. As there does not appear to be any strong interest in swapping them back the plan is to leave them as posted above. Most, it would appear prefer the amended schedule. In the words of a famous song 'It don't matter to me'

Name Tags,
Once again falconea (Audrey) has come to the party and is organising name tags for all Oz Fest attendees.
Could everyone please have a look her posts #304, 305 & 455 and make contact if necessary to ensure that you end up with the correct name details on your tag. If your details were correct last year then no need to worry.