Originally Posted by
captain_starwood
Hey folks,
Thinking about taking my wife here for a 3 day weekend in October. A few questions:
1) Is October a good/bad time to go?
2) Will we be able to swim in the ocean in October?
3) How hard/expensive is it to get to the reef from the hotel?
4) Sounds like SNA's are not ideal to use? Best to just use Platinum privileges?
5) Breakfast is a def. yes as a platinum?
6) If we don't have a car, will we simply stay at the hotel for all 2-3 days?
7) Any other tips?
1. No idea.
2. You mean the ocean at the back of the hotel? I didn't think the beach there was nice at all.
3. The ferry dock where all the boats go out to the reef; is about 10 minutes by car, around 3.5 kms from the resort. Most of the tour operators provide a shuttle pick up / drop off service.
4. I thought the SNA upgrades were pretty weak so I didn't bother (if I recall correctly, the rooms were only 10sqm larger or so than a regular room).
5. Yes, go for the breakfast as a Platinum.
6. With 3 days, you could do a day tour one day? and spend the rest at the resort I guess but see points 7..
7. Hire a car

Not only can you get around - the Daintree and the treetop walks for example. You can also drive into Cairns easily and enjoy dinner there. I highly recommend Nautilus Restaurant (former US president Bill Clinton went there once upon a time). Food is pretty good but the ambience where you feel like you are dining in the treetops is pretty cool