queensland Archives - Kate Waterhouse

Where we stayed, what we did and where we ate in Cairns

22nd October, 2021

Now that travel is once again on the cards I’m on the hunt for great travel destinations for families. I’m sure many of you are in the same boat, particularly when it comes to the long Christmas school holidays at the end of the year. Earlier in the year we took a trip up to Far North Queensland and paid a visit to Port Douglas, followed by Cairns and I can’t recommend both highly enough. With any spot we are planning to visit as a family I like to make sure that there’s plenty of things for the girls to do, activities that the four of us will enjoy together and something fun for the adults whether it’s a great restaurant or luxe day spa. If you’re looking for a tropical holiday close to home, check out my travel guide to Cairns below.

Where we stayed

We stayed at Bailey which opened in 2019, and it’s a gorgeous hotel located in the heart of Cairns’ CBD. We found it to be a really central location from which to base ourselves. We always try to be within close proximity to amenities such as cafes and restaurants whenever we stay somewhere as when travelling with kids it’s important to make getting from A to B as easy as possible. The rooms are fresh and modern, and I loved all the cool art around the hotel and in the rooms, Bailey also plays host to different exhibitions and activations. One of the things I loved about Bailey is their focus on sustainability. All the bathroom amenities are recyclable or compostable, there are also no plastic water bottles or straws and things such as room key cards and accessories are made from recycled wood.

The girls enjoying the lobby at Bailey

Heading out as a family

Enjoying the pool

What we did

We always love destinations that have lots of things for kids to do and this trip we were able to check out a range of different locations. We went to Cairns Aquarium which is only a few minutes’ walk from Bailey. It’s a great spot and something that I’m sure most kids would love to check out. Another fun place to visit is Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome. It’s a wildlife sanctuary which plays home to crocodiles, koalas and more. Plus there’s also an indoor ropes course which features everything from climbing walls to swings and even a zipline. It’s great if you’re after a bit of an adrenaline rush!

If however you just want to take things easy, definitely take a walk along the Esplanade Boardwalk. It’s quite picturesque and the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll. The kids loved the big stingray sculpture, which as you can see, they couldn’t resist taking a picture on.

If you want to explore a little further afield then you most definitely cannot miss seeing The Great Barrier Reef. We did a day tour and it was incredible. Pictures just don’t do the Reef justice. We ended up snorkelling which was a lot of fun. We weren’t able to do it from Cairns this trip but one thing to definitely add to your list is a day trip to see Daintree National Park. We went there from Port Douglas which is where we were before Cairns, but we would visit again as it’s just beautiful. The kids had a great time exploring and swimming.

Doing the ropes course at Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome

Taking a stroll along the boardwalk

Where we ate

When we discover a place we like to eat while we’re on holiday we tend to be repeat customers. And it was no different this trip. We went to dinner at Rocco and Paper Crane, both restaurants at Riley, a lovely hotel that’s across the road from where we were staying and really rated the food there. Rocco is a Mediterranean restaurant with rooftop bar. The view is great and the food even better. While Paper Crane is an Asian Fusion restaurant, with a Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese inspired menu. Both delicious and both menus the kids really liked.

Sampling the local fare

One of the many delicious meals we enjoyed

This one too!

This post was produced in collaboration with Crystalbrook

Lifestyle, Lifestyle & Social

What to see, where to stay and what to eat in Port Douglas

25th July, 2020

During the recent school holidays we went up north for a family holiday in Port Douglas. When possible we like to get away from Sydney for a change of scenery and healthy dose of warm weather seemed to be just the thing we all needed. We’ve always been a fan of beach holidays so it was nice to have the opportunity to visit beautiful Queensland, particular after months of being in iso. If you’re thinking of heading to Port Douglas one of these days, here are a few tried and tested places that got our tick of approval.

Where we stayed

Anywhere we stay when we’re on holiday definitely has to be kid-friendly and the Sheraton Mirage was just that. It was really great for the girls, as there were plenty of facilities for them to swim and splash around, particularly the sand lagoons which they enjoyed. There are hotel rooms as well as villas so there’s definitely accommodation options to suit any size group. It’s also positioned really well in that it’s close to Port Douglas’ major tourist attractions, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Fave places to eat

We love exploring different restaurants and cafes whenever we’re away and there are a handful that we tried that we would highly recommend.

For breakfast we loved The Little Larder which was centrally located and did good coffee. We tried out a few spots for lunch, and really enjoyed On the Inlet, which is a seafood restaurant and bar. And Melaleuca which is a modern Australian restaurant, which is open for lunch from Thursday – Sunday (we also went here for dinner and it was great). They had a singer there when we went over the weekend for lunch and the atmosphere was relaxing and really enjoyable. We spent most nights out at dinner and could recommend Watergate, Zinc, Sassi La Cucina and Bar and Salsa Bar and Grill. We also treated ourselves to dinner at Nautilus one night which is a little more high end and perfect for a date night. No kids under eight are allowed so if you’ve got the option for a babysitter, then it’s definitely worth visiting.

What’s a tropical holiday without beautiful seafood?

Spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat

What we did

We did the Quicksilver Barrier Reef day tour which is on the pricier end but such a fantastic, kid-friendly way to see the Great Barrier Reef. You can choose to dive or snorkel our you can view the marine life from the underwater viewing platform or the semi-submersible submarine. It’s such an unbelievable site and definitely worth seeing.

One of the things we loved doing was hiring bikes and riding on the sand (the sand is hard so it’s quite an easy ride). It’s beautiful in the morning and we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of dolphins playing in the surf.

We took the girls to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures which is 25 minutes out of Port Douglas and loved seeing all the crocs. Definitely do the boat ride as you can see all the crocodiles being fed in the water.

Up close and personal with a croc at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

If you want a relaxing way to spend a Sunday, then check out the Port Douglas markets. The produce is great and so fresh. Definitely worth wandering around to check out what’s on offer.

Checking out the fresh product at the markets

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Daydream Island

18th June, 2019

Escaping from the cold Sydney weather to go on a family holiday to Daydream Island the past week enabled me to shed my winter woolies (even if it was just a few days) for easy breezy resort wear dressing, which I’ve always got a soft spot for.

I always try and take a tight edit of clothes whenever I’m going away so I like to take pieces that are versatile and can work for day and night. This striped shirt dress by Camilla and Marc was a great option for me as I could wear it casually whilst playing with the girls and dress it up a bit for dinner. I loved the polished feel of it and as it was so lightweight it was perfect for the warmer temperatures up north.

Slides are always my number one footwear choice whenever I’m going somewhere warm as they’re comfortable and chic and keep me cool all at the same time. I’ve been wanting to wear these Dior slides for ever so long and was glad to finally have the chance to do so.

Whilst straw bags are still going strong throughout winter they’re especially perfect for anywhere tropical so this Sparrows Weave top handle bag felt right at home around the resort. Topped off with white Emma Mulholland sunglasses, I was ready for whatever the day had in store.