Cairns Harbour Cruise

The highlight of our first day in Cairns was our Cairns Harbour Cruise. After lunch we walked down to The Reef Fleet Terminal to collect our boarding passes from the booking desk. We then walked to the nearby Cairns Marina and boarded the M.V. Crocodile Explorer for the 2 hour cruise along Trinity Inlet, a calm water tidal estuary.

We had a choice of sitting outside or inside on one of two levels on the boat. We opted to sit inside in air-conditioned comfort on the top level just behind the boat's captain at the helm. He gave an informative commentary as we cruised slowly around the calm waters of the Trinity Inlet and Smith's Creek.

We first cruised up the right hand side of the inlet viewing all the port developments along the waters edge, including the various slipways, commercial fishing boats, barges, navy boats, petroleum depots, and cruise terminal.

The boat then turned around and we traveled along the opposite side of Trinity Inlet viewing the largely undeveloped mangrove swamps. The mangroves looked amazing as their many roots poked above the water enabling the plants to breathe. They also provided an natural habitat for the wildlife of the area. We cruised up a side creek leading off Trinity Inlet where we spotted a rare Great Billed Heron, but failed to see one of the many crocodiles that inhabit the area. (The people on the morning Harbour Cruise did spot some however.)

A large tract of these mangroves was cleared some years ago for a housing development. This did not go ahead due to the high cost of the road and bridge infrastructure. The government has since purchased the land and has successfully re-vegetated it with mangroves to restore it to its original state.

Moored along the calm waters of Trinity Inlet were boats and yachts of various types and sizes. On the banks of the inlet were various abandoned trawlers, derelict yachts and sunken hulls in various stages of decay.

An unusual site was seeing the old "North Head" Sydney to Manly ferry on a sand bank surrounded by mangroves, next to Trinity Inlet. This Manly ferry started life in 1913 as "Barrenjoey". After a major rebuild in 1948 it was renamed "North Head" for its re-launch in 1951. The ferry holds the records for being the longest serving ferry, a total of 73 years, for carrying more passengers than any other boat in Australia, and crossing Sydney Harbour more times than another ferry.

The last trip of this Manly ferry was in 1985 when it went into retirement. In 1987 it sailed to Tasmania where it was a floating restaurant and convention centre on the Derwent River. It was then bought by an entrepreneur who wanted to turn it into a floating restaurant in Port Douglas. This did not work out, so it rotted in a Cairns dock until 2005, when it was sold on eBay to a local resident for about $20,000. This large old ferry is slowly being restored as a static display museum piece.

We enjoyed afternoon tea served on board on the lower deck. This was a continuous supply of fresh tropical fruit, muffins, lamingtons, tea and brewed coffee.

The cruise came to an end at the Cairns Marina after our 2 hour leisurely cruise. I would recommend this relaxing cruise to any visitor to Cairns to see the natural environment and port developments of Trinity Inlet that otherwise would not be seen.  

Cairns Harbour Cruise Information:

- 2 hour cruise departs at 11am and 1.30pm daily
- morning or afternoon tea provided
- costs for Harbour Cruise - Adults $42, Children (aged 4-14) $21, Family (2 adults & 2 children) $105
- costs for Harbour Cruise and 2 course lunch at Dundee's Waterfront Restaurant - Adults $64, Children $32, Families $171
- Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, Cairns QLD Australia 4870
- Coach transfers are available for an additional cost of $16 per adult and $8 per child from Cairns & Northern Beaches accommodation
- bookings: phone (07) 4031 4007; international phone +61 7 4031 4007
- email: info@cairnsharbourcruises.com.au
- fax: (07) 40518896