Great info! Thanks bud. So with your knowledge would you base at Atherton or near Smithfield? Which the better overall experience looking as we'd like to take it a few of the sites while in Cairns?
Do some googling...depends on what else you want to do. We've lived in Cairns for 10 years and recently spent a week at Atherton, and had a ball...went to Mareeba drive-in, Malanda cinema (oldest in Qld), Yungaburra Markets, Milla milla falls, innot springs (hot springs)...etc etc etc,.. There is tons to do up there if you want, and about 60kms of green and blue trails with a bit of black descents... Hills, scrubby bush, little bit of rainforest, views and soils from white granite sands to red then black clays, and rocks...lots of rocks. then 30 minutes away is Davies Creek, another 30kms + of green and blue gravelly trails, more wide open spaces and fire roads, in savannah bush (eucalyptus scrub)
Now if your are doing the usual tourist stuff, the reef, the zoos, Kuranda rail/sky rail, AJ Hackets Bungy, white water rafting, eating out heaps, Daintree, Mosman Gorge, Paronella park, Mission beach - then you'll want to be based in Cairns. And you are close to 30-40kms of trails, little bit of green, lots of blue and plenty of double black both climbing and descending...and riding in proper rainforest to tall eucalyptus Forrest and even pines.
If you have the money and a spare night, a night on Green Island is pretty cool...once the last ferry leaves at 4.30, only guests on the island until about 9.30 next day...haggle for a price, but a room for 2 with breaky is going to be $350-$400. Plan on being there all day for the best part of 2 days. As a guest, everything is included - glass bottom boat, use if resort even after checking out, they store your bags and have showers and towels for use right before you leave, snorkelling is awesome, surf ski's etc...
So hope that helps a bit... PM me or TastyDirt if you want, Bill used to be in tourism up here and might have good contacts or tips.
