Far North Queensland Executive Review
Monday, July 11, 2011 at 2:20PM What is happening in FNQ?
The Far North Queensland region of Australia is a paradise for executives, their families, their staff and teams - and they have been doing it tough and starting to BOUNCE BACK.
There are some extensive plans to rebuild and revitalise this region as I found out recently on a family visit where we enjoyed some of the best features FNQ has to offer - the subject of this article.
Over the next few months we will provide insights on where to go, investment options and the future for the far north with infrastructure and development plans.
With so many special offers available and opportunities for long term investment - now is the time to start looking at FNQ's future before the sun sets on current special offers and investment options...
If any of the businesses, services, etc below interest you Contact Us and Total Executive will put you directly in contact with the leading decision makers to ensure you receive the best offer available.
Here are a few ways you can help them in FNQ - whilst having fun and more...
FNQ Executive Family Holidays, Staff Benefits and The FNQ Corporate Advantage
Now I do not know about you, though my family love a bit of variety in our holiday experience. Given I am also outnumbered 3 to 1 with two daughters, I often do not get first choice with the holiday menu when traveling, though that is all part of the fun... and why I like to leave things to last minute choices.
We arrived in Cairns with no plans after booking flights 6 months ago - the main reason for the visit was a catch-up with family given my sister had just given birth to another girl - Isabella.
So, initially we caught up in their rainforest retreat outside Kuranda - beautiful place filled with wildlife including waking up to wallabies and roos with afternoons surrounded by butterflies including the infamous irradescent blue Ulysses.
Kuranda has Australia's largest butterfly aviary where you can expect to have quite a few land on you. Most interesting I find is how much work goes into breeding a butterfly that will often only live for a few days. Only 2% of eggs survive through egg to caterpilla to pupa to butterfly in the wild - this is converted to 80% survival at the aviary. View their website here
Barron Falls is also not far from the centre of Kuranda, or you can travel past it via the Kuranda Scenic Railway (see here) or the Skyrail (see here)
Responsible for power generation in the local area, it is even more - a tourist magnet for FNQ.
Though it wasn't long before the itch started to happen and we decided to leave the Kuranda region and travel further north.
Fortunately, my sister has worked for Qantas Travel Centre for over 15 years - so she has all the right contacts.
Port Douglas is always a great place to start. Many people have a bad word for Christopher Skase - one of Australia's most infamous fugitives - though we can thank him for something - putting Port Douglas on the map.
On the way to Port Douglas from Cairns if you take the coast road you will be blessed with some fantastic views along the way. Rex Lookout is a popular stop off, though don't be afraid of the many turnoff's that take you to secluded beaches where noone else has left their footprints.
The Sheraton Mirage Resort was one of Skase's properties and if you go there now you can still enjoy some of the resort features that it grew up with in the 80's and make it a special location today - like the button lights etc in the rooms that kids love to play with.
Whether traveling for a family holiday or taking your executive team - it is the ideal location to place as your base and we provide a lot more detail here
I think the best thing about Port Douglas is how you have a fantastic beach that you can swim at this time of year (without the box jellyfish stingers). They provide all you need at the northern end of the beach with towels, chairs, etc.
Then you can stroll down Macrossan street, select your choice of food, entertainment and many places to buy what you need or don't need before reaching the port entrance with access to so many things from rainforest to reef.
My favourite Port Douglas cafe view is at 3.nineteen - right by the Port entrance, exceptional for breakfast or sunset dinner...
Just 15 minutes away is Mosman Gorge. What a wonderful place - though be careful when swimming outside the designated swimming area.
Many years ago, before they placed the rainforest walk platforms for an easy stroll at the Gorge I went for a swim upstream. I was looking up at the clear blue sky whilst lying on my back slowly drifting down the gorge when suddenly the current spead up. Turning around just in time I went head first over a small waterfall - banged my nose and upper lip on rocks on the way down before entering a small lagoon where I lay underwater a while to nurse my injuries.
Broken nose and several stitches to my lacerated lip later at the local Mosman hospital I was OK. So, be careful there and if you aren't - at least there is a local hospital where you can admire the architecture from many decades ago. Hope you get a better nurse than me as she was ready to stitch me up without anaesthetic for being so stupid! - only kidding...
Leaving Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef there are many choices. For executives you have many chartered options - fishing included.
For a family daytrip to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or Port Douglas, I suggest Quicksilver as the best non exclusive option. You can either take one of their ships - sailers, catamaran's (as shown leaving port above). Or, many executives avoid any sea travel with a helicopter ride to their selected coral cays.
You can learn more about Quicksilver options here
If you prefer to stay on land there are many options - the Daintree Rainforest is one of the most popular. Or, if you are looking for crocodiles, head a little further south to Hartley's...
Learn more about the Hartley's historic crocodile location here
For an exclusive meal with traditional entertainment, one of the premier locations in the north is the award winning Flames of The Forest
Learn more about Flames of The Forest here
Lead by the girls we ended up at a great location for my daughter to wake up to her fifth birthday - Ellis Beach. You can camp there if you like or cabins are available - though the best benefit is living right on the beach - sleeping with the sound of crashing waves and waking to a view that is beautiful off your bungalow balcony...
Back in Cairns we have enjoyed many local services including;
One night we had a break from the kids who were looked after by family and and we stayed in one of Cairns premier hotels for executives - The Sebel. You can learn more about The Sebel here
There are so many bars and restaurants in Cairns, though one that has become very popular is Salt House Restaurant and Bar. They can cater for corporate functions as well. View their website here
We also checked out Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve where you can have breakfast with the beasts. Link to their website here
At the end of a weeks travel with the girls - I felt like this guy pictured above...
Whatever your choice of entertainment in FNQ, these are but a few diverse options.
We have access to the leaders in all of the above locations as well as exclusive locations where you can escape from everyone, or mix with the masses - whether for you, your family or staff.
Executive Options with exclusive Total Executive benefits start here
Reader Comments (1)
Executive Retreats offer Executive Services for this amazing area .We have a huge selectiion of luxurious homes just go to the home page and choose a retreat by name.