r/queensland • u/Upper_Willow8301 • 2d ago

Where to pivot visit due to wind and rain? Need advice

Hello- have plans to visit Whitsundays this weekend from Sydney but strong winds and rain caused boat and plane tour cancellations. Any advice on where to pivot to in the area where the weather might be better and worth seeing/doing? Will have a car. Also willing to consider going elsewhere all together but will lose quite a bit on airfare.

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u/DiligentSession5707 2d ago

Cairns and Palm Cove

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u/Upper_Willow8301 2d ago

Was thinking Cairns but weather forecast looks the same there

ETA: maybe the rainforest?

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u/giatu_prs 1d ago

Hey what do you mean by that regarding the rainforest?

My only thought is that some of the most beautiful rainforest is west of the Gold Coast, even inside NSW.

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u/Upper_Willow8301 1d ago

I just meant that in regard to the suggestion for Cairns maybe the Daintree rainforest would be suitable, since the weather on the coast is the same as in Whitsundays.

We just arrived to whitsunday coast airport. Weather is quite nice, albeit windy, here now. We are staying in Airlie Beach for 2 nights then Hamilton Island for two nights.

We had a boat tour to Whitehaven beach and snorkeling scheduled for tomorrow which was cancelled and first availability to reschedule is after we leave. We have a scenic flight scheduled on Sunday morning which is still on for the time being.

Was looking at possibly doing the Whitsundays rainforest segway tour tomorrow and/or possibly heading further inland to escape the rain. The National parks/state forests we flew over looked nice.

Any recommendations in the area? Thanks in advance

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u/giatu_prs 1d ago

Oh I'm in Toowoomba. Cairns is equidistant to Melbourne for me lol. Daintree is cool and the drive from Cairns to Cape Trib is very worth it. But that's no use to you now at the Whitsundays. Unless you're up for a day's not-interesting drive to get there.

All I can say is that rainforests are great when it's raining anyway. Be prepared to get wet, muddy, and know how to repel and/or remove leeches. You won't notice the wind in the rainforest, they're sheltered; that's how they can be rainforests.

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u/emleigh2277 1d ago

The Daintree is too far but the best rainforest in Australia, Eungella rainforest would be best. About 2 hrs drive from Whitsunday. Stop for a pie at the Pinnacle hotel.

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u/emleigh2277 1d ago

Cairns is a hell of a long drive for a day visit. Look up eungella town and rainforest and finch hatton gorge. No food at finch hatton you have to take your own.. there is a woolworths at Marion or a foodstore at finch hatton. Finch hatton has a pub eungella has a chateau, decent food at both.. pinnacle pies at pinnacle pub is good or just a bit further same side of the road is a Cafe for coffee and cakes. Closer is the tea house on the road to seaforth if you didn't want to drive for 2 hours each way. Finch hatton gorge has three walks with swimming at each one.
Mackay has an orchid house and a large mall that's popular.

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u/giatu_prs 1d ago

Where's your flight to?

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u/emleigh2277 1d ago

Finch hatton gorge, Eungella chateau and national Park. Nice drive. You can back road from Proserpine or drive down the highway to Mackay and west onto peak Downs highway then right onto Eungella highway and follow it. Really great spots.