Thanks, mountainjourno! Sounds ideal for my kiddo. If we're going to go half way around the world, I think we may as well stay a couple of extra days and see a little more of what Sydney has to offer.
There is SO much to see and do up there.
Okay...in Cairns you can:
1. Take the 100-year-old Kuranda Railway through Barron Gorge National Park.
2. Take the Skyrail - the world's largest gondola cableway through the rainforest
3. Take a cat out to Green Island and relax on the beach, go snorkelling etc.
These are the top 3 I'd suggest that aren't on your tour
mountainjourno, I'm hoping you can answer this question for me. If we took the Kuranda railway train that departs at 8:30AM, would I have time to experience some of the activities in the village and/or take a short hike (DS won't be interested in a long one), and still get back to the hotel in time for the welcome dinner? Don't know for sure what time that is, but I would guess 6:00 at the earliest. Also, I have skimmed the Kuranda Railway website and it looks like you can take the train to Kuranda and return on the skyrail. Is that right? Thanks for all you help!