On our recent trip to Cairns’ Trinity Beach I was reminded how important local knowledge can be for discovering travel gems. It was only 9 months since we left Cairns but our good friends were already full of new ideas and places I should be checking out with the kids. Far north Queensland locals know where the hidden rainforest swimming holes are, where to order, or catch coral trout and which local festivals you shouldn’t miss. While I still plan to feature tropical north Queensland heavily on this blog (note to self visit FNQ at least once a year) I can’t call myself a local anymore. Thankfully there are three other tropical north Queensland locals that are passionate about sharing the best of the region with ya’ll. All three write great travel blogs, post regularly on Twitter and Facebook and want you to come visit one of the most beautiful parts of Australia.
Kate Richards at Adventure Mumma.
Adventure Mumma Kate Richards and her family
“Adventure Mumma” is an awesome title for Kate’s blog. Pre-kids Kate tagged crocodiles, dived (yes, you read that right) dived in Antarctic waters and lived and worked on in four continents. She now is settled in my ex-hometown of Cairns and is a professional photographer and videographer. She is mum to two precious kids and is doing her diving, hiking and exploring best to instil a love of the outdoors in them too. She blogs about exploring far north Queensland on her inspiring blog.
Jan Robinson at Budget Travel Talk
Jan is a veteran traveler and Townsville local. Her blog is overflowing with travel inspiration from around the world but her hometown and tropical north Queensland is a regular feature. Looking at Jan’s blog gives me photo envy every time. She wrote a comprehensive guest post on discovering Townsville for this blog but take the time to do a search on Townsville on her blog, sit back and let her guide you around the region’s best.
Jess and Matt – the Fealy Family
The Fealy Family
Jess and Matt recently traded their respective hats of accountant and travel agent to be tropical farmers growing mango, avocado, passionfruit and lime (I know, yum!). They now farm in the aptly titled Tablelands of tropical north Queensland. The Tablelands are absolutely the most under-rated, under visited, spectacular region of north Queensland. Thankfully, the Fealys are exploring the Tablelands and other parts of tropical North Queensland with their four young kids and are kind enough to share about these experiences on their blog. If you are at all interested in making a tree change, or getting up to north Queensland yourself hop on over and check them out.
Looking for other travel blogger inspiration. You might be interested in “Five family travel bloggers you should be reading.”
Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. You can join us on Facebook or Twitter to receive updates to your news feed.
Thanks so much for highlighting some of (us) North Queensland Bloggers. I was quite sad when you left FNQ but it is like you are still here, if only once a year. Once you’ve lived in FNQ it has a way of luring you back again 🙂 I just re-read the Discovering Townsville Post and am happy to report that the QCWA units on the Strand in Townsville now have air-conditioning (they were getting quotes when I did that post).
My recent trip kind of made me feel like I am still a FNQ person too. We are planning our next trip to Cairns in May. Glad the units did get air-conditioning, gotta say it’s a must for us at least in summer.
As you already know Cairns will be amazing in May. We will be in Italy and Croatia then, Inshallah.
Oh Jan, you have such exciting trips planned. Cairns will be lovely in May. I am going up for a conference but taking our whole mob with me as per usual.
Another great roundup! A couple of familiar faces here, too – and very well deserved, I’ll vouch for that.
I love that travel bloggers are such great local resources and FNQ is such a fabulous part of Australia I wanted to give these three a plug.
Danielle thanks so much for the feature on your lovely blog!! You are so right that you can’t beat local knowledge when travelling. On our 3 month camping trip last year though the NT and WA we discovered so many ‘hidden’ places to check out just by chatting to the staff in local towns we came through – amazing things that we wouldn’t have otherwise seen! I can’t believe it has been twelve months now since we finished our shortened ‘lap’ of Oz in our camper and became farmers – now we just have to be content with little trips away and reading other fantastic travel with kids blogs like yours!! Come and have a mango with us next time you are up in Tropical North QLD!!!
Jess we frequently drove up to the Tablelands when we lived in Cairns – the kids would sleep on the way and it gave us a little quiet time. So much up there to discover and I was delighted to find your blog that features it so beautifully. The fact that you are now farmers there just makes it even more authentic.
Ah! I missed the Feeleys, what a shame. I shall check them out. Local travel bloggers are definitely SO helpful, nothing like the inside scoop.
And yours is the go to for Sydney Seana. We are doing a best of Sydney post early next year and I’m already planning to link to you then.
Seana has the best best best Sydney posts and she’s just as beautiful in the flesh.
When did you meet Seana? I have met one other blogger in the flesh EVER. I think most of my friends think I am a little loony for blogging.
Thanks for the FEATURE Danielle & thanks for introducing me to Jan in Townsville too. We’ve still got to get down there as a family & do stuff – particularly Magnetic Island. NEED to tick this off my LIST!!
Look forward to catching up with you ‘properly’ when you are next in town!!!
What a great post and I have to say I adore Kate @AdventureMumma.
Thanks for the introduction to the Fealys and Jan. Shall check them out xo
No worries Rene. I am really enjoying writing posts that introduce some of the blog gems I have discovered to others.
I would like to thank you for letting me know about the bloggers I can be in touch with when I need some info or can even read their blogs to look for some things that usual people don’t. A superb roundup and looking forward to more posts like this.
Hi Samantha, thanks for dropping by. These bloggers are a great resource for people visiting TNQ. I’m sure they will point you in the right direction.
Thanks Danielle for your kind reply.
Have you tried to visit the Daintree Rainforest?
Hi Elle. I’m embarrassed to say we haven’t taken our brood to the Daintree Rainforest yet. I’d love to though and will put it on our list for our next adventure up north.
I noticed that you and your family love adventures. If you visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest I recommend you to try snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef or ziplining the jungle canopy. Here’s how it looks from the top http://www.expedia.com/lx/mv/lxmedia-184631-500×281-0.jpeg.
Hi. Yes – my kids particularly go mad for tree surfing and zip lining. I can’t wait to get back there one day.