I am going to fly to cairns from Melb. in a week and I had plans of bringing my gear out. However I have been talking to a few people in VIC. and SA and all I hear is about how dangerous it is. jelly fish, sharks and crocs.
I wanted to ask you locals, how "bad" is it? do you guys use wetsuits at all?
Im from overseas so I havent got a clue, but thought I d ask the locals. you re the best source. I plan to go down around mission beach and give that a go.
Cheers,
Eric
Guys from Vic and SA warning of sharks in Cairns??? um yup...!
Watch out for those drop bears and hoop snakes as well......
I haven't kited Cairns but have spent time there as far as I know the stinger season is a little way off yet so no problems there, crocs are not a major issue just stay away from river mouths. And sharks are a no more of a problem than anywhere else. I haven't heard of a kiter being taken by a shark anywhere -ever.
Local knowledge is good though so hopefully the guys up there will catch this thread soon. Failing that do a search on Cairns and Yorkey's Knob and send some PM's, I am sure you will be able to hook up with them.
thanks for the answer. you are absolutely right. I sort of knew it but its good to have it confirmed.
I always try to get in touch with the locals, I always do. its good so that I learn how to do what where and hopefully wont get in someone way.
Cheers,
Eric
i come from cairns mate and it's no where near as bad as everyone thinks. there are way more sharks down south and the ones we get in cairns while there is the occasional monster are usually small. in saying that at my old work we had a corpse of a 22ft saw fish caught locally. like paradox said the crocs tend to stick to the river mouths. i know of one attack on the beach only and that was years ago when a cops dog got snatched off the beach while on patrol. the further north you go from cairns the more crocs you'll come across. i just came back from a week in the cape york 18km south of the very tip and there's at least a croc on every beach there if your lucky.
ps, wear a rashy in the stinger season
the irakandji are getting worse each year.
good time of year starting to warm up . who am i kidding been warm all year . locals have ditched the rashies and are kitting in short sleaves or shirtless befor the onslort of jellyfish . don`t worry about the crocs Big Tone is way more dangerous . it`s a little on the light side so bring your big kite . portdouglas is also worth checking out
