Cairns self catering accommodation, Australia
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We have fitted energy efficient light bulbs throughout the house, and installed a large solar hot water system on the roof to reduce the electricity consumption of the house. The roof is also fully insulated to cut down on heat transmission. We have a dual rubbish collection system in Cairns, with a bin specifically for items than can be recycled. There is a detailed list of items that can and can not be put in this bin to avoid contamination of a whole truck load.
We encourage visitors to this house to be "water-wise". Even though we live in an area of high rainfall certain times of the year are very dry. All toilets have a dual flush system to reduce water use, and the washing machine is a modern eco-friendly one. The sunshine does a great job of drying clothes and so we have provided outdoor lines for the laundry.
A car is not essential, as we are within walking distance of the shops. Public bus transport is also readily available along Mulgrave Road. However, guests who wish to explore this large area of North Queensland may prefer to rent a car.
Preservation of our wildlife is very important to us. To cut down on the use of plastic bags, many of which get swept out to sea via storm drains causing the deaths of marine animals, we provide the guests with re-usable shopping bags.
Community
We have experiences of this area gathered over a 25 year period, which we are more than happy to share with our guests. Our house folder provides plenty of information on local tours, restaurants, and markets. Markets provide a very important sales outlet for many of our local farmers, and their produce is straight from the farm in many cases. Stall holders also sell hand made items of jewellery, clothing, art and crafts, and delicious home made treats. No visit to Cairns would be complete without a trip to Rusty's market in town.
We support the campaign to prevent any more hillside development of residential areas in Cairns as these cut into the rainforest and have a long term negative consequence on the environment. One of the most important days on the calendar is the yearly 'Clean up Australia Day' and we head out with other volunteers to take rubbish out of the creeks and surrounding parks. A small bit done by many can make a difference!
We try to welcome all our guests to Wilks House, as we do not like the idea of leaving a key and prefer a much more personal approach. We are always on Call until 7pm for any emergencies that our guests may have, from recommending a local dentist, to sorting a vet visit for a pet.
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