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Having spent more than 25 years in cruise tourism, Cairns-based James Coughlan teamed up with business partner and inbound tourism specialist Karin Ohman in 2023 to launch Shorex Australia.
James has since expanded with Cairns Rainforest Estate, a new rainforest tourism business developed with international cruise tourism in mind.
The scenic property is surrounded by World Heritage rainforest and is home to a century-old Queenslander and 600 tropical fruit trees producing tonnes of fresh fruit.
Cruise tourism creates enormous opportunities for businesses like ours. It brings many thousands of people to the region and allows us to expand and create local jobs.
James Coughlan
Several million dollars have been invested to create a project designed to showcase the produce, rainforest and heritage of the region to the world.
Cairns Rainforest Estate offers a half-day rainforest and orchard experience for cruise guests, allowing them to explore rainforest walking trails and sample seasonal produce from a working estate.
Connecting cruise visitors with the wider Cairns region.
Its fully guided experiences are planned around cruise ship visits and can be linked with other nearby attractions including the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.