Cairns has taken the role as capital to Far North Queensland, and is backed by beautiful rainforest and only a short distance from the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. Whatever activity you want to get involved in you are likely to find it at Cairns, whether its bungee jumping, canoeing, horse riding, scuba diving, skydiving or white water rafting.
Cairns is home to more than 130,000 people from all corners of the world. The region's climate is hot and humid during summer months with mild, dry winters. The rainy season generally occurs during summer between January and March.
Captain Cook journeyed up the North Queensland coast on his first Voyage of Discovery in 1770, aboard the Endeavour. The journey was not a pleasant one as the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most difficult waterways to navigate in the world. Captain Cook was the first known European to visit the site where today's city of Cairns is located.
The main street along Cairns shoreline is the Esplanade, where you will find many of the accommodation places, and several restaurants. There are also plenty of pubs and clubs around here, with many offering live music and an almost guaranteed good time.
More restaurants and many of Cairns shops and shopping arcades can be found on the roads off of Sheilds Street, near Cairns Harbour. The Pier Marketplace hosts some wonderful little boutiques, although if you are looking for a bargain you should head here at the weekend when the Mud Markets are held. More weekend markets can be found along Spencer Street at the busy Rusty's Bazaar.
Around Cairns there are a number of historical buildings worth visiting, as well as the interesting Cairns Museum, Cairns Regional Gallery, and Royal Flying Doctor Service. For those of you who may not be brave enough to go out to the Great Barrier Reef, you can see plenty of sealife at the Undersea World.
Another great place to visit in Cairns is the fantastic Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre which holds various Aboriginal performances and educational demonstrations on the Aboriginal culture and history.
There are some wonderful gardens around Cairns, and beautiful landscapes to see. It is definitely worth following the Esplanade Walking Trail along the pretty coastline (ignoring the brown sea around Cairns).
Just north of Cairns are the lovely Flecker Botanic Gardens, and the nearby boardwalk through some fabulous rainforest to the Centenary Lakes and Saltwater Creek with further rainforest within the Whitfield Range Environmental Park.
If you want to get the most out of your trip out to the reef, it is worth following one of the many diving courses offered at Cairns.
Remember you can book thousands of great tours online with Australian Explorer. We have a massive range of Tours departing from Cairns including trips to the reef, with and without scuba diving, motorcycle adventures, hot air ballooning, rafting, helicopter tours and so much more. Take a look at the following page; Cairns Tours.
There is a range of accommodation around Cairns, situated around town as well as along the nearby beaches. Accommodation includes apartments, hostels, hotels, camping grounds and resorts all of which can be booked online on Australian Explorer.
You can also head north to Port Douglas by driving along the scenic coastal road between Cairns and Port Douglas.
A number of flights can be caught to Cairns, many of which arrive and depart daily to several places around Australia. Greyhound offer services to and from Cairns Transit Centre at Trinity Wharf, with Coral Coaches and White Car Coaches offering local services around Cairns. There are also several train services to Cairns, although prices tend to be a little higher than other forms of transport.
Tourism plays a major part in the Cairns economy. The Cairns region is one of the most popular destinationa for international tourists in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It also attracts a significant number of Australians considering its distance from major capitals as Cairns is in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, the Wet Tropics of Queensland, and the Atherton Tableland.
Featured Cairns Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
1 Day Motorcycle Adventure Rainforest Tour(EX141) (Motorcycle) Enjoy lush rainforest trails and appreciate sensational outback scenery. Experience the "original" pack trail through Black Mountain Road, Weatherby Station and Mt Molloy. We have access to private pr...
Outer Barrier Reef - Down Under Cruise & Dive(EX554) (Bushwalking, Nature & Wildlife) Cruise aboard Osprey V, a locally owned and operated 130 passenger vessel, to two different locations around Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reefs. A perfect way to spend a day out and enjoy some of the be...
Cairns In A Day Gone Wild Full Day Tour(EX2763) (Helicopter Flight) Welcome to your ultimate wildlife adventure - Cairns Tropical Zoo! Enjoy a full morning zoo program with an opportunity to cuddle a Koala and hand feed the Kangaroos....
Queensland DVD (Queenslands South East - Land of Scenic Wonder)
Purchase the DVD that portrays Queensland's South East including footage of Fraser Island, Glass House Mountains, Blackall Range, Montville, Mount Tamborine and Springbrook's unforgettable rock bridge.
Taking you through the tree tops in Lamington where the thick, green roof shades; the mysterious underworld of the forest floor. On to Noosa, a haven of stunning national parks and brilliant waterways. Plus the amazing coloured sands of Teewah and Rainbow Beach.
PLEASE NOTE: The Queensland travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for Queensland Holidays can be found on the main Queensland Holidays location guide.
