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Gateway to Tropical North Queensland
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Cairns is Australia's premiere nature based destination.
It showcases a panorama of breathtaking beauty with a magnificent
hinterland and fringed by sparkling coral sea. Cairns is the
only place with two adjoining World Heritage treasures - the
Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. All the attributes
of a world class modern city are to be found in Cairns: international
air access, rail systems, high-standard accommodation facilities,
an art gallery, botanic gardens, restaurants, boutique shopping,
university, casino, convention centre, and evening entertainment. |
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| Location: |
Tropical North Queensland |
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| Language: |
English |
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| Currency: |
Australian Dollar (AUD$) |
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| Climate: |
Lots of sunshine all year round! In summer it ranges from
18-40 C and winter 20-31 C. Humidity around 60-75%. |
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| Transport: |
The Cairns International Airport is located only several minutes
drive north of the city centre. Once there, the city of Cairns
is easy to navigate. Choose your mode of transport, everything
from rental cars to bus services, taxis and limousines to aircraft,
boats and trains. |
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Shopping
McLeod St is where you’ll find Cairns Central Shopping Centre
- two levels of local fashion designers, department stores, supermarkets
and a cinema complex. The Pier Marketplace is a close-by leisure retail
centre that features Undersea World, a reef aquarium and the Marlin
Marina. For after-hours shopping, the night markets on The Esplanade
is the place to be. An array of arts, craft, true blue Australian
souvenirs, plus free wine tasting will make it worth your while.
Duty-free shoppers are also well catered for with specialty outlets
in Abbott and Lake Streets. These include international fashion labels,
leather goods, opals and jewellers selling south sea pearls and Argyle
diamonds. Want to take more Australiana home? Take your pick amongst
local delicacies such as chocolate-coated macadamias, honey, Daintree
tea and fruit wines.
Food
There are two distinct restaurant precincts in Cairns - The Esplanade
and Shield St. There are also numerous eateries and cafes dotted around
the city and suburbs. Have you ever tried our native indigenous flavours
of kangaroo, emu and crocodile? You must also taste the freshness
of the seafood! Straight from the oceans and rivers to your table
are succulent prawns, delicate barramundi, mud crabs, reef species
like the famed coral trout and red emperor.
Accommodation
There is a host of accommodation for every budget from luxurious 5
star resorts and self contained apartments to backpacker hostels.
Bed and Breakfast accommodation remains a favourite for those wanting
a unique getaway in tune with the outback, beach or rainforest. Farmstays
are a great way to interact with the lifestyle of the people living
on land. Care to be pampered? Book into one of the growing number
of luxurious world renowned spa resorts in the region.
Entertainment
From dance and house music to karaoke bars, immerse into
the Cairns night scene. Cairns boasts a thriving pub culture with
regular live music, jam sessions and big name touring artists. Cairns
Civic Centre regularly hosts visiting entertainers, theatre and dance
groups.
Unique Highlights
The Great Barrier Reef is on the World Heritage list and is our biggest
marine park and home to an amazing array of creatures. There are so
many ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef with many different cruise
companies. Most of the larger operators all offer, snorkelling, glass
bottom boats, semi-submersibles and introductory or certified dives.
Two new ways to explore the underwater wonderland of the reef are
'Scuba Doo' and 'Seawalker'. Scuba Doo is like an underwater bike
fitted with a helmet pumped full of air. Seawalker is a similar concept
where you walk on an underwater platform with the helmet on - surrounded
by colourful fish. Or enjoy a spectacular helicopter flight over the
reef!
The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most exquisite examples of Mother
Nature. World Heritage listed, it contains the highest number of plant
and animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction -
compared to anywhere else on earth. You can bushwalk along well maintained
trails, camp overnight (with permits), take an Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander interpretive heritage tours, Ranger-guided walks and
full commentary by qualified biologists.
Things to do
- Stroll / or jog along the Esplanade promenade
and watch the spoonbills and pelicans.
- For lovers of history and architecture, take the self-guided Cairns Heritage City Walk. You will find yourself
among some 22 grand old buildings and significant establishments.
- Admire the whimsical tropical plants at the Flecker
Botanic Gardens with delightful exotic names like chocolate
beehive ginger and hanging lobster claw heliconia.
- Tour the tranquil waterways of the Trinity Inlet on a calm water cruise.
- Plunge into the Babinda Boulders or Crystal
Cascades. These are popular swimming holes.
- Browse in the funky stalls at the Cairns Night Markets or bring Cairns home with a souvenir for a loved one.
- Catch the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail, or the
kids will love taking a ride on the world's longest rainforest
cableway - the 'Sky Railway'. You will appreciate
the unspoilt rainforest as you silently glide over the top of
the tree canopy. There are a host of things to do for the whole
family once the Skyrail or train arrives in the village of Kuranda such as the Butterfly Sanctuary, Koala Gardens
and Birdworld offer endless entertainment for everyone.
- The five-star Sofitel Reef Hotel Casino is
one of the city's newest attractions. It has a glass conservatory
which also houses Cairns Rainforest Dome - a
stunning open rainforest with a network of board walks to get
close to native wildlife.
- Want a kick start to your day? How about a 30 minute hot air
ballooning ride at sunrise, followed by a traditional champagne
breakfast?
- Wild World - The Tropical Zoo, is another up-close
nature experience. Cuddle a koala, pat a wombat, feed a kangaroo,
watch an incomparable cane toad race.
- Take your tastebuds on an exotic tour with fruits from the Tropical
Tablelands at Rusty's Markets on Sheridan Street.
- Hire a boat (it comes with tackle supplied) and spend an afternoon
fishing in the estuary.
- Imagine weaving through colourful sea gardens teeming with tropical
fish! Excellent visibility, shallow waters, and a thriving dive
industry mean world-class and accessible diving and snorkelling
for any level of expertise.
- Use your clapsticks and join in a corroboree around the campfire
by the lake with Tjapukai by Night. This is followed
by a spectacular meal and song and dance show.
- The greens in Tropical Far North Queensland are among the most
beautiful and built to the highest standard. There are many quality
clubhouses to choose from including Paradise Palms Golf
Course a world renowned championship course.
- Visit an island beach - Green and Fitzroy Islands are only a short trip away on a high speed catamaran.
- Take the challenge for a full day or half day white water rafting
trip down one of the rivers surrounded by lush rainforest.
- Journey through the Outback Opal Mine. See
how dazzling opals are first uncovered deep underground in a mining
documentary then walk through an opal mine replica.
- Get the speed demon out of your system on a 4 wheel ATV bike
ride, go horseriding, sea kayaking and for the full adrenalin
rush, take a leap of faith and try tandem skydiving!
- An hour's drive over the range west of Cairns is the Atherton
Tablelands. With its waterfalls, lakes and vast areas
of farming land, the tablelands makes a great day trip or overnight
stay in one of many quaint B and B or rainforest chalets. Don't
forget to sample the local products such as locally grown coffee
at the Coffee Works (be sure to try the Chocolate Macadamia coffee!)
and the unique, yet refreshing Mango Wine at the Golden Pride
winery.
Photographs supplied courtesy of Tourism Queensland
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