Cairns is a town largely depending on tourism.
Many travellers arrive here after driving north along the eastern seaboard or on first touch-down after flying in from overseas.
Cairns is the unofficial capital of tropical north
Queensland and was in earlier days mainly a service town for the sugar plantations.
On first arrival Cairns can be disappointing because it does not have the tropical allure one is expecting.
Cairns is surrounded by mangrove swamps and by no means by tropical beaches.
The sea is shallow and becomes a mud flat at low tide.
Apart from this the town is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is famous for black marlin.
The adventurous will not be disappointed with the great many activities that are on offer. Cairns is a centre for scuba diving, white-water rafting, kayaking, horse riding, sky diving, bungee jumping and other activities.
There is a lot of competition and tourism operators will go through great lengths to make sure you have a great holiday.
In town -
Flecker Botanic GardensEstablished in 1886 as a recreational reserve, they are now the only wet tropical botanic gardens in Australia displaying tropical plants from around the world.
Mt Whitfield Conservation Park2 major walking tracks through forested mountain range to summit for views of Cairns and the Coral Sea.
Royal Flying Doctor ServiceHighlights the history of the service with aircraft on display.
Foreshore LagoonThis is a landscaped area with a safe swimming lagoon.
Kuranda Scenic RailwayOffers a trip through Barron Gorge to rainforest village of Kuranda.
Note: Sadly, this railway was closed in 2005.
Bulk Sugar TerminalOffers guided tours during crushing season.
Car HireThere are several
Cairns car rental places where you can pick up a cheap vehicle.
Further -
McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery, Tank Centre, Regional Gallery, Cairns Museum and Undersea World Aquarium. Contact the visitor centre for details.
NearbyGreat Barrier Reef & Islands Take a tour, charter a boat or fly to see some of the spectacular sights just offshore.
Rainforest covered Fitzroy Island has impressive snorkelling sites at Welcome and Sharkfin Bays. Green Island is a reel coral cay and the surrounding reef is teeming with tropical fish. They can be seen in the underwater observatory, from a glass-bottom boat or by snorkelling. The smaller Michaelmas and Upolo cays to the north-east are important sites for ground nesting seabirds. He surrounding waters are excellent for reef swimming. Contact the visitors centre for tours.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural ParkFour theatres both live and film, illustrate the culture and the history of the rainforest people of Far North Queensland.
Skyrail
Spectacular gondola ride through rainforest to Kuranda, departs from Caravonica lakes.
Bungee tower
Bungee jump from a platform through rainforest in Smithfield, contact the visitor centre for details.
Crystal Cascades
There are nice walks by cascades, it is also a very nice spot for a swim.
Further there are Lake Morris and Copperlode Dam, Barron and Freshwater Valleys for bushwalking, hiking white-water rafting and camping. Also there is an incredible stretch of 26 km of beaches and 4WD safaris to Cape York and the Gulf country.
Contact the
Cairns visitor centre for details.
