Cairns

The city's multicultural influences are unmistakable and are identified with a busy international airport, street signs and shop labels in two or three languages as well as the varied international cuisine on offer at the local restaurants.

Cairns is an excellent travel base with convenient access to nearby destinations in the far north region of Queensland. As one of the world's premier diving sites with countless numbers of dive, snorkel and cruise operators based here, visitors and tourists alike flock to Cairns annually for access the nearby reef.

Recent developments have further transformed the city itself into an attractive tourist hot spot with a glamorous atmosphere where visitors can be assured of a plethora of activities to keep them busy and entertained for the length of their stay.

See our detailed Cairns map.

Orientation

The central business district of Cairns consists of a number of blocks edged by the Esplanade and McLeod, Wharf and Aplin Streets. Boats to the reef depart from Reef Fleet Terminal near the southern end of the Esplanade.

The train station forms part of the Cairns Central Shopping Centre between McLeod and Bunda St. Long-distance buses arrive and depart from Trinity Wharf just south of Reef Fleet Terminal while local buses operated by Sunbus leave from the Lake St Transit Centre located in the CBD.

Things to See and Do

The impressive Cairns Esplanade and Lagoon is a favourite amongst outdoor enthusiasts, tourists and shoppers who blade, cycle or stroll along the picturesque 3km walking trail while perusing through the various shops and restaurants that line the esplanade.

The beautiful Flecker Botanic Gardens features stunning tropical rainforests and plants which can be witnessed via the various peaceful trails and boardwalks at the gardens.

Further north, visitors can explore fascinating aspects of Aboriginal culture at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, get up close and personal with crocodiles at Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farm or interact with native fauna at Cairns Tropical Zoo.

The Cairns Regional Gallery is a regal heritage building that's worth a visit where a range of history, modern fine art and indigenous works in various visual forms are featured.

Activities and Tours

As the scuba-diving capital of the Great Barrier Reef, there's no shortage of dive courses in Cairns. Packages usually including a couple of days in the pool and a few days out on a boat in the reef.

Apart from diving and snorkeling, visitors can also try their hand at white-water rafting down the Barron, Tully, Russell and North Johnstone Rivers or indulge in other outdoor activities such as fishing, hot air ballooning, skydiving or horse-riding.

Cairns is one of the major gateways to the Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland and many operators are based here offering tours to the reef and islands as well as the many destinations nearby including Cape Tribulation, Cooktown and the Atherton Tablelands.

Places to Eat

True to its reputation as a hub of multiculturalism, the restaurants at Cairns boast a wide variety of influences from around the globe ranging from Australian cuisine to Japanese, Indian, Thai and Italian fare.

Eateries can be found scattered around the central Cairns town area. Pricier restaurants are located near the Esplanade for visitors who wish to enjoy their meal near the picturesque waterfront.

Getting to Cairns

The Cairns International Airport services domestic flights to and from major centres in Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Alice Springs and Townsville.

For a small fee, a shuttle bus from the airport run by Australia Coach will take visitors to central Cairns about 7km south. Alternatively, taxis are also available at the airport.

Regular bus services connect Cairns with various other destinations in Queensland and are run by Greyhound Australia, Premier Motor Service, Sun Palm Express and Coral Reef Coaches.

Train services by Queensland Rail and the Sunlander run between Brisbane to the train station in the Cairns Central Shopping Centre.

Getting Around

The most convenient way of exploring Far North Queensland is to hire a car or motorcycle (enquire at the airport). From central Cairns, local bus services are operated by Sunbus with routes and schedules posted at the Lake St Transit Centre.

Getting Away

Macair flies to Lizard Island, Dunk Island and Mt Isa from a terminal close to the airport while Quicksilver Cruises operates a return cruise to and from Port Douglas at the Cairns Pier & Marina. To get to Kuranda, look for John's Kuranda Bus or the Kuranda Shuttle around the Lake St Transit Mall. Boats heading out towards the reef usually depart from Reef Fleet Terminal.

Tourist Information

For more information about Cairns, Contact Us or the Gateway Discovery Centre located along the Esplanade between Spence and Shields Streets.