Cairns Region Guide

Cairns City today is a thriving seaside tourist town developed around the now world famous and protected Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest that was saved from developers in the early 1980's. To the tourist Cairns city today is also recognised as one of the safest and most organically developed tropical cities in the world offering guests the current charm and laid back feel of an unhurried lifestyle that Cairns still reflects today in the long term residents attitude and thus rubbing off onto the casual visitor or short term tourist.

Cairns is the domestic and international gateway for tourists to access everything that Cairns and tropical north Queensland has to offer the visitor. There would be no other place in Australia or many other countries that offers the diversity of landscape that Cairns and Mother Nature provide together in such a symbiotic synergy.

Holiday makers arriving into Cairns city will normally spend a couple of nights here to get themselves acquainted with the region and then either make day trips to the Great Barrier Reef to see the wonders of the region underwater, or explore the Atherton Tablelands and the waterfall circuit to the south before making their way to hotels, resorts, self contained apartments or bed and breakfast accommodation in the northern beaches, Cape Tribulation, Daintree or the Atherton Tablelands to get a wider experience of Cairns and its outer regions.

Cairns city has a lot to offer all age groups and demographics. For the international cruise ship groups that regularly dock in on the Trinity Wharf for a day or two the local tour operators work around the cruise ships timing to ensure all guests on board have time to see the best tours and attractions Cairns has to offer. The young family with children in prams and toddlers are very well catered for on specially designed child friendly reef boats to take families to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef, and plenty of wildlife attractions are on offer so the children can cuddle a Koala or have a photograph with a baby crocodile. Most hotels and resorts normally offer young families great deals on accommodation with young children travelling and eating for free.

Backpackers just love Cairns city for its diverse nightime culture from the night markets to the thumping live rock band music, to the disco's to the groove bars dotted on the waterfront. For backpackers Cairns is a cultural meeting point and melting pot that every young traveller from all over the world eventually makes their way just to see and experience for themselves what they have heard from other travellers about Cairns. Backpackers just love the adrenaline and adventure that Cairns has on offer like Bungee jumping, White water rafting, scuba diving, Skydiving, sea kayaking, hiking tours and lot's lot's more. They have not time to get bored in Cairns.

For international tourists Cairns is by no means a shopping destination it is an experiential destination. Cairns is a region where you come to see and explore the natural beauty that has been saved by forward thinking people for future generations to come and experience and be mesmerised. Learn the secrets hiding in the worlds oldest rainforests explore the natural beauty of the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, visit majestic cascading waterfalls that surround the Cairns region. Take away stories of the ancient Aboriginal tribes and learn the hardships of the pioneers of this now sugar town. Appreciate how Cairns has been preserved and nurtured by its caring local residents for the enjoyment and wonderment of all visitors.

Just come and see Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef for yourself you will just love it as millions of other tourists do annually and help us spread the conservation word around to preserve what Mother Nature has given us freely.

As more and more people discover this amazing part of Australia they will either pledge to return someday or they will recommend others come to witness the majestic beauty that nature has blessed this region. With stunning Rainforest Mountains and their Volcanic Crater Lakes to the natural swimming holes and the Great Barrier Reef that the astronauts see from as far away as the Moon.

Cairns Location

View Larger Map

Dining Out in Cairns

The City of Cairns has an abundance of award winning restaurants, cafes, bistros, coffee shops, diners, pizzerias, pubs and take-aways all within five square blocks of the Cairns Central Business District (CBD). No matter what time of the day or night you want to grab a bite, there will be something open to satisfy your craving. Many of Cairns best restaurants are found on the Boardwalk at the Pier Shopping Centre, along the Waterfront Esplanade or on Shields Street. Several of the five star resorts in Cairns also offer fabulous restaurants. Cairns is a laid back tropical town so generally casual dress is fine in most restaurants; as long as you have closed in shoes and a sleeved shirt you should be ok. There are many coffee shops and cafes scattered throughout the town where you can grab a quick coffee, gourmet foccacia, meat pie or healthy sandwich. These venues are generally very informal so bikinis and board shorts are accepted on the most part. If you find yourself in the city at 2am and are craving a snack you will be delighted by the collection of pizzerias, kebab shops and other miscellaneous eateries that open throughout the night. Along the Esplanade, on Shields Street and on Spence Street you will find these 24 hour food stalls. Just ask any backpacker and they will point you in the right direction. Book a sunset dinner cruise for your family and friends when you visit Cairns.

Nightlife in Cairns

Cairns has some of the best nightlife in Australia for any taste any night of the week. The best thing being is that all pubs, clubs and bars are within a five minute walk eliminating expensive taxi rides. Whether you are looking for live music, a hot DJ or dancing on tables to classic tunes you will find it all in Cairns. Friday and Saturday nights you will find a mix of live rock and roll, salsa bars, TOP40, DJs spinning hot house, trance and electro beats, classic oldies, karaoke and almost anything else you enjoy.

Sunday nights are popular and many bars offer 2-4-1 drinks between five and seven o'clock. From Monday-Thursday you will surely find something you will enjoy as most bars and nightclubs have a crowd every night of the week with international tourists always looking for some fun. Most nightspots do not charge an entrance fee but on a Friday or Saturday night expect to pay between $5 and $15 cover charge. Dress code on weekends is generally quite strict considering the laid back nature of Cairns. Women, make sure you are wearing nice shoes or high-heels and men must cover their shoulders, wear nice shoes and cannot wear baseball hats or sporting jerseys.

Shopping in Cairns

Cairns is full of an assortment of different shops and the quality and variety of shopping is getting better by the day. On the main streets of Cairns (Shields St., Grafton St., Lake St., Spence St. and Abbott St.) you will find ladies boutique shops, surf shops, convenience shops, bottle shops, souvenir shops, jewellery, and miscellaneous shops. All the more exclusive overseas designers like Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Burberry, expensive jewellers, opal shops and Duty Free Stores can be found on Abbott Street near the Casino nice and handy for tourists to find. Grafton Street has several trendy clothing stores and there are several shopping arcades throughout the City with hidden bargains, and assemblages of shops with all types of trinkets and gifts.

On Lake Street and Shields Street you will find your cheaper budget shops and souvenir shops and on the Esplanade and Shields Street you will find art galleries, surf shops and several Aboriginal art and artefacts stores. Cairns Central Shopping Centre Cairns largest air conditioned shopping mall is located at the edge of the city on Shields and McLeod Street and has several specialty retailers, convenience stores, department stores such as Myer and Target and groceries stores like Coles and Bilo. The Pier Shopping Centre on the waterfront of Cairns Marlin Marina, at the southern end of the city, has several clothing, shoe, and sportswear shops and on weekends the have the Farmgate markets where you can buy organic farm fresh produce. On the weekends you will find the Esplanade markets set up along the Esplanade promenade lining the Cairns swimming lagoon featuring locally produced arts, crafts and clothing.

Rusty's Markets on Sheridan Street runs from Friday to Sunday and features fresh Tropical fruits and vegetables, pastas, oils, nuts, seafood, organic breads and dips some produce you may have never seen before nor know have the faintest idea on how to cook them. Just ask the stall vendor and they will tell you their secret recipes. These markets are very eclectic and you get to meet people from all over the world. You can have free tastings and learn how to cook the amazing array of farm fresh produce from the Atherton Tablelands.

The Cairns Convention Centre

For business travellers in Cairns, The Cairns Convention Centre is situated in the middle of the city and is a world class meeting and conference venue. The Cairns Convention Centre is walking distance from all CBD hotels, resorts and accommodation houses and can hold up to 5000 people for functions and events. The Cairns Convention Centre is innovative, flexible and functional and was voted one of the world's top 10 convention centres by The North American Meetings and Planner's 'Beyond Border Survey'. The function and conference coordinators of Cairns Convention Centre are highly trained and experienced and are able to plan and execute major conferences, tradeshows, events and functions of international standards. Have a look at some of the private charter tours in Cairns that your conference group may enjoy.

The Reef Casino

The Reef Hotel Casino is located on the Cairns Esplanade to the south of the city and is an entertainment venue that both tourists and locals enjoy. The Casino complex features a five star hotel, three restaurants, a cocktail bar, sports-bar, nightclub and of course a two level Casino open from 10am until 5:00am on weekends and 10:00am until 3:00am on weekdays, The Reef Casino has monthly sweepstake promotions with cash and prize giveaways as well as several electronic slot machines (pokies) and table games such as blackjack, roulette, mini and midi baccarat and unique games to the Casino. There is also a Private High Rollers Club Lounge with complimentary drinks, exceptional service and multi-lingual hosts. The Reef Hotel Casino is small and quaint and has a good local following on Friday and Saturday nights for live entertainment.

The Climate in Cairns

The tropical climate in Cairns has two distinct seasons: The Dry Season and The Green Season. The Dry Season is between May and December and is generally characterised by low humidity, low rainfall and temperatures ranging between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

The Green Season is between January and April and is characterised by higher temperatures (reaching a maximum of 32 degrees), more rainfall and higher humidity although generally the days are dry followed by spectacular thunderstorms in the evenings and beautiful sunshine in the mornings.

These temperatures providing our guests with a year round destination to have fun and explore and if they are after a tan or just looking for a beautiful place to find some warmth then Cairns City is the place to be all year round.

Take a look at all the best Cairns tours that are on offer for your family and loved ones. Ask about or special private charter boats for Great Barrier Reef Tours and scenic flights.

Cairns, Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia will be one of your truly most memorable holiday experiences yet.

From the vibrantly sensitive Great Barrier Reef to the majestic World Heritage listed Daintree, Cape Tribulation rainforest this naturally beautiful world-class holiday destination has something for everyone on a warm Tropical year round basis.

"We are here and we are local" Our Cairns based group of hotel and resort accommodation specialists have put together one of the best selections of Cairns hotel, resort and apartment accommodation guides as voted from our clientele.

Although the Cairns Beaches are often compared to Noosa Australia We believe they are better as they offer a diversity, and serenity while still having "A buzz" about them.

With up to the minute room rates and last minute website specials along with intimate details on all the hotels, resorts and apartments services and facilities to assist you in your perfect choice of Cairns holiday accommodation for that well earned rest or business event.

View information about Cairns Weather