Cairns
Cairns [1] is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland Australia.
Cairns is a small city with a population of approx. 130,000 that is very focused on the tourist industry, but is also surrounded by agricultural activities including sugar cane, banana and other tropical fruits. Cairns is popular with international tourists, particularly the Japanese.
There is a lot of budget accommodation with plenty of drinking establishments and cheap restaurants for backpackers. The atmosphere is relatively inexpensive tourism, with t-shirt shops and lots of clubs and places to go out for young travellers. Travellers might prefer the more sedate and upscale Port Douglas, 30 miles to the north.
Travel to Cairns, visa requirements
Flights to Cairns, airtickets
Cairns International Airport (IATA: CNS) is the primary international gateway into the region and is also served by many domestic flights.
The international airlines serving Cairns are:
- Qantas (tel 13 13 13) flying in direct from several international destinations, eg. Narita (Tokyo).
- Air Niugini flying from Port Moresby.
- Air New Zealand flying from Auckland.
- Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong 4 times a week
- Airlines PNG flying from Port Moresby, Tabuil and Mt Hagen.
- Continental Airlines flying from Guam.
- Airfast Indonesia flying from Timika.
- Korean Air flying from Incheon.
The domestic airlines serving Cairns are:
- Qantas flying from Horn Island, Weipa, Gove/Nhulunbuy, Darwin, Perth, Alice Springs, Yulara (Uluru), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
- Virgin Blue (tel 13 67 89) flying from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
- Jetstar (tel 13 15 38) flying from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
- MacAir (tel Qantas) flying from regional Queensland including Townsville and Mount Isa
The hourly-or-so Airport Shuttle bus into town costs $7, while a taxi will do the same trip directly to your destination for around $15.
By train
Cairns Station is right in the city centre, easily within walking distance of the waterfront and most hotels.
Queensland Railways Tilt train and The Sunlander services connect Cairns to Brisbane (via Townsville and Rockhampton), taking 32 hours for the full journey. Even though the Tilt Train reaches speeds of 160km/h between Townsville and Brisbane, the diesel Tilt Train running between Brisbane and Cairns runs at a maximum of 80km/h between Townsville and Cairns due to the poor alignment of the line. Although a trip between Townsville and Cairns takes 4 hours by car, it can take over 7 hours by train.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway, also operated by Queensland Rail, runs from Cairns to Kuranda, stopping over the majestic Barron Gorge to allow passengers to leave the train and enjoy the beautiful view over the water.
The Savannahlander also travels from Cairns to Kuranda but then continues on to the outback town of Forsayth.
The 1700-km Bruce Highway running south along the coast connects Cairns to the state capital Brisbane. Car rental is available from Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar and Vroom Vroom Vroom
Get around
The center of Cairns is small enough to cover on foot. Frequent Sunbus buses depart from the market square to the suburbs and Northern Beaches.
Cairns attractions and sightseeing
- Catch an amateur rugby game in town if you can, the locals play a mean game, and it's a great way to meet local folks.
- International cricket is often played in Cairns at Cazaly's Stadium. Time your visit right and you could catch a great game for just a couple of dollars.
- Cairns is home to one of Australia's best basketball teams, as well as basketball's most famous mascot, Joe Blake the Snake.
- Many natural Cairns attractions including the Great Barrier Reef, Copperlode Dam, Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest
City tours
Cairns is an adventure sports enthusiast's paradise: every second shop is a tourist information centre with signs blaring "dive dive" or "tandem skydiving". Its location close to the ocean, the mountains and the rainforest gives travellers lots of choices of activity.
Standby rates are ubiquitous: many of the more expensive activities, including scuba diving and skydiving, are up to $150 cheaper if you are prepared to go on standby for a cancelation.
- Swim in the artificial lagoon on the promenade near the pier. The lagoon is unfenced and free. Its shallow water (max depth 1.5m) makes it popular with children and families. The lagoon is a good place to cool off especially during "stinger season" between October and May (cf. Australia#Poisonous_and_dangerous_creatures) when local beaches should be avoided.
- Sunbake or people watch on the grassy part of the promenade near the lagoon. On a sunny day, even in the middle of Cairns's tropical "winter", there will sometimes be more sunbakers than there is visible grass.
- Have a barbecue on the promenade. Cairns has free barbecues scattered generously among the picnic tables on the grass.
Diving and snorkeling
A number of Cairns operators run day and liveaboard scuba diving trips from Cairns. For seeing the Great Barrier Reef, the smaller dive boats provide the best experience, both for diving and for snorkeling.The larger operations have more amenities--better food, larger and faster boats, more activities, but sometimes provide a poorer underwater experience, as the underwater areas that the larger boats visit are heavily overused, and somewhat barren of coral and fishes. Your mileage may vary.
- Tusa Dive Australia, cnr Shield Street and the Esplanade, ☎ +61-7-4031-1028 (shop@tusadive.com, fax: +61-7-4031-3141), [2]. Tusa Dive Australia are a particularly good small operator. Tusa Dive offer 2 dive day trips to the Outer Reef for $160 ($190 with equipment hire)..
- Pro Dive Cairns, 116 Spence Street, ☎ +61-7-4031-5255 (info@prodive-cairns.com.au, fax: +61-7-4051-9955), [3]. Pro Dive Cairns specialises in 11 dive/3 day/2 night liveaboard trips to the Outer Reef, departing every day except Tuesdays. Their dive sites are suitable for inexperienced divers: most trips will include one or more groups of students doing their checkout dives. The liveaboard trip is $560 for a twin share or double cabin (including equipment and reef tax). Pro Dive Cairns also offer several PADI courses which include the liveaboard trip: the basic Open Water course (2 days of classroom and pool work plus the trip), Open Water referral checkout dives, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver. PRO DIVE will show you nice wet suits, state of the art flippers, snorkels and masks on the 2nd training day in the pool. However, on the live aboard trip you will only get old, short wetsuits, the cheapest masks and snorkel and simple flippers. Bring your own wet suit or hire one if you get cold easily. The trip is $560 per person, twin share or double, reef tax and equipment included. Open Water course $695, Open Water referral $595.
- New Horizon Sail and Dive, PO Box 5957, Cairns, Qld 4870, ☎ +61-7-4055-6130 (info@reefcharter.com, fax: +61-7-4055-6315), [4]. New Horizon Sail and Dive operates two classic sailing boats, Santa Maria and Coral Sea Dreaming, to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They allow you to experience the reef in a smaller more intimate affair with a maximum of ten (10) passengers on each trip. The trip is from $380 per person for a two day liveaboard and from $540 for a three day liveaboard, all equipment included..
- Taka Dive Adventures, 131 Lake Street, ☎ +61-7-4051-8722 (takadive@taka.com.au, fax: +61-7-4031-2739), [5]. Taka Dive offer two liveaboard trips: a 5 day/4 night tour of Cod Hole and the Coral Sea (from $1050 for a 4 share cabin and $1175 for a twin cabin) and a 4 day/3 night tour of Cod Hole and the northern part of the reef (from $900 for a 4 share cabin and $1000 for a twin cabin). The two trips can be combined into one from $1850 (4 share cabin).
- Dive Directory, PO Box 5264, ☎ +61-7-4046-7304 (info@dive-australia.com, fax: +61-7-4031-1210), [6]. Destinations including the Great Barrier Reef, Cod Hole and the Coral Sea. Also offering PADI scuba diving courses from beginner to professional.
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, 143 Lake Street, ☎ +61-7-4053-0500, [7]. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions are Australian divers' favourite luxury dive operator, famous for little touches like fresh towels every day, as well as excellent dive sites suited to serious divers. Unlike most liveaboard operators in the region, Mike Ball trips allow solo diving and rebreather diving if you provide appropriate equipment. Cabins with private bathrooms are available. 3 night trip from $1185, 4 night trip from $1294 and 7 night trip from $2300, rental equipment and courses extra.
- Great Barrier Reef Diving, P.O. Box 5696 Torquay, Queensland, ☎ +61-7-4128-9359 (ozmagictours@yahoo.com, fax: +61-7-4128-9359), [8]. Oz Magic represents many different dive operators ex Cairns Many different dive options from one day to seven days.
Skydiving
If you are sick of the sea, head up in the air.
- Skydive Cairns [9], 59 Sheridan Street. tel 1800 330 044 (free call in Australia) or 07 4031 5466. fax 07 4031 5505. email reservations@skydivecairns.com.au. Skydive Cairns offers tandem single jumps and AFF courses. One of the most beautiful plane rides up to 13,000 feet overlooking the reef just long enough before you loose your lunch on the way down.
- Tandem Cairns [10], Shop 10, 93 The Esplanade (entrance on Aplin Street). tel 1800 805 432 (free call in Australia). email admin@tandemcairns.com.au. Tandem Cairns offers tandem skydives for $270.
Hang Gliding
Hang gliders fly off Rex Point Lookout, halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas on the Captain Cook highway. On weekends, it's common to see multiple gliders soaring the sky above the scenic lookout, and the winter season provides consistent flight conditions.
- Airplay Hang Gliding, ☎ 0417000797 (gregandpatch@yahoo.com.au), [11]. Airplay offers tandem hang gliding flights of durations up to an hour and a free outbound shuttle service. Lessons and full instruction are also available to those wishing to learn to fly.
Ballooning
Always wanted to try ballooning - the Cairns region has some of the best weather for ballooning in the World and so trips go year around and are rarely cancelled. It's also one to the cheapest places to go flying you'll find anywhere. The trips go inland to the Atherton Tablelands and take off at first light at Mareeba, finishing around 10am and can connect directly to a Great Barrier Reef tour or drop you in Kuranda. Ballooning with Hot Air 1800 800 829 [12] include a hot breakfast, champagne & transfers for AU$175. Champagne Balloon Flights [13] have a slightly cheaper trip but don't offer breakfast 07 40392400
Shopping, Cairns souvenirs
- Night Markets [14], 71-75 The Esplanade. ph 07 4051 7666. The night markets operate every night of the week till late. They are a collection of stalls catering mainly to tourists: you can buy lots of clothes, games and Australiana.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
As with much of Cairns, you can divide the city into the Esplanade and the places within a block of it, and the rest of the city. The Esplanade is littered with bar and grill places supplying red meat and beer all in the one place, and with seafood restaurants. It's relatively difficult to find anything open before 11am, since they expect the clientele to be sleeping in. The rest of the city has small cafes and milkbars catering to locals. The number of Japanese tourists here makes Japanese food a fairly reliable option, although prices can be steep.
A number of the more expensive restaurants on the Esplanade, particularly towards the north end, offer discounts of 20-30% for early birds: usually you will need to order by 6:30pm and pay and leave no later than 7:30pm to get a discounted meal.
- La Pizza Trattoria, 93 The Esplanade. tel 07 4031 2646. La Pizza Trattoria has good pizza. It lures most patrons in by letting them wander past the pizza chef kneading the dough as they smell the baking pizzas. Medium sized pizzas $17. Open 7 Days 7am until late.
- Villa Romana Trattoria [15], Aplin Street (cnr The Esplanade). tel 07 4051 9000. fax 07 4031 5557. Large Italian meals with some good seafood options and overworked wait staff. 30% discount if you order before 6:45pm. Meals are $20-$30.
- Hide's Coffee Cafe, Shop 7, 87 Lake Street. tel 07 4041 1899. Hides Coffee Cafe, a couple of streets back from the Esplanade, is a good place for a relative cheap (under $10) breakfast or lunch. Order at the counter and remember to keep an eye on the collapsing umbrellas at the outside tables.
- Sushi Express, Shop 28 Orchid Plaza, 79 Abbott Street. tel 07 4041 4388. fax 07 4052 1277. A sushi train made up to look like the Kuranda Railway, this place is popular but not wildly busy. The tempura seems to get more attention than the sushi or sashimi. Plates from $2.50 to $4.50.
- Perrotta's At The Gallery, 38 Abbott Street. tel 07 4031 5899. If you want to escape from several evenings touring the bar and grill places, Perotta's is just off the Esplanade and does more sophisticated Western food. Try the French toast with roast pear for breakfast. Breakfast, lunch and dinner approximately $20.
- Donnini's Ciao Italia, at the Pier Marketplace, features indoor and outdoor dining with a beautiful ocean backdrop. Located at The Esplanade, Donnini's is within walking distance of many of Cairns' hotels. Meals will set you back around $20-$25, and are extra delicious!
- Cairns Dining collects restaurant reviews provided by local and visiting diners.
- The Restaurant Club has a dining discount card available for a year for $99, or a one month tourist card for $20.
Cairns nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
- The Woolshed Chargrill & Saloon Bar [16] , 24 Shields Street. tel 07 4031 6304. fax 07 4041 2283. If you are looking for a place to find all the travelers, go to the Wool Shed in downtown Cairns. Legend has it that if you can't pull here, you won't anywhere in Oz.
- Rattle 'N Hum, 67 The Esplanade. tel 07 4031 3011. The Rattle 'n Hum is a bar and grill in the midst of one of the busiest parts of The Esplanade. It's quite large and getting a seat is seldom a problem: sit out the back whether they light torches in the evenings. Competition for the pool table is not formidable so you should be able to get several games in. They do a number of main meals, including wood-fired pizza (approximately $20). The staff are highly variable in quality, ordering a cocktail is quite a risk but they're certainly able to pull a beer.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Cairns has seemingly endless places to stay, but they do book out during high season (June - September). Cairns Connect offers definitions of the various accommodation types in Cairns.
Budget
Cairns is the backpacker capital of Northern Queensland and there are over 20 hostels, all offering basic bunks in the $14-18 range. Corona Backpackers - Beds in a four-share dorm are only $16 a night. Well kept and clean. Basic facilities - but very central - walking distance to everything. Opposite pool and laundry and Gilligans.
- Asylum Cairns, 149 Grafton Street. Tel.: 07 4031 1474 or toll free: 1800 065 464 (for bookings only). Fax: 07 4031 8499. E-mail: cairnsbackpackers@cairns.net.au. Bed in small dorm (no bunk beds) $18 for one night or $15 per night if staying two nights or more (prices on website are out of date). Free transfers to and from airport, bus- or trainstation if staying two nights or more. Free internet. Not particularly clean or well maintained. Very friendly and helpful staff. Not in city centre, but within easy walking distance.
- Cairns Central YHA Backpackers Hostel, 20-26 McLeod Street. Tel.: 07 4051 0772. Fax: 07 4031 3158. E-mail: cairns_central@yhaqld.org. Bunk beds in shared rooms $23-$25 per night, double and twin rooms from $54 per night.
- Cairns Esplanade YHA, 93 The Esplanade. Tel.: 07 4031 1919. Fax: 07 4031 4381. E-mail: cairnsesplanade@yhaqld.org. Bunk beds in shared rooms $20 per night, double and twin rooms from $46 per night.
- The Bellview, 85-87 The Esplanade. Tel.: 07 4031 4377. Fax: 07 4031 2850. E-mail: stay@bellviewcairns.com.au. Dormitory rooms from $20 per bed per night, budget single rooms from $35 per night, budget double rooms from $47 per night.
- Bohemia Resort 231 McLeod Street. Tel.: 07 4041 7290. Fax: 07 4041 7292. E-mail: info@bohemiaresort.com.au. Close to the centre of Cairns and featuring four-dorm rooms, singles, twins and doubles, as well as ensuite and family rooms. Very clean and well maintained. Facilities include a 25m saltwater pool, kitchen, bar and shuttle bus service. Prices start at $23 per person, per night.
- Floriana Guesthouse 183 The Esplanade. Tel.: 07 4051 7886. Fax: 07 4051 3056. E-mail: info@florianaguesthouse.com. Situated on The Esplanade in Cairns with the front rooms looking out to the coral sea, Floriana is an older style Art Deco 1930's guesthouse. It is 15 mins walk to town and offers rooms with share facilities and self contained flats.
Mid-range
Mid-range Cairns hotels, resorts, and inns are listed here alphabetically.
- Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort , corner Sheridan and Grafton Streets, is located in the Cairns Business District, in close proximity to the Esplanade, various nightclubs, as well as Cairns Central and Rusty's Markets. Gilligan's also regularly advertise special guests, especially during Australian Big Brother, where evicted housemates often spend the night mingling with guests and partygoers.
- Holiday Inn Cairns, 21-123 The Esplanade & Florence Street. Tel: 07 4050 6070. Fax: 07 4031 3770. E-mail: admin@holidayinncairns.com.au. Double rooms approximately $150 per night.
- Oasis Resort Cairns, 122 Lake Street. Tel: 07 4080 1888. Fax: 07 4080 1889. E-mail: res@oasis-cairns.com.au. Resort style King rooms and Twin rooms(with two doubles) approximately $150 per night. One block from the centre of Cairns.
- Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza. 295 Sheridan Street, Cairns, QLD 4870 Australia. Tel +61-7-4031-6500 Fax +61-7-4031-6226. A modern four-star boutique-style hotel, the Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza is only five minutes away from the Cairns Airport and City Centre, and easily accessible to public transport and tour routes. Online reservation at best rates with instant confirmation starting near AU$120.
- Queen's Court, 167-171 Sheridan Street. Tel: 07 4051 7722. E-mail: info@queenscourt.com.au. Budget rooms from $69 per night, motel-style twin rooms from $103 per night. Family suites available.
- Reef Retreat Resort. 10-14 Harpa Street, Palm Cove, Cairns Queensland 4879 Australia. Tel +61 7 4059 1744 Fax: +61 7 4059 1745. The Reef Retreat is located in Palm Cove, just 22kms from Cairns in the renowned Great Barrier Reef region of Tropical North Queensland, Australia, nestled between an idyllic coconut palm fringed beach and lush, tropical rainforests. Online reservation at best rates with instant confirmation starting near AU$95.
- Rydges Plaza Cairns, Cnr Spence & Grafton Streets ph 1300 857 922 - Centrally located in the heart of Cairns. Rydges Plaza Cairns is close to the Cairns Convention Centre, Reef Casino, Great Barrier Reef departure terminals, Esplanade Lagoon, Foreshore Promenade and Cairns Central shopping complex. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.
- Rydges Tradewinds Cairns, 137 The Esplanade ph 1300 857 922 - Located on the Cairns Esplanade overlooking the Coral Sea, Rydges Tradewinds is just a few minutes walk along the Esplanade Boardwalk to the Cairns lagoon precinct, City Centre, Restaurants, shopping and departure points for the Great Barrier Reef. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.
- Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, Corner The Esplanade & Kerwin Street ph 1300 857 922 - Located conveniently on the Esplanade, Rydges Esplanade Resort is in walking distance to a vast array of Cairns finest shopping and dining facilities. Amenities include three superb resort swimming pools, one children’s pool, two tennis courts, a complete Health club, Aerobic classes, spa, sauna, and masseuse services. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.
- Villa Vaucluse Apartments of Cairnsoffers self-contained Cairns accommodation apartment units for holiday and corporate guests. It is located at 141-143 Grafton Street, Cairns, Queensland, 4870 Australia. Villa Vaucluse provides personalized tour arrangements at no extra cost. Rates start at AUD 150.
Luxury
- Sofitel Reef Hotel, 35-41 Wharf Street. Tel: 07 4030 8888. Fax: 07 4030 8777. The Reef Hotel Casino is among the best hotels in the city, located in the same building as the Reef Casino and with views over Trinity Bay. Room rates start at $220.
- Hilton Cairns, 34 The Esplanade. Tel: 07 4050 2000. Fax: 07 4050 2001. E-mail: cairns@hilton.com.
- Shangri-La Hotel, Pierpoint Road. Tel: 07 4031 1411. Fax: 07 4031 3226. E-mail: slmc@shangri-la.com.
- Cairns International Hotel, 17 Abbott Street. Tel: 07 4031 1300. Fax: 07 4031 1801. Spacious rooms and suites all with balconies, overlooking the harbour and the city in the heart of Cairns. Accommodation rates from $200 per room per night.
- Clarendon on Spence, 79 Spence Street, Cairns, Qld, 4870. Tel: 07 4041 2226 . Fax:+61 7 4041 4132. 2-3 bedroom apartments at Cairns City. Official Website.
Get out
- Cairns is a good jumping off point to the Great Barrier Reef.
- The market town of Kuranda makes a great day trip. You can drive, catch the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater stations, or take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- Mossman Gorge 70 minutes north of Cairns is a good place to cool off. Avoid the tour coaches, and take great care swimming as the currents can be very strong.
- The Daintree rain forest, north of town.
- Green Island and Fitzroy Island, both resort islands that welcome day trips, are withing 45 minutes of Cairns by ferry.
- The Savannahlander is a four day train journey that departs from Cairns to the outback town of Forsayth. It's a great way to see the Chillagoe caves and Undara lava tubes.
- Cairns Culture Arts & TourismWhats on in Cairns & the Surrounding Regoin of Far North Queensland
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More from Far North Queensland: Ayr (Queensland), Cairns, Coral Sea Islands, Daintree National Park, Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook Island, Port Douglas, Thuringowa More from Queensland: Airlie Beach, Bowen, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cape York Peninsula, Capricornia, Far North Queensland, Fraser Island, Gladstone (Queensland), Glass House Mountains National Park, Gold Coast, Granite belt, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Mount Isa, Nambour, Rockhampton, Roma, Sunshine Coast (Queensland), Toowoomba, Tully More from Australia: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Capital Territory, Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Northern Territory, Outback, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria (state), Western Australia More from Australasia: Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea More from Oceania: Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Midway Islands, New Zealand, Polynesia |
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