Cairns is the fourth most popular place to visit in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and is serviced by its own international airport. Take one look at all the attractions that Cairns has to offer it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
The main focus of Cairns’ CBD is Cairns Esplanade featuring a salt water lagoon that is free to the public and is one of the more popular attractions in the city. Family friendly, the Esplanade features a skate park and children’s playground as well.
Continuing on from the Esplanade, tourists will find the Cairns boardwalk which is home to some of the finest restaurants the city has to offer. If you’re on a budget then why not grab some snags and head to the barbeque area?
The Reef Fleet Terminal located in the Marlin Marina is the one and only transport centre for tourists heading out to the Great Barrier Reef. All companies operate out of here making for easy transports and pickups allowing tourists to shop around the terminal searching for the best price.
The Pier Shopping Centre is conveniently located nearby and has a number of water front restaurants and bars. If you really want to lash out, the luxurious five star Shangri-la Hotel is also located at the Marina.
Day trips or short excursions are one of the most popular things to do in the area with everything from scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, adventure tours through Cape Tribulation or walking tours through the Daintree rainforest all operating out of Cairns.
Cruise ships, deep sea fishing, boating trips and party tours operate all year round and are extremely popular.
Back on dry land, the city centre of Cairns is made up of a grid network of Streets with the majority of cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, and tourism businesses operating out of these areas. Most notable are Lake, Grafton, Sheridan and Abbot Streets.
The Sofitel Hotel and Casino located on Wharf Street is one of the finest casinos in Australia and is home to myriad dining experiences, bars and a five star hotel.
Cairns has a number of shopping centres, the largest of which is Cairns Central which has been operating since 1997. It’s the largest shopping centre in far North Queensland offering an extensive range of fashion and boutique stores as well as larger department chains such as Myer.
Dining in Cairns is an international occasion. With so many different nationalities visiting the city Cairns was bound to absorb some of these influences. Amazing seafood is everywhere as well as practically every international cuisine you can think of.
The majority of restaurants and cafes are located from Sheridan Street to the Esplanade and Wharf to Florence Street.
Accommodation in Cairns ranges from the budget to the luxurious. Hotels are all throughout the city, backpackers are everywhere as are resorts and serviced apartments. Be aware of high and low season – much cheaper rates are available during the summer months – simply because temperatures are so high!