Cairns is situated on the northeast coast of Australia about 1700 kilometres north of Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane. It is on Trinity Bay on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula between the Coral Sea and the Atherton Tablelands. It was founded in 1876 when gold was found on the tablelands and it has developed into a major port.
The town was named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, who was Queensland’s first Irish-born Governor. It began as a tent city until it was chosen as the starting point of a rail line for the Atherton Tablelands region. The 75 kilometre railway line was built entirely by hand by up to 1500 workers using bare hands, buckets and dynamite, and the railway allowed Cairns to blossom.
Facts About Cairns
Cairns has a population of over 140,000 and is the fourteenth largest city in Australia. Its tropical climate and proximity to a range of natural attractions make it a popular place for visitors from around the world. It is the fourth most popular Australian destination for overseas visitors (after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and has had an international airport since 1984.
The tropical climate has a dry and wet season. The dry season is during the cooler months of May to October when the weather is mild, sunny, and humidity is low. The wet season is during the hotter months of November to April when rain occurs almost every afternoon, humidity is high and dramatic lightening is frequent.
Cairns Accommodation and Dining
Cairns has lots of accommodation to suit every traveller. There are corporate hotels, beachfront resorts, family friendly motels, backpacker hostels, apartments, holiday homes, bed and breakfasts, and retreats. You can make you choice between luxury, budget, and everything in-between. Prices tend to vary with the time of year, but there are usually good bargains to be found online.
In the city area the streets are lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels serving a variety of cuisine while the Casino and a Convention Centre offer great dining options. There is a popular restaurant precinct on Shields Street as well as a good restaurant selection on the Esplanade. Many menu items contain top quality seafood and local tropical fruit, while crocodile and kangaroo are not unusual.
Things to Do in Cairns
Cairns has a host of galleries, shops and markets to peruse. Cairns itself has a tidal mud flat where there are usually flocks of migratory birds feeding, but to both the north and the south of the city there are magnificent beaches. The Flecker Botanic Gardens showcases some of the unique flora and fauna of Tropical North Queensland, while the Reef Casino has a mix of live entertainment, restaurants and gaming.
From Cairns, visitors can take a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef , a coach tour to the Daintree Rainforest, or visit Queensland’s tallest mountain, Mt Bartle Frere Other activities include whitewater rafting, hot-air ballooning , golf, scenic flights, day trips to Kuranda, a food and wine tour and the Cairns crocodile farm. There is no excuse for anyone to be bored in Cairns.
Other popular Australian holiday destinations include Noosa.
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