About Cairns

If there’s truly a place in Australia that could be considered paradise, it’s Cairns, Queensland. As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Far North Queensland and surrounding Wet Tropics, this area truly has everything! The city itself is a buzzing hive of excitement and goes beyond its call of duty in regards to its offering of civic amenities and accommodation options. The many exciting festivals and events held throughout the year bring a spark of vibrancy to this already beautiful place. This gorgeous Tropical North Queensland location offers an amazing array of activities for visitors, ranging from taking in the surrounding natural sights, indulging in some ‘me time’ with a leisure pursuit or embarking on a knuckle-whitening extreme activity.

The regional city of Cairns is located approximately 1,700 km north of Brisbane by road, but is only a quick 2 hours and 20 minutes by plane. Because of the easy access from Brisbane via air, the allure of Cairns attracts a huge number of both international and national tourists, who come for the natural beauty, the attractions and the sublime tropical climate. It is this monsoonal climate – which boasts temperatures that are almost always above 25°C (77°F) and an annual rainfall of 2,015.9 millimetres (79.4 in) – that allows the stunning tropical rainforests in the area to thrive; however, it is relatively dry between June and October, making it a perfect tourist destination. In fact, Cairns has been named as the fourth most popular international tourist destination in Australia, such is its popularity. Pretty impressive for an area that primarily consisted of mangrove swamps and sand ridges back in the late 1800’s!

The city is definitely a beach-lovers paradise, with a succession of nine beach communities, extending their golden-sanded shores along the turquoise oceanfront. Clever developers have used this stunning ocean setting to highlight the natural beauty of the area and here, you will find an amazing Esplanade, beachside retreats and resorts, ocean view restaurants and cafés, as well as many other manmade embellishments to the much-loved shoreline. The amazing shopping opportunities, family friendly activities and exciting nightlife within the Cairns city centre ensures that every taste and want is catered for; however, most people visit Cairns for the gorgeous natural surrounds outside of the city, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the Atherton Tablelands, the Gulf Savannah and the Top End.

The Great Barrier Reef certainly needs no introduction; globally renowned and listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this stunning coral wonderland offers almost unlimited opportunities for exploring its amazing array of colourful corals and tropical sea-life. The Wet Tropics extends all the way from Cooktown to Townsville and is a World Heritage Site of important significance to Australia’s ecology. This beautifully lush site includes the ancient and magnificent Daintree Rainforest – among others – and is one of the most stunning areas in the world to visit. The wildlife here is also stunning, with a huge variety of flora and fauna species (including the salt-water crocodile!) many of which are rare and endangered. The Atherton Tablelands gives you the opportunity to explore its stunning bird and butterfly filled rainforests, visit quaint historical towns – such as the beautiful village of Kuranda – and partake in a variety of other exciting outdoor activities. The Gulf Savannah offers a true Aussie outback landscape of dry, dusty plains, vast grasslands and phenomenal lava tubes, all with an amazing pioneer history for you to learn about. Similarly, Australia’s Top End is history laden and offers a plethora of contrasting environments, great cultural experiences and amazing vistas.