Cairns is the gateway to Australia's natural wonders
Cairns is a city that has a lot to offer to those who are fortunate enough to visit. Located near the beautiful rainforest, the mountains, and the sea, the city is surrounded with natural beauty and a wide range of diverse habitats and ecosystems, just waiting to be explored.
The city is especially popular with tourists, and Cairns has adapted itself to be especially accommodating. Here, you’ll find a wealth of accommodations, suiting every budget, as well as an array of world-class restaurants and local eateries specializing in regional cuisine. Sightseeing tours, both in the city limits and outside, as well as numerous opportunities to see local wildlife and culture, abound for the traveler staying in Cairns.
Whether you choose to spend most of your time in the city itself or to venture out and explore some of the nearby or more far-flung areas that surround Cairns, you’re sure to find activities that suit your travel and vacation dreams. Cairns is near the Great Barrier Reef – and it’s also near the oldest rainforest in ten world. It’s that sort of diverse setting that makes Cairns one of the most popular spots to visit in Australia.
A brief history of Cairns
Long before colonization by Europeans, the Cairns area was inhabited by the Walubarra Yidinji clan, who called the area “Gimuy.” The area was first mapped by Europeans in 1770, when Captain James Cook visited the area, naming it Trinity Bay. But it would be a full century before future expedition would determine the establishment of a port.
In 1876, Cairns was founded, its initial purpose being to serve the needs of miners who were migrating to the area following the discovery of gold in the nearby tablelands, as well as the need to export the gold effectively. Originally no more than mangrove swampland dotted by ridges, the area was drained and filled and in 1886, a railway line was laid connecting Cairns to Herberton, and ushering in a major influx of immigrants. Soon, more land was opened to these new residents for use as grazing and farm land, with crops including sugar cane, bananas, and pineapples. It was primarily the area’s wealth of arable land that resulted in the port becoming successful. In 1903, Cairns was officially named a town, with a population of 3,500.
The Cairns area became a base of operations in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and after the war, the city began to work in earnest toward becoming a popular spot for tourists. In 1984, the Cairns International Airport opened, followed by the opening of the Cairns Convention Center, establishing the city as a popular spot for tourists as well as conventioneers.
The city was named for William Wellington Cairns, Queensland’s governor when Cairns was founded.
Climate
The climate in Cairns is described meteorologically as a warm, tropical climate, with both a wet season, extending from December to April, and a dry season, which lasts from May to November. Moonsoons are not uncommon during the wet season, and often cause major flooding of the nearby Mulgrave and Barron Rivers, which at times cuts out both road and rail access to Cairns. Summers are generally hot and humid with an average maximum temperature of about 86°F, while winters are mild and dryer, although showers are fairly frequent. Winter temperatures reach an average low of 63°F.
Highest Rated Vacation Destinations
You may want to plan the perfect vacation but you may not be sure which destinations are the best. Well a recent opinion poll showed the following destinations as being the best based on multiple satisfaction criteria including scenery, environmental friendliness, safety, food and hospitality.
This is how they ranked overall:
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1.New Zealand 2.Thailand 3.Australia 4.Italy 5.India 6.France 7.USA 8.Singapore 9.South Africa 10.Spain |
11. Sri Lanka 12. Indonesia 13. Malaysia 14. Switzerland 15. Canada 16. Greece 17. Japan 18. Brazil 19. Kenya 20. Turkey |
New Zealand is the overall favorite holiday destination. With excellent marks in the areas of scenery, environmental friendliness, and safety, it is the number one pick of vacation spots in the world. Places like Italy and France received excellent ratings for having the overall best food, however countries like Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia also scored very high in not only the food category but also as far as their people and hospitality was concerned. The USA was marked high for its variety of different attractions, while South Africa scored exceptionally high in the accommodations category while Sri Lanka scored high for its best value for the money.
Overall, Australia and Italy both ranked excellently for their incredible beaches and natural scenic views; pushing Australia into the top 3 overall destinations in the world.
On the flip side of this the rankings for ideal honeymoon destinations varied greatly leaving only the primary beach locations as the best places to honeymoon. These included some of the following destinations:
- HAWAII
- ST LUCIA
- BERMUDA
- BAHAMAS
- ARUBA
- BARBADOS
- CANCUN
Truly showing that our requirements vary depending on the purpose of the trip. Noting that most couples choose their honeymoon destinations by where others have gone before could be the reason that some of the most beautiful beaches like those in Australia and Italy are being overlooked. When choosing a holiday destination, be sure to look into all the options that are out there. Opening up your perspective could unearth a more incredible holiday than you ever thought possible. There are incredible destinations to visit all around the globe.
What tourists should know before planning a Brisbane vacation
When planning your stay in Brisbane at one of the many available
accommodations in the city, there are some caveats to be aware of in
order to better prepare yourself for your trip.
In the past, Brisbane has found providing enough freshwater for its residents to be a challenge so limit your water usage accordingly. At times, there are water restrictions in place that call for limiting showers to four minutes and the recommended per person daily water usage is 170 liters total.
Australia’s summer runs from December to February. Those months can be unbearably hot and humid at times so pack accordingly.
For bicycle enthusiasts visiting the city, it is important to be aware of the city’s helmet usage requirement. Police actively search for riders riding without helmets and issue tickets. Additionally, every cyclist is required to have and use a bell on their bicycle.
In the Central Business District, it is very important to pay attention to all warning signs when parking in the area. After 4pm cars that remained parked in undesignated areas will be towed at the owners or lessee’s expense.
As far as nightlife goes, there is a 3am cutoff time for bar patrons. After that time additional people will not be admitted to the clubs and/or bars. Further, Brisbane follows a strict no smoking policy in regards to places where food and drink are served. This includes outdoor venues as well.
Free Internet access is available at the City Council Library and the Queensland State Libraries. Many restaurants and cafes offer free access to patrons as well.
The phone number to Brisbane’s emergency services - including fire, ambulance, and police is 000 from landline phones. Travelers needing to utilize the services from cell phones may use 000 and 112.
Do not be offended if you are not greeted with the customary “Sir” or “Madam”. Australians believe is it perfectly acceptable to greet everyone using the term “Mate”. It is not intended to be derogatory nor offensive.
Tipping for services is not expected in Australia, nor is it encouraged. There are never any gratuities charges included in any billing statements for services received.
City Life And Attractions In Cairns
Although there are plenty of opportunities for daytrips departing from Cairns, there’s no need to leave the city for fun and adventure. Cairns thrives on tourism and takes special care to make sure there are lots of opportunities for guests who choose to visit and hang out.
One option: Cairns is a great spot for sports fishing. If you’re hoping to land a marlin, Cairns is a good place to try your luck. Black marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds are often caught offshore here.
Like the water, but prefer to stay inland? Then check out the artificial lagoon on the promenade at the pier. The lagoon is free to use, and attracts large numbers of bathers, especially during jellyfish season. The lagoon is pretty shallow, too, which makes it a great cooling-off spot for families with children. But take note: recent legislation ahs made topless bathing permissible here, too. You can also choose to take a bus to beaches north of Cairns, but be aware that the sand there is rough, and in jellyfish season you’ll be surrounded by protective netting, erected to keep the particularly dangerous jellyfish away. If you’re not into swimming, the lagoon is also a great place for a little people-watching, and the grass and sand near the promenade is often full of sunbathers, even in the mild winter. The promenade is also a great place to have a picnic, or barbecue at one of the free barbecue areas near the picnic tables.
Another great way to get to know the natural beauty of the Cairns area is by hitting one of the many trails that crisscross Cairns and its environs. Almost 200 walking trails exist in the Cairns area, and hose interested in making the most of their hike should pick up one of the many walking guides at local shops and bookstores. One that’s especially useful is “Tropical Walking Tracks,” which has a comprehensive list of all the tracks in the Cairns area and more, as well as directions.
You can also get an up-close glimpse of some of the indigenous wildlife without the exercise of a long hike by visiting the Cairns Wildlife Dome, located on top of the Reef Hotel Casino. This all-weather exhibit is enclosed by a 60-foot high glass dome, and feature s walkthrough replica rainforest, with free-flying parrots, lorikeets, cockatoos, and other birds, as well as exhibits featuring koalas, turtles, crocodiles, pythons, wallabies, frogmouths, and kookaburras. The Dome offer free guided tours throughout the day, as well as wildlife presentations.
Cairns Offers Tourists A Myriad of Seaside Resorts And Activities
If water sports are your passions, you’re sure to find something fun and exciting to do in the Cairns area. In addition to cruises, kayaking, water skiing, and windsurfing, many people head inland to the whitewaters to do some adventure rafting in the world’s oldest continuously growing tropical rainforests. Enjoy breathtaking scenery wile you shot rapids and float along flatter water. Rafting companies have a trip that’s right for you, no matter what your skill level.
Few water enthusiasts visit Cairns without at least one visit to the Great Barrier Reef. To meet this need, the Cairns area has a number of diving and snorkeling boat tour operators, both large and small. Your experience may vary widely based on the operator you choose. One benefit of choosing a smaller operator is that they are able to reach areas of the Great Barrier Reef which are off limits to the larger boats. Often, the smaller boats provide a better dive experience, with lots more to see, as a result. However, the larger boats usually offer many more amenities and activities, and the boats are usually much faster. The areas which permit larger boats are usually fairly crowded especially at the height of tourist season, and often these areas have fewer fish as a result.
When you’re done with the water, how about aiming your sights a little bit higher? The Cairns area is home to a number of skydiving and hang gliding concessions, and Rex Point Lookout, halfway between Port Douglas and Cairns, is a popular spot for hang gliding enthusiasts. Thanks to relatively steady weather patters you can find hang gliders here at most times of the year.
If skydiving and hang gliding are a little too intense, but you’d still like to get up in the air, how about heading up, up, and away in a hot air balloon? The weather patterns around Cairns make for some of the world’s best ballooning conditions, and flights are run frequently.
Or mix a little history with your seafaring. The Marlin Marina is home to the Duyfken, a replica of the first European ship to reach Australia, during explorations in the 16th century. Climb aboard this floating museum to learn about maritime life in the 1700s, or take a cruise aboard the ship and get a real taste of what it was like to sail with the explorers.
Cairns Restaurants, Cafes And Other Dining Accommodations
Cairns is filled with a wide variety of restaurants, serving local fare as well as more exotic dishes. Sushi, pizza, Italian specialties, grilled steak – it’s all here. The greatest variety can be found in the general area of the Esplanade. Most of the restaurants here don’t open before 11 am, and if you want to get a bargain for dinner, try looking for places that offer discounted “early bird specials.” Cairns is very popular with Japanese tourists, so you’ll find a good number of Japanese restaurants here, too.
For Italian food, try Donnini’s Ciao Italia, located at the Pier Marketplace. Meals are served both indoors and outdoors, and offer a lovely ocean backdrop. Not too far off, the Villa Romana Trattoria offers great Italian meals, as well as a number of seafood options. And for pizza, try the Esplanade’s La Pizza Trattoria. In addition to delicious pie, you can watch the pizza chefs working the dough that just might be your pizza!
Sushi Express is a good choice and a popular spot for Japanese food, offering a sushi train decorated to resemble the local Kuranda Railway. Don’t miss the tempura!
Perotta’s at the Gallery on Abbott Street offers full fare from breakfast all the way through dinner, with a menu featuring Western fare with a definite air of sophistication. Or, try Hide’s Coffee Cafe on Lake Street, for a quick, no-frills breakfast or lunch.
In the evening, head for one of Cairns’ popular and vibrant nightspots. The city’s bars vary in atmosphere, catering to locals, students, and travelers.
Consider the Rattle ‘N Hum on the Esplanade, especially if you hanker for a good meal with your beverages. Their meal specialties include wood-fired pizza, and while you’re waiting, you can play a few games at the pool table. Or, sit at one of the tables outside (it’s torch-lit at night) and do a little people-watching. For another good bar and grill option, consider the Woolshed Chargrill and Saloon Bar, on Shields Street, which is especially popular with travelers and visitors to Cairns.
Boutique beers are a specialty at the Blue Sky Brewery Bar and Restaurant on Lake Street. Every beer here is handcrafted and unpasteurized, a product of natural brewing techniques that allow the true flavors of the beer to shine through. The Blue Sky also has a large wine cellar and a diverse – and delicious – menu.
Cairns has it all, surf, mountains and rainforests tours
Because of Cairns’ prime location near surf, mountains, and rainforest, there are literally dozens of coach tours which depart the city daily, and cater to nearly every taste. That makes cairns a great jumping-off place for a trip to Mossman Gorge and the rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands, wildlife parks, or the legendary outback – and more. And of course, there are city tours, too. A few to consider:
Tropic Wings Coach Tours offers both full- and half-day tours to the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Rainforestation Nature Park and Australian Butterfly Sanctuary; Atherton tablelands; and Cape Tribulation and Daintree, among many others. Tropic Wings is one of the longest established coach tours in the area, as well as one of the largest.
Jungle Tours offers day and extended tours to many areas, including Port Douglas and the Rainforest Habitat Sanctuary, as well as cruises along the Daintree River in search of crocodiles and other wildlife. Extended tours can include stays in backpacker dorms or deluxe resorts, depending upon the experience you’re looking for.
Food Trail Tours offers sightseeing, as well as a chance to experience firsthand the foods and wines of the Queensland area, while meeting local food artisans, winemakers, ad growers. See an operating coffee plantation and macadamia plantation, visit a maker of tropical wines, and even feed some wildlife along the way. This locally owned company focuses on letting visitors meet the local people, to get a true understanding of life in the Queensland area, away from the more crowded tourist attractions.
Climb aboard a Northern Experience Eco Tour and visit sites like Lake Barrine, the Curtain Fig Tree, and Milla Milla Falls, and enjoy a hot lunch and yogurt tasting at the Mungalli Organic Bio-Dynamic Dairy. Visit the rainforests of the Southern Cairns Highlands and the Spanish castle ruins, and dive in for a refreshing swim at the Babinda Boulders. Catch a glimpse of sugar cane fields and Walsh’s Pyramid.
If it’s wildlife you’re interested in, Nature Trails Australia could be just the ticket. This group specializes in hitting some of the known gathering spots for the area’s vastly diverse wildlife population. Owing to its location at the confluence of disparate habitats, Cairns is known as a hotspot for wildlife diversity. In addition to a huge variety of bird and reptiles, keep your eyes open for tree kangaroos and even a cassowary or two!
Broadbeach Local Entertainment and Accommodations
Braodbeach hosts many local family friendly festivals each year that many tourists (and locals) will not want to miss out on. The current lineup includes:
Broadbeach’s Family Easter at Kurrawa Park, April 10-13, 2009.
This is a family Easter celebration with lots of free entertainment for all ages, including a bounce house, face painting, kid’s games and craft activities, sand sculptors, magic shows and a visit from the Easter Bunny from 11A.M. until 2P.M.
Blues on Broadbeach, May 28-31 2009
Blues on Broadbeach is one of Australia’s most well known Blues
Festivals. Here you can experience the musical sounds that started it
all. This year’s annual festival the 8th of many to come and is growing
in popularity each year. Anyone of any age will enjoy this village
festival. The relaxed atmosphere provides a musical experience unlike
any other, featuring local talent as well as international acts. Street
performers and local vendors line the streets for a truly unforgettable
event.
Broadbeach Restaurant Week, July 17-26, 2009
The first of it’s kind- Broadbeach Restaurant Week will be held from the 17th to the 26th of July 2009. With Broadbeach being the mecca of fine cuisine on the Gold Coast, there is no better place to host this world class dining experience. Participating Broadbeach restaurants will offer three course meals all encompassed within one set price. Look for a list of local participants and prices to be released upon a later date.
Broadbeach Blends of Jazz Festival, August 21-23, 2009
This three-day music festival offers an abundance of live jazz
performances throughout the streets of Broadbeach. The Broadbeach Blends
of Jazz festival showcases live musicians, both local and international
performers, on outdoor stages and multiple venues throughout the local
Broadbeach precinct. Many local nightclubs and restaurants feature live
stage performances during this time as well.
Broadbeach is the perfect location for combining world class Jazz with it’s multiple award-winning restaurants. This is a great time to stay within the precinct and make a memorable weekend out of it, by enjoying the small town atmosphere, the sun and sand, and spend some time soaking in the fabulous feel of this festival.
Theme Parks in the Broadbeach area
Many Broadbeach visitors want to take advantage of the beautiful climate and visit nearby themeparks. The Gold Coast happens to be famous for its exciting array of theme parks, including - Movieworld, Dreamworld, Seaworld, White Water World and Wet’n’Wild. Each of these parks offer great entertainment for groups of all ages.
Dreamworld is ranked as Australia's favorite theme park. With so many sights to see in one location, it’s an endless adventure for the whole family. From the daring thrill rides, to live shows to unusual animal encounter attractions, there's deffinitely something for everyone at Dreamworld!
There are 6 Thrill Rides including Giant Drop, Tower of Terror, Cyclone Rollercoaster, Wipeout, the Claw and Mick Doohan's Motocoaster for the daredevil in all of us.
And vor the kids, Dreamworls offers the coolest kid's zone in the world. Nick Central is filled with fun activities including, 16 rides and attractions wandering Nickelodeon Characters.
As for the tiniest tots they can enjoy a ride in the Big Red Car, a sail on the S.S. Feathersword and meet The Wiggles Friends every day at the world's first Wiggles World.
For those who are more interested in the animals, Dreamworld offers it’s own Australian Wildlife Experience, where visitors can get up close to native animals.
A sister property to Dreamworld is White Water World, here you can splash in the sun and enjoy thrilling water activities all day long. WhiteWater World is not your average water park. White Water World is all about the water rides. From it’s extreme waterslides to family friendly attractions, WhiteWater World uses the latest in cutting edge technology to provide water-powered thrills for all ages!
The thrill rides - include 'The BRO,' ' Super Tubes HydroCoaster', 'The
Green Room', 'The Temple of Huey', and 'The Cave of Waves'.
Children can also discover the Nickelodeon Pipeline Plunge, with over 140 interactive water activities it’s the ultimate water playground for kids.
Dedicated especially for the under five set, Wiggle Bay is complete with toddler slides, sprays and even water pianos and flutes.
Another not-to-miss theme park is Warner Brother’s Movie World.
The newest attraction at Movie World is now open. Don’t miss this multi-million dollar Hollywood Stunt Driver stunt show. Hollywood Stunt Driver showcases legendary car chases from all our favorite movies, Scenes that helped to define Hollywood’s greatest movies.
Kids' WB has many presentations geared directly at the kids in the audience in it’s presents the all new Live Looney Tunes show - What’s Up Rock?! exclusively at Warner Bros. Movie World.
For the thrill seeker, the new out of this world Super Hero thrill ride, Batwing Spaceshot is a rapid 4.5G vertical launch up a 60 meter tower, followed by a drop into a breathtaking negative descent - beyond freefall. Superman Escape is another amazing roller coaster experience, which travels zero to 100 kilometres in just two seconds! Both are must experience for the rollercoaster enthusiast
There are other heart pounding thrill rides and activities for the whole family to enjoy such as Lethal Weapon and Wild West Falls, Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, Kids’WB Fun Zone and the spectacular Star Parade.