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Australia > Queensland
> Cairns
By
Jessica Lloyd
The
tropical adventure capital of Queensland
Well you've found the place where anything and everything is possible. Both
World Heritage sites, The Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest are
so close you can reach out and touch them. There are activities for
everybody and every taste here, but adventure is the focus. Having been
voted Australia's Most Liveable City in 1995, Cairns has all the conveniences
of a big city but holds onto its small-town feel, and with a population of
just 120,000, the competition for tourist dollars is high. There are
numerous operators for every favourite pastime here, so you can shop around
until you find the one that suits your needs.
Cairns isn't exactly a picture of beauty, and doesn't quite live up to the
surrounds - mud flats form the city's seafront and if you are expecting long
sandy beaches, you will be sorely disappointed. There are plans to 'upgrade'
the area to make it more attractive, and these plans involve a 4000 square
metre saltwater lagoon in the area along the Esplanade.
What to do?
What's not to do! Diving, sky-diving, sailing, sea kayaking, trekking, just
to name a few. Try out AJ Hacketts 50m forest bungee jump, or the extreme
Minjin Jungle Swing, which swings up to three people at a time, near to
100km per hour through the forest. Snorkel your way around the reef and take
in the warm water and tropical fish, or learn to dive with one of the many
dive schools here - it's a very popular business venture and you can take
overnight trips as well. Fancy a parachute ride? Or a hot air balloon ride
with a champagne breakfast? It can be yours, and it won't break the bank. In
and around Cairns you will find the time of your life in the fresh air,
forest and water.
Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from
Smithfield (just north of Cairns) to a place called Kuranda, which is known
for its great and unique weekend markets. Speedboat out to Fitzroy Island,
perhaps see how your legs hold up on top of a pair of water-skis, or how you
fare white water rafting in one of the four raftable rivers around Cairns.
You can even get dropped off by helicopter and paddle your way back to town
- try your luck in whirlpools with names such as 'The Toilet Bowl'. See the
forest on horseback or by bike, or check out the stationary points of
interest - Cairns Museum, Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens and the huge
Oceanarium. Meet a bat at the Bat-house, check out Rusty's Bazaar Markets
Friday to Sunday then refresh yourself at Sugarworld Waterpark.
The Great Barrier Reef
Since it's so close to Cairns, it is one of the main attractions of visiting
this area. The reef is one of the 7 wonders of the world, and deserves this
awe-inspiring title - it is the home to a lot of colourful coral and amazing
fish species, the magnetism and aura of this magnificent place is felt all
round. The water is warm, the people are friendly and you can't beat diving
or snorkelling to take in the underwater world presented to you on our
earth's silver platter. Glass-bottomed boats are also a good way to enjoy
the underwater if you are unable or unwilling to get wet! The coral
structures that make up the reef go for over 1,500km, and encompass 348,000
square km's which is larger than the area of the UK and Ireland combined.
Daintree National Park
104km north of Cairns via the Cook Highway and over the Daintree River which
is crossed by a ferry which operates 6am–midnight every day except Christmas
Day and Good Friday. The roads are narrow and winding and four-wheel-drive
is strongly recommended. Wildlife is common so please drive carefully,
especially at night. Note this road may be closed after heavy rain. Check
current road conditions with
RACQ (07) 4033 6433 or 1300 130 595.
Night Life
There are a range of bars and pubs to drink and dance the nights away in,
though you can get stuck in bed the next day and miss out on some outdoors
fun! One of the popular, centrally located pubs is the Woolshed - just watch
out for people offering to snap pictures, as you might end up in the local
newspaper, looking...err...umm...not your best! Restaurants and cafes are of
good quality and price - Australia has some of the best seafood in the
world, and a seaside city can only have the freshest so dig in, make the
most of it.
The town centre is fairly compact, with most of the interesting places in
between the Esplanade and the wharf. There is a free magazine available
called Barfly which lets you know where's good and where's not. Check it out
for special nights, deals and special occasions.
Accommodation.
If your after a backpackers hostel, your in luck - the competition here is
stiff, so hostels have great deals, such as nights for free and
complimentary meals in local pubs - shop around, you're bound to find a deal
to suit you and your wallet. Cairns is a tourist town so there is always
heaps of places to stay from budget to luxury. Most of the accommodation is
near to the shops so whatever you choose won't be far from the action and
most importantly, the food.
A place to add to your 'must-see-before-I-die' list!
Cairns Accommodation Directory.
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