Cairns, Australia

Displayed:   times.

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland FNQ Australia.

Cairns is a small city that is very focused on the tourist industry, but is also surrounded by agricultural activities including sugar cane, banana and other tropical fruits. Cairns is particularly popular with international tourists, particularly the Japanese.

There are a lot of budget accommodations, and plenty of drinking establishments and cheap restaurants for backpackers. The atmosphere is relatively inexpensive tourism, with t-shirt shops, etc. Lots of clubs and places to go out for young travelers. Older travelers might prefer the more sedate and upscale Port Douglas, 10-15 miles to the north.

# The main attraction is as a jumping off point to the Great Barrier Reef. For seeing the Great Barrier Reef, the smaller dive boats provide the best experience, both for diving and for snorkeling. Tuva Dive Boat, out of Cairns, in particular (2002). The larger operations have more amenities--better food, larger and faster boats, more activities, but sometimes provide a poorer underwater experience, as the underwater areas that the larger boats visit are heavily overused, and somewhat barren of coral and fishes. Your mileage may vary.

# The Daintree rain forest, north of town.

# Catch an amateur rugby game in town if you can, the locals play a mean game, and it's a great way to meet local folks.

Rate this tip:

Rate!

Add Comment >>

Your Name:

Your Comment:

General Tips about Australia

» Required travel documents for Australia
» Electric power
» Area code to Australia
» Weather
» How to see the best sights of Sydney on the cheap
» Inexpensive touring
» National holidays:
» Time zones
» Telecommunications
» Health
» Climate and clothing
» Poisonous creatures
» Australian Cuisine
» Time Zones in Australia
» Tipping
» Taxis in Australia
» Disabled Visitors
» Clothing
» travelling on remote outback roads/tracks
» Be careful when driving on country roads at night in cold weather
» There are other poisonous creatures on the reef
» Protect against sunburn at all times
» The Yorke Peninsula
» Murray Bridge
» Coorong National Park
» The Murray River - South Australia
» The Flinders Range
» Whyalla to Port Lincoln
» Whyalla
» Port Lincoln to Ceduna
» Ceduna
» The Eyre Peninsula
» Monkey Mia, Australia
» Hobart, Australia
» Launceston, Australia
» Alice Springs, Australia
» Cairns, Australia
» Brisbane, Australia
» Bourke, Australia
» Cessnock, Australia
» Broken Hill, Australia
» Bathurst, Australia
» City of Armidale, Australia
» Tasmania - Port Arthur
» Sydney Festivals
» The Sydney Harbour Bridge
» Sydney Harbour
» Sydney Landmarks
» Sydney - getting around
» Melbourne
» Canberra
» Adelaide
» Perth
» Hobart
» Darwin
» Cairns
» Wollongong
» What to see in Brisbane
» Queensland
» Victoria
» New South Wales
» Australian currency
» Time Zones
» Visit Australia
» Melbourne
» Canberra
» The Sydney Harbour Bridge
» The Sydney Opera House
» Sydney
» New South Wales
» The island of Tasmania

   More travel tips about Australia