Cairns (16° S same distance from the equator as Acapulco, Tahiti and Fiji) is a regional city located in north Queensland . Originally settled to serve as a port for exporting gold and other precious metals from mines west of the city, it later became a centre for the crushing and exporting of sugar. The city is rapidly expanding, with an approximate population of 128,000, and is somewhat reliant on the tourism industry. Cairns is located about 1700km from Brisbane and about 2500km from Sydney by road.
Cairns is a popular travel destination for foreign and domestic tourists because of its proximity to many attractions. The Great Barrier Reef is only one and a half hours away by boat. Water temperatures at the reef vary from 31°C in the summer, to 25°C in the winter. The reef extends from Gladstone in the south, some 2300km to Cape York. It contains the most diverse ecosystem in the world - more than 900 islands, over 3000 separate coral reefs, home to 400 coral species and approximately 1500 species of fish. Cape Tribulation (where the reef meets the rainforest) is only 2 hours away by road and the Atherton Tablelands can be reached in an hour.
Australia's premier regional city, Cairns is the international gateway to Tropical North Queensland, and carries with pride, the mantle of safest tropical city in the world. The city has used its natural surrounds to full advantage with the construction of many small theme parks for tourists. They include the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns Tropical Zoo and Skyrail - the Cairns Rainforest Cableway that extends for 7.5km just a few metres above the rainforest.
Cairns now boasts a magnificent lagoon swimming pool on The Esplanade. This 4800 sq metre saltwater swimming lagoon offers visitors an all year safe swimming location, set on the Cairns foreshore overlooking Trinity Inlet. Saltwater is pumped from the inlet and filtered through a state of the art system, to Australian standards.
Many
visitors are attracted to the Northern Beaches. These
beachside suburbs stretch over 20km along the coast North of
Cairns. Many local residents choose to live at the beaches.
They are picturesque, lined with palm trees and plenty of
shaded and grassy areas for picnics. The local council
provides and maintains free BBQ's at these locations. In
summer most of the beaches have "stinger nets". These are
swimming enclosures designed to deny access to some of the
regions less friendly inhabitants - jellyfish. Accommodation
options range from economical self-catering apartments to
fully fledged 5 star resort information available.
Public transport is available from the centre of Cairns with
buses departing regularly. However, many visitors will
choose to hire a car.