Cairns Pictures
Australia

Great Barrier Reef pictures, Kuranda, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands.

Other than Sydney, tropical Queensland's Cairns is probably Australia's favourite tourist destination, hub for a hundred activities out on the Great Barrier Reef, up at Kuranda and Daintree and the start of the great Australian waltz down the east coast back to Sydney, though beaches ain't what Cairns has got.

Another angle on Cairns' lagoon and seafront. The beach is artificial and the sea is the dark grey slice in the background

Previously a backpacker boogie town, Cairns buzzes with urban energy and now embraces upmarket visitors as well and seems particularly attached to its Japanese clientele, with Japanese signs, language spoken and flights direct from Japan. In fact some adrenalin activities, such as white-water rafting and parachuting often entertain a 4-1 ratio of Japanese to Caucasians. This is not a problem as Japanese are well-mannered and considerate though noisy in packs of university students and they do insist on pictures capturing every moment of their trips.

Cairns' centre, Shields St and Lake St intersection.

Cairns' waterfront has had a serious and successful makeover recently with the construction of a large, free salt-water lagoon, attractive tree-lined esplanade and extensive, tree-shaded kid's playground beside the muddy shore that was previously a fine place to meet hungry salties and toxic jellies - and still is, for that matter, if you choose to stagger onto the mud after too many beers at the toad races.
Cairns is loaded with accommodation of all types but the core of the town is clearly the lagoon so try to get a place within a couple of blocks of it unless you don't mind hanging out in your hotel's pool and eating in their restaurant.

Plenty of kid's stuff to keep the rugrats occupied too. Click for Great Barrier Reef Photos

Cairns' original raison d'etre was The Great Barrier Reef, and still transports thousands out the the reef every day. However, whilst the reef - at about 2,300kms long - is the largest on the planet, a World Heritage site and the only living thing visible from space, the view from sea level or below is less impressive.

Another trip that may be a little less colourful than expectations, is the Kuranda /Skyrail event, a day starting with the throughly sanitised but worthy aboriginal theme park - the Tjapukai Cultural Park, then a 7.5km Skyrail ride over the rainforest to totally tourist overloaded Kuranda - though if you can manage to stay overnight the town changes for the better after the last train leaves.
Kuranda offers rainforest walks, markets, and various wildlife sanctuaries, aka zoos. The return to Cairns may be on the Scenic Railway - again, pictures of those follow.

The Daintree Rainforest, where tropical rainforest meets coral reef in north Queensland is also pretty tame on a day trip, but go a bit deeper over several days with a good guide and you will find flora and fauna that may surprise you.
Most mammals are nocturnal (possums, tree kangaroos) but there are plenty of colourful birds, parrots, kingfishers, cassowaries, as well as ornamented lizards, frilled dragons, frogs, snakes and butterflies that slither or flutter through the dense forest of rose gums, palms, ferns, and strangler figs.

Best time to be in Cairns: May, June, Sept, Oct. May-November has least clouds and rain but July-August is winter down south and school holidays so expect prices to be high, accommodation scarce and activities full.

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