Cairns Travel Guide

Renowned as the gateway to Tropical North Queensland, Cairns and its surrounding natural attractions are popular holiday destinations. Offering an ideal location close to Port Douglas, Palm Cove, Mission Beach, the Daintree Rainforest, Atherton Tablelands and the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns ranks in Australia's top five holiday destinations for international visitors and offers plenty of things to do in Cairns.

Australia's 16th largest city, it seems all roads lead to Cairns with waterfalls, crater lakes and spectacular mountainous countryside in the south and the Great Barrier Reef, Trinity Bay and Coral Sea to the east. Just north of the city lies a number of famous beaches including Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Palm Cove and Port Douglas (see our Cairns location map).

The most popular Cairns attractions revolved around the unique natural environment and the abundant native wildlife. There are small theme parks which give you the opportunity to observe and interact with animals such as kangaroos, koalas, snakes and even crocodiles while the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway offers an amazing bird's eye view of this spectacular region.

You can interact with local aborigines and learn about their ancient culture and traditions or discover the beauty of the tropical islands off the coast, the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and a range of beautiful beaches with the great range of holiday cruises that are available. However if you're looking for a more modern and indulgent way to spend your time, The Esplanade is where it's at.

A holiday to Cairns simply wouldn't be complete without a stroll down the Esplanade, boasting boutique shopping, the Cairns Casino, markets offering a range of local art and craft, a number of cosmopolitan cafes, trendy bars and a world class range of restaurants. The Esplanade Lagoon is nearby for when the shopping gets too much and is popular with visitors and locals alike. This massive pool is designed in the shape of Queensland and features shallow areas, water fountains and life guards on patrol throughout the day.


Top Cairns Holiday Hotels