Cairns Hotels

Cairns’ City Centre is picturesque enough with its pier jutting into the Marlin Marina, while the Northern Beaches more than make up for central Cairns’ lack of pristine stretches of sand. And though Cairns’ tropical climate and adventure-packed activities make it a backpacker paradise (spot how many different accents you notice in a one-hour period), there are also several hubs on indigenous culture that cannot be missed, such as the Indigenous Art Gallery and the Original Dreamtime Gallery.

Cairns is quirky, coastal, vibrant and laidback. The Esplanade has predictably become a little touristy in the past few decades, but if you hunt around you’ll still find some bastions of charming North Queensland tradition, such as the Woolshed nightclub, where backpackers and locals alike dance on wooden tables until the wee hours, or Shenanigan’s Pub, where you can enjoy a two-for-one happy hour in the gecko-filled and frangipani-scented courtyard, and even put your money on a toad race. Yep, you heard us the first time.

CAIRNS’ TOP 10

CAIRNS LOCAL

Picturesque Cairns has a nice enough city centre, but you’re missing out if you don’t visit the sandy Northern Beaches or the colossal White Rock Peak. Not that we’re knocking the city’s fake lagoon – what should in theory be ridiculous is actually rather stunning when you see it set against the vibrant turquoise sea (and you realise that it’s a far safer place to cooling off, free from box jellyfish and Irukanji!)

City Centre

Cairns’ CBD is small, but it gives even the picturesque Harbour City a run for its money in terms of aesthetics (though Sydneysiders would probably dispute this). The centre focuses on Cairns Esplanade, which features a free Saltwater Lagoon Pool, complete with life guards, which is a magnet for locals and visitors alike.

The Reef Fleet Terminal juts into the Marlin Marina and boasts both Pier Shopping and the ritzy Shangri-La Hotel Cairns, where you can sip a waterfront cocktail at the Tides BDL bar, even if you’ve chosen more economical accommodation.

South of Cairns

Locals think of scenic southern Cairns as the three shopping centres south of the city on Mulgrave Road, but the real draw isn’t a group of concrete buildings. Mount Sheridan and White Rock Peak can be seen looming on the horizon from almost anywhere in the city. They’re even more epic up close, so if your thighs aren’t killing you from all the scenic walks Cairns has to offer, they will be after climbing White Rock. Fortunately, the views make the gain worth the pain!

North Cairns

If it’s not the middle of Cairns’ stifling summer you can walk to the popular northern suburb of Edge Hill from the city centre. Once there, the main attractions are the Flecker Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes, and the Tanks Art Centre – oddly but innovatively located in three converted WWII naval oil storage tanks.

Provided you’re not hot, tired and smelling like oil, there’s also a small shopping hub nearby with delis, bakeries and a few fashion boutiques.

Northern Beaches

The manmade lagoon fronting Cairns’ city centre is some attempt to make up for the city’s lack of actual sand, but for the real deal the string of leafy northern beaches are not far away. Holloway’s Beach is popular with locals trying to make the most of its netted swimming enclosure, and also boasts Cairns’ only absolute beachfront restaurant and bar – Coolums On the Beach.

Yorkeys Knob, named after the knob of land at its tip, is another popular beach. The main draw of ‘Yorkeys’ is its multi-million-dollar clubhouse Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, noted for its magnificent alfresco dining.

Smithfield

The shopping hub of Smithfield breaks up the pretty beaches with the monstrous Smithfield Shopping Centre, a lifestyle shopping experience and a popular way to escape Cairns’ tropical ‘blessings’ of summer rain and scorching heat. Across the highway, commercial developments and fast-food outlets abound, but just south of Smithfield is home to two of North Queensland’s biggest tourist attractions: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and Skyrail.

CAIRNS EAT & DRINK

Cairns might have a small population, but its dining culture doesn’t suffer for it. Be warned, though, some of the waterfront eateries trade off their location rather than the quality of their food.

CAIRNS EVENTS

Taipans Season (basketball) runs from September to February, and brings an atmosphere to entice even the most reluctant sports fan.

Cairns’ Port Douglas Carnivale in May is an eclectic and slightly strange mix of sailing, fashion shows and golf tournaments.

If you want to get your heart pumping just a little bit, the Cairns Adventure Film Festival in May provides a dose of adrenaline that you don’t have to leave your seat for.

May’s Cairns Blues Festival has only been going for three years, but the lush tropical surrounds of Fogarty Park and the finest quality blues music didn’t take long to catch on.

Whether you think of ‘fun run’ as a contradiction in terms or not, June’s Cairns Esplanade Festival of Sports is bound to have something to tickle your fancy.

Agricultural shows aren’t usually the most interesting events in the world, but the Cairns Show attracts over 70,000 visitors each July.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in August features around 150 emerging and established artists. Over 10,000 people attend each August.

The fireworks display is generally thought to be the highlight of September’s Festival Cairns, but three weeks of eating, drinking and looking at art aren’t bad either.

The Cairns Amateur Racing Festival in September is not so much about racing as it is about celebrities and socialising, but it’s fun nonetheless.

Illumination is Cairns’ annual ‘white party’ in October, but with a rainforest location and interactive 3D installations, it’s unlike anything else you’ll have attended. Go and wear white.

WHEN TO GO

· The climate of Cairns is divided into two distinct seasons — wet and dry.

· The wet season sets in with tropical monsoons around November, and water activities are prohibited due to those pesky box jellyfish until March.

· The dry season (April to September) is the least humid and most pleasant time to visit Cairns.

WHAT TO AVOID

· Cairns’ Wildlife Dome is a dome in the middle of a casino where as many animals as possible are squeezed into a small space.

· Gilligan’s is a huge hostel complex in the centre of town boasting 500 beds. It’s great if you’re a backpacker, but the nightclub there is notorious for drunk youths and bouncers who make you say the alphabet backwards to get in.

· Don’t walk home late at night – or at least have someone with you who’s sober enough to respond in an emergency.

GETTING AROUND

· Cairns is a relatively flat city and hiring a bicycle is one of the easiest ways to get around.

· Taxis are convenient for short jaunts (or late nights home), but are expensive – and they don’t pick you up from the middle of the street.

· Hiring a car is the best way to get around if you want to get beyond the mud flats of the Esplanade and up to the Northern Beaches.

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