Cairns Hotels

Cairns still has more to offer apart from these two great attractions. Green and Fitzroy Islands can be easily reached by high-speed boats in order to enjoy its idyllic beaches. The endless list of adrenaline-pumped activities such as bungy-jumping, surfing and sky-diving would again leave the Cairns holidaymaker gasping for more of this high-octane of a leisure destination.

Attractions

The main draw for Cairns is the Great Barrier Reef with an outstanding marine wildlife to be seen. This World Heritage site presents boundless opportunities for exploring the rich flora and fauna inhabiting its depths. The size alone, twice that of Tasmania, would describe the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef where you can enjoy deep-sea diving, snorkelling or just basking in the warm sand admiring the views. If not coming from Cairns, it is best to choose from Port Douglas or Mission Beach as jump-off points to trips to the Reef. It only takes two hours to reach the outer corals from these locations.

Seemingly matching the sheer size of the Great Barrier Reef, just next to it is another Heritage-listed site, the Daintree Rainforest. Around 1200 kilometers, it is the largest tropical rainforest in the continent and home to a diverse range of plants and animals mostly facing extinction. You can see all these when you walk along the hiking trails or splash around the serene remote beaches.

The exciting Cairns to Kuranda Rainforest tour via the Skyrail is another highlight of North Queensland. Sweep through sights such as Cairns City, the lush tropical region and further up, feast your eyes on amazing gorges and waterfalls! Being the longest cableway in the world, this is one experience you shouldn't miss. And then as you reach the end of the cable ride, prepare for another journey through the Kuranda railway that takes you deep into the rainforest for more spectacular natural attractions.

Cairns also has wildlife parks that are a hit among families. The Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas is a haven of for bird-watching and koala encounters. Learn more about crocs and other creatures in Hartley's Creek Crocodile Adventures along Captain Cook Highway, about half an hour away from Cairns. Kuranda has a butterfly sanctuary for those who adore these delicate winged creatures and Birdworld on the other hand, offers an open aviary where inhabitants can fly freely. The Cairns Tropical Zoo is also popular among kids who love petting the animals found within.

To make the most out of your Cairns holiday, try any of the adventure-packed activities in the region such as bungy jumping, sea kayaking, helifishing, white-water rafting, parasailing, mountain-biking, 4 wheel-drive touring and a whole lot more!

Events

Special happenings in Cairns celebrate the great outdoors in general. Port Douglas gets into high gear with its Carnival held in May. This week-long event is mainly about sailing but there are other highlights such as fashion shows, golf tournaments and cultural shows.

A much bigger event is Festival Cairns which runs for three weeks in September, a showcase of wining, dining, arts and sports. It all leads to the fireworks display, definitely a family affair. To add a stellar ambience, the prestigious Cairns Amateur Racing Carnival draws top brass personalities from politics, entertainment and business. Cannon Park becomes bedazzled by thoroughbred horses and ladies turn up in their elegant finery.

Art connoisseurs should not miss the chance to see local artists and their works on display during the exhibition of the Cairns Art Society in November. Then it's time to celebrate country music when Walkamin Country Music Festival offers musical treats at Kerribee Park, Mareeba.

Climate

Wet Season (November to May) 20-31°C; heavy downpour but still warm in general

Dry Season (June to October) 17-29°C; sunny and hot with occasional cold spells