Host City – Cairns
Cairns is a modern tropical city with a relaxed atmosphere and is the primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef region. Cairns is an ideal base to explore the wider Tropical North Queensland region with front door access to World Heritage listed Reef, Rainforest and Outback. More than 600 amazing tour options are available each and every day from Cairns. To view Cairns local map, click here.

Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s greatest reef system, stretching more than 2000km along Queensland’s north-east coast. As the world’s largest and most complex reef system, it has thousands of individual coral reefs and hundreds of continental islands, reef islands and cays, small bare sand cays, and permanent vegetated cays. Exploring the Great Barrier Reef is both exhilarating and easy.You can snorkel or scuba dive with equipment provided and a trained crew on hand to assist, or view the reef from the comfort of a semisubmersible or underwater observatory. Swimmers and non-swimmers are catered for or take a scenic flight in a plane or helicopter.There is easy access to the outer reef and islands from points all along the coast, to suit your style or budget.

Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Village, once the heart of the timber industry, nestles in a bend of the Daintree River where cruise boats glide between the jungle homes of birds animals and reptiles including large crocodiles and pythons. A naturalist’s paradise, this region is recognised for its superb wildlife.

Places of Interest

Cairns is a small city by international standards. Located by the sea it boasts a good balance of laid back tropical lifestyle and the excitement of a major tourist destination with lots to see and do. There is an excellent range of shopping and dining and it is an easy city to spend a casual day or two exploring.

Cultural Activities:

Cairns Heritage City Walk Cairns is a friendly city where you can safely explore its unique sights, and meet a variety of locals. Just take a leisurely stroll around the city and see how its colonial architecture merges with gracious parks, modern high rises with smart shopping precincts where the Esplanade meets the Coral Sea. So take your time and enjoy your Cairns CBD walk, an experience you will find very enjoyable.
Cairns Regional Gallery Housed in the historic Public Office Building located on the corner of Abbott and Shields Streets in the Cairns CBD, the Cairns Regional Gallery is the artistic heart of Tropical North Queensland.	Opening Hours: 1000 – 1700 Monday to Saturday 1300 – 1700 Sunday Entrance fee: AUD$4 per person Children under 10 years are free
The Cairns Museum The Cairns Museum is located on the corner of Shields and Lake Streets and presents a history of Cairns and District in static and pictorial displays.	Opening Hours: 1000 – 1600 Monday to Saturday Entrance fee: AUD$5 Adult AUD$2 Children AUD$12 Family (2 Adults and children under 17 years)
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park The award winning Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park highlights the culture and lifestyle of a local Aboriginal Tribe, the Tjapukai. There is a museum, live theatre (which has some stunning special effects) and an Aboriginal Camp set up to show visitors bush food and medicine, how to light fires, throw boomerangs and spears and play didgeridoos. It is located at Caravonica, near Smithfield, 15 minutes north of Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway	Opening Hours: 0900 – 1700 Monday to Sunday Entrance Fee: AUD$29.00 Adult AUD$14.50 Children AUD$72.50 Family
Freshwater Connection (on the Kuranda Scenid Railway) A train station which combines history with old-fashioned hospitality, Freshwater Connection heritage complex honours the great engineering feat of the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitors Centre Located close to the Botanical Gardens, this attraction highlights the world famous Royal Flying Doctor, a service that provides medical attention to isolated outback communities. Tours are conducted every half and hour from 0900 until 1630, and provides a comprehensive overview of its history and contemporary operations.	Opening Hours: 0900 – 1630 Monday to Saturday Entrance Fee: AUD$5.50 Adult AUD$2.75 Children AUD$16.50 Family
Animal Experiences:
Cairns Tropical Zoo Located at Palm Cove only 20 minutes drive north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns Tropical Zoo is the largest and most diverse wildlife attraction in Tropical North Queensland . Home to hundreds of native and exotic species, and there are numerous opportunities during the day to get close, touch, feel and make some new animal friends.	Opening Hours: 0830 – 1700 Monday to Sunday Entrance Fee: AUD$25.00 Adult AUD$12.50 Children (4-15 years)
Cairns Rainforest Dome The Cairns Rainforest Dome is a spectacular all weather wildlife exhibit encased by a 20-metre high glass dome on the rooftop of the prominent Reef Hotel Casino. Situated right in the heart of Cairns, approximately 60 species of animals are able to wander and fly freely throughout the enclosure that replicates their natural environment.	Opening Hours: 0700 – 1800 Monday to Sunday Entrance Fee: AUD$22.00 Adult AUD$11.00 Children (4-14 years) AUD$19.80 Concession/Student AUD$55.00 Family
Natural Wonders:
Flecker Botanical Gardens The Flecker Botanical Gardens are located on Collins Avenue 4 km from Cairns CBD. There are bus services or you could take a taxi. Whilst they are only small the Gardens are beautiful, very well maintained and interesting, with an excellent variety of tropical plants, both native and exotic - a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.	Garden Opening Hours: 0730 – 1730 Monday to Friday 0830 – 1730 Saturday and Sunday. Entrance Fee: Entry is free although a donation is welcome.
Centenary Lakes Located adjacent to the Botanical Gardens the Centenary Lakes are a tranquil parkland area featuring Billabong style lakes covered in water lilies.
Crystal Cascades Waterfalls, lakes and lagoons are everywhere in North Queensland. We suggest hiring a car and visiting some of these amazing spots. Crystal Cascades is only a 20-minute drive from the CBD and is a beautiful spot to spend at least a few hours. The Cascades are popular with locals as a good place to cool off in the warmer summer months. There is a good walking track alongside the Cascades.
The Red or Blue Arrow Walk If you want to stretch your legs and get a nice view of the city of Cairns and Trinity Inlet at the same time do what the locals do and walk the Red or Blue Arrow. The entrance to these walks is about 100 metres from the Botanical Gardens on Collins Avenue. Both walks take you through the Mount Whitfield National Park. The Red arrow is 1.3 km (about an hours leisurely walk). The Blue arrow extends from the Red Arrow and is 5.4km (just over 4 hours).
Beach Explorations:
North of Cairns is the Captain Cook Highway, which is one of the most scenic, coastal drives in Queensland. This road runs right along the coastline for about 30km past a string of pretty coves and superb beaches. A 5-minute drive north of Cairns reaches Machans Beach, which is a quiet residential community. Holloways Beach has a couple of beachfront cafes and is only 10 minutes north. Trinity Beach is one of the best beaches close to the city. It is a 20-minute drive north and has a long stretch of sand sheltered by a high headland at the southern end. There are many cafes as well as a surf life saving club. Water sports equipment is for hire at the beach. Another 3 km north of the Trinity Beach turn-off is Clifton Beach. This is a sleepy residential community with a lovely quiet long beach. Palm Cove has developed into an exclusive resort village. This is a very pretty spot with a jetty and patrolled beach, plenty of shady melaleuca trees, restaurants and boutiques. This is arguably the best beach north of Cairns.
Shopping: Markets
There are excellent markets in North Queensland, which all sell a combination of local art and craft, locally grown exotic food, and souvenirs.
The Mud Markets The Mud Markets are an excellent craft market with the best selection of stalls and live music. All in air-conditioned comfort, they are on every Saturday and Sunday within the Pier Marketplace Mall next to the Marlin Marina in Cairns City.
The Cairns Night Markets The Cairns Night Markets are probably the most popular markets and have cheap phone call/internet stalls, a wide variety of products including fake tattoos and glass blowing. Open nightly from 1630 on the Cairns esplanade behind the main food court and the many outdoor cafes.
Cairns City Rusty’s Markets Open every Friday and Saturday between Spence and Shields Streets on Grafton Street , Rusty’s Markets are an establishment to the people of Cairns. It is a popular place to buy the weekly fruit and vegetables as well as a variety of other produce. There are normally quite a few interesting characters trying to sell anything and everything at the markets. Great spot for photos and people watching.	Opening Hours: 0600 – 1800 Friday 0600 – 1700 Saturday 0600 – 1500 Sunday
Shopping: Retail
Cairns also has many large speciality retail and entertainment shopping centres offering a diverse range of retail options to suit any taste and budget.
The Pier Market Place The Pier Market Place is a large speciality retail and entertainment centre on the Cairns waterfront. With around 100 retailers and numerous bars, cafes, and a food court, the Pier Marketplace is open every day from 0900 to 2100.
Cairns Central Cairns Central is the largest shopping centre in Cairns, offering over 180 speciality shops. Located a few minutes walk from the heart of the CBD at the end of Shield Street in the city, it is has a 5-cinema movie complex as well as many restaurants and larger grocery stores.	Opening Hours: 0830 –1730 Monday to Saturday 1000 – 1600 Sunday
The City Strip The city strip street shopping offers enormous diversity from Duty Free Stores to Aboriginal artefact galleries and markets. Many of the stores have extended shopping hours so there is no need to cut short your day tours to catch up on shopping.

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