Cairns Travel Guide
Travel guide to Cairns, Australia with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Cairns sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Cairns Overview
One of the main gateways to the tropical North of Australia, and the magical Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a laid back, relaxing place to begin your holiday in Queensland, and a great location from which to explore the beautiful sunshine coast of Australia.
Although not a beach resort itself, Cairns is one of the best places from which to start a holiday lounging on the sun kissed sands of Australia, or from where to begin a cruise around the atolls and islands of the great Barrier Reef such as the Whitsundays.
With great hotels, friendly people, amazing weather, and enough attractions both manmade and natural to keep you occupied forever, it isn't hard to see why Cairns has become the holiday destination of choice for so many people, and without a doubt, one of the most popular leisure resorts in Australia.
Top Cairns Attractions
Perhaps the main attraction for any visitor to Cairns is the chance to leave the mainland and head over to the famous Great Barrier Reef. Whether you choose to take a cruise out from the mainland, SCUBA dive amongst the unique fish and plant life of the reef, or even take a helicopter journey over the stunning formations, a visit to the reef is a magical once in a lifetime event.
Inland, you can get insight into the traditional lifestyles of the Aborigine people at the famous Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, where aside from hearing stories about the dreamtime, you can learn how to play a didgeridoo and throw a boomerang as well as trying some traditional bush tucker such as kangaroo steaks, wombat fritters, and various grubs.
Shopping in Cairns
Although Cairns itself offers fairly good shopping, the majority of people visiting have already passed through Sydney on their way, and have no need of the mall beyond picking up a few bits and pieces.
The beach towns tend to have some good surf shops where you can buy some good quality clothes, and boarding equipment. There are a number of Aborigine reservations in the area where you can buy some traditional artwork, while in some of the coastal towns there are galleries selling work by some of the local artists.
Cairns Sporting Events
The main sport undertaken in the area, and one of the reasons why people travel to Cairns from all over the world is the excellent diving. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the true wonders of the natural world, a place where you can experience some magical sights and get close to all manner of sea creatures including sharks.
There are a number of reputable diving companies in the area who will train you from scratch and arrange expeditions to the reef so that you can see it safely and get the most out of your stay.
Sailing is also popular, and a few days crewing on a yacht as it sails through the beautiful islands of Queensland is a great way to experience the area.
