Hotels in Cairns

There was NO trip to Cairns ... I live here permanently!! I'm a local, love my city & would thoroughly recommend Cairns to ANYONE who is planning their first visit .. or a return visit. We have a lot to offer here in our fair city ... from the rainforest, to the beaches, to the reef. On arrival, once you've settled into your accommodation, take a leisurely walk along the foreshore (or the Nard, as we locals call it!) & soak in the laid-back lifestyle of just being here. With so many choices of places to eat, find somewhere that suits your taste as you explore the water-front. From there, either speak to your hotel foyer staff or find a local tour-desk to discuss where you would like to go & what you'd like to see while you're here. Make the most of your time here & enjoy your stay!

We arrived in Cairns in the evening and only stayed one night. We visited the Cairns night markets that runs from 5-11pm. Not worth the bother. The next day we took a tour to Green Island. Absolutely loved snorkelling on Green Island, some many fish and corals to be seen. Be aware of marine stingers. Hire of a stinger suit is only $8. The next few days we spent in Port Douglas area (70km north of Cairns). We visited the Mossman Gorge, The Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas markets and spent a lovely afternoon at Palm Cove on the way back to Cairns airport. Lovely beaches in the Daintree but watch for crocs. We saw croc tracks on the Cape Tribulation beach. It was hot 35-36 degrees with humidity over 80% rising to 100% at Cape Tribulation. Ever present marine stingers and crocodile warnings. Come prepared with water, sunscreen and hat when visiting in summer.

Cairns is well set up for tourism, and all the staff we met were generally very courteous and helpful. Prices are also generally reasonable. Parking on the water front was a little difficult to find for a first-timer. but after a few drive around's we got the hang of things. Weather is fairly hot but is to be expected that far up in the tropics. Atherton Tablelands was the best part of our visit, and the Skyrail and the Kuranda train was exciting for out 2 6 year-olds. Also thing that the Sugarworld Water Park could be better advertised, we went there on the recommendations of a friend and our kids, had the best time of our 4 week visit to Australia, from Noura to Cairns. Because of 2 kids we did not do the "Eating Out" thing, so can not comment. We had a Hire Car, and it would be good it there was a place where we could have got a current directory of the town other than just the Tourist Places. The information place is not well signed. Being from a country which could be referred to as 3rd. world, we found nothing that we would "avoid'. Had a great time and will return again in the future.

We only went to Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef. I am not sure if my expectations were too great but the snorkelling was disappointing. We were on a boat for 3 days/2 nights, and snorkelled ( I was not allowed to try the introductory scuba dives - I have asthma- despite being very fit). We saw 4 turtles, an epaulette shark, a white tipped reef shark, small jellyfish and my daughter saw some squid in a total of 15 dives. Other than that it was not much more impressive than snorkelling in Mauritius. I would certainly not travel so far to do it again. If you want to try scuba as a novice( $ 70 first dive, $50 for subsequent dives), you need a medical before getting on the boat, at a cost of $60 if you disclose any concerning medical condition. I am not sure, other than asthma, what other conditions would preclude scuba diving. Cairns is an ugly, and by Aussie standards, dirty town. I was not impressed at all by it.

I'm an FNQ Local and left Cairns when they decided to redevelop it into a GC MKII. It's lost a lot of it's charm and people in the city have become very city snob rather than the usual "Good morning" with a smile from everyone you passed. Council has stripped the city bare of all greenery so they best ditch the sign "City in a Garden" as that's simply no longer true. You can however still experience life at a nice relaxed pace with a friendly chat amongst complete strangers in the suburbs. Visitors will find the cost of eating a rude shock as well as the price of groceries. The humidity in Cairns is something else entirely if you are not from the tropics don't come in Summer, best months are July-Sept if you don't like humidity and rain.

Hartleys Croc Farm GREAT KURANDA - shops mainly for Asian tourists these days but train trip was good BARRIER REEF LOVELY - but coral has faded in last 20 years! Sad, still lovely though. MOSSMAN GORGE - Wonderful but watch rapids with small children MILLA MILLA FALLS - Beautiful - highly recommended and FREE!! COFFEE WORLD (Mareemba) - Fantastic, well worth visit. GALLO DAIRYLAND - Atherton - V. Interesting and delicious! Night Markets - some small treasures between lots of junk Rusty'sMarkets - Fri Sat Sun - Great for fresh tropical fruit and veg!