Cairns is probably the city we liked least in Australia, but be careful… this doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit! Actually there is one perfect base for exploring North Queensland. If you have planned a visit to this (hot) city, in this post we will tell you about Top 20 things to see and do in Cairns (and the surroundings).
1. One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is Cairns Postthe local newspaper.
2. Approaching you cairns librarywith a very nice columned facade, full of tropical plants and, of course, free Wi-Fi.
3. When night comes, go to night market (night market) and have dinner there: it’s a kind of food court where you can eat cheap dishes. Also, if you want to buy the odd souvenir, this is the place to do it.
4. As you pass under the trees at the intersection of Aplin and Albott streets, look up and notice the strange inhabitants. They are neither more nor less than bat! And no, they won’t hurt you.
5. If you only had time to do one thing in Cairns, we wouldn’t hesitate: do one dip in the lagoon, a large public swimming pool, on the coast, where there is even a small artificial beach. You can also bring hot dogs and use the free barbecue in the park.
6. Enjoy sunset from the promenade one of the most atmospheric areas in Cairns… well, the most!
7. Take advantage of happy hour specials from some of the small bars in the city centre. We had a few beers on Bavarian beer house0.50L beer costs $6.50 from Monday to Sunday from 17:00 to 19:00 and from 22:00 to 23:30.
8. Right next to it is one fast food (Oasis Kebabs) where we ate a pizza that tasted heavenly. And cheap: the “large” one costs $15 (for Australia, that’s cheap XD).
9. Even if the budget is not an issue for you, you should try local seafood… has a reputation for being very rich (tell us, ok?).
10. Visit Kuranda forest, is just 30km from Cairns and is one of the best things to do around town. You can arrive on a historic train, visit a small town (Kuranda Village) with many attractions, and see the whole panorama from a bird’s eye view on one of the longest skyrails in the world. Here we tell you about our experience in Kuranda Forest.
11. If you don’t want to leave the city, but still want to enjoy Australian nature, a good option is to visit botanical gardens.
12. Another excursion that is absolutely worth it is the one that takes you to discover daintree forest, one of the oldest and largest tropical forests in the world. We recommend that you spend at least one night at Cape Tribulation. Here we tell you about our visit to the Daintree Forest.
13. On the way back, stop at Daintree Village and join one 1 hour river cruise on the Daintree River. Its biggest protagonist? The crocodile! We took the trip along Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruise and we loved it. Take a look at the website bookme They often get specials (the crocodile tour only cost us $18 per person!).
14. Another very beautiful area is that Mossaman Gorgewhere you can do some very beautiful walks along the watercourse and see the curious round stones.
15. If you’re looking for ideas on where to get married, stop by port douglas and its beautiful wooden church on the shore of the beach (St Mary’s Church). They make you wish for a wedding, I tell you I never dreamed of wearing a white suit.
16. Learn more about the ancient aboriginal culture i Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. There are exhibitions, performances and you can even dare to throw a boomerang!
17. Take one trip to green island, one of the most beautiful small islands on the east coast of Australia: it has crystal clear beaches and great snorkeling. Of course, make sure it’s not the time for the irukandji jellyfish, as small as it is deadly (it can be the size of a fingernail and yes, you heard it right, it can kill you).
18. If you like markets, don’t miss it Rusty’s Market. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. There you will find organic products, tropical fruit and other exotic surprises.
19. Get out of party! In the center of Cairns there are many places where you can have a few drinks and end the day in style.
20. But if there’s one thing Cairns is known for, it’s for being the base for exploring Great Barrier Reef. we chose do it with a scenic flight: We had heard that the boat trips are quite disrespectful to this wonder of the world. But we were told that there is a company (diving in particular) that is very careful about harming the largest living organism on earth. Find out well and draw your own conclusions.
do you know more things to see and do in Cairns?
