Cairns is the tropical capital of the north.The region is abundant with interest for the visitor throughout the year.There are numerous cruises daily from the marina to various destinations.Take a river cruise for a short tour ,or spend the day on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Diving and fishing trips are favourites as the area abounds with all kinds of tropical wildlife.Just a short journey to the west of the city lies the small village of Kuranda.Travelling approx. 11klms.NE of the city you will arrive at Smithfield where you can board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which takes you to Kuranda.The Kuranda Scenic Railway also leaves from here and takes you through Baron Gorge passing the beautiful Baron Falls.To the north and south of the city are a number of beaches in easy reach of the visitor. A favourite for me is Palm Cove,one of the northernmost beaches.One of the outstanding features in this suburb are the magnificent Giant Melaluca Trees. Another great beach, just a little closer to Cairns but still on the north side is Yorkeys Knob. A visit to the Boat Club to sample a fish dinner in an outdoor setting is a treat not to be missed.

International recognition of Cairns as a place of interest was created by the visit of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. The film of her visit to Cairns on the Australian Tour was shown around the world to an ever adulating audience. Great things have happened since those early days. Tourist favourites apart from The Great Barrier Reef Trips include the the largest Butterfly Sanctuary in the world, and The Cairns- Kuranda Scenic Railway that passes the majestic Baron Falls. The development of The Tjapukai Aboriginal Theme Park has been an enormous success and so to The Cairns Convention Centre. Both receiving International acclaim. The present day Cairns is a must see point of call for all Australian visitors.

Fashions, Natural Health and Beauty, Australian and North Queensland Novelty Gifts and Souvenirs, Glass Blowing,Australian Clothing, Jewellery Opals Pearls, Silver Costume Bush Products, ATM.

Bar, Massage, Gifts, Oil Skins, Akubra Hats, Tattoos, Wine, Aussie Food Products, T Shirts, Asian Buffet, Crepes, Noodle Bars, Coffee Shops, Icecream, Homewares.

Inspired by similar international markets in Hawaii and South East Asia, the Cairns Night Markets were created as a way for local traders to promote their North Queensland souvenirs to the demanding tourist market. The venture was only expected to be a temporary facility for the Night Markets, giving the venue a term of only 6 months, the Cairns Night Markets had a total of only 28 vendors. Unexpectedly, the Cairns Night Markets quickly flourished and within 6 months demand was so high that 100 retailers could now be supported full time. Today the Night Markets is comprised of an available 130 stalls and has evolved from a temporary open air market into a permanent airconditioned centre at the base of the Royal Harbour Hotel.

The Tablelands is a very pleasant holiday destination , particularly in the summer months, as the temperatures up there are considerably cooler than down at ground level. You will climb to approx. 2,600 feet on your journey that will take you through Mareeba, Atherton, Yungaburra, and on to Lake Barrine, depending on the tour operator you choose. At Mareeba you can visit the famous Coffee Works and sample their delights. Pass through Tolga and visit The Tolga Woodworks and then on your way to Atherton where you can visit the Crystal Caves .Drive further and the next stop on your journey is The Heritage village of Yungaburra where you may be lucky enough to spot a platypus. A lot of the old shops in the village have plaques on the entrance telling visitors what kind of business operated there in the Old Days. The village also has quite an interesting Tourist Information Centre.There are several volcanic lakes in the area and of these Lake Barrine is my favourite.Close by is Breamber, and from here you can do a circuit of several waterfalls that are within 15 klms. of each other.Milla Milla Falls being the most well known.