Cairns

Cairns

Located at the base of the eastern tip of Cape York Peninsula, along the coast between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range, Cairns is a coastal city in northern Queensland, Australia, renowned for its thriving tourism industry. It serves as the primary economic and trade hub of northern Queensland and is home to local government institutions.

Thanks to its close proximity to many popular tourist spots in the state, Cairns has become the first stop for many international visitors. It is just an hour and a half by boat to the Great Barrier Reef. Daintree Rainforest National Park and Cape Tribulation National Park are well-known tropical rainforest areas in the region. Many travelers also use Cairns as a gateway to Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula, and the Atherton Tablelands. The city has successfully leveraged its surrounding natural resources to create several small themed parks for tourists, including the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and a 7.5-kilometer-long scenic cableway that hovers above the World Heritage-listed rainforest.

Cairns is a major tourist port in northern Queensland, with vessels ranging from large catamarans that can accommodate 300 people to smaller boats that carry only 12. Tourists depart from here to explore the coral reefs, while commercial ships also use the port for loading and unloading. However, Cairns' harbor is not designed as a large import-export port, so its facilities are more suited to fishing boats and yachts.

Cairns

Must-visit reason: A renowned coastal city in Queensland

Continent where the attraction is located: Oceania

Country/region where the attraction is located: Australia

Province/state where the attraction is located: Queensland

City where the attraction is located: Cairns