L’Australia, island (almost) continent of Oceania, has landscapes and points of interest that can satisfy the majority of tourists: thousands of kilometers of beaches, deserts, tropical forests, modern cities, and prehistoric rock paintings.
Organizing the Trip to Cairns
For the DIY tourist, who doesn’t want to know about organized tours, one of the most strategically located starting points is undoubtedly Cairns, a coastal city located in the Northeastern part of Australia, which boasts the largest international airport in Queensland, served by numerous major airlines.
When organizing the trip, however, don’t forget to prepare the necessary documents to visit the country; start well in advance to avoid unpleasant last-minute surprises: the Visa for Australia which varies depending on the reason for the trip (study, work, or tourism), the passport, travel insurance including health insurance, and the international driver’s license if you intend to drive.
Why go to Cairns
Surrounded by natural parks and rainforests, Cairns is a tropical city and has the honor of being awarded the safest tropics city in the world. With its 120,000 inhabitants, it is a livable and at the same time cosmopolitan, vibrant city, with a typically tropical lifestyle.
And the climate is also typical of the southern hemisphere areas found at similar latitudes, with only two distinct seasons: winter, from May to November, and summer, from December to April.
What to do in Cairns
Cairns is surrounded to the north, west, and south by beautiful rainforests and is indeed considered the main gateway to the UNESCO sites that protect the forests and other natural environments found only in this part of the world. In these pristine forests, unique animals such as the Koala can be found, which here find one of their last habitats, as well as very rare plants like tree ferns, true living fossils that survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. These unspoiled environments are ideal for hiking, safaris, and photo tours, while the rapids of the nearby Barron Gorge National Park are great for rafting.
Cairns is the ideal place for those who want to go snorkeling, boat tours, or even fishing. And from Cairns, with just a few tens of minutes by boat, you can set off to enjoy the wonderful beaches of tropical islands surrounding the coast, including the beautiful Green Island, a small green jewel immersed in the coral reef.
The Beaches of Cairns
Cairns, a city with a waterfront, grassy lawns, restaurants, bars, sports and recreational areas, and a 4800-square-meter lagoon along the Esplanade. The city itself does not have a beach, so if you are looking to escape to a typical beach location with sandy shores dotted with palm trees and swimming areas, you need to head north to one of the beaches located to the north of Cairns. Palm Cove is one of the most well-known. Located between Cairns and Port Douglas, it features charming resorts and day spas with fine dining restaurants, cafes, and ice cream shops. Five minutes north of Palm Cove is a postcard beach: Ellis Beach. Not to be missed: Machans Beach, the closest beach to Cairns; Trinity Beach with the beach dotted with coconut trees; Holloways Beach, the second closest beach to Cairns; Yorkeys Knob, family-friendly; Kewarra Beach with coconut trees; Clifton Beach and Lifton Beach, pristine beaches.
When to go to Cairns in Australia
The best time to visit Cairns is undoubtedly winter: during this season the weather is definitely drier and more pleasant, while summer is rainy and hot. The winter period is therefore ideal for visiting Cairns, even better between the months of June and September: during this period the visibility in the sea is at its best and it is also the time when the coasts are not invaded by dangerous box jellyfish.
In fact, while Cairns is surrounded on three sides by lush rainforests, on the eastern side it can boast wonderful beaches and above all the presence of the Great Barrier Reef, also a UNESCO heritage site. Winter temperatures in Cairns hover around twenty degrees, making it the ideal time to visit the beaches. Free barbecues are available along most of the coasts, encouraging visitors and locals to spend more time outdoors enjoying the tropics.
How to get to Cairns
Cairns Airport is the main hub of the Tropical North Queensland. It is served by 14 domestic and international airlines, including smaller airlines flying to regional destinations. Flights are available to all capitals and major centers of mainland Australia, as well as to cities in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. There are two passenger terminals: T1 for international flights and T2 for domestic flights. It takes about 5-10 minutes to transfer from one terminal to the other. The airport is ten minutes by car from downtown Cairns and about an hour from Port Douglas. The Airport Connect bus links the airport with Cairns’ public transport system from Sheridan Street. Shuttle buses to Cairns and Port Douglas are also available. Car rental desks are located in the arrivals halls of each terminal. Limousine and taxi services are also available.
