Visitor Information

Captain James Cook was the first known European to visit the site where today Cairns is located. He arrived on Trinity Sunday in 1770, naming the area Trinity Bay. However Cairns itself only began life in 1876 among the mangroves and was chosen as the starting point for the railway line to the Atherton Tableland during the 1880 'tin rush'.

Every Year approximately 2 Million Visitors, both domestic and international, come to Cairns to enjoy this beautiful paradise.

In June 2006 the City of Cairns had a population of 136,558 people, a number that has increased every year, marking the popularity of this young, modern, green city.

Cairns is recognized as the gateway one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef, lush green rainforests, rivers and waterfalls, mountain gorges, the unusual Undara volcanic lava tubes, ancient crater lakes as well as many more breathtaking attractions.

Cairns Beaches are one of the most beautiful in Queensland. Most beaches provide swimming enclosures that provide safer swimming conditions during the Dangerous Marine Stinger season typically from November to May (subject to seasonal variability). The stinger nets are designed to prevent large box jellyfish and large segments of box jellyfish tentacles from entering the enclosure. Lifeguards patrol beaches to insure further safety to the swimmers.

Geography

Cairns is located on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in Queensland. Known as the 'sunshine state', it is the second largest state in Australia. Cairns is the most northern city in Queensland and sits below the equator and above the Tropic of Capricorn.

 

Seasons/Climate:

The average annual temperatures are a maximum of 33°C and minimum of 17°C. Cairns and the surrounding areas have an annual rainfall of 1992mm on an average 154 days. Seawater temperatures vary from a minimum 23°C in July to a maximum of 28°C in February.

The Sun and UV rays in Tropical North Queensland are very strong. Always wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen lotion (at least SPF15). If possible, stay in the shade.

Summer (Wet Season): December - February
These months experience the highest temperature, rainfall and humidity. When it does rain it is usually early in the morning, late in the afternoon or during the night.

Autumn: March - May
The humidity slowly decreases and gives a cooler impression.

Winter: June - August
Low rainfall, little humidity, fresh breezes and sunny days. It's the coldest time of the year and the most popular time for tourists to visit.

Spring: September - November
The spring months are very similar to the autumn months.

Medical Care:

There are two major hospitals, 24 hour medical centre's and medical specialists providing an excellent quality of health care. The city also provides services and facilities for visitors with special needs.

Places of interest

Cairns Library (A quite place to read. Borrow books, CDs, DVDs, Magazines. Cairns Library offers books in many languages, Open: 10:00am - 6:00pm (or to 3:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays)

Cairns Museum (Open: Monday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm)

Cairns Regional Gallery (exhibits the work of artists based throughout the tropical north. Open: 10:00am - 5:00pm.)

Flecker Botanic Gardens (38 hectares of lush and exotic flora and fauna; Open: 7.30am-5.30pm; Free entry)

Sugarworld (Waterslide Park, Open: 10:00am to 4:30pm, )

The Reef Hotel Casino (Entry to Casino only from 18 years of age or over)

News:

Every Week a free community paper "Cairns Sun" is distributed. The paper includes local news and notices as well as classifieds.

The Cairns Post is the local Newspaper. Jobs are mainly advertised in the Wednesday and Saturday paper.

Transport

Cairns offers all the transport methods expected of a modern City:

•   International & Domestic Airport - Servicing most Airlines since 1984. There are daily flights to and
         from most key international and Australian destinations. Airlines include: Qantas, Virgin Blue,
         Jet Star, Cathy Pacific and JAL.
         Taxis and shuttle bus services are available to and from the City Centre (approximately 7km)
•   Bus - Linking the Centre of Cairns to its suburbs
•   Black and White Taxis - 24-hour taxi service with a fleet of 137 government licensed taxi vehicles.
         Taxi meeting points or 'ranks' are located in the central city areas, at shopping centre's etc
•   Railway - Connecting Cairns to Queensland's Capital,
         Brisbane (1729 km to the South) and beyond on
         modern trains with both sleeper and seat options.
•   Seaport - Australia’s busiest cruise port with over 200
         international & domestic cruise ship visits a year
•   Car Rentals - Local and International Car Rentals
         Organisations are located throughout the city centre,
         airport and at some of the northern beaches.
•   Self-Drive - Excellent sealed highways link Cairns with the
         national road network. Brisbane is 22-hour drive from Cairns.
•   Bicycle hire - The compact, easy city layout with wide
         pedestrian and bicycle pathways makes it convenient
         for traveling around the city.
•   Coach -There are several daily bus services linking the major
         cities and towns around Australia.
         Coach companies include: McCafferty’s, Greyhound and Oz Experience

Phone Calls :

Australia's Country Code is 61

Area Codes Queensland's is 07, Victoria is 03, NSW & ACT is 02, NT & WA is 08

To place an overseas call you need to dial 0011 and then the country code, area code and number.

Phone cards for cheap international calls are available in most internet Cafe's. The Cost for international calls with these cards starts from 0.03 cents per minute. For further information on types and prices of cards ask the shop assistant.

Cairns Sister Cities

Sister Cities aim to develop meaningful and long term links with cities and communities in other countries; to achieve a greater level of international understanding and goodwill between peoples; and to share economic, community, cultural and social interaction.

Minami - Japan
The Treaty between Cairns and Hiwasa was signed in 1969 - Cairns' first Sister City.

Sidney - British Columbia, Canada
Established a Sister City relationship in 1984

Lae - Papua New Guinea
Established a Sister City relationship in 1984.

Scottsdale - Arizona, United States of America
Established a Sister City relationship in 1987

Riga - Latvia
Established a Sister City relationship in 1990

Zhanjiang - China
Established a Sister City relationship in 2004

Oyama - Japan
Cairns and Oyama signed a formal Sister City agreement on Monday, May 15, 2006