Visitor Information

On this page you will find helpfull information about Cairns and:

•   Geography
•   Seasons/Climate
•   Jobs & Employment
•   Getting a Tax File Number
•   News
•   Transport
•   Phone Calls
•   Post and Freight
•   Safety
•   Visas
•   Money
•   Electrical Equipment
•   Medical Care
•   Customs
•   Cairns Sister Cities

 

Facts of Cairns:

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.

Jobs & Employment:

Casual employment may be available depending upon the visa granted. Permission to Work arrangements for Student visa holders have changed. Click here to find out further information.

Persons with Working Holiday Visas can seek employment by talking to the shop owners, through different job agencies spread around the centre, the internet (www.seek.com.au and www.careerone.com.au) or the Wednesday and Saturday Cairns Post (newspaper). Jobs sometimes are also advertised through blackboards in internet coffee shops.

Travellers at Work - T@W is an established franchaise that commenced in Sydney twelve years ago. Students and travelers can purchase a card allowing them access to a website portal with jobs Australia wide. With an office in Cairns now, many jobs are locally based and provide great opportunities for students to "Earn while they Learn". Current affiliate offices that are also members of Study Cairns: Cairns Education and Tour Advice, Education by Recreation, Aussie Interact. Please contact them directly with enquiries.

The following member schools also provide in-house assistance with employment for their OWN students: JCU, Cairns Sharehouse, TAFE, GEOS Cairns College of English, Accredited Online Training.

Getting a Tax File Number :

You will pay a lot of tax if you don't have a Tax File Number. It makes it much easier when you start a job to give your employer the number. You however do not require a TFN to start work. In certain circumstances you can also claim the tax you paid during your employment back once you leave Australia.

To get a Tax File Number you will first need permission to Work (have the correct Visa that will allow you to work). If you have a Visa that allows you to work you need to complete the steps on the online application form. Click here to apply for your Tax File Number.

It may take up to 28 days to receive the Tax File Number. Once issued, the Tax Office will send the number to the address you give them when you apply.

You can ask your agent, school or contact the Tax Office should you have any questions.

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, Continental Airlines, 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.

Post and Freight:

The Australia Post is the national postal service. In the Centre of Cairns there are three post offices located at: Orchid Plaza in Lake Street, Cairns Central Shopping Centre in McLeod Street and the main Post Office in Grafton Street. To find out where your closest local Post office is click here.

The Australia Post website (www.auspost.com.au) offers helpful information on Postage costs, freight times and customs/export requirements.

Cairns Tour and Education Services also offer freight services from Australia to any worldwide destinations by express, sea or air at very competetive prices.

Safety:

Study Cairns believes in assuring the utmost safety for its International students. We work closely with the Cairns Police and other bodies in Cairns to ensure we remain a safe destination to study and travel.

The recent appointment of a Japanese Liaison Officer further signifies our commitment to safety for the students.

Collateral is produced in several languages for student safety and all Study Cairns members provide a safety talk as part of a student orientation on arrival day/the first day of school.

View our Safety in Cairns brochure:

•     Safety in Cairns (English language for Japanese Persons) ( 70 KB)
•     Safety in Cairns (Japanese) ( 124 KB)

Visas:

International visitors require a current passport and most visitors require a visa. More information is available at the Australian Department of Immigration web site.

Before coming to Australia to study you will need to contact your nearest Australian Embassy or Migration Agent about organising a visa. The visa you require will depend upon how long you intend to stay. You can apply for a:

• Tourist Visa: For study of 16 weeks or less and your main aim is to travel within Australia
• Student Visa: Full-time study for more than 12 weeks. This requires a minimum of 20 hours of study per week. Students whose main aim is to study should apply for this visa and it can be extended within Australia
• Working Holiday Visa: A perfect way to combine travel, work and study. The usual length of time offered for this visa is one year and depends on your country of origin. This may include up to 12 weeks of study.

$ Money

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the local currency. Money exchange facilities are located throughout the city and at the airport. All major international credit cards can be used in Australia and travelers' cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are situated at banks and shopping centres throughout the city and region.

Electrical Equipment:

Electricity is supplied throughout Australia at 230/240 volts (50 hertz). Most hotels and motels provide 110 volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option. Please note that power outlets only accept flat three or two-pin plugs.

Medical Care/Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):

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.

An overseas student on a Student Visa is required to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Medibank Private, Australia’s largest private health insurer, provides this cover for you. This cover will help to pay for any medical and hospital care you may need while studying in Australia. It will also contribute towards the cost of most prescription medicines and emergency ambulance transport.

Please note that if you are traveling on a Tourist, Working Holiday or other visa, it is recommended that you purchase travel / medical insurance before your departure.

Customs:

Australia is an island and has strict quarantine regulations which apply to plant and food items. These regulations are for the protection of all who live and travel here. Limitations apply to bringing in many items such as tobacco products, alcohol and other personal possessions. Please check details at the Australian Customs Service web site before you travel.

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