Welcome to Cairns:
Your Tropical Study Destination
Famous for long days of sunshine and a warm climate, Cairns is home to approximately 160,000 people from many different cultures and nationalities who love the cosmopolitan feel of this modern, safe, clean and friendly city with world-class facilities.
The Cairns Student Hub is a welcoming support centre dedicated to international students. Students can access accommodation and study advice, career development workshops, employability support, counselling services, and social events, while connecting with a friendly multicultural community.
Cairns is an affordable city in which to live, study and work. With lower living costs for accommodation, transport and everyday expenses, Cairns offers international students a more affordable lifestyle compared with Australia’s major capital cities.
Cairns offers international students a well-connected and supportive environment, with services designed to help students feel safe, confident and supported while living abroad.
The city provides access to Consular Offices, international police liaison services, 24-hour medical centres, banking services, bilingual hospital interpreters, and community initiatives including the annual International Student Friendship Ceremony hosted by Cairns Regional Council.Home to people from more than 118 nationalities, Cairns is a truly global regional city where cultures, experiences and communities come together. International students can build friendships from around the world, experience the rich traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of a close-knit tropical community.
Australia’s most
global regional city
Cairns is a welcoming multicultural city offering a nature-based lifestyle, and is the international gateway to Queensland’s Tropical North and the Great Barrier Reef. With students and visitors from around the world, Cairns combines global connections with the warmth and friendliness of a regional community.
Unlike Australia’s larger metropolitan cities, Cairns offers a relaxed tropical lifestyle with simple, stress-free living. Everything is conveniently close by — from campuses and accommodation to cafes, shopping, beaches, and public transport — making it easy for students to balance study, work, and wellbeing.
Imagine finishing class and being just minutes away from a sunset walk along the Esplanade, a swim in the Cairns Lagoon, or a weekend adventure exploring rainforest and reef experiences unique to Tropical North Queensland.”
Dive into a world of opportunity in Cairns, heart of Tropical North Queensland.
Cairns is an exciting tourist and study destination
Experience the exciting Cairns waterfront with the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, a free lagoon-style swimming pool surrounded by landscaped parklands on the Cairns waterfront. Free BBQ’s and picnic tables are available – it’s a popular spot for casual gatherings for friends and families. The Esplanade is also a popular spot for free fitness activities with jogging and cycle paths, gym equipment, rock climbing wall, volleyball and Petanque areas. Cairns Regional Council runs an Active Living Free Fitness program with different activities, such as yoga, Zumba, Aquaerobics, fitboxing scheduled each day.
Nearby, the Cairns Marlin Marina and Reef Fleet Terminal are the departure points for cruise boats heading to the Great Barrier Reef and islands.
The Cairns waterfront strip is lined with an entertainment and shopping precinct with modern air-conditioned shopping outlets, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes overlooking Trinity Inlet.
The facilities of this small but lively and sophisticated city are world class. Cairns offers a high standard and wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets; international restaurants; boutique shopping; art galleries; botanical gardens; convention centre and two university campuses. Theatres, cinemas, a casino and bars are among its lively range of evening entertainment venues.
International & Domestic Airport
Servicing most Airlines since 1984. There are daily flights to and from most key international and Australian destinations.
Taxis and shuttle bus services are available to and from the City Centre.
Bus
A bus network linking the Cairns city centre and the surrounding suburbs from the northern beach of Palm Cove right down to the southern suburb of Edmonton. Find a bus network map here.
Taxi
Black and White Taxis – 24-hour taxi service with a fleet of government licensed taxi vehicles.
Taxi meeting points or ‘ranks’ are located in the central city areas and at shopping centres.
Uber
The Uber service can be found in Cairns. Download the global app from the app store to begin using this service.
Railway
Connecting Cairns to Queensland’s Capital, Brisbane (1729 km to the South) and beyond on modern trains with both sleeper and seat options.
Car Rentals
Local and International Car Rentals companies 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 at least a 22-hour drive from Cairns.
Bicycle
The compact, easy city layout with wide pedestrian and bicycle pathways makes it convenient for cycling 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
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Study Cairns is the peak body for international education and training in Tropical North Queensland, representing education providers, agents, and support services to promote the region as a premier study destination. It drives collaboration, marketing, and student advocacy to support the growth of Cairns' international education sector.