Cairns and The Great Barrier Reef
Cairns in tropical North Queensland is one of those places you really should visit at some point in your life.
The Great Barrier Reef is on your doorstep, so is Daintree National Park.
Hopefully this page will give you a few ideas on how to spend your time and where to stay in Cairns.
I've also included a little bit of information about Cape Tribulation because it's not that far away and it's absolutely beautiful (a great place for a few days away from the party atmosphere in Cairns)
Contents
- Where is Cairns? Map of Oz, showing Cairns location
- The climate in Cairns (and current weather conditions)
- Cairns and Queensland Travel Guides
- The Great Barrier Reef
- The Great Barrier Reef, Cairns on Amazon
- Scuba Diving Video on You Tube
- General Travel Guides for Australia
- Budget Places to Stay
- Daintree National Park
- Top End Hotels to stay at in Cairns
- Learn More about Australia and Australian Histroy
- Cape Tribulation
- The Australian Language and Australian behaviour!
- Fly to Cairns
- Give me your feedback
Where is Cairns? Map of Oz, showing Cairns location
The climate in Cairns (and current weather conditions)
Its wet season, typically with tropical monsoons, is between the months of December and April and the dry season is between May and November, however there do tend to be frequent showers during most of this period.
The monsoons during the wet season occasionally cause flooding of the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers which have been known to temporarily cut the city off for access by road and rail.
Current weather conditions in Cairns, Australia
Local Pollen Reports
29°C (Feels like 33°C)
Last update: 11/21/08 5:30 PM Local Time
Humidity: 74%Visibility: 10.0 km
Dew Point: 24°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1003.0mm falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 19km/h From: Airport Conditions
Tonight
Low
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:34 AM
Sunset: 6:32 PM
Saturday
Nov 22
N/A
High: 31°C
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:34 AM
Sunset: 6:32 PM
Sunday
Nov 23
Mostly Sunny
High: 30°C
Low: 25°C
Sunrise: 5:34 AM
Sunset: 6:33 PM
Monday
Nov 24
Scattered T-Storms
High: 32°C
Low: 24°C
Sunrise: 5:34 AM
Sunset: 6:34 PM
Cairns and Queensland Travel Guides
Things to do in Cairns
Free, budget and more pricy activities in Cairns and its surrounds
Walk along The Esplanade
Swim in Cairns Lagoon (or just chillout next to it)
Visit the Saturday Markets
Do the Red Arrow Walk
Visit Flecker Botanical Gardens
Budget things to do
See the movies on a Tuesday (tight-ass Tuesdays!)
Hire a bicycle to see the area
Go to the Museum (gold coin donation)
Sail on Wednesdays - go to Cairns Yacht Club for details
Reef Teach (learn more about coral and tropical fish)
Not as cheap things to do
Go whitewater rafting
Sail to The Great Barrier Reef
Scuba Dive on the Reef
Take a helicopter ride or hot air balloon ride over The Coral Sea
Take the train on the Kuranda Scenic Railway
Visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
To find out more email Nomads Travel
Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, composed of over 2,900 individual reefsThe Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which is 348 000 km squared, has 2900 reefs. However, this does not include the reefs found in the Torres Strait, which is estimated at an area of 37 000 km squared and with a possible 750 reefs and shoals. (Hopley et al., 2007, p.1) and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately . The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. The Great Barrier Reef supports a wide diversity of life, and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. CNN has labelled it one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. The Queensland National Trust has named it a state icon of Queensland.
A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which helps to limit the impact of human use, such as overfishing and tourism. Other environmental pressures to the reef and its ecosystem include water quality from runoff, climate change accompanied by mass coral bleaching, and cyclic outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish.
The Great Barrier Reef, Cairns on Amazon
Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef with one of these fantastic books!
Scuba Diving Video on You Tube
Scuba Diving in Cairns, Australia Part 1
Scuba Diving in Cairns, Australia Part 1
Runtime: 8:22 | 1544 views | 3 Comments
Vote for your favourite Cairns pastime
If you've been to Cairns before why not help out first time visitors and vote for your favourite thing to do in Cairns to give them some ideas.
Or if your favourite thing isn't included suggest another in the guestbook.
General Travel Guides for Australia
Many travellers forget that it's a guide and what the reviewer may have experienced may not be the same experience you have! Use it for ideas on things to do and to find out where things are then make up your own mind!
Budget Places to Stay
Backpackers Hostels in Cairns
Shared accommodation is available in backpackers hostels from AUD$17. Many youth hostels also provide private accommodation at budget prices.
Esplanade Backpackers Hostel
This Youth Hostel is directly opposite Cairns Lagoon so if you want to be right in the thick of it all then this is the place for you. Facilities include a TV lounge with Sky TV, nightly activities, 24 hr check in, travel desk and air-conditioning.
Cairns Beach House
Cairns Beach House is a 5 minute walk from the centre of town, has a swimming pool and a great bar on the premises. Other facilities include internet access, pool table, travel desk and air-conditioning.
Nomads Serpent Youth Hostel
Found slightly out of town Nomads Serpent Backpackers Hostel has a huge swimming pool and all of the rooms are air-conditioned. It has a bar onsite and if the walk into town puts you off, they do provide a free hourly shuttle bus.
Daintree National Park
Female Saltwater Cro...
Baby Saltwater Croco...
Female Saltwater Cro...
Rex Creek Swing Brid...
Looking up into the...
Furry trees
Moss and shadow
Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Daintree National Park
Daintree is a national park in Far North Queensland (Australia), 1502 km northwest of Brisbane and 100 km northwest of Cairns. It was founded in 1981. In 1988 it was granted listing as a World Heritage List. The park consists of two sections, with a settled agricultural area between them which includes the towns of Mossman and Daintree Village. It contains significant habitat for rare species and prolific birdlife.
Much of the national park is covered by rainforest. The Greater Daintree Rainforest has existed continuously for more than 110 million years, making it possibly the oldest existing rainforest. The Great Dividing Range is close to the coast in this region. The popular Mossman Gorge is located in the southern part of the park. Cape Tribulation also lies in the park.
The park is the location of the bouncing stones Aboriginal site at Thornton Beach. The rocks here have a high density due to vulcanism. The park contains the Daintree River, Bloomfield River and Mossman River.
The Wompoo Fruit-dove is one of six species of pigeon that live in the park.
Top End Hotels to stay at in Cairns
Double rooms vary greatly in price and you can get some great last minute deals. However when it's peak season and it's busy you can pay anything from AUD $300 - $1000.
Sofitel Reef Casino
Stay in luxury right in the heart of the city and then lose all of your hard earned cash in the casino downstairs!
Shangri-La Hotel
The Shangri-La Hotel is situated right on the Marina, so has views of all of the boats going out to visit the Great Barrier Reef every day.
Learn More about Australia and Australian Histroy
Learn more about aboriginal culture and The infamous Kelly Gang by purchasing one of the following books.
Cape Tribulation
Here's what Wikipedia says about Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation () is a headland and locality in northern Queensland, Australia north of Cairns. It is located within the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. The locality contains a small number of tourism resorts and backpacker hostels. A sealed road provides access to the area from the south via the Daintree River ferry. North from Cape Tribulation Beach House, a four-wheel drive unsealed road, known as the Bloomfield Track, continues to the Bloomfield River, Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield Falls and Cooktown and is often closed during the wet season (Feb-Apr).
The traditional owners of the area are the Kuku Yalanji people.
The cape was named by British explorer Lt. James Cook on 10 June 1770 after his ship ran aground on a reef near the site, "because here began all our Troubles".
In the 2006 year the rainfall recorded was over and most people visit the area during the dry season between July and November. During the wet season marine stingers are prevalent causing locals and visitors to swim in the many creeks not infested with crocodiles. There are four main resorts to stay at. The village has two small supermarkets, two cash dispensing machines, one takeaway food outlet and five restaurants.
The Great Barrier Reef is some due east, there are two boat charters that leave from the beach. Typical activities available are guided nightwalks, 4 wheel drive tours, horse-riding, kayaking, jungle surfing and crocodile cruises to name a few.
The Australian Language and Australian behaviour!
Fly to Cairns
Want to come and visit The Great Barrier Reef or use Cairns as your base for visiting Daintree National Park or Cape Tribulation?
Then check out how much flights to Cairns cost...
Give me your feedback
Have I missed out something about Cairns which you think is unmissable?
Tell me about it here...
Princess-Pinky wrote...
Great Lens, although you did miss out getting drunk at The Woolshed as a thing to do!!!
:)
Posted March 18, 2008
