Heart of the Tropical North

Cairns, the prime gateway to Tropical North Queensland is the ideal starting point for travellers wanting to explore the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest, outback and the vast wilderness of Cape York Peninsula.

Despite all these attractions outside Cairns, you'll be seriously tempted to extend your stay in this sophisticated modern city.

With its tree-lined streets, Cairns boasts great shopping malls, efficient transport, sophisticated hotels, cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes and nightclubs and a lifestyle that is in keeping with contemporary city living.

For retail therapy you'll be in seventh heaven. Cairns boasts an excellent range of outlets and shopping centres whether you're after designer sunglasses, hip fashion and jewellery, or souvenirs and gifts from crystals to boomerangs. Don't miss the night markets on Cairns Esplanade for a shopping treat.

Dining is a high point in Cairns and local eateries offer an eclectic choice of Australian and international cuisine. The highlight of most menus is the region's fresh seafood and unusual tropical fruits.

As for entertainment there are excellent theatres, galleries, nightclubs and the glass-domed Reef Hotel Casino with four separate gaming areas and a luxury five star hotel.

Another pleasant surprise is how close and accessible everything is in Cairns. The airport is only a few minutes drive from the city centre and visiting cruise liners and yachts moor at a marina and wharves only a block away from the main centre.

Shop till you drop

With its tree-lined streets, Cairns boasts great shopping malls, efficient transport, sophisticated hotels, cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes and nightclubs and a lifestyle that is in keeping with contemporary city living.

For retail therapy you'll be in seventh heaven. Cairns boasts an excellent range of outlets and shopping centres whether you're after designer sunglasses, hip fashion and jewelry, or souvenirs and gifts from crystals to boomerangs. Don't miss the night markets on Cairns Esplanade for a real treat.

The shopping centres offer a variety of goods including luxurious brand shops, duty-free stores, boutiques, galleries and craft shops. Walk around the streets of Cairns to find many souvenirs shops and galleries. Facing the Cairns Harbour, "The Pier Market Place" has a great view over the bay. The "Cairns Central Shopping Centre", contains large department stores, supermarkets and cinema, is popular with local shoppers. Located along the shores of Trinity Inlet at Esplanade Street, the Night Market is opened every evening. Aboriginal artworks, handmade accessories by the local artists, t-shirts, opals are stocked. For fresh produce walk through "Rustys Bazaar". This market is held on Saturday and Sunday every week, is a great place to take in or purchase vegetables, fruit, and everyday clothing.

"Marina Mirage" one and half hours north in Port Douglas, is another luxury shopping experience of the area. In Kuranda, the hilltop town amongst the tropical rainforest, hosts local markets every day.

Start at beautiful Cairns

Cairns, the prime gateway to Tropical North Queensland is the ideal starting point for travellers wanting to explore the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest, outback and the vast wilderness of Cape York Peninsula.

Despite all these attractions outside Cairns, youll be seriously tempted to extend your stay in this sophisticated modern city.

With its tree-lined streets, Cairns boasts great shopping malls, efficient transport, sophisticated hotels, cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes and nightclubs and a lifestyle that is in keeping with contemporary city living.

For retail therapy youll be in seventh heaven. Cairns boasts an excellent range of outlets and shopping centres whether youre after designer sunglasses, hip fashion and jewellery, or souvenirs and gifts from crystals to boomerangs. Dont miss the night markets on Cairns Esplanade for a shopping treat.

Dining is a high point in Cairns and local eateries offer an eclectic choice of Australian and international cuisine. The highlight of most menus is the region's fresh seafood and unusual tropical fruits.

As for entertainment there are excellent theatres, galleries, nightclubs and the glass-domed Reef Hotel Casino with four separate gaming areas and a luxury five star hotel.

Another pleasant surprise is how close and accessible everything is in Cairns. The airport is only a few minutes drive from the city centre and visiting cruise liners and yachts moor at a marina and wharves only a block away from the main centre.

Step off for the reef

The Great Barrier Reef has a delicate reef ecosystem that evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, and gave life to more than 6,600 species and plants and beasts. It's still home to endangered species including the endangered green loggerhead turtle, and is a breeding site for humpback whales. While it is protected, there are myriad ways to enjoy it. Go cruising around the islands, or base yourself at a range of mainland, seaside towns on the Queensland coast and take day trips. Dive sites are dotted up and down the reef, and it's easy to charter a boat for a day or a longer dive trip, suiting beginners, intermediate or advanced divers. Choose an island that suits your interests and budget, and find different ways to explore the islands, the reef, and the wildlife of both. Try Lizard Island for superb game-fishing, snorkelling and scuba-diving. Lush Dunk Island is one of the area's three rainforest islands; Green Island, off Cairns, has one of the most luxurious resorts in the world; and Hinchinbrook Island is the largest island national park in the world. Beautiful Heron Island and Lady Elliott islands, with their rich bird populations, have become lures for birdwatchers everywhere. Accommodation ranges from camping grounds through eco-cabins to resorts. Dunk has four grades of accommodation. Some islands, like exquisite Orpheus Island, and Double Island, have luxury accommodation, and one, Haggerstone Island, is so remote and exclusive it's only open for part of the year.