Australia – Cairns

Location:

City on the north-east Australia coastline, the main location for those wishing to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

Climate:

As with most of Australia, Cairns is hot almost all year round, with it being in a tropical climate. Temperatures usually range from 17 to 33 Celsius with the average being around 25C. Between June and September you are unlikely to experience much rain due to it being with their dry season. Avoiding January to March dates for a trip may be best as this is when the most rainfall occurs.

Food and Drink:

Much of the local restaurants specialise in seafood, as you would expect from a coastal city with the largest reef system on earth on its doorstep. The seafood is great too as you would imagine but being Australia, red and white meat, especially in barbecue style restaurants, are also widely available. Cairns has a thriving cafe scene as well with many influences from around the globe coming from its high migrant population. From Greek to Japanese and Chinese to French there are plenty of options. There is also a large food market in the city where you can get a whole range of global cuisines, so there is definitively something for everyone.

Things to do:

Explore the restaurants and thriving cafe scene

Fishing

Snorkelling

Diving

Water Sports

Helicopter rides

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Visit the barrier reef

Island hop

Must see:

Great Barrier Reef.

If you are going to Cairns you are going to see the Great Barrier Reef. Even if it’s just on the flight over you can’t miss it, but I would really recommend getting in the water and seeing the abundance of life if you can. It is a natural wonder of the world for a reason and the chance to see it up close and personal should not be missed. It homes 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, one-third of the world’s soft corals, 134 species of sharks and rays, six of the world’s seven species of threatened marine turtles, and more than 30 species of marine mammals, including the vulnerable dugong (WWF), there is literally something for everyone!

Review:

I went to Cairns all the way back in 2010 and this poor underwater camera image (right) is one of the only good shots my 14 year old self could get! However it was one of the greatest places I have ever been. Anyone interested in conservation or the ocean should 100% try and visit and even if you do not like the ocean the area itself is beautiful. The Great Barrier Reef, the largest in the world and a natural wonder of the world, has to be the highlight however. Yes its far too ‘touristy’, boats are everywhere and you are spoiled for choice for tourist excursions. But the one I went on was very good, with a food buffet included in the price, alongside the ability to snorkel on the reef, look at it through the glass viewing station or glass bottom boats if you do not want to get completely wet. For me the barrier reef alone would have made the trip worthwhile, however the food and other activities available in the area make there something for everyone to enjoy, even if that is sunbathing on one of the many beaches in the area!