Cairns - Surroundings
Cairns is an excellent base for day trips and longer tours in the highlands to the southwest (Atherton Tableland, with rain forest reserves, waterfalls and fine viewpoints). A trip on the steep historic railroad line through the Barron Gorge to Kuranda is a memorable experience.
Since the Great Barrier Reef runs very close to the coast in the far north of Queensland, making the reef and its islands (Green, Fitzroy and Frankland Islands) easy to access, Cairns is a favorite starting point for visits to the reef.
Since the Great Barrier Reef runs very close to the coast in the far north of Queensland, making the reef and its islands (Green, Fitzroy and Frankland Islands) easy to access, Cairns is a favorite starting point for visits to the reef.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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A variety of boats, fast catamarans, hydrofoils and helicopters ferry hosts of day trippers, holidaymakers, scuba divers and snorkellers every day. There are also occasional cruises to Cooktown in the inaccessible north and Thursday Island, off the northernmost tip of Queensland. Also on offer are railcar tours to Savannah Gulf and the coasts of the Gulf of Carpentaria. From Cairns one can also visit the rugged territory of the Cape York Peninsula or the Tyrconnel Historic Gold Mine.
During the summer, cyclones, heavy monsoon rain and high temperatures are to be expected. A trip into the uninhabited Cape York Peninsula is still an adventure which calls for careful preparation. The safest way to travel in territory of this kind is to join one of the safari tours run by agencies in Cairns. On many beaches you have to watch out for saltwater crocodiles.
Tours by arrangement.
Related Attractions
Barron Gorge National Park
2780ha.
The beautiful tropical rain forest with the spectacular waterfalls on the Barron River and its tributaries was recently made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to see this unspoiled natural scenery is by taking a trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail cableway. A particularly striking feature is the waterfall on the Barron River, which pours down from a height of 260m.
The beautiful tropical rain forest with the spectacular waterfalls on the Barron River and its tributaries was recently made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to see this unspoiled natural scenery is by taking a trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail cableway. A particularly striking feature is the waterfall on the Barron River, which pours down from a height of 260m.
Wet Tropics Management Authority
Level One Cairns Corporate Tower
15 Lake Street
Cairns, QLD 4870
Australia
Level One Cairns Corporate Tower
15 Lake Street
Cairns, QLD 4870
Australia
Best time to visit: possible throughout the year, but best from January to March due to the heavy rain at this time which means that the waterfalls are in full spate. Access via the old preserved railroad line, or the very impressive Skyrail cableway from Smithfield (Caravonic Lakes Station, 11km north of Cairns) to Kuranda . By road via Kuranda Highway.
Fitzroy Island, Australia
Little Fitzroy Island (4 sq.km) lies near the coast and has hills rising to over 260m. It was named by Captain Cook in 1770 after Augustus Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton. The island is a popular destination for day trips from Cairns (diving on banks of coral, walking, fishing). There is a striking lighthouse.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Box 865
Cairns, QLD 4870
Australia
Box 865
Cairns, QLD 4870
Australia
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