Cairns

Port of Cairns is among Australia's busiest cruise destinations, hosting major international ships annually and extensive domestic reef-vessel traffic every day. Its terminal is in the city heart, a simple walk from downtown shops. Cairns combines shopping and dining, a mountain backdrop, and direct access to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Tropical Rainforests, making it an attractive cruise and fly/cruise port. Wharves 1-5 can handle up to two cruise vessels, with a dedicated…

Large ships may be unable to enter the long, narrow port channel or turn in the river, in which case they anchor and tender passengers ashore. Cairns International Airport is 8 kilometers from the city; Black & White Taxis charge an average $16.50 fare to the centre.

Central Cairns is compact enough to walk, although seeing outlying attractions requires a car unless you join a tour.

Cairns has approximately 130,000 people and focuses strongly on tourism. It is also surrounded by sugar cane, banana and tropical-fruit farming, and now has the word's first tropical fruit wine region. International visitors, especially Japanese tourists, favour the city.

Budget accommodation, drinking venues and inexpensive backpacker restaurants are plentiful. The atmosphere is one of relatively cheap tourism, with t-shirt stores, clubs and other nightlife aimed at young travelers.

Skyrail Rain forest Cableway is a particularly scenic Cairns route, rising over the rain forest canopy towards Kuranda, the charming mountain town.

Kuranda Scenic Railway is a historic scenic trip between Cairns and Kuranda, "The Village in the Rainforest." It crosses the Barron Gorge National Park walls, hand-carved tunnels and rainforest waterfalls; the two journeys can be combined.

Great Barrier Reef excursions depart from the arrival pier, where they can also be booked.

Great Barrier Reef trips are essential for regional visitors, and Green Island is about one hour away by boat.

At the end of Spence Street, between Pier Shopping center and Cairns harbor Lights and beside Cairns Marlin Marina, Reef Fleet Terminal provides a principal departure point for the Great Barrier Reef and enhances the passenger experience for all visitors.

Reef Fleet Terminal is central to Cairns reef tourism, with an estimated minimum of 650,000 passengers leaving annually. In this convenient central spot, visitors and residents can discuss reef requirements directly with operators. The uniquely designed two-storey terminal processes up to 2,000 passengers daily during the peak 8am – 10am period.

Crystal Cascades, around 20km from Cairns, consists of scenic waterfalls and pools. Do not jump from the rock cliffs. A wheelchair-suitable 1.2km (30-minute) path accesses the area.

The Australian Dollar is the local currency.

Shops and services normally open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and until lunchtime Saturday. In cities and larger towns, many trade late on Thursday or Friday, usually until 9pm, and throughout Saturday; shopping malls often open Sundays too.