Located on the coastal strip between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range, Cairns is the stepping-off point to the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests in Queensland’s north. It is a tropical city of over 150,00 residents and a hub for tourism to northern Queensland and the Outback.

Located about 1700 kilometres north of Brisbane, Cairns has two basic seasons – the wet (Nov – April) averages close to 400mm of rain per month while the dry (May – Oct) averages closer to 35mm. Average temperatures flow between 17-31+ degrees C so it is a balmy, tropical city, ideal for outdoor activities. There are many high-quality restaurants, hotels and bars and seafood is always fresh and available.

Cairns has been a rail head and port city for many years, located on Trinity Bay, to which sugar cane, beef and other agricultural products, and minerals and precious metals have travelled for export.

However, tourism is now its largest industry because of its climate and its proximity to the Reef, the rainforests and other sites of great natural beauty. The city is 52km from north to south and is served by a good public transport network that reaches most parts of the city and relies largely on buses, though rail has become a feature of forward planning in recent years. Taxis are also available. Cairns is also served by an international airport that was upgraded in 1984 to accommodate the growing influx of tourists that began around 1980.

Cairns sees itself as a modern, sophisticated city with much to offer – from its climate and location to its culture, arts and entertainment and its outdoor activities such as deep-sea fishing, whitewater rafting and wilderness adventures, it is a provincial city well-placed to provide a relaxed, diverse and enjoyable way of life to those wanting something apart from big city living.