Cairns and surroundings an overview by Myndo
Cairns is a great place to be, whether you start your holidays here and drive south, or whether it is your last stop before you go home.Here you can relax or have some activities in and around Cairns. Its maybe the best place to learn diving (so close to the Great Barrier Reef, excellent for day trips or longer), but there sure are cheaper places south.
So, this is what you can do in and around Cairns:
-See the Esplanade ? you can?t miss it, It's the main street. Between the city and the water, it's a pleasant place to stroll, to sit, to picnic, to eat, to shop.
In low tide the water goes far back and there are lots of sea birds picking in the mud.
-Take a swim in the man made lagoons next to the Marina.
-Cairns is your station for any trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you go there snorkeling or diving or just sailing, it?s great.
-Tjapukai ? learn something about the Aboriginal culture. Theme park where you can learn from the Aboriginals about fire making, natural remedies, bomerang throwing, didgeridoo playing. www.tjapukai.com.au
-Walk the Mangrove walk (Cairns, on the way to the airport)
-Kuranda scenic train. From Cairns to Kuranda.
- Have a view of the Rainforest from above: take the Sky Rail. Close to Cairns. Also at Kuranda
-Make a trip into the Atherton tablelands behind Cairns with its many waterfalls (very picturesque)
-South of Cairns are quite a lot of smaller islands you can go visiting on day tours ? or stay there the night and be collected the next day.
- Some companies offer River Rafting, Hot air balloon flights, bungee jumps or helicopter excursions over the reef.