Drink with your new Mates...
by ATXtraveler
If you are going to go to Cairns, then you will need to know what you are dealing with. First off, it is a requirement to spend at least one night living the backpacker lifestyle, which includes putting yourself into a 6-person shared accommodation room. Next, make friends with a couple of them by buying the first round of cheap beers. Then find out one is a homosexual from the Sunshine Coast, and another is on a Round the World journey from Germany.
After discussing religion and politics, you will have nothing better to do than take random pictures of them after you begin drinking them under the table.
Let me know how you went!
… carved boab nut …
by vtveen about Jungara Gallery
Having holiday in Australia for the first time, we felt we had to bring home an original Australian ‘souvenir’. Being attracted by the Aboriginal art we visited a couple of galleries. In Cairns we found Jungara Gallery, a little bit hidden behind all the restaurants along The Esplanade. Jungara Gallery, from a Dutch owner Peter von Brunschot, offers the full range of Aboriginal art, like paintings, didgeridoos, pottery, boomerangs, baskets and much more.
As we had still to fly a lot, we decided to buy a carved boab nut, with very fine incisions. Very light and not too fragile to transport back to home.
Great Location, average food, poor service
by Robachu1 about The Chapel Cafe
The restaurant has a very nice view of the marina area. The interior was modern and appealing. The whole feeling was lively and fun, but...... the food was passable at best and the service was so bad that I had to go to the bar twice to get refills for our water. Not only that but when no waitress/waiter came to pick up my credit card payment I had to once again go to the bar but this time to pay. Thankfully there was nowhere on the bill for a tip. (Australia does not have tipping in the way that the US does however this was the only restaurant during our vacation that did not have a place on the bill to write in a tip) Perhaps if they had tipping the waiters/waitresses would pay more attention to the customers....
Take a dip in the Esplanade Lagoon!
by xuessium
Come here to be seen especially if you have washboard abs, a gorgeous tan and an even more brilliant personality! Throw out a gorgeous sun and everyone's here, eager to lap it all out. Crowded, noisy and boisterous, the ocean by comparison was largely ignored, but for good reason too, since the lagoon is actually filtered ocean water (to weed out the deadly jellies aside from other marine creatures) and not fresh water! (So don't expect warm water; the water can be cold!)
Opened in 2003, the lagoon precinct spans 4 hectares, and is capable of accommodating 1000 swimmers at a time. It is open for FREE public use between 6am and 10pm daily. The area is totally alcohol and glass free, and dogs are prohibited. The depth of the pool ranges from 80 cm (32 inches) to 1.6m (5 feet), and disability access is provided at one end of the pool. There are seating benches underwater which are lit from underneath.
A hit with the teens, backpackers crowd and kids! You'll find freshly sun-baked bodies roasting away on the grass (throw on some rosemary and sage and we could possibly have some good roasts), the occasional carefree top-less ladies and even families out for a picnic or BBQ. There are BBQ pits to the side of the pool, as well as shower/changing rooms. There are shallow ends for toddlers & young kids and the water spouts that blew out fresh supply of sea water are forever popular with kids.
Lifeguards are on duty in the day till late, until the pool closes.
The Great Barrier Reef
by bijo69
The main reason for most people to visit Cairns is to go out to the Great Barrier Reef. There's a big choice of operators offering all kinds of trips. It's not really cheap, expect to pay around 100 AU$ for a snorkelling trip. When booking a trip, make sure the quoted price does include the reef tax and fuel levy.
If you want to learn scuba diving, quite a few schools are based here and offer all kinds of courses.
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Ocean Free as seen from Green Island
Look for the sign
Curtain Fig Tree with me in front
Holloways Beach
