Guidebook for Cairns North
Parks & Nature
Green Island is a part of the Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommended for a half day or full day trip. Only a 45 min boat tour from Cairns. Definitely worth visiting.
Green Island
Green Island is a part of the Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommended for a half day or full day trip. Only a 45 min boat tour from Cairns. Definitely worth visiting.
A great tourist destination where you can see Kangaroos and Koalas and have some fantastic photo opportunities. Only a 40 minute drive from Cairns.
18 moradores locais recomendam
Kuranda Koala Gardens
4 Rob Veivers DrA great tourist destination where you can see Kangaroos and Koalas and have some fantastic photo opportunities. Only a 40 minute drive from Cairns.
The Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation are World Heritage Listed areas and contain the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare. You can do a 4WD tour in the rainforest or book a crocodile sighting boat tour.
257 moradores locais recomendam
Floresta Tropical de Daintree
2333 Cape Tribulation RdThe Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation are World Heritage Listed areas and contain the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare. You can do a 4WD tour in the rainforest or book a crocodile sighting boat tour.
Cairns is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of companies do reef tours.
Takes about 45 minutes to get out there, but so worth it. Great for scuba or snorkelling. The reef is so large and vibrant its visible from space, but lots more fun and spectacular when viewed up close. One of the main attractions for tourists visiting Cairns.
(By comparison, Green Island is good for families with small kids because it's an island with glass-bottom boats for checking out the marine life. Green Island is accessible, and also appealing for couples, or people who want an island day-tripper experience).
But a snorkelling visit to the reef s definitely worth doing, at least once.
13 moradores locais recomendam
Great Barrier Reef
Cairns is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of companies do reef tours.
Takes about 45 minutes to get out there, but so worth it. Great for scuba or snorkelling. The reef is so large and vibrant its visible from space, but lots more fun and spectacular when viewed up close. One of the main attractions for tourists visiting Cairns.
(By comparison, Green Island is good for families with small kids because it's an island with glass-bottom boats for checking out the marine life. Green Island is accessible, and also appealing for couples, or people who want an island day-tripper experience).
But a snorkelling visit to the reef s definitely worth doing, at least once.
The gated parts of the gardens are open daily from 7.30am-5.30pm. But the botanic gardens in Cairns actually encompasses a whole precinct outside the gates, including walking trails, parks surrounding the nearby Centenary Lakes, and the mangrove boardwalks.
The general area, stretches from Greenslopes St through to Collins Avenue, and is a popular lifestyle destination for its leisure activities. Kids will enjoy seeing the ducks and pelicans at the lake near the Chinese Friendship Garden on Greenslopes Street. Nearby is a popular children's playground. There are several kilometres of walking paths and boardwalks. It's a pleasant and laid-back place for families and couples.
10 moradores locais recomendam
Flecker Botanic Gardens
The gated parts of the gardens are open daily from 7.30am-5.30pm. But the botanic gardens in Cairns actually encompasses a whole precinct outside the gates, including walking trails, parks surrounding the nearby Centenary Lakes, and the mangrove boardwalks.
The general area, stretches from Greenslopes St through to Collins Avenue, and is a popular lifestyle destination for its leisure activities. Kids will enjoy seeing the ducks and pelicans at the lake near the Chinese Friendship Garden on Greenslopes Street. Nearby is a popular children's playground. There are several kilometres of walking paths and boardwalks. It's a pleasant and laid-back place for families and couples.
Food Scene
This restaurant is on the waterfront In Cairns with great views for lunch or dinner.
89 moradores locais recomendam
Dundees on the Waterfront
1 Marlin ParadeThis restaurant is on the waterfront In Cairns with great views for lunch or dinner.
They make great man sized sandwiches at this coffee shop. Highly recommended.
Swiss Cake & Coffee Shop
91-93A Grafton StThey make great man sized sandwiches at this coffee shop. Highly recommended.
Great pizza place with raised decking area. Great environment to order a pizza, wine or beer and it's on the Esplanade in the city.
7 moradores locais recomendam
La Pizza
93 EsplanadeGreat pizza place with raised decking area. Great environment to order a pizza, wine or beer and it's on the Esplanade in the city.
The entrance is actually just around the corner in Aplin Street. Public car parking is nearby. The restaurant does really yummy Thai food, I think some of the best in Cairns and I go there regularly.
The food is moderately priced, there are plenty of food choices and the meals are high quality. You can eat inside the restaurant, but I prefer soaking up the street vibe with a table out the front on the sidewalk.
Open daily from 5-10pm.
Cafe Thailand
93 EsplanadeThe entrance is actually just around the corner in Aplin Street. Public car parking is nearby. The restaurant does really yummy Thai food, I think some of the best in Cairns and I go there regularly.
The food is moderately priced, there are plenty of food choices and the meals are high quality. You can eat inside the restaurant, but I prefer soaking up the street vibe with a table out the front on the sidewalk.
Open daily from 5-10pm.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with separate restaurant area. Great for romantic or group dinners, or just hanging out with friends. It's popular and can get noisy, but it's also a great place to relax at the bar while overlooking the pier. Often does live music, very popular bar. Definitely worth checking out for afternoon drinks or a night-time hangout.
239 moradores locais recomendam
Salt House
2 Pier Point RdBar with separate restaurant area. Great for romantic or group dinners, or just hanging out with friends. It's popular and can get noisy, but it's also a great place to relax at the bar while overlooking the pier. Often does live music, very popular bar. Definitely worth checking out for afternoon drinks or a night-time hangout.
Essentials
Coles is located in one of the main shopping centres in Cairns. Popular with both tourists and locals, it's a large supermarket. Competes heavily with rival supermarket chain Woolworths. One advantage of Coles is that the shopping centre it is located in has free parking, and plenty of it. Open most nights until 10pm, but check the guest directory in your apartment for trading hours and more information.
74 moradores locais recomendam
Coles Cairns Central
Aplin StreetColes is located in one of the main shopping centres in Cairns. Popular with both tourists and locals, it's a large supermarket. Competes heavily with rival supermarket chain Woolworths. One advantage of Coles is that the shopping centre it is located in has free parking, and plenty of it. Open most nights until 10pm, but check the guest directory in your apartment for trading hours and more information.
Woolworths supermarket on Abbott Street is an arch rival to the Coles supermarket in Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Woolies doesn't have its own off-street car parking, whereas Coles does.
However, one thing that this Woolies really stands out for is that it is set up to be super tourist-friendly, whereas Coles is more of a general supermarket.
Woolies stocks lots of products that would be handy or necessary to travellers. It also sells sandwiches, ready-to-go sushi and hot food takeaway at a budget price.
99 moradores locais recomendam
Woolworths Cairns
103 Abbott StWoolworths supermarket on Abbott Street is an arch rival to the Coles supermarket in Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Woolies doesn't have its own off-street car parking, whereas Coles does.
However, one thing that this Woolies really stands out for is that it is set up to be super tourist-friendly, whereas Coles is more of a general supermarket.
Woolies stocks lots of products that would be handy or necessary to travellers. It also sells sandwiches, ready-to-go sushi and hot food takeaway at a budget price.
Everything Else
The Esplanade has BBQ's, a free swimming pool, McDonalds, ice cream shops, cafe & restaurants, night markets from 4pm, and much more. Absolutely worth visiting the Esplanade when in Cairns.
6 moradores locais recomendam
Esplanade
EsplanadeThe Esplanade has BBQ's, a free swimming pool, McDonalds, ice cream shops, cafe & restaurants, night markets from 4pm, and much more. Absolutely worth visiting the Esplanade when in Cairns.
Sightseeing
Skyrail is the famous Skyrail Rainforest Cable car with great views. You can hop on and off when you go up to the top of the mountain, take photographs of the waterfalls. At the top it is a short, easy walk to Kuranda village to explore and find some great eating places.
284 moradores locais recomendam
Teleférico Skyrail da Floresta Tropical
6 Skyrail DrSkyrail is the famous Skyrail Rainforest Cable car with great views. You can hop on and off when you go up to the top of the mountain, take photographs of the waterfalls. At the top it is a short, easy walk to Kuranda village to explore and find some great eating places.
Getting Around
Best to book in advance to get the car you want. With all hire car companies in Cairns it pays to check the vehicle you're hiring doesn't have surprise dings or scratches that you might unexpectedly be held accountable for. Cairns hire cars are a high turnover business, with so many tourists coming to the city.
Before you drive away in the rental car, suggest you do a vehicle walk around, don't take their word for it that they already have. You can also book hire cars at the airport or Uber and Taxi is easily available in Cairns.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Avis Car & Truck Rental Cairns
153 Lake StBest to book in advance to get the car you want. With all hire car companies in Cairns it pays to check the vehicle you're hiring doesn't have surprise dings or scratches that you might unexpectedly be held accountable for. Cairns hire cars are a high turnover business, with so many tourists coming to the city.
Before you drive away in the rental car, suggest you do a vehicle walk around, don't take their word for it that they already have. You can also book hire cars at the airport or Uber and Taxi is easily available in Cairns.