Accommodation in Cairns

Flights to the area: Jetstar Flights Yes, VirginBlue Flights No, Qantas Flights Yes

Cairns is a regional city,stretching from Miriwinni to Ellis Beach, in far north Queensland. The discovery of gold by the early explorers prompted European settlement around 1872 - though aboriginals had already lived in the area for hundreds of years. Cairns was initially a port town, set up to export the gold and later tin and copper. After the gold rush finished, many other crops were tried, with sugar being the most successful and it still is a major industry in the area. Currently, the city is expanding rapidly (current population 130,000) fuelled by te tourism boom of the mid 80s.

Cairns is close to two of the world's greatest natural treasures - the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests, both World Heritage listed. The Great Barrier Reef is only one and a half hours away by boat, while the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation are also close by. Cairns has also constructed several theme parks in the city - Skyrail, a Gondola ride that extends for 7.5km over the rainforest and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.