Who can resist visiting tropical North Queensland, one of the world’s most remarkable locations? The Cairns region is located within the area covering the magnificent tropical rainforest of the Daintree National Park in the north to the quaint sugar village of Miriwinni in the south, with the Coral Sea coastline abutting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the east.
People from every corner of the globe visit Cairns to experience the diversity of its stunning attractions, its spectacular scenery, its warm balmy tropical weather and the vibrance of this modern, cosmopolitan city. Nowhere else in the world do you find two World Heritage sites located side by side: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The Cairns region is where the reef meets the rainforest.
This is your opportunity to explore these natural wonders of the world, to see the brilliantly coloured marine life, to spot a humpback whale gracefully sailing up from the Atlantic Ocean, to marvel at the endangered sea turtles, or just enjoy the sapphire blue waters and relaxing at an eatery along Cairn’s famous Esplanade.
This whole region is also a haven for scientists who are still unravelling the mystery of evolution, the secrets of which are locked in these world heritage-listed rainforests. It’s also home to the one of the oldest intact surviving Indigenous communities in the world: the Kuku Yalanji.
You don’t just visit the Cairns region, you experience it….. We look forward to welcoming you to the APIA Conference in 2009.
CLIMATE
Queensland experiences two main weather seasons, Winter, which is relatively warm with a low rainfall, and Summer, which filled with hot humid days with higher levels of rainfall. In the cooler months of June to October temperatures can range from an average overnight low of 17°C to a high of 29°C.
CULTURAL TOURIST SITES:
The Cairns Regional Gallery is a stylish heritage building situated in the heart of Cairns. The Gallery showcases exciting visual arts of North Queensland’s most prestigious local artists, as well as key Australian and international art collections. The Gallery covers artworks and collections of historical and contemporary contexts including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, providing visitors with a thoroughly enjoyable and educational experience.
The Tanks Arts Centre is situated in the Cairns Botanical Gardens district and is innovatively designed from three World War II naval oil storage tanks. The Centre is set against a flourishing backdrop of the rainforest, which provides visitors with the perfect setting to experience cultural events and activities for all ages.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Consider the Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world, situated along the coast of Queensland. Enjoy the only existing collective of organisms visible from the Earth’s orbit, declared a World Heritage site in 1981. Roughly 2,000 kilometers long, the Great Barrier Reef covers approximately 300,000 square kilometers and is one of the largest of any of the World Heritage areas. The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 2,800 reefs and more than 600 islands. Making up just under 1/5 of the world’s reef area, and being the most preserved, the Great Barrier Reef is a great place to explore many species of coral, fish and various marine habitants. The exuberant colours and the abundance of life will have visitors in awe and wonder of the reef’s biodiversity. Many tours are available including the QuickSilver Underwater Adventures program, and for those who don’t like to get wet, the Sea Walker tour at Green Island.
BEACHES
Queensland is home to some of Australia’s brightest and most popular beaches. Machans Beach is the closest beach to the city of Cairns, situated only 10 minutes drive from the CBD. Machans Beach is a relatively small beach, however it is perfect for peaceful walks in the evening, beach games and general relaxation with the tranquil sounds of the ocean in the background.
Holloway’s Beach is a just north of Machans Beach; it is a great beach for fishing and long walks on the sand, with a refreshing restaurant and cafe where you can grab a delicious bite to eat.
Yorkeys Knob is separated from Holloway’s Beach by a large sandbar but is still only 15 minutes drive from Cairns. A great beach for the courageous to walk hundreds of metres out to sea when the tide is low, and it is a significant water sports area, providing great conditions for jet skis, wind surfers and kite surfers.
KURANDA
Anyone who wishes to experience Queensland cannot skip this awe inspiring destination. Kuranda, settled by Europeans in 1885, is a small village in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest, calmly settled alongside the Barron River and the rushing Barron Falls. The Kuranda to Cairns rail line was built in 1891 and is still in use today as a major tourist attraction. Kuranda maintains a cooler climate than Cairns, with lower humidity levels than the tropical coast, making it a great place for visitors to escape the heat and see this spectacular village in the rainforest.
DAINTREE WILDERNESS
The Daintree Wilderness is the second largest World Heritage listed site in Queensland and is an exciting and vibrant destination where visitors can experience lush flora and fauna, spot a bright Kingfisher, walk amongst butterflies of every shade and colour and see the crystal blue streams leading to the ocean. The best way to experience the Daintree Rainforest is to take one of the many guided tours offered by specialist operators like SkyRail.
PORT DOUGLAS
Port Douglas is all about indulging the senses; the perfect place to escape the distractions of work, and only a one hour drive from Cairns. Port Douglas maintains a tropical climate all throughout the year with sun drenched beaches, crystal blue reefs, and sensual green rainforests. This small tropical getaway provides the perfect surroundings for all types of recreational and relaxing adventures, whether it is horse riding, rainforest walks, fishing, scuba diving, or visiting one of the many spas and massage therapists.