UNIQUE AND INTERESTING

CAIRNS

Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia. The city itself was named after William Wellington Cairns, former Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold, metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas.

Cairns was founded in 1876, hastened by the need to export gold discovered on the tablelands to the west of the inlet. The site was predominantly mangrove swamps and sand ridges. The swamps were gradually cleared by labourers, and the sand ridges were filled in with dried mud, sawdust from local sawmills, and ballast from a quarry at Edge Hill.



Cairns is located about 350Km from Townsville, on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula on a coastal strip between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range. It is a popular travel destination because of its tropical climate and proximity to many attractions. The northern part of the city is located on Trinity Bay and the city centre is located on Trinity Inlet. Some of the city's suburbs are located on flood plains. The Mulgrave River and Barron River flow within the city's boundary but not through the city itself. The city centre's foreshore is located on a mud flat.

The city is now rapidly expanding, with a population of 1,60,000. Tourism is the largest income producer for the region, followed closely by the sugar industry. Cairns region is the fourth-most popular destination for international tourists in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.





I went to Cairns during Christmas and the whole city was decorated beautifully with dazzling lights and the cake shops were crowded with hundreds of people. The city has used its natural surroundings to its advantage, with the construction of several small theme parks for tourists. With a diverse mix of vibrant shops, famous markets and local artists, approximately 90 stalls provide an original range of handmade local arts and crafts plus Australian opals, gemstones, crocodile and kangaroo leather goods.

Cairns is an ideal place for relaxing and to enjoy the tropical delights at one of the local restaurants and cafes. A notable feature of the Cairns esplanade is a swimming lagoon with adjoining barbecue areas. Several shopping centres of various sizes are located throughout Cairns. The largest of these are Cairns Central shopping centre, located in the central business district, and Stockland Cairns, located in the suburb of Earlville.
Cairns is a provincial city, with a linear urban layout that runs from the south, at Edmonton, to the north, at Ellis Beach. The city is approximately 52 km from north to south. The Northern Beaches consist of a number of beach communities extending north along the coast.

The city centre of Cairns is adjacent to the suburbs of Cairns North, and Parramatta Park, Bungalow, Portsmith, and in close proximity to Westcourt, Manunda, Manoora, Edge Hill, Whitfield, Kanimbla, Mooroobool, Earlville, Woree and Bayview Heights. The small suburb of Aeroglen is pressed between Mount Whitfield and the airport, on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns North and Stratford. The success of local agriculture helped Cairns to establish itself as a port, and the creation of a harbour board in 1906 helped to support its economic future.


During World War II, Cairns was used by the Allied Forces as a staging base for operations in the Pacific. After World War II, Cairns slowly reinvented itself as a centre for tourism.



The opening of the Cairns International Airport in 1984, and the building of the Cairns Convention Centre established the city's overseas reputation as a desirable destination for the tourism and business conference markets.
Cairns experience a warm tropical climate.A wet season with tropical monsoons runs from December to April, with a relatively dry season from May to November, though showers are frequent for most of this period.


Cairns is an important transport hub in the Far North Queensland region. Located at the base of Cape York Peninsula, it provides important transport links between the Peninsula and Gulf of Carpentaria regions, and the areas to the south of the state. Cairns International Airport is essential to the viability of the area's tourism industry.
Cairns trip was a marvellous and enjoyable trip which I will always remember.