Key Features

• Cairns CBD Map

• Cairns Region

• Edmonton

• Gordonvale

• Northern Beaches

 

Cairns is one of Queensland's largest cities and an important tourist destination's second only to Sydney among visitors from overseas.

The Great Barrier Reef is the major attraction and a veritable armada of craft of all shapes and sizes offers a wide range of options. Other excursions from Cairns focus on the river and rainforest environments it's less than an hour by either car or boat to several regional highlights including Kuranda, Port Douglas and the Bellenden Ker Range. The Flecker Botanic Gardens at the northern end of town is a fascinating repository of wet tropics flora. Not far from here, along the road to the airport, the Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalks provide an insight into the world of a mangrove forest.

One of the most popular day trips from Cairns involves an excursion to Green Island: a picture-postcard coral cay covered in vine forest. The underwater observatory is a major attraction, and diving, snorkelling and glass-bottom boat tours are available.

Another popular offshore destination is Fitzroy Island with its famous Nudey Beach. All waterbased pursuits are on offer, as well as rewarding walks with stunning views.

Back on the mainland, Kuranda the delightful Village in the Rainforest? on top of the Kuranda Range ? is awash with little shops, many in the two markets that feature plenty of touristy mementos.

The journey upon the Kuranda Scenic Railway, from Freshwater Train Station in Cairns, takes less than two hours and is an unforgettable experience. Along the way, the train stops briefly to allow travellers to view Barron Falls. Local attractions include the Butterfly House, the Bat Rescue Centre and a 45-minute cruise on the river. A free courtesy bus runs to attractions slightly further afield, such as Rainforestation, and you'll find easy walks through rainforest and along the Barron River. When it's time to head back to Cairns, take to the skies with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. It's definitely worth the stop to see Barron Falls from this closer vantage point, and the Red Peak Station provides an opportunity to take a guided tour along the boardwalk through the rainforest.

North of Cairns the Captain Cook Highway continues northwards along what many consider to be North Queensland's most magnificent coastline.

Key Specifications

Edition: 14th

Publication Date: 01/01/15

Scale: 1:22,500

Folded size (WxHxD): 123mm X 250mm x 3mm

Flat size (WxH): 730mm X 700mm

Weight: 0.07kgs