Cairns has an enviable reputation as the tropical capital of North Queensland. With streets and gardens lined with tropical flowers like bougainvillea and orchids not to mention the spectacular flowering ginger plants, Cairns is also a natural stepping off point for visits to the Great Barrier Reef. Accommodation options are bound and many Cairns hotels offer assistance in planning an itinerary for their guests.

Cairns is a focal point for subtropical, tropical and mountain regions at the southern end of northern Australia and provides so many options for tourists that the list is nearly endless. But to get you started, there are five things you should put on your list when planning your visit to Cairns.

The Great Barrier Reef. This suggestion is really a no-brainer as the Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world and a must see for any visitor to Cairns. You can catch a charter boat which will take you to the spectacular coral displays just one hour offshore, or you can visit Green Island which is an especially developed tourist destination giving you easy access to the reef. Take a glass bottomed boat and you’ll be able to see the glory of the reef up close. For the more adventurous a diving tour can also be arranged so you can get up close and personal.

The Atherton Tablelands. Visiting Cairns in summer can be a trying experience because of the oppressive humidity and heat. It is no wonder that many locals travel into the mountains of the Atherton tablelands for quick relief. Temperatures can be up to 10° cooler just a 40 minute drive up the mountain range. Stop off in Kuranda on the way through or catch a train for the complete tourist experience.

Port Douglas and Mossman. Located just a short drive north of Cairns the tropical delights of Port Douglas and Mossman will stay in your memories for ever. You can walk along miles of white sandy beaches that are fringed with palm trees, or you can swim in the Mossman Gorge creeks that surge through tropical rainforests like thick emerald ropes. The streams are cool even on the hottest of summer days and provide welcome relief.

Lake Barrine. Another attraction of the Atherton Tablelands are the twin lakes, Lake Barrine and Lake Eachem, extinct volcanic crater lakes which are filled with crystal clear water almost 70 m deep. Relax at the local teahouses and watch the tourists revel in the water sports.

Cruises. If you are really looking for a relaxing and unique way to enjoy the area, why not try a cruise for an hour or a week? You can visit the Great Barrier Reef or travel up to Cape York Coast where you will see pristine natural environments, the home to many unique animals and plants.

When you check into your Cairns hotel make sure you leave enough time to visit the tablelands and beach areas to the north and south. Your concierge will only be too happy to help you with typical northern hospitality.

Of course, you’ll need to organize somewhere to stay before you even leave your grey, ordinary day job, the daily grind of traffic and transport, and the bills that just keep arriving in the letterbox. Bloomfield Lodge is a great choice for those seeking something a little different. This boutique hotel in Cairns is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World Association, with decor in a stark, naturally clean and pristine taste, and friendly, courteous staff. The focus at this Cairns Australia hotel is on unobtrusive service – you won’t even realize until you get back home that drinks don’t just magically fill themselves, and that you actually have to wash your linen yourself!

Shangri-La Cairns is the city’s other option for those seeking the reassurance of a brand name hotel, as well as six-star luxury service, impeccably designed surroundings, gorgeous ocean views and a convenient location. Light, airy and spacious rooms are given the luxury treatment with Egyptian cotton sheets, a home theater system and Playstation for the kids, as well as cardio training and strength equipment (you’ll need to get ready for some of the beautiful and thrilling outdoor activities!), and kid-friendly facilities at this Cairns hotel
like a children’s pool and table tennis tables.

For the traveler looking for a holiday with a little more than relaxation, Cairns is the perfect place from which to explore some of the world’s most famous natural wonders. The Great Barrier Reef is known worldwide as a heritage listed site and the largest tropical reef of its kind. Snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, sea kayaking, parasailing and helifishing are some of the breathtaking outdoor adventures that await, just outside your Cairns hotel doorway.

The Daintree rainforest is another sight to tempt you away from your luxury hotel in Cairns – wildlife unseen elsewhere in the world, like cassowaries and the endangered green tree frogs can be seen in pristine, untouched tropical rainforest. This is currently the most diverse ecological system in the world, with thousands of species of wildlife and birds, as well as golden rainforest beaches with calm water.

There is also the Curtain Fig Tree, a Ficus strangler vine that grew over another of its kind, and grew cascading down 15 meters to the ground below. The Babinda Boulders is a beautiful swimming hole, filled with water that is quite cool, even in mid summer. Josephine Falls and Tindoo Dam are also popular, and worth venturing out from your luxury accommodation in Cairns for!

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