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Cairns Attractions and Things to See

Cairns, is a regional city in the Far North Queensland province of Australia, created to serve the miners that were going to the Hodgkinson River goldfield, although it would shortly experience a decline in travelers and miners when an easier route would be created from Port Douglas. The city would eventually develop into a major port for exporting gold, metals, minerals, sugar cane and other agricultural products from the surrounding coastal region and Atherton Tableland; and railhead. It is the best jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland, and has become a favorite spot for tourists because of its tropical climate. It sits on the east coast of Cape York peninsula, on a coastal strip of land that lies between the Great Dividing Range and the Coral Sea, with the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers flowing through the greater Cairns area. The city has an interesting and exciting history, that includes the Walubarra Yidinji people that still have their indigenous property rights, and known in the local Yidiny language as Gimuy; and it would be James Cook that first mapped the city in 1770 and called it Trinity Bay.

Tourism has become an important commodity in the city and its economy, becoming the fourth most popular destination in the country for international tourists, although it isn't one of the country's top domestic location, since it is located far enough away from other major cities for the local populace. Being close to the Great Barrier Reef has helped it blossom, as divers and snorkelers come here to explore the exquisite and beautiful reefs, with all the colorful fish and coral, as well as the close proximity of the Atherton Tableland and the Wet Tropics of Queensland. Some of the most exciting and interesting adventures to try here include outstanding whitewater rafting, rainforest coach tours, cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and scenic flight around the region. There are numerous parks and attractions in the city, that has magnificent natural surroundings that include the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway that runs almost five miles over the World Heritage rainforest, the Rainforestation Nature Park and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. The Cairns esplanade has a spectacular swimming lagoon with barbecue pits located around the area, and in 2003, it would become a topless bathing suit sunbathing area that has attracted many people from around the world. A wonderful boardwalk offers cyclists and pedestrians the opportunity to wander along the foreshore from the lagoon and back, enjoying magnificent views.

There are numerous shopping centers of different sizes in the city, with the biggest of them being the Cairns Central that is found in the central business district and Stockland Cairns that is found in the suburb of Earlville; while Westcourt houses the city's oldest shopping centers that have already been renovated.
Cairns has excellent transportation facilities that include rental cars, motor coaches, a public transport network, one taxi service and the railroads. These are great for exploring the various parks in the region, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway that operates out of the city and visits the Macalister Range and other exciting sights along its path of travel. The Cairns International Airport is where most foreign visitors arrive; having welcomed almost 4 million international and domestic travelers in the 2005/2006 period. Their seaport has grown to handle the increase of tourists that wish to visit the reefs, and it is now a port of call for cruise ships, and the Royal Australian Navy. The city has some of the finest restaurants in the country, with an excellent and varied quality of cuisine that is brought in daily from the great surrounding farms and the closeness of the ocean, with its fresh daily seafood and world renown chefs. Probably the most difficult part of their outstanding cuisine scene is the plethora of great restaurants that offer a large variety of foods and dining environments.