Sunday, January 10, 2010

What Is There To See In Cairns?

By Jerry Duncan

Located on the far north coast of Far North Queensland, the city of Cairns is nestled between the ocean and the Great Dividing Range of Australia. Easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, the Atherton Tableland, the Daintree Rain forest, and other natural attractions make Cairns a popular tourist destination. Over one hundred hotels are available for tourists; Cairns hotels vary from one-room cottages to luxury suites.

Cairns was founded in 1876 in response to gold strikes inland. Trinity Inlet was an ideal port for exporting gold, and the settlement soon boasted a saw mill and an agricultural base, ensuring its existence after the gold deposits were exhausted. Rail lines were built, bringing immigrant workers into the area and creating an even larger agricultural base. Soon Cairns became a center of commerce for the area, outshining the nearby towns of Port Douglas and Smithfield. This new status necessitated improvements in transportation and public utilities, including natural gas and railroads. Due to its increased population, by 1903, Cairns had gained official recognition as a town.

Cairns has a long history of environmental awareness and protection. In 1900, the nearby Barron Falls area was designated as a national park, preserving it as an unspoiled wildlife refuge for future generations. Today, Cairns is surrounded by national parks and nature preserves, including Daintree National Park, Undara Volcanic National Park, and the Hann Tableland protected area. These exotic natural environments provide homes for native wildlife and plants and are popular destinations for ecotourists and researchers alike. Most travelers find it most convenient to stay at one of the various Cairns accommodations due to the variety of options available, but smaller hotels and camping grounds are available near these national parks as well.

Another major destination for tourists is the architectural marvel of Paronella Park. It's a concrete castle with Moorish influence in its architecture built in the 30's by Jos Paronella. It's a very unusual structure, captivating even with some damage through the years. Mr Paronella is the builder also of the first hydroelectric generator for Queensland and it's now being brought back to life. Paronella Park has nice surrounding grounds that are kept in their original status as much as possible. There's also a ballroom and a theater that can be seen in a tour.

As if all the previously mentioned areas are not enough draw for tourists, Cairns and the Port Douglas area also have beautiful beaches and a tropical climate. This attracts people from around the world and keeps Cairns economy healthy. There are a lot of luxury hotels on the beach for the folks who come there for that purpose. There are also extended stay locales and houses available for those who wish to stay for a while, or budget places for the more economy minded. In addition, visit the luxury retreats and resorts which provide every amenity someone could want. To take advantage of all of this you'll need to make reservations far in advance as it's a very popular place.

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