Cairns - Australia, Queensland

Cairns - Australia, Queensland overview

Cairns population 68,975 (2004)

Cairns, a small port and tropical resort located in Queensland off the northeast coast of Australia on Trinity Bay, and some 220 miles north of Townsville, is situated near the noted Great Barrier Reef. The port faces the Coral Sea which separates Australia from Papua New Guinea.

Cairns City Council is responsible for administering a long, narrow coastal strip edged between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range and extending from Ellis Beach (north) to the Johnstone Shire boundary (south).

There are more than 80,000 vehicles registered in the Cairns area and more than 1048 km of sealed roads, including suburban, district, state main roads, and national highways.

The Cairns Campus of James Cook University is located north of Cairns at Smithfield, and its annual enrollment is heading towards the 4000 student mark. For generations prior to European settlement, the Tropical North was home to numerous indigenous tribes who inhabited the coastal plains and the hinterland.

It is a principal sugar port of Australia; lumber and other agricultural products are also exported. Cairns proximity to the Great Barrier Reef has made it a tourist center. In 1994 the state decided to amalgamate the city with Mulgrave Shire and the tip of Douglas Shire to create one of three new "super cities."

Cairns - Australia, Queensland main attractions

Set on the dazzling blue waters of the Coral Sea, Cairns has been called the "Hawaii of Australia" for its delightful climate and magnificent string of golden beaches. Wander along the Esplanade, with its remarkable views over Trinity Bay, or explore the Heritage Walk with its fascinating insights into the Cairns history.