| Cairns can be considered the 'capital' of Far North | | | | Other towns in the tablelands include Atherton and |
| Queensland (FNQ). Sitting on the coast, this small city | | | | Mareeba. |
| of about 150, 000 people is the ideal hub to explore | | | | Directly to Cairns north, about half an hours drive |
| FNQ. There is no doubting Cairns is a tourist town, | | | | away, is Port Douglas. A more 'sophisticated' town it |
| with at any one night between 10 and 20 thousand | | | | is the playground for Australia's rich and famous, |
| backpackers/tourists will be in Cairns. | | | | boasting a huge white sand beach, many golf |
| The Great Barrier Reef is probably the focal point of | | | | courses, and of course many luxurious holiday homes |
| Cairns and its industry. Numerous day trips out to the | | | | and resorts. |
| reef run, along with scuba diving, trips to various | | | | Cairns itself has plenty to offer, with amazing |
| islands and general beach culture. The warm water | | | | nightlife, a casino, a water ski park, plenty of sporting |
| temperature and amazing reefs make it the perfect | | | | facilities and a man-made 'lagoon' for swimming or |
| place for divers, both beginner and experienced. | | | | general lazing about. Cairns has a tropical climate and |
| To Cairns west, sits the Atherton tableland. An area | | | | thus only has two season, wet and dry. The wet |
| of stunning rainforest and the perfect quiet tropical | | | | season lasts for about 3 months from approx Dec - |
| hideaway. Catch the sky-rail up to Kuranda, traveling | | | | March and the rest of the time the temperature is |
| over world heritage listed rainforest. Kuranda itself is | | | | warm and humid. Cairns provides the perfect tropical |
| an old hippy commune, which now caters for tourists, | | | | getaway, where the reef meets the rainforest. |
| selling all sorts of weird and wonderful souvenirs. | | | | |