Cairns Queensland

Well We have made it to Australian soil 4 months late but here and very fit.
Taxi to our hotel Pacific International for 8 days a well earned rest and comfort before we scrape the barrel with all the other backpackers, Hostels, B&Bs and the park bench as noticed on a couple of our evening walks, Backpackers asleep in the park area...........................................????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Hotel 8th floor

Very welcoming nice friendly Staff
Rooms very large 6ft bed good night sleep.
At $38  breakfast is expensive that's with $20 off.
Better quality breakfast for half the price in the centre, we like the coffee club for breakfast.
It pays to look around the choices are great.


First day senses being attacked all new, sounds, sights & smells, soooooo much to take in so we walked to take it in.
walk & explored Cairns it seem to go on for miles.
needed to go back to the hotel for a siesta. Shower then back out to explore bars, restaurants & evening sites, Of all the places to choose we opted for the food hall, Chinese med plates each choice of approx 20 dishes, you choose from different vendors, fish including shell fish, curry bar, roast food bar included fish & chips, within the area is a night market, within this area is whole row set aside for massaging whole body part body shoulders arms legs & feet.

Lumps of rock represent a herd going out to see

Cairns If you were here you'll notice the volume of cars on the road through the city is light, you can cross the roads in between the cars that are about 200m apart. 
People pass you and say Hi, & g' day. Shop keepers are smiling and will talk you, the Coffee club Manager always happy and welcoming, Vibe Bar owner greeted us and ask what have we been up to through the day.
Note the Vibe Bar had the best free"WiFi connection
and really good burgers Bogof .
Rattle & Hum Bar positively HUMS with ENERGY. with big T'v  screens showing Local & national sports, 
Good place for a pizza and a jug of beer, Pizza $18, Jug of Beer $13. On top of this you get bombarded every 5th shop front is selling tours......................................................................


What to do for free 

A walk along the promenade from out hotel were it starts to the end is 2.5k.
First thing you see is a large park that has a stage built on it.
 On Friday we watched a twice weekly Zumba session laid on for free, there was approx 200 of mostly woman taking part.
Other free activities laid on throughout the week include, Ti chi, keep fit boxing, volley ball and aquarobics in the lagoon.
The whole walk / jog / run is divided up into lots of areas for keep fit, exercise  stations with equipment, water stations to drink or refill your bottles.
Along from the lagoon you will find areas for children of all ages, park area and water play area all under cover and further long a dedicated area for the skateboarders, including a tree that we named the 'shoe' tree, that had shoes hanging                                                               

in it.
Throughout the length of the promenade you will come across dedicated DIY BBQ's where you can have your lunch or evening meal these are provided free of charge, all they ask is that you clean up after use. These are very popular areas with the everyone, you have to be quick to get one, as they seem to get busy really quickly.

The Botanical Gardens are about 3/4k walk from the end of the promenade, all sign posted and is well recommended as it has some lovely huge plants and flowers native to Australia. There is also a nature walk through mangrove areas and lakes, with some very huge specimen bamboo.

 On the whole Cairns is a very cool place to visit, we felt like 'kids' in a sweet shop, so much to see and do...But never sure what to do first, you most definitely will not get bored in this place, whether here to catch the sun, a cold beer, shop or just chill and take in the atmosphere. Cairns is where its at, the locals are friendly and you are made to feel very welcome.


Will be on our Winter sun list....


Next stop...Sleepy Port Douglas and Great Barrier Reef!!!!!!