Cairns: The Mighty Gateway to the Great Barrier, and endless fun
- Danielle Willis
- Aug 20, 2016
- 3 min read
Cairns, oh where do I begin? So much to see, do and explore, you really can’t get bored here. This was by far my favourite city of the parts of Australia I visited and I’ll be back before long. I have to be. Do what makes you happy right?
I stayed in Hides Hotel, which offered affordable accommodation in the heart of the city. It was central to restaurants, bars, shops and was just a short walk to the night market, the reef fleet terminal and the esplanade, so was ideal for what we wanted to do. Everything!
My room itself was surprisingly pleasant, with large beds, a generous bathroom and powerful air conditioning. We even had complimentary breakfast, consisting of hot drinks, scrambled eggs, toast and cereal, which wasn’t at all bad considering it was free. I have to say I was quite impressed, and would most certainly recommend it.
When the sun descends beyond the horizon, Cairns night market comes alive, with a wide variety of stalls and countless food options, it’s the ideal place to both grab dinner and hunt for a bargain. I began browsing and was left amazed by the endless souvenir options, and wondered how on earth I would ever fit them all in my rucksack. I ended up flying with extra hand luggage, with a whole bag just for souvenirs. So take note. Pack light.
Though if you prefer to spend the night partying as opposed to shopping, you’ll be pleased to hear that Cairns isn’t short of bars and clubs either, Gilligan’s and The Wool Shed being our favorites. Offering a range of entertainment and games such as Gilligan’s Got Talent (which I have to say, was hilarious), Beer Pong, Jelly wrestling and much more, Gilligan’s is the place to be for meeting other like-minded travelers and having a laugh. They also have regular guest DJ’s and live acts, so you can be sure that if you drop in for a drink or two, it’ll be a night well spent.
Known once again for its backpacker scene, The Woolshed is just a short walk from Gilligan’s, along Shields Street and boasts great pub grub and freedom to dance on the tables. What more could you possibly want? Free drinks perhaps? Well if you’re fortunate enough to be a woman and it just so happens to be a Thursday night, then you’re in for a treat as its ladies night at the bar so we all get free cocktails! So if you want a good night out, with parties seven nights a week they’ve most certainly got you covered.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a little more than the standard shop n’party scene which pretty much all cities have to offer, Cairns can cater, being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and adjacent to stunning national parks, it has a wide range of opportunities for those fused by wanderlust. This includes skydiving, Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest tours, hot air balloon rides, Kuranda Sky rail; I could go on for days. Though I have to say I particularly enjoyed cuddling the koala and hand feeding the kangaroos at the Daintree Rainforest.
The only thing I could have possibly wished for in Cairns was more time, I was only there for three days or so, and really I could have done with a month to see it all. Or two. Let’s just say I’d move there tomorrow if only I had the funds.
