Cairns. Unique.

The closest city to two of the world’s greatest World Heritage listed natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest; Cairns is a unique location that offers visitors for cultural, business and sporting events a distinctly Australian experience.

Cairns is one of the Australia’s fastest growing cities with the current population of 130,000 projected to increase to 140,347 by 2006 and 155,872 by 2011. This growth is seeing expanding levels of investment in infrastructure to support a young, active population, a key asset to attracting events to the city. A warm climate, rainforest filtered clean water, almost no air pollution and Australia’s cleanest beaches make the city a magnet for new residents and visitors.

The city offers over 37,000 beds for visitors from backpacker accommodation to international five star plus hotels, providing an excellent infrastructure to host large events. Whether its 6000 delegate conferences to 20 athlete international sports tours, Cairns, with its well developed tourism industry, is experienced in delivering outstanding experiences to all stakeholders.

+ The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest

The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, provide Cairns with a picture postcard location. The reef, the world’s largest marine park, attracts tourists from around the world and delivers an experience unmatched anywhere. Diving, fishing, lazing on a coral cay, or exploring the reef by glass bottom boat, the world’s greatest underwater wonder can be explored and enjoyed by all.

Surrounded by one of the world’s most diverse tropical rainforests, Cairns is
the ideal location to view one of the world’s greatest natural treasures. Whether staying in the Daintree, four-wheel driving, or travelling through the treetops on the sky rail cable car, an unforgettable exploration of the unique environment of the region is a must.

Palm Cove, has been awarded the title of Australia’s cleanest, beach, and it is also the country’s most beautiful. Lined by palms, looking across the azure water of the Coral Sea to tropical islands that spring from the Great Barrier Reef Palm Cove is simply spectacular. Whether lazing on the beach or enjoying the après beach activities this is an experience to be savoured.

 
+ Getting There, Getting Around.

Cairns’ proximity to Asia, coupled with its unique tourism attractions, provides the city with a distinct point of difference over other destinations.

Cairns International Airport is the fifth busiest in Australia. Domestically it is serviced by Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Alliance with over 30,000 seats each week including direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Ayres Rock and the Gold Coast.

Internationally, Cairns is the home of Australian Airlines which flies direct to seven Asian cities as well as Sydney, Darwin and the Gold Coast.
International airlines servicing Cairns include:

• Qantas
• Continental
• Air New Zealand
• Air Niugini
• Cathay Pacific

These airlines connect Cairns directly with New Zealand, USA, China, Japan (four cities), Singapore, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. In total over 16,000 seats per week are available into Cairns.

Within Cairns, transport is quick, easy and cheap. The compact nature of the city makes it easy to traverse by bus, taxi or even on foot in the central activities district. Coaches and ferries service the tourist destinations of Palm Cove and Port Douglas, while trains from Brisbane arrive four times a week, including the world famous Tilt Train.