Cairns: where it's summer all year round!

Cairns is a tropical paradise where there's a lot to do and see 365 days a year

It’s winter time in Sydney and Melbourne! Run away and book a Backpackers in Cairns to escape to a tropical paradise! Cairns is situated in the tropical region so there are just two seasons: the rain season (from November to May) and the dry season. Rain or not, it is always the right time to visit Tropical North Queensland as there are so many things to see and do all year round!

Let's start with some history: Cairns was built in 1876 after the site had been discovered by Captain Cook back in 1770. Due to its strategic position Cairns soon became an important port in the gold trade to which the sugarcane trade was added later.

Nowadays Cairns is one of North Queensland’s most important towns and in the heart of this wild region of Australia. Malinowski, the famous polish anthropologist, was amazed at the beauty of Cairns’ bay at the sunrise. Visit it and feel the same amazement yourself!

Cairns is an ideal location if you like sports: due to its position Cairns is the natural gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the biggest coral reef in the world. You can experience it by joining a tour, of which there are thousands for all needs and budgets.

Sky-diving is also a MUST for the most reckless, as well as bungee-jumping.

There are many outdoor activities to do in Cairns but please remember you can’t swim in Cairns bay! It could be extremely dangerous owing to the deadly jellyfish and saltwater crocodiles. If the aim of your tour towards the wild north was exactly to enjoy its beaches and you are now shocked by a third-type encounters, do not despair: in Cairns Northern Beaches, for example in popular Trinity Beach and Palm Cove, you'll find a stinger net to protect swimmers during box jellyfish season (from November to May). And there are plenty of pools in Cairns, even a public one with salt water right on the waterfront called The Lagoon. It's huge, astonishing and it's for free!

After your sporty day, make sure you stay tuned with Cairns vibe: if you're staying at Gilligans Backpackers Hotel you'll be right in the middle of the action: parties by the pool as well as the most entertaining events in Cairns are held right there.

For a crazy night in Cairns you could start with a beer (or maybe two) at O'Brien Irish Pub, then have a cheap backpacker dinner at the world-famous Woolshed: their steak with chips is delicious and it's only $10! You don't have to go any further then, as around midnight Woolshed turns into a crazy party house, where backpackers from all over the world dance on the tables and join games such as the popular wet-T competition! But you can also walk to Cairns Courthouse Hotel, which may look a little stylish at first, but with its beer garden, open deck area, massive plasma screens and specials for happy hours, no doubt you'll have a blast.

Next day, if you still need to recover from your big night out and you lack of adrenaline, why don't you visit CoCa, the Center of Contemporary Arts? It displays local contemporary visual arts and its gift shop is also great. If you later feel like healing yourself with a shopping therapy, you can either head towards Cairns Railway Station or to Grafton Street. If you choose the first option Cairns Central Shopping Center will tempt you to buy anything, from bikinis to books and souvenirs, whereas the second option will lead you to Rusty's Market (opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday): with over 180 stalls you'll find tropical fruits, local vegetables, exotic flowers, local products and deli foods.

Before you leave Cairns don't forget the amazing tour over Australia's World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforests, which can be experienced on a skyrail. You can also opt for Kuranda Scenic Railway, which provides a historic, scenic journey between Kuranda 'The Village in the Rainforest' and Cairns, traversing the Barron Gorge National Park, through hand carved tunnels and rainforest waterfalls.

Enjoy your Cairns adventure!