Cairns Queensland

The Cruise ship overnighted at Cairns where I met with Ralph and spent the first day exploring beautiful Cairns.

Cairns  is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the east coast of Far North Queensland. The city is the 5th-most-populous in Queensland and ranks 14th overall in Australia.

Cairns was founded in 1876 and named after William Wellington Cairns, Governor of Queensland from 1875 to 1877. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but declined when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a rail head and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region.

There are many restaurants and shopping areas here as now there is a Cairns Cruise Ship Port where the cruise ships come to and tourists are able to also tour the hinterland.

The Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal is Cairns’ newest and most impressive function, event and exhibition space. Located on the Cairns Waterfront and beautifully restored, this heritage listed wharf shed, has been transformed into a modern facility offering practicality and style for your event, exhibition or function, while retaining the class and appeal of its rich history.

What used to be mudflats at Cairns, is now a beautifully designed Sandy Beach complete with showers, water features and relaxing areas attractive to tourists and travelers. The mud is still there, and a haven for the many seabirds that live along the coast.

Bats have made their home in the fig trees adjacent to the Library, and at dusk and dawn is a noisy chorus of bat song as they prepare to fly off in the evening, or return at dawn.