More about Cairns
Why Cruise to Cairns?
The closest port to the Great Barrier Reef enables a half-day snorkeling or dive trip
Most visitors will not have time to spend a full day on the reef
Weather permitting, see the reef by catamaran, yacht, helicopter or seaplane
Cairns Cruise Port Facilities?
Services such as ATMs, coffee shops, Internet cafes, restaurants, a casino, shopping and representatives for land and water tours are readily available in the Cairns central business district (CBD).
Outside the main cruise terminal, to the right, is a map on a signpost, which shows two choices for walking, both of which meet after about 10 minutes. Either way, you can't go wrong. One choice is a paved path along the water toward restaurants in a building called The Pier, which overlooks a marina. The other choice is to cross Wharf Street and follow the footpaths toward the Esplanade. If you choose the Esplanade path, you'll soon pass an ATM, an Internet cafe, a casino and a travel agency with agents ready to book day tours.
Good to Know?
Crocodiles and jellyfish. A good rule of thumb in Australia is don't swim where there isn't anyone else in the water, or if you see a sign warning against swimming. The estuarine or saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocs on earth, and they hang around muddy areas such as the tidal coastline at Cairns. The waters of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef are also home to two of the most deadly jellyfish in the world - the box jellyfish, which inhabits coastal waters, and the Irukandji. The latter is mostly at sea, but northerly winds can sometimes bring them to the reef and to coastal beaches.
Getting Around?
On Foot: Most of Cairns' city tourist attractions are within a 20-minute walk from the CBD.
By Taxi: Metered are readily available in the CBD for activities such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which is a 20 minutes' drive from downtown Cairns. Even if you call for a taxi at Yorkeys Knob, they can be hard to come by.
By Rental Car (called "car hire" in Australia): Rentals are available. Remember to bring your driver's license from home. Driving is on the left side of the road.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
Australia has its own dollar; visit XE.com for current rates. ATMs are plentiful and are the cheapest way to acquire local currency. Credit cards generally are accepted in shops and restaurants, though not at outside markets. Expect a foreign currency transaction fee from a few cents to a few dollars for each ATM and credit card use.
Language?
An Australian brand of English, varying in accent by region, makes even pronouncing the name of this town a bit of a challenge. From locals you'll hear CANES, CANZ (though never CAHNS), and something that sounds like Cairns with the "r" mostly implied by retracting and lifting the back of your tongue near the roof of your mouth.
The rest of Aussie English is a problem only when the speaker is talking about something you might never have heard of, such as a dingo or a wallaby, or using slang like "arvo" (afternoon) or "esky" (insulated cooler).
Where You're Docked?
Cairns has a cruise terminal on Trinity Wharf, minutes from the heart of the compact city centre. The terminal has an information booth normally staffed when a cruise ship is in town. Tourism reps can offer directions and a local map.
Larger cruise ships that cannot anchor at the main cruise terminal use tenders to ferry passengers to and from Yorkeys Knob, a northern beaches suburb located a 15-minute drive from Cairns. Cruise ships provide a shuttle service into the centre of town, usually for a fee.
