Cairns,Australia Cairns is located in the NE of Australia, about two-thirds of the way up the Queensland coast (1,100 mls NW of Brisbane; 460 mls NW of Mackay; 670 mls NW of Rockhampton; 750 mls NW of Gladstone).  Central Cairns is just 3 mls S of its own international airport. Tropical North Queensland in Australia is a holiday maker's paradise, bursting at the seams as an atractive 'hub' destination for nearby attractions and tours that showcase this remarkable part of the world.  Cairns Esplanade, once a huge grassy park, now features a world-class facility incorporating an outdoor amphitheatre, a large sandy swimming lagoon, grassy picnic areas, walking tracks, free public barbeques, children's playground, shops and restaurants, an environmental interpretation centre and a Great Barrier Reef Cruise departure terminal.  Built in the 1870s as a port serving the goldfields far inland, central Cairns has a small-town feel to it (population only 100,000) and is now almost entirely dedicated to tourism. The terrain is flat, with the streets following the common Australian grid pattern, and the town centre is little more than ½ ml wide by ¾ ml long. Only a few buildings such as the attractive old wooden houses built on stilts and the former customs house serve as reminders of pre-tourism Cairns, but there is little high-rise development apart from the odd tower block, built in 60s or 70s style (or lack of it).

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