Anne12's VirtualTourist Home Page

After visiting Cairns over the last 20 odd years I have decided it's timefor the big move. This is now my new address.

I know I will miss family and friends, but I can't hold back, I must live my dream.

I do not think Cairns is the greatest city in Australia, but I do think all areas around this city are amazing. I am slowly finding some lovely places just on the outskirts of this city, one being the Botanical Gardens, I must get some photos of this area to show you some amazing plants etc.

I never get sick of the green mountain backdrop, green sugar cane fields and tropical rainforest, Northern Beaches, plus the Atherton Tableland area which holds so many wonderful things to do. Not forgetting my most favourite place, Port Douglas, which is only a hop, skip and jump from here.

Also another added attraction is the special man in my life, now he just happens to live in Cairns, added bonus I would say:)

When I was living in Cairns last year I decided that on my return I wanted to live in a unit, with a pool for the first 6 months, then see what happens.

I am now settled in my unit/apartment and am enjoying the life in the Far North Queensland.
I was so happy to have my personal things around me, those special photos, bits and pieces that are precious to me.

I have found work at the Domestic area of the Cairns airport, back into hospitality. I enjoy the people that I work with, also all the customers are a happy lot as they are going on holidays.

This is my Princess, I do miss her very much, I am looking forward to seeing her and my son in July. They will be here for 2 weeks, I will be one excited Nana.

There is something that I adore about the lovely green tree frogs that are found in this area. I have put pot plants on my patio and it seems they have attracted these little fellows. To my delight I now have a couple living with me.

The Cassowary is something that isn't as easy to find. These birds are becoming very rare up this way, we are building on their land, they don't have any land rights so the poor buggers are being killed by dogs etc.
Also cars are one of the birds greatest enemy.

To my delight I finally saw a *real* Cassowary at Cape Tribulation. I had taken VT member Travelslut and her partner Charles for a drive to Trib and low and behold we had the experience of seeing one of these birds at close range.
I will load a photo when Ann sends me one, she was the camera gal that day!

I have been trying to get a shot of a Croc, there was one that was hanging around the Centeneral Lake area here in Cairns, I was told where it liked to play, but alas , I didn't have any luck of finding this man eating beast! I shall keep an eye open and at some stage I am sure I will get a pick. Even if I have to go to the Croc farm, wouldn't be the same, would it??

I do have other photos that I shall find and attach, it has only taken me 5 months to start/finish this page!

Something that I love to do is go for a weekend away from Cairns.

Here is the gateway to many beautiful areas. Atherton Tablelands, Northern Coastal areas and down south through Innisfal to Mission Beach.

Up Atherton way there are some great Tree Houses to stay in.
These are among the rainforest and bush.
Fur and Feathers being our favourite here, coming close second is Rose Gums Tree Houses.

These are both self contained houses, they are single standing and there is quite a distance between each house.
They can sleep up to 6. All facilities, plus both places have spa in bathrooms, with floor length windows.
You take along your food and grog:)
There was wonderful wild life at Fur and Feathers. Tree Kangaroos, Bush Hens, variety of bird life, turtles in the river. They supply food for the birds and turtles.

Port Douglas north of Cairns is one of my old favourites, never get sick of this little town.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!!

Over the years I have seen Cairns grow, cane fields disappear, being replaced by housing estates. I have watched as the hills have been dug into and instead of seeing lush bush land it's house tops.
It's those bloody Southerners that are doing it!!! Heading here for a more relaxed,warm lifestyle.
The city of Cairns itself isn't anything that exciting, it has it's industries, trades, shopping centres and all that is needed for the tourist, charters for fishing,diving,reef tours,rainforest tours,duty free shops,restaurants, car hire, camper hire, white water rafting,tourist flights by plane or helicopter,clubs, casino and accommodation.
There are businesses that cater for the couples that want to get married here, there are businesses for the Asian students that come here to learn English, this is HUGE.There is the University, tafe etc.
Also there is the backpacker industries, I know of at least 10 backpacker hostels, these young folk generate a huge amount of income to the city of Cairns and surrounding areas.

Cairns does not have a beach close to the city, the council has put a lot of energy and money into making the *mudflats*/foreshore/Marina area more pleasing on the eye and a lot more friendly for the local and visitor alike.
The Esplanade area is now a lovely place to have BBQ, walk along the boardwalk,play area for the kids and grass areas where you can sit or lie while enjoying the Tropical Sunshine ( or rain if you are here in the wet season)
The ulitmate added attraction to this Esplande area is the Huge swimming pool, with it's fish sculptures. This is a great attraction for the visitor, as now they have a great area to swim in all year round and t's right in the city area. This pool is very popular and has lifeguards to boot!

One of my favourite places/areas of Cairns suburbs is the Tanks area/Botanical Gardens and Centenary Park.
Collins Street is my favourite street, this is where the Gardens can be accessed from. At the moment this street is closed as they are making the parking area and predestrian area upgrade.
The Tanks area is where huge tanks have been converted into an Art Gallery and area for entertainment.There are also markets held here on Sunday mornings.

Another fun place to go is Rustys markets, here you can enjoy the smell of fresh produce, fruit, vegies and other delights, plus you will see an array of not so mainstream vqarities of fruits.These markets are on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.

If you are after a retail fix, the
best place to head is Cairns Central shopping area. It's the same as most, food hall, movie complex and all the brand named stores.
The one street that is becoming the *Brunswick Street* of Cairns is
This street is where Gilligans Backpackers is, plus there are a couple of great clothes shops, jewellery, books,cafe's and homewares shops.

Northern Beaches, Cairns has what they call the Northern Beaches, these are from 10 minutes out of town to around 30 minutes. All can be accessed by local bus. The main ones are Palm Cove and Trinity.Palm Cove has a loely outlook along the main street and beach, this would be my pick of number one to visit.

Speaking of beaches, YES there are the stingers that arrive in the wet season. These little buggers are the bane of the tourists visiting us.
Each beach has stinger nets, but alas, these little buggers can get in when the sea is rough, so at times the beaches are closed. These little creatures head into the sea around end of October (sometimes later) and then scare the tourist for the next few months, until about the beginning of June, all depends on how long the wet season lasts.
DO NOT PANIC!!!!! The accommodation places have this covered, all have swimming pools, and as I usually tell the visitor, you are going to be too busy seeing and doing other things, these little fellows really don't spoil your holiday in Paradise!

The WET season...just a quick mention about the wet season here. The wet season usually begins around October, this doesn't mean that it rains all day every day from this month onwards to May. It means that the build up to the wet season starts, this is when you start feeling the humidity building, then as it gets closer to December the humidity is worse,the rains might not come until after Christmas, then again they can come early, then from December to the end of May (approx)it's wet, it doesn't rain everyday, it can goes days without rain, i all depends on the Rain Gods!! From April the humidity starts to go down and from now (May) onwards it's cooler and beautiful, this is when Paradise is at it's bes...BUT it does rain in the winter up here, but not a lot.The good thing is, when it rains during the year, it's wet but still bloody hot!