A Good Starting Point - Explore the Coral Reef
Cairns is a middle-sized city with around 140,000 inhabitants and is located in the north-east of Australia. Cairns has a tropical climate and is warm all year round. The main attraction that lies on the coast is the Great Barrier Reef- the largest coral reef in the world and can be reached easily in your car hire from here. Therefore, Cairns is an ideal starting point for many visitors wanting to go on a trip to the world famous coral reef that can be found located directly in front of the city. The water is crystal clear and you can see in parts up to 60m deep. The variety of species in this protected region is completely unique. The colours of the coral reef and the many different types of marine life are indescribable. It’s no wonder that the reef is an attraction for divers and snorkellers from throughout the whole world.
Altogether the Great Barrier Reef stretches out for more than 2,000km (1243 miles) and runs largely along the East coast of Australia. The total area of the Great Barrier Reef amounts to around 350.000 square kilometres. (135.000 square miles)
Enjoy and Relax in the Lagoon
Cairns also has many other attractions such as the Esplanade- a former bathing and relaxation resort near to the water. The Esplanade is the central meeting place for the residents of Cairns. Most of the social activity takes place here.
The beautifully arranged resort is surrounded by many exquisite restaurants, bars and hotels in every price range. The main attraction of the Esplanade is the lagoon- a public bathing place that consists of a 1.5m deep pool pumped with fresh, filtered sea water. Within 4,800 square kilometres (1853 square miles) everyone can relax and enjoy themselves under the watchful eye of the lifeguards. Next to the elevated beaches there are wooden terraces where you can sit in peace and quiet on a deck-chair and gaze into the glorious blue skies. The whole area is shaded by trees that protect you form the tropical sun. The muddy area in front of the city is not ideal for bathing which explains the popularity of the Lagoon. In spite of this there are many beautiful beaches in the surrounding area. You will find them further to the north and the south of the city. They are easily reached in your car hire- a prefect day out!
The Birds Fly to This Country for a Reason
What is also very relaxing is a walk on the Boardwalk that runs along the riverside of the city. The promenade is completely made of wood and is very beautiful- great for an evening walk by the water. Many of the people walking along the promenade use it as an opportunity to have a closer look at the variety of bird species that can be found here. Some of the birds have flown a long way- some even come from Russia in order to spend the winter in warmer climes. The pelican that stay near to the promenade are a popular attraction. Along this path there are often public barbeques that are often used.The Green Island and Fitzroy Island are also famous. On both of these offshore islands you can perfectly combine a beach holiday with snorkelling. The rain forest on the islands are also worth seeing and can be reached in your rental car. Ambitious divers can go on further trips from here as this is the beginning of the Great Barrier Reef.
