Cairns, Australia - Tourist Capital of North Queensland

Cairns is on the northeast coast of Australia, and it is a great base for those who want to visit the Great Barrier Reef or see Australian rainforests, waterfalls, and tropical flora and fauna. Cairns is also a popular port for cruise ships sailing between Australia and Asia. I visited Cairns for a day while on a cruise from Sydney to Shanghai on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager cruise ship.

If you have a day in Cairns, you can go to the Great Barrier Reef, browse the shops at Kuranda; ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway, an Army Duck, or the skyrail; hold a koala or see a giant crocodile at the Rainforestation; or just stroll the sidewalks and walking trails of downtown Cairns.

We explored Cairns and did some souvenir shopping in the morning, and took a half-day shore excursion to the Rainforestation and the Kuranda Scenic Railway in the afternoon. As we sailed away, the Seven Seas Voyager greeted the Oceania Nautica, which was also in port at Cairns. It was a fun day, and a great port.