The city of Cairns offers some free and paid parking on their streets. Signs are posted at the beginning and end of the available parking areas, signs will let you know if the parking is free or you need to pay.

Paid parking will be indicated by the letter `T` and will provide pay and display machines where you buy your parking tickets. Paid parking hours are between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm during the week and from 8:30 am – 11:30 am on Saturdays and cost approximately AUD$1.20 per hour. Outside of these times parking is free.

Taxis are plentiful in the city and can be hailed from the street or found at taxi stands, bus stations, the train station and outside many tourist attractions. You can also have your hotel call a local taxi company and order one for you.

The city center is small and definitely walkable with over 280 miles of shared paths provided which are perfect for walking or cycling. Cairns city center is flat and laid out in a grid pattern with places located in the vicinity of the central business district (CBD) that are close together.

The Esplanade is one of the busiest areas for people featuring different restaurants, shops, hotels, markets and The Lagoon. If you start out walking on the Esplanade, outside of the Pacific International Hotel you can walk to the end of the Esplanade in about 10 minutes, then another 10 minutes on to the Cairns Central Shopping Center where the bus and train station are located.

Cairns is the perfect destination to take a bike ride, the city center is flat with some great cycling paths and circuits that criss-cross and take you all around the city. The Esplanade, The Botanic Gardens, and Centenary Lakes are some great areas for a bike ride. Bikes can be hired around the city from tour desks, hotels, and hostels.

Australia is one of the safest places to visit in the world, just like visiting any other city in the world be sure to keep your street smarts and keep your personal items safe when you are out and about, use caution when walking in remote areas at night.

Cairns is well known for its night markets that operate every evening of the week from 4 pm – 11 pm, some of these markets can be found at 71 – 75 The Esplanade with all kinds of stalls selling souvenirs, handmade gifts and street food. Rusty`s Market can be found on 57 – 89 Grafton Street with storefronts selling fresh fruits and vegetables that are picked locally.

Cairns Central Shopping Center is the main shopping mall in town located next to the train station filled with over 180 retail stores, two supermarkets, restaurants and movie theaters. Open Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 5:30 pm, late night shopping until 9 pm on Thursdays and 10:30 am – 4 pm on Sundays.

The DFO factory outlets are a popular shopping center located on Mulgrave Road just outside the city center they are open 7 days a week from 9 am – 5 pm. The outlets feature over 100 Australian and International name brand stores selling everything at discounted prices.

Smithfield Shopping Center is a shopping center with two supermarkets, clothing stores, book shops and take out restaurants, located on Captain Cook Highway.

The Pier Cairns Shopping Center is located between the Esplanade Lagoon and the International Reef Fleet Terminal overlooking Trinity Bay and the Marlin Marina. The area features award-winning waterfront restaurants, specialty stores, cafes, bars and an art gallery all situated along the waterfront with a great atmosphere, offering a unique way to shop.

The DFS Galleria is the ultimate high-end luxury shopping destination in Cairns, located in the CBD consisting of two levels filled with boutiques, duty-free shops and luxury retailers such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Cartier. Open daily from 12 noon – 8 pm.

The Australian dollar (AUD$) is the official currency of Australia. The airport and local banks are the best places to exchange cash or traveler’s checks and is also available at bank and hotels. ATMs are widespread in the city but may be limited in more remote towns and the Outback.

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Cairns is filled with plenty of options for food, from fine dining along the waterfront to cafes dotted along the streets, there are so many restaurants, cafes and bars you won`t know where to begin! You can find food from all around the world including locally caught seafood along with fresh produce picked daily, sushi bars, Thai and Chinese cuisine, fast food, bar food, steakhouses, cafes and family style restaurants. Some of the popular areas for dining are The Esplanade where you can find a number of bar and grill establishments and high-end restaurants. The Café scene is becoming more and more popular in the area with lots of trendy cafes on Grafton and Spence streets. And of course, dine alfresco in the city by the sea with beautiful weather year round.

Cairns is known as the party capital, where it`s always happy hour somewhere! There is an abundance of pubs, bars, and nightclubs to choose from which are open 7 days a week. The most popular area is in the city center around Spence, Grafton and Spence Street where many places stay open until 5 am! However, there is a curfew so you need to be inside a pub or club by 3 am or you will not be allowed in after that time.

Due to the fabulous tropical climate year round in Cairns outdoor activities and water sports operate 365 days of the year, no matter what time of year it is this is a great city to visit. Due to its close proximity to the equator, there is a rainy season during November – March with daily showers, the average temperature rarely dips below 68F.

Winter time in Cairns is also whale watching season where visitors can experience the spectacular sights of Humpback and Dwarf Minke whales that migrate to the area, this is one of the biggest sightseeing attractions in Australia.

June through November is the most favorable time of year to visit the Great Barrier Reef with good clear visibility in the water with mild weather.

Australia Day is held in January, Chinese New Year in February, Great Barrier Reef Masters Games held in May, Cairns annual festival held the end of August through the beginning of September and New Year`s Eve on the Cairns Esplanade are a few things to check out.

In the event of an emergency call 000 for police, fire, ambulance or 112 from a mobile phone.

Cairns offer two hospitals, one public and one private with 24-hour clinics available, the closest clinic on the corner of Grafton and Florence Street in the city as well as a 24-hour pharmacy.

Cairns Base Hospital and Emergency Room tel. +61 7 4226 0000

Cairns Private Hospital tel. +61 7 4052 5200