12.01.10 - 19.01.10
When we arrive in Cairns one of the first things we experience is a heavy tropical rainstorm. The town has large open gutters along every roadside to cope with sudden increases in water level. The rain doesn't last for long and hasn't rained again since, although we are here in the region's wet season so it can't be ruled out to not happen again. This is in fact also the low season for tourist activity because of the high levels of humidity and the presence of deadly box jellyfish off the beaches making swimming or going anywhere near the edge of the water a big no no.
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There's also the threat of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles who like to build territories along the coast and in the muddy mangroves so that's another reason to steer clear of any water! Fortunately the city of Cairns town council has realised the public's love of swimming in hot weather and built a large saltwater lagoon just off the esplanade with views out to the ocean and round the bay. The town itself has a very tropical feel with an abundance of palm trees and exotic plants lining every street and garden.
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It sprawls out from the centre, where the Reef Fleet terminal dominates the front, in long boulevards, with tons of holiday apartments, car rental shops and restaurants on either side. It's unashamedly Queensland's most popular holiday town and some would admit it's become a bit over-commercialised. The main reason tourists flock to Cairns is it's location for touring the Great Barrier Reef and this is exactly why we're here too. We book ourselves on to a snorkelling cruise in a flash sailboat catamaran and look forward to getting underwater to see the exceptional coral and tropical fish.
