Cairns Hotels

As one of the most popular vacation spots in Australia, Cairns—located in Far North Queensland—has seen a dramatic rise in its popularity in recent decades, thanks in no small part to its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. Throw in its accessibility to Daintree National Park, one of the globe's most beautiful tropical rainforests, and a vacation in Cairns is not something you'll likely ever forget. Find a Cairns hotel near one of the city's famous beaches, such as Machans, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Park, Clifton, or Ellis. You can also grab a room near the foreshore, the city's waterfront area, which is ideally situated for shopping excursions and every range of dining imaginable.

Cheap hotels in Cairns can be found near Draper and McLeod streets and along the Esplanade. From there, you can explore not only the city but take advantage of golf, cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, and coach tours to Atherton Tableland and Paronella Park. The area is also a great jumping-off point for a visit to nearby crocodile farms and for food-and-wine tours, as well as to the myriad beaches and parks found throughout the neighborhood.

Seeing the Reef

By far, the biggest draw for tourists is the amazing Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest at 1,600 miles long. Encompassing some 900 islands, boats tours to this World Heritage Site can be easily arranged from your hotel in Cairns. This is scuba diving at its best; some of the world's most endangered species are found here, as are thousands of creatures found no where else on the planet. And with some 1,500 hundred species of fish, 215 species of birds, and 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, a visit to this natural wonder should be on everyone's must-do list.