Walking and Hiking in Cairns

Scuba diving is a highly popular sports activity in many parts of Australia, but it is more pronounced in Cairns and in Tropical North Queensland because of the presence of the Great Barrier Reef, where divers get to see a wide and attractive array of varied marine life. Cairns, however, has the added advantage of playing host to the Coral Sea, which is famous for its glistening waters and diverse corals. However, there is more to Cairns than just scuba diving. Many other exciting activities that are uniquely Cairns' can be enjoyed in the area. Whitewater rafting is one, and so is bungee jumping and both of these just happen to be equally popular.

Still, with the many wondrous places found in Cairns, there is bound to be other activities that are worth engaging in, and these can include simple walking or hiking. These nature-inclined activities afford visitors the opportunity to see the places in Cairns that may not be accessible by motor rides or otherwise more enjoyable when seen on foot.

Among Cairns' must-see places is Kuranda, an open area that boasts of a koala plaza, an aviary and a colorful butterfly sanctuary. Visiting this place is not only pleasurable, but satisfying as well, because apart from the animal shelters, Kuranda has a fast-growing market that features a wide array of restaurants, cafes, and local stores. Surrounding the entire area is a rainforest walking trail that affords hikers access to nearby Tablelands area. The Tablelands area, meanwhile, is a region in the western side of Cairns and is typically a mountainous territory characterized by pastoral plains and a tropical rainforest set about 700 meters above the sea. The area has numerous natural attractions that include waterfalls, refreshing swimming holes and several hiking tracks.

Apart from all of these, walking across Cairns can likewise lead hikers to various tropical beaches generously distributed along the northern coastline of the region. The beaches, many of which carry interesting names such as Yorkeys Knob, Clifton, Kewara and Trinity cover more than 26 kilometers of pure virgin waters that have remained largely unexplored. Nearby these beaches, another popular Cairns attraction that has relatively remained un-crowded is Port Douglas, rustic scenery that has been quite successful in retaining its natural beauty being a small fishing village in spite of the advances of modern life as seen nearby. This has provided the perfect image of an old-town surrounding set amidst a set of modern attractions that include two superb golf courses, as well as various shops, offering a wide variety of services and merchandise.

Other Cairns activities may prove to be extremely enjoyable, even exhilarating. For some, however, nothing can beat the pleasures that nature hiking presents, perfectly represented by the diverse natural attractions seen in Cairns.