Cairns - your perfect winter destination

Our travel writer is in Cairns in far North Queensland this week. June is a great time to head north. Arriving to an expected maximum of 27 degrees, Cairns is one of those perfect destinations to visit when the winter chill is getting you down.

We chose Virgin Australia for our flight from Newcastle to Brisbane, then on to Cairns and our only disappointment was that our aircraft wasn’t equipped with WiFi. We like to stay connected in the air and as many airlines and aircraft are now offering WiFi connectivity, for a 2.5 hr flight, it might be better if Virgin schedule aircraft for longer routes like this one with WiFi equipped aircraft.

We chose the Novotel Cairns for our stay. We try to stay with Accor.com whenever we can and their hotels are quite plentiful in and around Cairns. With a huge resort pool and a very generous morning breakfast buffet, the Novotel offers fresh and appealing surrounds for your stay. The hotel’s proximity to the Cairns CBD is excellent and it’s just a 12-15 minute drive to the airport too.

The Novotel is literally next door to the Cairns Aquarium and the Pharaoh’s Exhibition, currently running within the Aquarium complex - some might say an interesting combination! Still, the Egyptians did have a somewhat enthusiastic maritime past.

Next door to the Acquarium is one of Cairns famous steak restaurants - well worth a stroll by and a menu cross-check!

Cairns harbour is around 15-20 minute walk away and the facilities around this area are tremendous . Whether you are looking to lounge in the large aquatic arena or stroll around to the cruise ship terminal, or stop off at a cafe or restaurant, the area caters for every budget and culinary and coffee preference.

Upmarket shopping is still available in downtown Cairns, so whatever your tastes, you’ll find lots of choices. There are two shopping districts in Cairns city, downtown and then a few streets back the Cairns Mall, where Coles and Myer support a range of specialty stores. There’s plenty of parking here if you’re mobile.

We like Cairns for the climate, but whatever you’re looking for - a trip up to the Atherton Tableland on the train perhaps, a reef visit, lunch at Palm Cove? All are very achievable during your stay. Talking about stays, Port Douglas is around 45 minutes north of Cairns. This really is a magical place and should not be discounted as an option if you’d like to kick back and enjoy a resort experience. Golf, strolls along the beach, the markets and some amazing restaurants all await you at Port Douglas. You can also take advantage of some great deals if you’re savy.

Plan your North Queensland trip. It’s relaxed, energising - and warm!