Overview

North Queensland is referring to the northern coastal region in the state of Queensland. The major regional centres in this area are Townsville, Cairns and Port Douglas which are located on the coast. Mountains, beaches, wetlands, freshwater lakes, mangrove swamps, bays, rivers, and rich coastal plains are the features of this tropical region

The Cairns Region is one of the fastest growing in Australia, with more than 3 per cent annual growth - well above both the State and national average.  Cairns is a beautiful city on the coast of Queensland surrounded by unique natural scenery. The city is experiencing constant growth. According to the latest census statistics the Cairns region has an estimated population of 152,000 people (August 2008) concentrated in the suburbs surrounding the city, along the Marlin coast and along the southern suburbs growth corridor. The population growth rate is 2.5% per annum, thus, by the year 2012 the region will have grown to 165,000 residents. Cairns is a massive tourist destination for Australians and international visitors due to its amazing scenery, wildlife and proximity to several world class tropical islands. Sugar cane farming is also an important economy in the area.

Townsville is the large regional centre of north Queensland with a population of around 145,000. The city is made up of predominantly low density housing from the beach to suburban properties. The main economy of the city and the rest of the region is tourism, minerals, beef and wool. Townsville continues to grow faster than many of its rival cities due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Mt Isa. The city is perfectly placed for the tourism and mining economies to flourish.

 

Getting around

North Queensland is easily accessible by a number of transport methods. There is a rail line which connects the majority of the Queensland coast from Brisbane through Townsville and onto Cairns. The Bruce Highway is the main road connecting the towns and regional centre’s whilst both Cairns and Townsville have International airports.

The Cairns bus service is provided by Sunbus and services the suburbs, beaches and city. Running daily, the timetables for each of the 8 runs can be found at hotels and bus stops, for more information, please visit www.sunbus.com.au.

Driving around Cairns is a great way to get a real feel for the City and the surrounding areas. North Queensland is an extremely attractive place with winding drives through dense rainforest and along coastal roads that have often been rated some of the best in the world. The drive from Cairns to Port Douglas is approximately 70 kilometres.

The local taxi company is called Black and White Taxis. They offer a good service, available 24 hours per day.

Cairns airport serves international, domestic and general aviation flights including a number of helicopter operators. Flights are operated to major Australian cities and tourist destinations, regional communities in Far North Queensland, and a number of international destinations in the Asia-Pacific region with connections to the rest of the world.

 

Climate

The Cairns Region has a tropical climate, with generally hot and humid summers and milder, drier winters. For most of the year the climate in Cairns is simply perfect: blue skies, warm weather and gentle breezes but there are only two seasons - the wet and the dry. The wet season lasts from November to May, with some months averaging over 400 mm of rainfall. The dry season runs from June to October is the best time to be there, with rainfall averaging approximately 35 mm. Typical daytime temperatures range from 14 to 26C (52 to 78F) in mid-Winter the dry season, and 24 to 33C (75 to 91F) in mid-Summer the wet season.

 

Health Services

Cairns Base Hospital is administered by the Queensland Government to provide public health care.  The Babinda Hospital and Mossman Hospital also provide hospital and health services. Cairns Private Hospital is the region's largest private health facility.

 

Attractions

The north Queensland region is one of the most popular places to visit in Australia and is internationally known for its scenery. Gateway to two of the world's greatest natural attractions and World Heritage listed treasures - the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests, there are also numerous activities to get involved in day and night throughout the year.

Tropical north Queensland is one of the premier places to live, visit and invest. With internationally recognized nature sites on its doorstep and tropical cosmopolitan cities and towns scattered throughout the region, this place is hard to beat. The communities in this region are known for their friendly, down to earth nature and the community spirit can really be felt on arrival. Whatever lifestyle you are after or holiday you have in mind there is definitely something for all ages and tastes in north Queensland.

For a list of things to do in Cairns, please visit Australia’s official tourism website:
www.australia.com/destinations/cities/cairns.aspx

Properties In This Region