Cairns Travel Tips

Banks: 09:30 to 16:00, Monday to Thursday; 09:30 to 17:00 Fridays
Post Offices: 08:15 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09:00 to 17:00 and 13:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday; some open on Sundays

Cairns is home to a few hazardous species of wildlife. While most of these can be easily averted, it still pays to know what to avoid. Box jellyfish are one of Cairns’ least expected dangers. These ‘stingers’, as they’re often called, infest coastal waters from November to April. Depending on the severity of the sting, potentially fatal reactions can occur. Tourists are advised not to enter the ocean during these months except in a few posted locations where the resorts have netted a jellyfish-free enclosure.

Saltwater crocodiles are ferocious predators, and despite their name they like fresh water as much as saltwater. While attacks on humans are extremely rare, they aren’t unheard of. To be safe, reserve swimming for the hotel pool and always heed posted warning signs. Further, be on your guard whenever walking in proximity of a watering hole and don’t linger on river banks.

Pickpockets are a nuisance in Cairns’ crowded tourist centres—especially after dark. Try not to carry more cash than necessary; otherwise, keep all valuables close to your person, either tucked into a money belt hidden under a layer of clothing or secured in a bag.

Cairns has a strong after-hours party scene, and tourists occasionally report horror stories involving spiked drinks followed by violent acts. To be safe, keep your drink in sight at all times; don’t accept food or drinks from strangers; and avoid straying from public areas after dark.

Finally, while your chances of falling victim to violent crime are very slim, there are several precautions that go a great distance toward ensuring your safety. Stay close to fellow travellers if you feel at risk and avoid travelling alone after dark. If someone you’ve just met offers you a free ride to your hotel, odds are they’re genuinely trying to help; all the same, a taxi is a much safer alternative.

Electricity: 240 volts, 50 hertz

Healthcare facilities in Cairns are world-class, and the 24-hour Cairns Medical Centre sits at the corner of Grafton and Florence streets. This particular facility is open to reciprocal national healthcare programmes. There are also two primary hospitals: one directly north of the Esplanade and the other (a private hospital) directly behind the Esplanade near the corner of Upward and Lake streets.

The private hospital is only a viable option for travellers with an insurance policy in effect. If you plan to rely on your home medical plan, make certain it covers illness and injury that occurs internationally before setting out. Australians and visitors who fall ill in Queensland’s remote interior enjoy protection from the Royal Flying Doctors service.

Cairns sanitation and hygiene standards are excellent. Tap water is safe to drink, and fresh produce poses no threat to visitors. Australian customs officers don’t require proof of immunisation, except when a tourist is arriving from a known yellow fever zone.

Most health issues arise at the beach. The Australian sun is intense, such that Australians have one of the world’s highest rates of skin cancer. Needless to say, sunscreen is an important part of any tourist’s repertoire. Jellyfish stings are also fairly common. In the event that you receive a sting, first carefully remove any remaining tentacles (not with your bare hands, of course), cleanse the wound with vinegar and seek immediate medical attention.

Australia's official language is English, and this language alone will carry visitors around the whole of the continent. However, there are a number of thriving ethnic pockets in larger metropolitan areas where English amounts to more of a second language. Heading toward the interior regions of Australia, the various Aboriginal groups speak their own distinct languages and dialects.

The Australian dollar (AU$) is the official currency of Australia. It is issued in durable plastic banknotes that come in a variety of bright colours. The dollar is issued in AU$100, 50, 20 and 5 increments, with coins covering the lesser values of AU$5, 2 and 1. From here, the dollar is divided into 100 cents, though these are quickly becoming obsolete. The smallest cent increment in circulation is the 5 cents. This means, at checkouts, all values are rounded to the nearest increment of 5 cents.

Banks are easy to find throughout Cairns city centre, and any bank can exchange foreign currency at a reasonable rate. There is also an American Express office in Orchid Plaza that specialises in currency exchange. Bureaux de change on the Esplanade are convenient, though their rates are the least favourable in town.

Traveller’s cheques are commonly accepted around the city, as tourists support the bulk of Cairns’ economy. Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard, in particular) are also widely accepted. ATMs are scattered across the Esplanade and anywhere else tourists tend to spend money. Visitors have to venture far from Cairns into more remote regions before cash becomes an essential commodity.

Customs officials at all of Australia's ports of entry enforce standard restrictions on the import of potentially dangerous goods. As a rule, all firearms, illegal drugs and steroids are strictly banned from import or export. A system of restrictions regarding natural artefacts (such as coral) and other animal products is also in place to protect Australia's unique (and often endangered) plant and animal life. Specific questions and concerns are best addressed to the nearest Australia embassy before setting out.

Tourists must fill out a customs declaration form before entering the country. Per person, duty free allowances are as follows: AU$900 (half that amount for those under 18 years); 250 grams of tobacco; and 1 litre of alcohol.

While it is true that Australia was founded as a penal colony, this movement ultimately represents a very slight percentage of the country’s modern heritage. Most settlers arrived from a variety of countries in a quest for new opportunity or (in the case of Cairns) as part of the gold rush. This being the case, locals don’t see the humour in jokes that frame them as the progeny of exiles or common criminals.

While travelling in Cairns, you’re likely to be greeted in the quintessential Australian fashion: ‘G’day mate.’ However, it is best to answer in your own fashion with a polite ‘hello.’ Locals grow weary of tourists trying to emulate the Australian accent, which usually comes across more as over exaggerated mockery. Handshakes are the customary rite of greeting.

Australia is a land of relaxed and easy-going people who have adamantly embraced egalitarianism. This tendency toward a level social playing field has led to the erosion of some formalities. Some tourists feel a bit jarred by the lack of formality, though this is really just an attempt to treat everyone as equals.

Along these lines, Australians prefer a more hands-on approach to commerce. In grocery stores and marketplaces, patrons should place cash directly in the hands of the cashier rather than setting it on the countertop. If a lone traveller hails a taxi, that person is usually expected to sit up front with the driver, although a group of passengers usually sit together in the back.

In the course of travelling in Cairns, you haven’t experienced true local dining until you take part in a barbeque. The ‘barbie’, as it is locally known, is a ubiquitous fixture found in virtually every public place. Friends often gather around the barbie for bring-your-own-meat get-togethers.

Dining in Cairns is continental style, and diners should place the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. A conscientious diner keeps elbows off of the table and is careful to keep hands in sight. In a formal dining atmosphere, you can indicate to the host or server that you have finished with your plate by setting the knife and fork parallel to each other with handles to the right.

When a group of friends or colleagues go to a restaurant together, the bill is generally split multiple ways. The egalitarian pull in society has generated an aversion to letting someone else pay for your dinner. At a bar, one friend may purchase a round of drinks for the whole group, though the others at the table are expected to return the favour before the night is over.

Tipping is not customary in Australia, although restaurant staff won’t complain if you leave a nominal tip behind. Upscale restaurants sometimes include a percentage surcharge with the bill to compensate the waiting staff.

As visa regulations are in a state of constant flux, tourists are recommended to consult their nearest Australian embassy for current information.

All tourists (except those from New Zealand) are expected to arrange a visa before they arrive. Citizens of most Western nations, along with those from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, are eligible for a highly efficient Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa, which can be obtained through home travel agents or online. An ETA visa allows multiple entries for a total stay of up to three months and forgoes the traditional stamp-and-pass method of entry. Three-month business visas are strictly single-entry.

Before tourists are permitted to enter Cairns from an international location, they must demonstrate proof of funds. Customs officers look for a minimum of AU$1,000 per month of intended stay, with exceptions for visiting family members in Australia. Tourists are also usually asked to present a return itinerary as proof that they do not intend to overstay their visa.

The Tourism Tropical North Queensland division operates the Gateway Discover Centre at 51 Esplanade. This is where tourists will find the most reliable and objective advice. Phone: +61 7 4051 3588; website: www.tropicalaustralia.com.au.

Information related to the nearby national parks can be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency at 5 Sheridan street. Phone: +61 7 4046 6600.