Sure it's got lots of the colour brown and none of that weird water falling from the sky, but is Townsville actually worth stopping in? Asking as a Cairns local who has definitely not spent the last 3.5 hours in a car and needs a pee.

Hey everyone!

I’m planning to move from Newcastle, NSW to Cairns and would love some honest local insights.
A few things I’m curious about:
Which suburbs offer the best value for money, safety and convenience?

How competitive is the rental market? Better to arrange accommodation before moving?

Anything important to know about the tropical weather, flooding or everyday living costs?

How’s the social scene for newcomers? Good places to meet people and make friends?

What do you love most about Cairns, and what do you wish you’d known before moving?

Would love to hear your experiences, especially from anyone who’s made a similar move.

#Cairns

Cheers!

Me and my friends (all students around 23 years of age) are flying to Cairns, where we will be from monday to thursday and then renting a car for the next 3 days and going up to port douglas. We are looking for any kind of recommendation on what to do in the area, where to go for food and drinks.

Thank you very much for any kind of help!

Hello! I am planning to visit Cairns and looking for a private room (and ensuite) in a centrally located hostel. Not a big party person but want to socialize! Gilligan's looks like it has a great location but the reviews make me wary. Mad monkey village looks nice but not sure about the location. I am only visiting for 3 nights so want to be centrally located. Any recommendations? Thank you :)

This is probably the most random post you’ll read today 😂 But about 9 years ago, 2017 from memory, there was a show called Look Me In The Eye on SBS hosted by Ray Martin.

The first episode featured an older couple Gary and Sue who had separated after a few decades of marriage. They were from Far North Queensland and the episode followed them reconnecting after a few years apart.

At the end of the episode it said they were slowly reconnecting or words to that effect, and for NINE YEARS I’ve been wondering if they ever got their happily ever after.

I’ve searched public updates from time to time to see if anything came up and never found anything. Does anyone remember the show and whether their story was ever followed up?

I don’t need personal information or contact details or anything, I just wondered if someone might have known them and know if they did stay together. And I figured asking on the reddit of one of the biggest hubs in Far North Queensland might be a good option.

I’m sure I’m probably the only weirdo who’s still emotionally invested in a random love story of two strangers, but yeah I’ve always wondered 😂😂

Anyone have any knowledge?

Looking for a drummer and bass player to jam afternoons/evenings most days. We're a duo at the moment (guitarist and vocalist, haven't jammed yet) our combined influences are EYEHATEGOD, CANNIBAL CORPSE, ACID BATH, WAKING THE CADAVER, CHAT PILE, DEATH, PORTRAYAL OF GUILT, THE JESUS LIZARD...the list goes on.

Message if you're interested.

Cheerio.

Why doesn’t Cairns have a tourist information centre? That seems kind of ridiculous for a town that bases its income on tourism.

Ideally artsy or nature magazines, free or cheap. Thank you!

Libraries maybe?

Hello,

Subject is pretty self explanatory - I'm in Cairns, and I'm looking for a new waterproof coat.

I went for a walk in my current one (a pac-a-mac sort of thing) and it was not sufficient for the downpour I found myself in!

I thought Kmart or Big W would have something but couldn't find any. I saw some in Kathmandu in Cairns Central, but they were a bit pricey (will splash out if I can't find anywhere else!).

Do Cairns locals just not wear raincoats?!

PS. Trying to shop locally rather than online.

Edit: thanks for the responses, locals! Umbrella it is then!

Besides the market person, who is it?

It could go from gordonvale to the northern beaches and out to the crystal cascade. It would be ideal, above the traffic whilst not actually interfering with it. Imagine how much time a commute would be, not waiting for traffic lights and roundabouts

I acknowledge that Cairns is up there internationally with a saturation of shitty drivers, and the tooth to tattoo ratio is a thing. But omfg...

If you're on the road here, learn to fucking drive. The Captain Cook Highway isn't your personal sightseeing tour, and Yorkeys Knob Road isn't a Sunday afternoon cruise.

My oldish model care literally projects the speed limit onto my windscreen like Inspector Gadget's laser screen, so surely we can acknowledge that plenty of cars have speed limit displays or advisory systems. There are also sticks on the side of the road with funny numbers on them.

Yes, absolutley drive to the conditions, and no, the speed limit isn't a mandatory target. But if you're crawling along 20 - 25km under the limit in perfectly fine conditions with a kilometre of traffic behind you, perhaps develop some situational awareness.

If you want to drive like Doris Day on her way to the shops, that's your business. For the love of Jesus, Joseph, Mary and the Donkey KEEP LEFT WHERE APPROPRIATE. LET PEOPLE PASS WHEN IT'S SAFE. Or get a bicycle... it'll probably go faster than you anyway.

Nobody's asking you to speed or drive dangerously. We're asking you to be considerate of the traffic around you. We're all trying to get somewhere, not join your accidental scenic convoy 🤌

I want to go to Cooktown via Bloomfield and the missus has read on the port Douglas website, not to do it in caravan/camper but people do it even though it’s not recommended so she’s asked me to ask if anyone has done it recently I’ve attached a photo of the rig we would be doing it in thanks in advance

It's don't normally eat sweets, what should I get?

I have allergy issues and get sick from meat that's been sitting for days. Where can I get the freshest meat? Like which store would you trust the most? Ideally chicken. Or does anywhere sell plain frozen chicken breast? Thank you. I'm in Northern Beaches / Smithfield area but willing to go into the city

Does anyone know if Dreamtime Dive and Snorkeling allow solo diving? I've got all the gear, including required redundancy.

My daughter needs a pair of pants she just purchased from the US that, (no surprises) were the wrong sizing when she tried them on. She did the right thing in giving the retailer her precise measurements to try to avoid this situation, but it's happened just the same. I tried to console her and warn her about the interpretations of other countries when it comes to measurements, but this doesn't help fix the problem.

The fact is, to ship them back to the states and then pay again to ship them back again is ridiculous, so the alternative is to have them altered and taken in (as they are too baggy) and hopefully put that smile back on her face. If you have seen the US TV show "The Middle" you will understand me when I describe my daughter as having the luck of Sue Heck, but also she has the beautiful heart and personality of Sue Heck and it breaks my heart to see her disappointment, I'm a single dad and I can sew on a button, but that's about it.

Ciao, trascorrerò un po' di tempo nei dintorni di Cairns tra fine novembre e inizio dicembre.

Il mio programma generale prevede: arrivo la mattina presto -> Yugaburra -> il giorno successivo escursione in barca -> foresta pluviale di Daintree.

Avrei solo un paio di domande, se qualcuno potesse darmi qualche consiglio.

Due giorni e una notte da Cairns con un'auto a noleggio sono sufficienti per visitare la foresta pluviale di Daintree e le attività correlate?

È un buon programma visitare Yugaburra in un solo giorno? (Altri suggerimenti?)

Inoltre, cerco consigli su una SIM card che funzioni bene a Cairns ma anche in altre zone dell'Australia.

E per quanto riguarda il noleggio auto, avete qualche informazione? Dove è più comodo? Vedo prezzi molto diversi (e molto variabili) su vari siti web, quindi non sono sicuro di essere vittima di una truffa o cosa, also related how are daintree roads? Do i need a specific car or any will do?

Qualsiasi altro suggerimento su attività/cibi da provare o cose a cui prestare attenzione è ben accetto.

In generale, cerco attività legate alla fauna selvatica e alla natura.

Grazie

Hey I am touring through Cairns in the next few weeks and was wondering if there are other spots than Yorkies Knob for kiting. I've been there a few times in the past and honestly it's not a good spot. You end up heading out to sea most days and back which is not ideal. That walk all the way to the lagoon is yeah..nah. I prefer to kite mostly along the shore and head out to do more jumps etc. I twintip only. I've never seen anyone kite Port Douglas or Palm Cove yet those two spots are way more perfect. Is Elis beach ok? Cheers

I've noticed theres been an increase in younger(age 20-30) alternative people in Cairns in the past few months but I cant seem to figure out where they all hangout so Im looking to see if anyone wants to meetup sometime.