Cairns City History & Information

Located in Far North Queensland, 1.600km north of Brisbane, Cairns has rapidly expanded into a tourism area, due to its tropical climate and close proximity to local attractions...

Established in 1876, Cairns was named after William Wellington Cairns, then Governor of Queensland. The city was built following the gold rush and later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold, metals, minerals and agricultural products from the area.

Located in Far North Queensland, 1.600km north of Brisbane, Cairns has rapidly expanded into a tourism area, due to its tropical climate and close proximity to local attractions, such as the Daintree rainforest or World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, attracting more than 2 million tourists yearly! As of today, Cairns has a population of 135.000 inhabitants.

Activities in the region include golf, white water rafting, Great Barrier Reef cruises, Daintree Rainforest coach tours, and trips to Atherton Tableland and Paronella Park. The picturesque city of Kuranda and crocodile farms are also a must-see in the area.

Next to tourism, sugar cane farming is the second largest local industry; however some of its previous lands were recently relocated into city suburbs due to Cairns’ rapid population growth and housing needs.

Cairns experiences a warm tropical climate; with a wet season ranging from December to April, during which monsoons may occur. Winter in Cairns has always been seen as the best time to visit with mild temperatures and a crystal clear sky; it’s also the best period for snorkelling and scuba diving, with Cairns’ wonderful marine life on the menu. Discover more...

The Sebel Cairns Hotel is your ideal Cairns accommodation choice... fabulous harbour and mountain views, spacious hotel rooms, our luxury day spa and of course, first class service. Experience for yourself our exceptional hotel facilities including some of the best Cairns restaurants & bars.

Make your Sebel Cairns Hotel reservations online, make an online enquiry or call us on 1800 079 100... our friendly reservations team will be happy to tell you more about our Sebel Cairns Hotel packages, deals and special offers or our Sebel Cairns Spa packages for your next Cairns holiday, romantic getaways or weekend escapes.