FREECALL AU: 1 800 NOMADS (666 237) NZ: 0508 NOMADS (666 237)
Welcome to Cairns - The Adventure Capital of Australia! Cairns is all about hard core action of every kind so get yourself ready to go, go, go!
Whether it’s skydiving, hanggliding, hot-air ballooning, scuba diving, snorkelling, white-water rafting, sea kayaking, bungy jumping, or exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns will not let up until you’re ready to go home.... and that’s just the day time.
At night, your partying antics will rise to new heights with more fun and more fantastic pandemonium than you can imagine!
We know that there is nothing worse than arriving in a new place with no money, all the exciting stuff you could do will have to wait until you have saved up money or sweet talked your parents into giving you emergency funds, but Cairns Botanical Gardens is free and is one of many free things to do in Cairns. Cairns Botanical Gardens is located just north of the City Centre, only a 10 minute walk from Nomads Cairns and is definitely worth checking out.
Although you may not have much money, or room in your backpack, almost everyone loves to shop and shopping in Cairns will not disappoint you. As well as all the markets in Cairns there are some places close to our hostel, Nomads Cairns,that are great to pick up those extra additions to your wardrobe.
Since arriving in Cairns, amongst many things, skydiving has been up there in my top 'Must Do's'. I have spoken about it so much but something always seemed to get in way. Whether it was that painful hangover that didn't allow me to get out of bed or something else exciting planned it just never seemed to happen.
Sometimes it's hard to be focussed on staying fit while you're travelling, well unless you're lucky enough to have a fun job as a hostie on your working holiday, however in Cairns it's quite easy to stay fit and you don't have to join a gym to do it because there's plenty of ways to stay fit for free.
Everyone loves a good market. Whether you're picking up a souvenir for a family member or friend back home, looking for a bargain or just wanting to check out all the products that the local area has to offer there is something for everyone to enjoy. Lots of cities have markets which are very popular with both locals and tourists and Cairns is no different. Every week Cairns has several different markets, suited to everyone, which are definitely worth checking out.
Last week, on one of my days off I decided to be "crazy" and do horseback riding for the first time in my life. When my friend asked me to join her I was seriously asking myself "How the hell should I get onto the back of these giants?". After a week of acting cool and telling everyone it's no problem to go horseback riding my due day came and I nearly peed myself when we arrived at the farm of Mount-N-Ride Adventures located just 30 minutes drive south/west of Cairns.
Cairns is well known for its tropical hot weather all year round and in the summer with the combined humidity and heat it can sometimes feeling like you are in one giant big sauna. Having techniques to cool off is imperative and over the years that I have lived here I have developed a few.
Possibly the easiest option is to stay in your room lapping up the air con but what fun is that? With so much to see in the area it is important that you get out in the sun, but how do you keep cool then?? I have two words for you 'Crystal Cascades'.
Every Sunday at 4pm* in the Serpent backpackers Bar at Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel Rohan Pithie of Slithering Reptile Demonstrations joins us for a chat and a few cold beers with a few of his reptilian friends! Each week, Rohan will introduce you to several species of snakes and lizards found in Australia. He will explain how to appreciate and handle the reptiles, giving you the opportunity to hold one or two of them (great photo opportunity to scare your parents!).
