CAIRNS HOTELS

Cairns is the first stop for trips into the wilds of Australia’s far north, or the last stop on the way back. And it suits its role perfectly – a touch of civilization dropped in the middle of jaw-dropping scenery. As the closest city to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s no surprise that scuba diving is more than a footnote on a traveller’s agenda; here it’s a way of life. Back on not-so-dry land, the rivers, beaches, and dense jungles of Daintree National Park redefine the word pristine. For those yearning to get away from it all, or coming back from somewhere really away from it all, Cairns is welcome relief.