IWC5 About Cairns Page
Information about Cairns, Australia for the 5th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference
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Links to Cairns Information
Intro
Cairns (pronounced /ˈkɛərnz, ˈkærnz/, locally [ˈkeːnz, ˈkænz]) is a
regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia. Cairns is located
about 1,700 km (1,056 mi) from Brisbane, and about 2,420 km (1,504 mi)
from Sydney by road. It is a popular travel destination for foreign
tourists because of its tropical climate and proximity to many
attractions. The Great Barrier Reef can be reached in less than an hour
by boat. Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, about 130 km (81
mi) north of Cairns, are popular areas for experiencing a tropical
rainforest. It is also a starting point for people wanting to explore
Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula, and the Atherton Tableland.
Climate
Cairns experiences a warm tropical climate. A wet season with tropical
monsoons runs from December to April, with a relatively dry season from
May to November, though showers are frequent for most of this period.
Mean rainfall of Cairns is 1,992.8 millimetres (78.5 in).[12] The
township of Babinda at the southern end of the city is one of
Australia's wettest towns, recording an annual rainfall of over 4,200
millimetres (165.4 in). It has hot, humid summers and milder
temperatures in winter. Mean temperatures vary from 25.7 °C (78.3 °F)
in July to 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in January. Monsoonal activity during the
wet season occasionally causes major flooding of the Barron and
Mulgrave Rivers, cutting off road and rail access to the city.
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