Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
#16
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
thanks guys!
wow what a contrast in views!
Like always on here I suppose. but at least there all true interpretations thats what I was after and i'm surly getting them.
Can those who live there who say the building trade is dire please say if that goes for wall and floor tiling too? Its surprising hard to find up to date info on specific trades online from google. just loads of add's.
wow what a contrast in views!
Like always on here I suppose. but at least there all true interpretations thats what I was after and i'm surly getting them.
Can those who live there who say the building trade is dire please say if that goes for wall and floor tiling too? Its surprising hard to find up to date info on specific trades online from google. just loads of add's.
Meantime, have a look at this thread, very positive & some good pics!
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t=Tripawaymars
#17
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 33
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
cheers will do.
#18
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 208
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
I was there backpacking so dont have a true representation at all of what it would be like to live there. To vacation definately, thinking back I would love to be able to live there but there are a few factors that would stop me. To hot in summer and im in the design industry and the population is just to small to support a large design industry.
As for likes I didnt find it rough around the edges at all, we stayed in a flat for a month right across from the police station and found it awesome the city wasnt run down, beat up, crime ridden at all. The things I loved about the area where of course how tropical it was, the proximity to the great barrier reef was a huuuuge sell. Some little things I liked where the rainbow parakeets(lorikeets) not to sure everywhere, the boats at the docks, the late night chinese markets, etc. Downtown Cairns is definately backpacker city by the way.
Anyhow would check it out for a place to visit and see if its a place that you could actually live. Daintree and all that to the north is incredible as well.
As for likes I didnt find it rough around the edges at all, we stayed in a flat for a month right across from the police station and found it awesome the city wasnt run down, beat up, crime ridden at all. The things I loved about the area where of course how tropical it was, the proximity to the great barrier reef was a huuuuge sell. Some little things I liked where the rainbow parakeets(lorikeets) not to sure everywhere, the boats at the docks, the late night chinese markets, etc. Downtown Cairns is definately backpacker city by the way.
Anyhow would check it out for a place to visit and see if its a place that you could actually live. Daintree and all that to the north is incredible as well.
Last edited by ShawnMcCrea; Aug 28th 2009 at 7:25 pm.
#19
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
I think the key is that visitors have very different experiences of cities compared to those who live there. I know this applies to my impression of the other Australian cities. But I think if I couldn't live in FNQ I'd be leaving Australia altogether. If I was going to live in a big city it would be Paris, London or Barcelona well before any of the Australian cities. But that's me of course. Being single is very different to being a family.
#20
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 111
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
I think the key is that visitors have very different experiences of cities compared to those who live there. I know this applies to my impression of the other Australian cities. But I think if I couldn't live in FNQ I'd be leaving Australia altogether. If I was going to live in a big city it would be Paris, London or Barcelona well before any of the Australian cities. But that's me of course. Being single is very different to being a family.
http://tools.cairns.com.au/photo_gal...=6095&offset=0
#21
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
I live on the Tablelands about an hour from Cairns and 750m up. It's never too hot. It's never too cold (at least not if you come from Europe, these soft Aussies seem to think the world has come to an end if the mercury drops below ten). The city centre is ok, but it's like all city centres, locals only visit and the tourists usually get stuck there.
I've spent time in Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney and none of them is a patch on FNQ for quality of life.
I've spent time in Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney and none of them is a patch on FNQ for quality of life.
Life for kids is second to none.
#22
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
I visited recently and liked it. If you could put Townsville's strand there it would be even better.
negative for me was the rainforest mountains on top of you and I live in the valleys of Wales. Sure the summer months, wet season, humdity would have been a problem for me.
gary
negative for me was the rainforest mountains on top of you and I live in the valleys of Wales. Sure the summer months, wet season, humdity would have been a problem for me.
gary
#23
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
regional qld, if cairns falls into this category in the view of getting state sponsorship you should jump at the chance, cant think of a more beautiful place to be tied too for the duration of the state visa..
my sister has lived up at port douglas for 15 years and loves it. the only thing thats stoped me moving up there is the fact you cant jump in the sea in summer
the heat is something else when your working outside in it, i spent time working in grounds of a hotel in port, id go through 3 work shirts in a day, drink about 10 litres and still be cramping up at the end of a shift...you soon realise you have to slow your work pace down, still not as bad as a cold building site in a uk winter for discomfort.
good place for cheap property, my sister has just bought an investment property...2 year old 4 bed with pool in mossman 20 mins from port 330,000 .
you can pick up a older style 3 bed for 240,000 right on the beach at wonga
id say port douglas is better than cairns, but id say cairns is better than perth.. imo
my sister has lived up at port douglas for 15 years and loves it. the only thing thats stoped me moving up there is the fact you cant jump in the sea in summer
the heat is something else when your working outside in it, i spent time working in grounds of a hotel in port, id go through 3 work shirts in a day, drink about 10 litres and still be cramping up at the end of a shift...you soon realise you have to slow your work pace down, still not as bad as a cold building site in a uk winter for discomfort.
good place for cheap property, my sister has just bought an investment property...2 year old 4 bed with pool in mossman 20 mins from port 330,000 .
you can pick up a older style 3 bed for 240,000 right on the beach at wonga
id say port douglas is better than cairns, but id say cairns is better than perth.. imo
#24
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
wow guys great in depth feed back! Thank you so much! I'm relaying the info to my wife and she's shining to the place more.
#25
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,808
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
The question about Cairns has been asked before a number of times. Do a search of the forum. Bix has made some excellent posts.
Cairns is a great place to live. Recently named !5th largest city in Australia (bigger than Darwin). Population is about 135k.
Its easy to get around and what is locally amounts to a traffic jamb probably wouldnt rate a comment anywhere else.
Tourists make the city interesting, but they hardly take over the CBD.
There seems to be a problem with some people wandering around some parts of town alone in the early hours of the morning. The Cairns Post reports these incidents as they need to have something to report on.
The wet season is just that. Wet and humid (that's why it is so green). You adjust your lifestyle to suit. Air con makes it bearable. Autumn, winter & spring are mainly blue skies and sunshine. By Cairn's standards a really cold night in winter would be less than 18ÂșC At those temps you may have to consider putting something on your feet.
There have been some building company failures in Cairns, as well as a number of other places (both bigger & smaller). Might have something to do with the GFC.
Do your research for comments by those who live there.
WW
#26
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
Blimey, First time I have been on here in months!
I adore Cairns. Have lived here for 17 months now from the UK.
It is hot in the summer but not humid every day, 3 months is the worse but I can honestly say that there were only 4 times last summer I thought "this is too hot" and that was my first summer. It isn't raining everday or humid every day as locals told us it would be. We were told you wont cope coming from UK but we have and the winters are perfect from May to october..virtually no rain and endless blue skies.
Cairns isn't a huge city but has everything you need. It isn't what I would call run down and the Marina area is beautiful with a shopping centre, bars, restaurants and great views..we don't eat at the esplanade that much although there are some good restaurants there, but also a lot of hostels. There are backpackers pubs but they are easily avoided for nice wine bars at Marina or you can go to Northern Beaches where I live for fab beaches, restaurants etc.
Plenty of live music if you into that and Cairns Festival every year which lasts a month or so with lots going on.
great if you have kids, huge free lagoon and kids water park on the esplanade, and skate park and loads of kids activities. Free BBQ areas by sea at all beaches and on Cairns Esplanade, great markets, live music free every Sat.
Then you have rainforest, barrier reef, tablelands (always a good retreat in summer as bit cooler), beautiful port douglas and cape tribulation.
There are some great areas to live around the city and a few not so good (avoid ones beginning with M)!! Then the beaches are only a 15 minute ride away.
We go to Brisbane or Sydney now and again for a concert and have BIT OF RETAIL THERAPY BUT WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE.
Cairns is relaxed, friendly, multi cultural and the wet season is what makes it so green and beautiful.
We were worried about the wildlife and have seen snakes etc and a few big hairy spiders but only one spider in house since living here, and that was taken care of with fly spray and a boot!!
Swimming pool is essential in the summer.
Good luck with your decision.
Liz
I adore Cairns. Have lived here for 17 months now from the UK.
It is hot in the summer but not humid every day, 3 months is the worse but I can honestly say that there were only 4 times last summer I thought "this is too hot" and that was my first summer. It isn't raining everday or humid every day as locals told us it would be. We were told you wont cope coming from UK but we have and the winters are perfect from May to october..virtually no rain and endless blue skies.
Cairns isn't a huge city but has everything you need. It isn't what I would call run down and the Marina area is beautiful with a shopping centre, bars, restaurants and great views..we don't eat at the esplanade that much although there are some good restaurants there, but also a lot of hostels. There are backpackers pubs but they are easily avoided for nice wine bars at Marina or you can go to Northern Beaches where I live for fab beaches, restaurants etc.
Plenty of live music if you into that and Cairns Festival every year which lasts a month or so with lots going on.
great if you have kids, huge free lagoon and kids water park on the esplanade, and skate park and loads of kids activities. Free BBQ areas by sea at all beaches and on Cairns Esplanade, great markets, live music free every Sat.
Then you have rainforest, barrier reef, tablelands (always a good retreat in summer as bit cooler), beautiful port douglas and cape tribulation.
There are some great areas to live around the city and a few not so good (avoid ones beginning with M)!! Then the beaches are only a 15 minute ride away.
We go to Brisbane or Sydney now and again for a concert and have BIT OF RETAIL THERAPY BUT WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE.
Cairns is relaxed, friendly, multi cultural and the wet season is what makes it so green and beautiful.
We were worried about the wildlife and have seen snakes etc and a few big hairy spiders but only one spider in house since living here, and that was taken care of with fly spray and a boot!!
Swimming pool is essential in the summer.
Good luck with your decision.
Liz
#27
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Location: London - but only until I can afford to move back to Sydney
Posts: 938
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
Just got back from Cairns after a visit and my refreshed opinion is that it's a small town with lots of backpackers and I am glad I didn't spend more that a couple of days there.
#28
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
It's just as well not everyone likes the same place...
#29
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
Which just goes to prove that the OP should listen to those that live here & not those who have only stayed a few days & not even scratched the surface!
#30
Re: Cairns? I'd like some true feed back plz
Hi all I'd love some 'not from a book' true feed back on Cairns. Whats it like there? Is it a tourist town that only has life to it in season? Is it as beautiful as the brochures show? whats the building trade like there and it there growth? any thing you feel you need to add please do.
town centre and palm cove can be touristy but locals get discount on pretty much everything ...up to 40% off reef trips etc.
we moved here and never looked back...go cairns.com.au for more info or realestate.com.au for house prices.xx