Cairns, in far North Queensland, is my home town. It was a great place to grow up because it’s actually a nice town in a great environment. There’s not too many places in the world that are close to two World Heritage Areas – that is, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Wet Tropics rainforest region.
So I won’t go on about these things to do in Cairns as there’s a truckload of that sort of content floating around on the internet already.
Like anyone, you become a product of your environment. Including becoming blase about large reptiles that could easily make a meal of you with one swift chomp!
I’m talking about Saltwater Crocodiles!
It’s like the more you’re exposed to something, the less sensitive you are to it’s relative or perceived danger!
For some reason, crocodiles (or crocs) for short seem to keep making appearances here. I’m mainly referring to saltwater crocodiles, or ‘salties’ in Australian Slang language!
Previous posts include Australia’s largest crocodile (at an amazing 8.64 metres or 28 feet) and the Walkabout Creek Hotel, featured in the famous Crocodile Dundee movie.
But here’s something a bit different to do if you want to challenge nature!
Thrill Seeking Things To Do In Cairns!
I know, this sign looks almost as useless as the Grand Canyon Do Not Cross The Barrier sign, but there’s nothing like a sign and what’s going on in the background to provide a bit of funny context!
It’s located at the Cairns Esplanade, right next door to the city.
To be fair, I’ve never spotted a crocodile on the Cairns Esplanade. But that doesn’t mean they’re not around.
Crocodiles (or ‘snapping handbags in Australian Slang‘) are regularly spotted in nearby Trinity Inlet, plus there has been the odd occasion where small crocodiles have been washed up into the city via stormwater drains when there’s been a lot of rain around.
But I probably wouldn’t go swimming here.
Other things to do in Cairns (or near it):
- Check out the rather bizarre Cane Toad World playground
- Visit the big James Cook statue
- Drive up the windiest road in Australia
- Visit the Golden Gumboot
- See the Undara Lava Tubes
- Laugh at the Nibble Nobby’s Nuts sign and
- go WTF at the Mount Molloy dinosaur.
If you’re ever in Australia, there’s so much more than going to Sydney! Go up north to Far North Queensland and see what it has to offer!
If you’re planning a trip soon, check out my best travel insurance tips, and get a quote on some Backpacker Travel Insurance.
I used to be a 911 dispatcher for the Shriff’s department. I returned from vacation one day and got a call from animal control. They were requesting the fire department to come with a truck to flush a crocodile out of a storm drain.
Now, this was in Southern Illinois. The middle of the United States. There are not crocodiles for hundreds and hundreds of miles. I had them repeat that because I wasn’t sure that I had heard it right.
Apparently, there was a collector in town of exotic reptiles and some of his collection had gotten loose. Our local people didn’t even know how to handle it.
Awkward. At least your day wasn’t boring!
Hey, never been to Australia, however my girlfriend wants to visit the continent in the near future, so I’ll be prepared to check Cairns and make an informed visit decision 😉
Ha ha, love the photo and the context!
Definitely adding Cairns to the travel list Anthony! I’d love to see a monster croc. From a distance LOL. I do love your Aussie spirit. I’ve met quite a few folks from Oz during world travels and more here in New Zealand. I think of that Aussie guy on the YouTube video punching a kangaroo to save his pig dog. Either true love of hounds or just a rough and tumble bloke. Or both.
Ryan