The Great Barrier Reef is truly one of the wonders of the natural world, and also one of the great things to see when you visit Cairns, Queensland.
Check out this great promo video for the Reef.
There are heaps of other great things to do and see in Cairns: learn more about the Cairns Lifestyle, find out about our Cairns Weather or catch up on Cairns News.
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THE city's biggest shopping centre, Cairns Central, has joined forces with nearby retailers and restaurants in a new push to transform Shields St into a vibrant boulevard.
The shopping centre, owned by corporate giant Lend Lease, has just repainted and renovated the McLeod St facade of its building in another sign of businesses doing their part to revitalise the city’s heart.
Cairns Central centre manager Andrew Provan yesterday threw his support behind The Cairns Post’s CBD Revive campaign, saying the company was committed to helping bring life back into the city heart.
As one of the city centre’s key anchor points, together with the Esplanade and Lagoon, Mr Provan said Cairns Central wanted to help build foot traffic throughout the CBD to the benefit of all businesses.
"The revitalisation of Shields St will help all businesses, not just Cairns Central, because people will be more likely to want to walk between the Esplanade and Cairns Central and explore the CBD," he said.
"We’re excited by the CBD Revive campaign and want to work together to ensure Shields St is a vibrant link that benefits everyone along the street and surrounds.
"Lighting, signage and landscaping should be key elements of a revamped Shields St and we’ll be talking with everyone involved to see how we can achieve that."
Ochre Restaurant owner Craig Squire said the Cairns Regional Council and State Government could do simple things to dramatically improve pedestrian flow.
"The trees should feature decorative lighting on a permanent basis and foliage on trees should be trimmed up and garden beds down to improve sight lines," he said.
Cairns MP Desley Boyle backed the renewed push to revitalise Shields St and said she would investigate state funding opportunities to contribute to small projects in partnership with businesses and the council.
On board: Suzy Pickard and Louise Struber join Cairns Central centre manager Andrew Provan in declaring their support for the CBD Revivecampaign. Picture: VERONICA SAGREDO
Sadness in Cairns yesterday on the Barron river as a group of kayakers paddled together to commemorate the life of Dale Peake
Laura Packham
Saturday, December 18, 2010
© The Cairns Post
IT could not have been a more fitting farewell: "He always had a smile on the river, no matter how tired we all were or hard the conditions were getting".
A circle of kayaks in tribute to a thrill seeker who challenged the fury of the river he called his second home.
Cairns-based kayaker Dale Peake disappeared on Wednesday afternoon after he plunged down a waterfall downstream of the Barron Falls and failed to resurface.
Distraught friends yesterday described Mr Peake as a soft-spoken man whose heart was in the outdoors.
Tears were wiped away as wreaths were laid into the water, with the group of kayakers paddling single file from the Barron River hydroelectric power station downstream to Lake Placid.
"He loved the river, it was his second home," Cairns Canoe and Kayak Club president and friend Josh Bond said.
"We’re all sad and depressed – it was very
unexpected.
"He always had a smile on the river no matter how tired we all were, or how hard the conditions were getting, he’d always be smiling, bringing everyone’s mood back up."
Mr Peake had been on a paddling excursion and was with two other Cairns men, aged 24 and 32, en route to Barron Gorge hydro-electric power station, when the accident happened.
Mr Bond said the other kayakers were still traumatised by the incident.
"They’re getting by," he said.
"Losing a mate in the river ... and feeling helpless is never a good thing." Mr Peake’s body was found Thursday morning less than 200m from where he was last seen.
Police investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mr Bond said there were many dangers on the river but said it was an educated risk with stringent safety measures.
"There are many dangers but we’re not cowboys," he said. "Like all of us, Dale loved being on the river, it was his home and we’re going to miss him."
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Mourned: Kayaker Dale Peake, pictured in a photograph supplied by his family, has been farewelled in a moving tribute on the Barron River.
Tribute: A group of kayakers hold a vigil for their friend Dale Peake, who drowned on the Barron River earlier this week.
Foursquare hasn't made much impact in Australia yet, bet Australian Tourism is hoping to change that and use it to promote Queensland as a travel destination. For those who don't know Foursquare its a location-based social network: you get awards and connect by visiting locations. By visiting key Australian locations you can win a holiday in Cairns!
In the mood for a trip down under? Queensland, Australia is the newest group to partner with foursquare to promote tourism. They’ve even added a special Shine Seeker foursquare badge for visitors who follow their profile and check in at five of the recommended spots.
Users who unlock the badge will be entered to win one of two vacation packages in Cairns, courtesy of Blue Holidays, the travel arm of Virgin Blue airline. Virgin Blue is offering a $50 discount on airfare to Queensland during the contest, which runs through December 31.
The tips cover the entire state, from Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef on the coast to the heart of the Australian Outback. They feature many of the highlights that visitors should check out, like this tip at Mackay Marina:
