Cairns Property "Cheapest in Queensland" - Real Estate agents

Cairns Real estate prices are at a 10 year low, representing bargain buying for first home byers and investors.  With 4 bedroom homes from as little as $170,000 in centrally located Manunda, REIQ (Real Estate Institute of Queensland) Cairns chairman Rick Szelpuk predicts a surge of investor interest in the region, as much of Coastal Queensland is currently highly priced and rising.  Cairns represents excellent buying value and a high quality of life matched by few other Australian cities.

Cairns Real Estate prices softened by tourism woes

Cairns has long had a boom/bust type real estate market, frequently riding on the strength or weakness of tourism and the myriad factors which affect it.  Currently the high Australian dollar means Australian and international visitors are choosing cheaper destinations: reports from those who come though are great: Cairns was ranked as the top tourist destination in Queensland in a recent Tripadvisor survey, beating other popular destinations Like the Gold Coast, Noosa and Port Douglas.   Read more at top tourist destination in Queensland? Cairns:

Read more about Cairns accommodation, Cairns Real Estate and other Cairns News at inCairns.net

Read more Coverage of Cairns Real Estate prices at the Cairns Post: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/05/18/164585_local-news.html

Excerpt below:

Cairns Post Real Estate: Opportunity knocks for Far North investors, first-home buyers

Cait Bester

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

© The Cairns Post

Good timing: A range of property bargains is currently available in Cairns for first home buyers and investors.

 

THE dream of owning a home is more in reach in Cairns than any time in the past decade, with four-bedroom homes on the market for as little as $170,000.

Agents believe the Far North's range of property bargains will attract first home buyers and investors and spark a recovery in house prices.

While the market is proving to be extremely tough for people selling their homes, high numbers of potential buyers have attended open homes in recent weeks.

Low rental vacancy rates are also contributing to a surge in buyer interest, with some mortgage repayments costing around the same as the cost of renting.

Bargains currently on the market are:

4-bed, 1 bath at Manunda for $170K

3-bed, 1 bath at Mooroobool for $180K

3-bed, 2 bath at Edmonton for $259K

A four-year-old home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms at Forest Gardens is for sale at $299,000 negotiable.

Remax Cairns owner Tony Williamson said Cairns was currently among the cheapest regional cities in Queensland.

"The prices we are seeing in today's market are outstanding, we're selling a house for $170,000, these sort of prices haven't been seen since 2001," he said.

"First home buyers really should be considering the Cairns market, with a deposit, their mortgage repayments are less than what they are paying for rent.

"For a long time Cairns was known as an expensive place to purchase a property but once investors identify Cairns as a great opportunity they will be back as they know Cairns will recover and it will push our demand down therefore it will help push our economy back up."

Houses in other regional centres such as Mackay, Townsville and Bundaberg are far more expensive than similar properties on the market in Cairns.

The average price for a four-bedroom home in Mackay is between $500K and $800K, while in Townsville $400K and $650K.

A similar house in Cairns can be found for between $250K and $380K.

"With many of Queensland's regional towns still booming our property market prices are unheard of - it's certain to say that Cairns property market is the cheapest in Queensland and maybe nationally," Mr Williamson said.

REIQ Cairns chairman Rick Szelpuk said there was an element of correction in today's market compared to that of five years ago.

"To say there has been an adjustment to the market`s prices, there would be some truth in that, however, the perceived GFC and with lack of confidence of what has been going on in Cairns, such as natural disasters and businesses closing their doors, has seen a slow recovery in the market," he said.

"In saying that this is an outstanding market for first home buyers and investors and I have no doubt that both will be back in the very near future."

Cairns Businesses facing tough times

Cairns Businesses are pulling out the stops to keep their doors open, but in many cases it hasn't been enojugh with many small businesses being forced to close.  The last 2 years have been very difficult for Cairns, with the compounded effects of the GFC, the high Australian Dollar and the dampening effects of Cyclone Yasi and the Queensland floods: Cairns was largely spared severe physical damage from these natural disasters, but the impact on tourist numbers couldn't have come at a worse time.

Cairns Businesses need help from Cairns, Queensland and Australian government

Cairns needs to urgently address economic diversification, with promising options such as increased public sector employment and communications technology within reach with the right efforts by local and state bodies.  Cairns would greatly benefit from the stability which comes from becoming a base for government departments as part of governmental decentralisation. 

Likewise, proposals to roll out a pilot of the National Broadband network in Cairns offers huge benefits: Cairns is geographically remote from the rest of Australia but close to Asia: with the right information and communications technology, it could become an important centre for eduction, business and foreign relations.  Further, Cairns offers a fantastic lifestyle but jobs in high end white collar industries are limited.  With decent broadband infrastructure, Cairns would be an appealing work-life balance destination for online workers currently suffering the cold in Sydney and Melbourne.  Lets ensure our city is on the cutting edge with IT and we will attract the brightest minds, creating sustainable growth.

We can't forget the Cairns tourism industry: this will remain the lifeblood of Cairns and we need to support it: recent measures by Queensland Tourism and local organisations have done a great job but it needs to be continued.  Cairns Accommodation and tour businesses have faced very poor visitor numbers for the last 2 years, and need a good tourist year this year to ensure they can remain afloat: difficult in the face of a rising Australian Dollar.

Read more Cairns News and Cairns Business updates at inCairns.net

Good coverage on Cairns Business sector difficulties at the Cairns Post: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/05/17/164401_local-news.html (Excerpt below)

Cairns businesses struggle to stay afloat

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

© The Cairns Post

 

BUSINESS owners are being forced to go it alone and work longer hours in a desperate bid to stay afloat, with more than 400 of the Far North's smaller businesses closing their doors in just a two-year period. How can we help local businesses?

Business leaders say figures released yesterday highlight the urgent need for reform to reignite the region's economy.

They have called for a freeze on payroll tax to stimulate spending in the region, a cut to red tape, and economic diversity.

Shifting hundreds of public servants to Cairns by decentralising government departments was also identified as a priority to bring stable jobs and workers with spending power to the region.

New figures show 189 businesses with one to four employees in the Leichhardt electorate and 221 in the Kennedy electorate folded between between 2007 and 2009.

But the figures are likely to be even worse when closures in 2010 and 2011 are factored in.

Dying economy: Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Anthony Mirotsos stands outside of empty shops on Abbott Street. Picture: MARC MCCORMACK

Read more Cairns Business stories and the rest of this story at: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/05/17/164401_local-news.html

Cairns sport: 2018 Commonwealth games bid for Gold Coast

Cairns Sport fans will be in for a treat if Queensland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth games comes off: Cairns Convention centre could host the Preliminary rounds of the men and women's basketball competition.

This comes as a further boost to Cairns Sport after the tropical city hosted the 2010 Davis Cup.  Our lovely dry season climate makes Cairns an attractive venue for international sports competitions, especially during the cooler months which may have unpleasant weather in Southern States. 

Read more Cairns Sport  and Cairns news on inCairns.net

Read more about Cairns Role in the Commonwealth Games Bid at the Cairns Post: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/05/14/163945_local-news.html

Excerpt below:<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=cairns+queensland&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Cairns+Queensland,+Australia&amp;ll=-16.923399,145.773851&amp;spn=35.512252,42.978516&amp;z=4&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View Larger Map</small>

Cairns to host 2018 Commonwealth Games' basketball if bid won

Nick Dalton

Saturday, May 14, 2011

© The Cairns Post

 

CAIRNS will co-host preliminary basketball games as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games if the Gold Coast wins the bid to hold the $500 million event.

Premier Anna Bligh has announced the Cairns Convention Centre and the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, would host the preliminary rounds of the men’s and women’s basketball competition.

The semi-finals and finals would be played on the Gold Coast.

“Both venues have extensive experience in hosting professionalbasketball competitions and other large sporting events,” she said.

Cairns Basketball and Taipans president Denis Donaghy said it was a feather in the cap for Cairns.

“Representatives of the bid team were up here a few months ago to inspect the facilities at Cairns Basketball and the centre court at the Cairns Convention Centre,” he said.

“All of our (four) courts are airconditioned and built to Olympic standards, including the backboards and the air-thrust playing surface.”

Mr Donaghy said the bid team also was obviously impressed with the training facilities at Manunda as well as the convention centre stadium.

He said he was not sure how many teams would come to Cairns.

“I think the success of the Crocs in Townsville and the Taipans here and the crowds they have been attracting probably got us the nod,” he said.

“Certainly the people of Cairns who have come along to support the Taipans has brought us to the attention of the Games bid people.”

Queensland Tourism promoting Cairns and Great Barrier Reef to Chinese visitors

Chinese tourists enjoy Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Cairns & Queensland Tourism did not benefit nearly as much as expected from the Oprah Winfrey Australia extravaganza (though it doubtless did help Australian tourism more broadly.  The reality is Cairns tourist industry has historically benefitted most from asian (mostly Japanese) tourism and in the 21st century this trend is set to continue and accelerate, with the rise of the Chinese and Indian middle classes and their desire to see the wonders of  Australia like the Great Barrier Reef & Cairns, Queensland.

This is all great news for Queensland Tourism and Cairns Accommodation, tour operators and the thousands of affiliated businesses which rely on toursim in Cairns.

Read more about Cairns news, Cairns travel, Cairns accommodation and the Great Barrier Reef

Read more coverage of the Chinese tourism push at the Australian newspaper http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/chinas-stars-lure-tourists-to-que...

Excerpt below:

China's canto-pop stars to lure tourists to Queensland

by Kate Midena, from news.com.au

Tourism Queensland hope Chinese pop duo, Twins, can help boost the state. Picture: AP Source: AP

FORGET Oprah and Prince William - Chinese pop stars 'Twins' are the new faces of Queensland's latest celebrity tourism pitch.

Officials hope the canto-pop duo, featuring Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung, will lure some of their five million-strong Chinese fans to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. 

The move comes after Cairns tourism identities and billionaire James Packer derided the Oprah Down Under extravaganza as missing Australia's fastest growing tourism market - middle-class Chinese visitors.

They urged officials to find Asian faces and celebrities more familiar to the popular consumer heartland in China to promote Australia.

The Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt, agrees, claiming that China presents "great potential" for Queensland’s tourism industry.

"China is Queensland’s fastest growing inbound market, and it is forecast that by 2014 over 255,000 Chinese will visit the state as part of their Australian adventures" she said.

"Already China is Queensland’s fourth largest international market, with the state welcoming 172,000 Chinese visitors in the year ending September 2010. Chinese visitors are also spending more on their visits...in the year ending September 2010 [they] spent $336 million, an increase of 25 percent on the previous year."

Tourism Queensland has already taken steps to increase the Chinese tourist potential, organising a "Queensland on Tour" trade mission in March to "increase visitor numbers and let China know Queensland has bounced back from the summer’s bad weather."

 

Read the full story about Cairns, Queensland, Chinese tourism at the Australian newspaper http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/chinas-stars-lure-tourists-to-que...

Cairns and FNQ to get new cyclone Shelters: generous gift from UAE

Cairns is likely to be one of the recipients of a new community Cyclone Shelter.  The shelter network was promised by Peter Beattie after b in 2005, but it took Cyclone Yasi in early 2011 and the generosity of the United Arab Emirates before anything really looked like happening.  The UAE have pledged $30M for ten shelters: the Queensland Government looks set to match the kind donation.

 

Image: Cyclone Yasi bears down on Cairns in early 2011

Cairns Cyclone shelter gift internet news:

Cairns Cyclone Shelter gift from UAE coverage at Cairns News

Read about the FNQ Cyclone shelter donation from the Emirates at the Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/cyclone-yasi/the-emirates-will-donat...

Excerpt below:

The Emirates will donate $30 million for ten cyclone shelters in north Queensland, after devastating cyclone Yasi

TEN cyclone shelters will be built in north Queensland after a $30 million donation from the Emirati state of Abu Dhabi.

United Arab Emirates Minister of State Reem Al-Hashimy announced the donation while visiting Brisbane on Monday.

It was immediately matched by Premier Anna Bligh, who said the $60 million would be used for multi-purpose shelters along the north Queensland coast.

She said the exact locations had yet to be finalised, but would likely include Cairns, Townsville, the Cassowary Coast, Proserpine/Airlie Beach, Mackay, Rockhampton and Weipa.

Ms Bligh said the gesture was an extremely generous and unsolicited gift.

"This is what friends do for each other," she told reporters.

The premier said work would begin by the year's end, with shelters being completed in the next 18 months to two years.

The lack of category five cyclone shelters became an issue when Cyclone Yasi hit the state in January.

Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns: NQ to host gruelling fitness test

Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns is an exciting fitness event to be held in North Queensland on 5 June 2011.  Participants will undertake a triatholon type course with a swim in the ocean, a ride along the Cairns- Port Douglas Coast road and a run along the Cairns Esplanade: Truly a showcase of Cairns' natural features.  They are after volunteers to assist with organisation and administration and various duties on the day: See below for contact details

Read more about Cairns News and Cairns Airport at Cairns Info network: incairns.net.au

Read More about Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns at http://www.usmevents.com.au/Triathlon___Multi_Sport/Challenge_Cairns/Event_Gu...

 

Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns (3.8km Swim, 180km Ride, 42.2km Run) Set in one of the world's most iconic tropical locations, Challenge Cairns will take place on 5 June 2011. It will feature a course memorable for the 3.8km swim in the warm crystal clear waters off Yorkeys Knob, the 180km bike leg that travels up arguably the most scenic coastal roads in Australia towards Port Douglas and a 42.2km run that includes the Cairns boardwalk before finishing in the heart of the city of Cairns.

Media release - Take on your own challenge - Volunteer with Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns!

Organizers of the Cairns Airport Festival Adventure, USM EVENTS, is putting out a call to enlist the services of any groups, clubs and individuals to become volunteers at this years’ inaugural event by donating a small part of their time.

Volunteers are always a crucial part to the success of an event. This is your opportunity to be involved in the inaugural Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns. We are looking for individuals and volunteer groups, with great fundraising opportunities for your club. Don't miss out on being part of the festival that has the whole of North Queensland talking. Is your club or group interested in Volunteering as an opportunity to raise funds?

This is a great way for groups to earn money, learn skills, participate in exciting events, contribute to the community and be part of a diverse team.

Volunteers support in a variety of activities such as on course, parking, door ticketing, water and recovery stations.

We bring together marshals for each event from a number of different clubs such as scouts, sports clubs, schools and community organizations. Volunteers on the roads need to be over 18 years old and we do require you to supply enough adults to supervise any of the younger marshals.

A generous donation to your club is offered in return for your organizing skills and sourcing volunteers.

We greatly appreciate any support that you give and will do our best to ensure that you enjoy your time with us. We fully brief you about the event and support you on the day. The work takes place in a festival-like atmosphere, where you can be a part of the action and watch athletes and entertainers perform.

So be part of the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival in an official capacity. Whether you’re a local supporting your community, an avid triathlete, a veteran volunteer, a student gaining experience, or simply a lover of sport, no matter your motivation, it promises to be a stimulating and rewarding experience.

You can apply now to join the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival Volunteer Team today.

If you are interested in volunteering at Challenge Cairns, please email volunteer@usmevents.com.au or phone 1300 835 411 to speak with our volunteer coordinators now!

New hardware business to open in Cairns

Cairns businesses are expected to benefit from a major new consturction project and hardware retail project due in early 2012.  The Masters Hardware Business, owned by Woolworths, may have significant impact on existing Cairns Hardware businesses, particularly smaller local and independant companies which are already struggling due to the prolong GFC and now high Aussie dollar and the resultant impact on the Cairns tourism and construction industries

Read more Cairns Business news from Cairns Australia.

New Hardware Store in Cairns, Queensland

ReadNew coverage of this and other Cairns Business news from the Cairns post

  

New Cairns hardware store to help business sector recover

Nick Dalton

Thursday, May 5, 2011

© The Cairns Post

 

A NEW $20 million hardware store employing up to 150 people is due to open in Cairns in the first half of next year.

It will be one of the Woolworths chain’s 150 Masters stores rolled out nationally to rival Bunnings and other chains such as
Mitre 10.

Yesterday’s announcement follows the Catholic Diocese’s decision to build a $30 million college at Mt Peter, as well as construction starting on a $50 million expansion of Mt Sheridan Plaza and plans for a shopping centre at Gordonvale. 

It was welcomed by the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Far Northern spokesman Brett Moller, who said it would help the region “climb out of the economic trough and return confidence to the business sector”.

The centre will be built at Portsmith, just a block away from Bunnings, and create 100 jobs during construction.

Company spokesman Simon Berger said the company was in the process of selecting a builder and hoped work would start in the next few months.

Mr Berger said there would be 130 to 150 full- and part-time staff employed within two months of opening and they would be trained extensively.

“They will receive a minimum of 100 hours training,” he said.

He said the store environment would differentiate Masters from its competitors.

“It will not look like a shed,” Mr Berger said.

He said Masters would target women, who made most of the decisions about improvements around the home.

“This will be a shopping experience, not just for tradies loading up with tools.”

Woolworths and US hardware chain Lowe’s are partners in Masters, which is aggressively targeting the $42 billion hardware sector.

The first store is expected to open in Melbourne in September-October.

Not just a tradies hub: An artist's impression of a Masters store.

Cairns accommodation among world's best hotels - Cairns Resort News

Cairns Resorts and hotels have ranked in Expedia best hotels in the world listing.  A record number of Australian holiday accommodation also ranked in the top 100 hotels.

Travel News - Cairns Hotels among world's best

Read more Cairns Accommodation news at Cairns Resorts 

 

 

 

 

Cairns Hotels among best in the world - Travel news.  Read the full story at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/worlds-best-hotels-that-wont-cost-a-fortune-according-to-expedia/story-e6frg8ro-1226051024333 Excerpt below:

 

World's best hotels that won't cost a fortune, according to Expedia

 The Roydon Beachfront Apartments in Cairns was named Australia's best hotel. Picture: supplied Source: Supplied

 

 

A RECORD number of Australian hotels have made Expedia's list of the world's best accommodation that won't hurt the hip pocket.

 

Thirteen Aussie hotels were voted among the world’s top 500 in Expedia’s 2011 Insiders’ Select list, which ranks hotels according to customer ratings, value and service.

 

Scroll down for full list of world's top value-for-money hotels

The Roydon Beachfront Apartments in Cairns was named Australia’s best and came in at number 16 on the list.

Three other Cairns hotels also made the cut – the Amaroo at Trinity, the Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club and the Sea Change Beachfront Apartments.

Other Aussie hotels that featured in the list were the Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens in Melbourne, Fraser Suites Sydney and the Rendezvous Hotel Adelaide.

 

Cairns tops Queensland Tourist destinations according to travellers

Global travel site, TripAdvisor, ranked Cairns as Queenslands top holiday spot ahead of Surfers Paradise in its Travellers Choice Destination Awards for 2011.

Sydney ranked #2 in the world which is awesome, a great outcome for Cairns and Australia more generally.  Only Sydney made it into the world wide top 10, but Australia dominated the South Pacific region, with Sydney coming in at No.1, Melbourne, Perth, Byron Bay and Cairns taking out numbers 3 t0 6 respectively.  Cape Town, South Africa took out the number 1 spot with international super-destinations like Machu Picchu, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Rome & London in the worldwide top 10.

Tourism Essential for Cairns, Queensland and Australia

“Tourism is vital to the Australian economy so it's encouraging to see Sydney at number two in the global table, outshining significant tourism hotspots such as Paris, New York and London,” said TripAdvisor's Emma O'Boyle.  We would add that this is an impressive result for Cairns as an iconic tourist destination within Queensland and Australia.  Hopefully Queensland Tourism continues their strong support for the Cairns travel industry.

 

2011 Travelers' Choice World Destinations:

1. Cape Town, South Africa

2. Sydney, Australia

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

4. Paris, France

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

6. New York City, United States

7. Rome, Italy

8. London, United Kingdom

9. Barcelona, Spain

10. Hong Kong, China

Top 10 South Pacific destinations:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. Queenstown, New Zealand

3. Melbourne, Australia

4. Perth, Australia

5. Byron Bay, Australia

6. Cairns, Australia

7. Auckland, New Zealand

8. Milford Sound, New Zealand

9. Papeete, French Polynesia

10. Christchurch, New Zealand

 

Read about Cairns winning Queensland Travel award at Cairns Post:http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/sydney-named-worlds-secondbest-destination-20110504-1e7i3.html

Excerpt Below

TripAdvisor rates Cairns as Queensland's No. 1 spot for holidays

GET out of the way Surfers Paradise, the world's travellers rate Cairns as Queensland's top holiday destination.

“Cairns is the perfect city for merry revellers, passionate divers and adrenalin junkies, offering booming nightlife and heart-pounding adventure amid a vibrant, tropical setting,” TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O’Boyle said.

“This friendly Queensland city of 130,000 is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation, Cooktown and the rest of Cape York Peninsula.”

She described Port Douglas as the “culinary gem” of Queensland.

“Tuck into succulent five-star meals in Port Douglas, the culinary gem of Queensland, or suck down a killer cocktail at a casually swanky lounge,” Ms O’Boyle said.

Deep Sea Divers Den day trips were rated the No. 1 attraction in the Far North.

Divers Den marketing manager John Brown said they were “absolutely delighted” to be ranked first in attractions.

“Cairns has come through a very tough period and this sort of positive news is what we need,” he said.

Cairns Travel bargains for locals

Cairns travel just got better for locals, with special deals announced in a bid to overcome the tourism downturn associated with the high Australian Dollar, which just passed US$1.10.

Cairns Residents get freebies & Discounts on Queensland Travel

Check out your Cairns region travel discounts and freebies now:  support your local economy and have a great time doing it

Read about the best time to visit Cairns at Cairns Resorts

Check out the full article on Cairns Travel discounts at the Cairns Post (and the link for the freebies!)

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/05/02/161651_local-news.html
Excerpt below:

Special holiday deals for Cairns region residents

THE tourism industry will today launch a first-of-its-kind campaign urging local residents to holiday in their own back yard and rediscover the region's attractions.

Special deals, discounts, giveaways and promotions will be rolled out during May at attractions from Cape Tribulation to Cardwell and out to the Tableland in a bid to attract local visitors, support jobs and boost the economy.

The campaign is a response to the expected downturn in visitors in coming months, caused by record highs in the Australian dollar and the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland has launched a website featuring more than 100 special deals and offers available to local residents.

Paradise found: Jessica Taylor and Jerry Abraham enjoy the unique surrounds of Paronella Park yesterday. Picture: TOM LEE

"Around 20 per cent of visitors to any given attraction come with local family or friends so it’s a timely reminder for our industry to reflect on the fact that the local market is incredibly important for us."

Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours managing director Sheena Walshaw said her company was involved in the campaign to encourage more Far Northern residents to visit Daintree.

The campaign will lobby Cairns Regional Council to extend its recent trial of making the Daintree Ferry free, hailed as a success.

"The region is driven by tourism, not only businesses in tourism but those that are supported by the industry in a broader sense," she said.

"With the rising cost of fuel and surcharges on flights, there are benefits to holidaying at home, and there is just a good feeling about exploring your local area."

 

Cairns Post reports Royals may visit Australia

Cairns News: The Royal honeymoon didn't happen but Will & Kate hope to come to Australia later in the year

Read about the Lizard Island Resort Royal honeymoon speculation at Cairns Resorts on Cairns Travel and news site in Cairns.net

View of the beach at Lizard Island Resort where Royal watchers speculated they might spend their honeymoon

Read the full article on Royals visiting Australia at the Cairns Post http://tools.cairns.com.au/feeds/feed-story.php?news_id=46531371  Excerpt below

Cairns Post: THE newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plan to visit Australia later this year.

The royal newlyweds are looking to fit in a short trip around their journey to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, to be held from September 9 to October 23.

London's Daily Express says details of the journey have not been finalised.

Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace have discussed sending the pair to Perth in Western Australia to coincide with the Queen's visit for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for October 28-30.

Cairns Resort News: New GM for Rydges Hotels & Resorts Cairns

Cairns Resort & Hotel Chain Rydges have a new General area Manager: Rdyges is a major Cairns Hotel & Resort Chain in FNQ.  Congrats to Matthew Hurley on his appointment.

Read More Cairns Resort & Cairns Hotel news at Cairns information network, Cairns Resorts

Read the full article about Rydges Cairns Resort & Hotel management at:

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/118081/new-area-gm-appointed-for-ryd...

New area manager for Rydges Hotels & Resorts in Cairns, NQ

	Matthew Hurley

The General Manager of Rydges Tradewinds Cairns, Matthew Hurley has been appointed Area General Manager for all three Rydges hotels & Resorts in Cairns. 

Mr Hurley is delighted to take on the increased responsibility of overseeing all three Rydges hotels in Cairns while retaining his position as General Manager for Rydges Tradewinds Cairns – a position he has held since the beginning of March 2009.

In Cairns, Rydges Hotels and Resorts operates Rydges Esplanade Resort (240 rooms), Rydges Tradewinds Cairns (233 rooms and 12 suites) and Rydges Plaza Cairns (101 rooms).  That is a total of 586 rooms in addition to extensive conference facilities and food and beverage operations.

“This is an exciting and challenging time for Rydges in Cairns. I am really looking forward to working with the young an enthusiastic team of managers that we have in this region.”

Keep reading the full article at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mission-to-get-coast-on-its-feet-in-...