Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia and officially follows a narrow coastal strip from the north in Ellis Beach to the south in Mirriwinni. Cairns covers an area of 1687 sq km and is defined by Gordonvale in the south and Ellis Beach in the north. Cairns is a rapidly expanding city with a population of 135,856. Tourism is the city's largest income producer followed closely by the city's sugar industry.

Cairns originally belonged to the Walubarra Yidinji people. Originally, the area was predominantly made up of mangrove swamps and sand ridges. With the coming of the railway in the area, land was used for agricultural purposes, especially fruit and dairy production. The success of agriculture in the area established Cairns as a port and in 1906 the harbor board was created. After the Second World War, Cairns slowly reinvented itself to become a centre for tourism. With the opening of the Cairns International Airport in 1984 and the building of the Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns established an overseas reputation for being a desirable destination for tourism and business conference markets.

The city centre of Cairns focuses on the Cairns Esplanade which includes a massive swimming lagoon, space for BBQs, major walking/cycling track, a police station and two cafes. Visitors can enjoy main attractions such as the Cairns Botanical Gardens, Tanks Arts Centre and Mt. Whitfield National Park.