Tell Me About Cairns

[whereishome]

There is a possibility I might be living and working in Cairns next year.

Tell me about it. I've been recommended that it might be better to live in Palm Cove and commute to Cairns proper.

 

[samh004]

turtlemichael would have some experiences to share with you, and with last years OzFest held there, you could wander over to FT to read about it

 

[markis10]

If you have lived and commuted in Canberra then the commute is very similar from Palm Cove, lots of roundabouts. Cairns is very hot over Xmas, but its great at the moment.

Cairns is the only port currently serviced in Australia by CO, you can hop on a Dash 8 to fly international, and is not a bad location for quick trips to Japan etc.

Apart from that, I would recommend talking to Turtlemichael as mentioned given he is a local expert so to speak.

 

[medhead]

The obvious question is where will you be working? City?

You can live anywhere around cairns and have a relatively easy commute. Rather than palm cove I would suggest one of the closer beaches. Trinity Beach is rather nice. I actually like Machan's the best, well I know it the best. The beaches of course have the best road for travelling on compared to say redlynch, Lake placid type areas. But nowhere is very far from anywhere else.

Otherwise I would suggest taking a circle from Cairns North around through Edge hill, Manunda, westcourt to Mulgrave road and look in that area. That should give a good set of varying prices.

Remember also that the beaches are not the classical type of beach you expect in southern queensland. They are very good, but different.

 

[PineappleSkip]

If proximity to the airport is a consideration the Northern Beaches have it all over the southern suburbs like Edmonton IMHO. So long as you like roundabouts.

I would check out palm cove though its a pleasanter place to stay as a weekender than say Machans (which is the closest to the airport). Last time left at 4.40 for a 7.00 flight to POM (which was plenty early) it would have been no less miserable experience than leaving Trinity at 4.45 or Holloways at 4.50.

If you're gonna work there and proximity to the city is important then Palm Cove is a long way out.

Of course if you're gonna live there it would really depend on the house, street etc of course. Good and bad everywhere.

If ou don't like heat and humidity [thinks... maybe don't go at all!] the Kuranda is about 25 mins from the airport, up the mountains and about 3 degrees cooler.


Cheers skip

 

[medhead]

Edmonton. southern suburbs? :shock:
I realise it is like a suburb now, but technically a separate town.

Kuranda is a good idea but the drive up the range might get old, quickly.

Machan's. I forgot that you'll get to hear lots of aircraft there as well. Although V V cool for K88 when a couple of pigs flew over.

 

[markis10]

It should be mentioned that the town is suffering heavily at the moment with poor employment and economic conditions as a result of the tourism slump, so it would be a good time to buy in.

 

[whereishome]

I would be working in Manunda and would not want to live anywhere near there, due to the nature of my employment. Should I land the job.

 

[scwappy]

Been to Palm Cove twice, didn't like it much the first time and shouldn't have gone back for a second. Cairns itself seems quite nice.

 

[medhead]

I would be working in Manunda and would not want to live anywhere near there, due to the nature of my employment. Should I land the job.

So you're a teacher then? If that's the case, Cairns is pretty small and it is hard to avoid your students.

Unless your really set on living at a beach there is areas like Freshwater, Brinsmead Redlynch. Or maybe Bayview heights. If it must be a beach I would really suggest no further north than Kewarra.

 

[straitman]

I would be working in Manunda and would not want to live anywhere near there, due to the nature of my employment. Should I land the job.

I have a house in Brinsmead that I could sell you at a 'special' price :!:

 

[turtlemichael]

Happy to offer any advice either on here or via PM. I've lived in the area for 17 years - Trinity Beach first and the past few years in an apartment in town. It would be helpful to know your needs - schools, entertainment, family, single, public transport access etc? It is mostly a good place to live

 

[PineappleSkip]

Not my thread but I'm curious. What decided you to leave the Northern Beaches and move to town? My curiosity not entirely idle, if I do more contracts in POM I would mull over basing in CNS rather than BNE.

I've always thought - from my tourist perspective - of each having their own separate appeal, we love chilling out on the esplanade at Palm Cove (14 more sleeps to doing that again), also enjoy stopping in town especially in the off season (next pit stop there in November, for the xmas shopping you can't do in POM)

Cheers skip

 

[WhereAmI]

Spent 12 months there, returning February this year.

We did what you were thinking and chose Clifton Beach / Palm Cove rather than the city itself. It's only 20 minutes away, including the traffic jam (such as it it) around Smithfield. Don't bother with the public transport that far north.

As a region, the troubled economy has already been mentioned, and don't underestimate the provincialism that exists in FNQ. That said, accept it's a regional city, a half day from Sydney or Melbourne and you will really enjoy it

 

[turtlemichael]

Not my thread but I'm curious. What decided you to leave the Northern Beaches and move to town? My curiosity not entirely idle, if I do more contracts in POM I would mull over basing in CNS rather than BNE.

Built a huge house which became too big with family changes over the years. Living in town appealed as being convenient and easier to lock up and walk away from when travelling. The car now does 3K a year as we walk most places around town!

 

[dfcatch]

Your two choices are to:

1/ Live in the City itself.
2/ Live outside the City in the suburbs or Northern Beaches.

1/ Most people who live in the city tend to live in an apartment and mainly walk around town. The car doesn't get a huge amount of day-to-day use. I live in town due to proximity to work.

2/ As far as the suburbs go, the only "suburb" that I would live in would be Bayview Heights - quite nice. I would steer clear of the southern suburbs, as the road into town is slow and congested at the best of times.

Redlynch, Freshwater etc are nice, but having spent some time there, it's still a trek into town and you get pretty cosy with the flies too.

If not living in the city, the Northern Beaches are the way of the future. But it's not necessary to live all the way out at Palm Cove, as nice as it is. Clifton Beach is one closer to Cairns and more "residential", whereas Palm Cove is very "touristy".

Machan's and Holloways are close to town, very nice, affordable, but under the approach path (which you may or may not like). (That said, when I lived in the city in North Cairns right under the southern approach path, you could clearly make out all the inner workings of the landing gear during the summer season....that was pretty darn close to the end of the runway).

Personally, I would chose Trinity Park or Smithfield (beach side of highway, near Campus Village), perfect distance to town, balance of affordability and general amenity).

The drive in from the Northern Beaches is fine (particularly if not going all the way to Clifton/Palm Cove), and peak hour is not so bad from the beaches.

You know you have been in Cairns too long when you start getting frustrated at "Cairns Peak Hour".

Hope that helps - happy for you to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[turtlemichael]

You know you have been in Cairns too long when you start getting frustrated at "Cairns Peak Hour".

My peak hour frustration is having to avoid people, dogs and bikes on my Esplanade boardwalk morning walk

 

[dfcatch]

My peak hour frustration is having to avoid people, dogs and bikes on my Esplanade boardwalk morning walk

I may have been one of those offenders when I lived in North Cairns. The Esplanade ride in the morning was a great way to start work. Walking or driving now as I lent my bike out and it got nicked (surprise, surprise).