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Cairns Central Mall (1-2 hrs)

On a rainy day you can enjoy your shopping in Cairns Central Mall. The centre is fully enclosed and offers an extensive range of stores and services. It has over 180 stores together with Myer, Target, Coles, BI-LO and Birch, Carroll and Coyle. There’s also a food court upstairs.

The mall is located in front of Cairns Central railway station in the centre of the city. The shopping hours are most of the days from 9 am to 6 pm. On Thursday evening it closes at 9 pm and during the weekends it closes at 5:30 or 4:30.

Night markets (1-3 hrs)

After a long day of diving or doing other touristic things, it’s great to go to Cairns Night Markets. There are more than 130 stalls available and in a permanent air-conditioned centre at the base of the Royal Harbour Hotel.

It feels a bit like an Asian night market including several massage options. And a massage is a great thing to do after a long day. It’s best to have your food after your massage and not the other way around. The market is open seven days a week from 5 pm to 11 pm. The address is 71-75 The Esplanade.

Food Court Night Markets (1 hr)

In front of the Night Markets there is also a 200-seat food court with thirteen food outlets, many self serve style choices of very good including Fresh Australian Seafood and a lot of Asian delights.

The food court is open from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm. After 10 pm you can get discount on the food. You can get a nice meal there between $10 and $25.

Rusty's Markets (1-2 hrs)

For fresh fruits and vegetables you should go to Rusty’s Market underneath Gilligan's Hotel. There are over 180 stallholders. It has become renown for its carnival atmosphere, colourful stallholders, sumptuous displays of exotic fruit, vegetables, exotic flowers, bric-a-brac, delicatessens, specialty products & an excellent selection of food & beverage stalls.

The market is open on Friday from 5 am to 6 pm. On Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 3 pm. The market is under Gilligan’s hotel and runs from Grafton Street to Sheridan Street between Spence Street and Shields Street.

Chaep eats: RSL Club Cairns (1-2 hrs)

If you don’t care about the ambiance and just like to have a cheap place to eat, you can go to the RSL Club Cairns. It is located at 115 the Esplanade, opposite the war memorial. It is open daily from 10 am.

The food is cheaper for members and for $6 you can get a standard membership for a year.

Gilligan’s Hotel (1 hr – 1 week)

Gilligan's is the ultimate experience in accommodation and entertainment set in the heart of Cairns. Offering guests 5 star backpacker accommodation, nightly entertainment and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s mostly a place for young people and it can be very noisy. So for those who like the hustle and bustle: go there. For those who like it quiet and easy: stay away as far as you can.

It is located at 57-89 Grafton Street in the centre of Cairns. For more information go to their website.

Rattle n Hum bar and grill (1-3 hrs)

After a day of scuba diving nothing tastes better than a pizza and a beer. A wonderful place to do this is at Rattle n Hum bar and grill. They serve the best wood-fire oven pizzas in Cairns. We suggest you order the ‘traditional’ pizzas. They have some pizzas with weird fusion recipes as well and they just taste… weird.

They have a weird system as well. Just find yourself a table, get your own drinks at the bar, order your food at the counter and they'll give you a pager. When the alarm sounds, you have to pick up your own food from the kitchen. A bit cheap but okay, it's value for money. They are open from 11:30 am to midnight. The place is located at 65-67 The Esplanade.


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Language of the world

Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in Cairns.