In touch with the tropics in Cairns
<p>Not ready for winter? A short plane ride will get you enough palm trees, blue skies and tropical cocktails to help you pretend it isn't happening.</p>
<p>Cairns is a town built around tourism and the centre is a thriving backpacker hotspot, with bars jam packed along the waterfront and touts popping out of every second shop front to offer you the best deal out to the biggest draw in town - the Great Barrier Reef.</p>
<p>But a short 20-minute stroll away sits The Holiday Inn in a prime spot offering sweeping views of Trinity Bay - from the mangroves surrounding the airport to the bustling waterfront. It's calm and quiet, as you kick back on the sun lounger and watch the constant stream of dog walkers and lycra-clad yummy mummies make their way up and down the esplanade.</p>
<p>The hotel is tucked in between palm trees and every outdoor spot is covered in lush and exotic plants - there is no mistaking we're in the tropics. Made up of two towers linked by a central reception, the hotel feels spacious and secluded, even though it's sandwiched between two quite busy roads. Once you spot the pool, twinkling invitingly in the sun, the water a deep oh-just-jump-in-me-now blue, all thoughts of traffic are gone.</p>
<p><img width="500" height="250" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21472/shutterstock_413952421_500x250.jpg" alt="Cairns"/></p>
<p>Every room here has a private balcony, complete with sun loungers, and views of the bay or the mountains and rainforest surrounding Cairns. As well as the pool there's a wine bar/cafe and restaurant on site, as well as free wi-fi and unlimited use of the gym in the next street.</p>
<p>My room is on the top floor looking out over the bay, and in the far distance Green Island where you can get your first encounter with the reef. It's quiet, spacious and decorated with a modern finish. All the usuals are here: TV, armchairs, minibar (filled on request, they don't want to force you into anything, the staff tell me. They encourage people to buy their own drinks and snacks from the local shops and stock the fridge themselves.) There is also a leather super-squishy chaise lounge that I become so fond of, I want to take it home with me.</p>
<p>The bathroom is equally crisp and modern, with a shower over the bath and enough towels for you and all your friends. There's a kind note that they will happily bring you any toiletry you need free of charge - "forgotten your comb? Just call us." Well, now that you mention it, I have - so yes please.</p>
<p>The bed is massive and one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in - that perfect mix of just soft enough and just hard enough, like sleeping in a cloud. But my favourite thing is the pillows - four in total - two with a stitched pillow case saying soft, two saying firm. This commitment to my personal comfort is appreciated.</p>
<p>The hotel overall is very quiet with none of that annoying middle of the night door slamming or loud TVs you often get in thin-walled rooms.</p>
<p>And everyone is very invested in your comfort, everywhere you turn there's a friendly, smiling staff member wanting to know if they can help, or just how you are. Can they bring you a towel? Are you hungry? You look lost, forgotten your room number?</p>
<p><img width="500" height="250" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21473/shutterstock_207350500_500x250.jpg" alt="cairns"/></p>
<p>There is a free shuttle bus every hour into central Cairns if you fancy popping to the local mall, or Woolies, or just fancy a stroll around shops.</p>
<p>There are eating options galore in Cairns, many of them an easy walk away at the other end of the esplanade. But if you can't drag yourself away, there is Teshi's restaurant. The flavours are Mediterranean and feature local goodies like barramundi, tiger prawns, lemon myrtle and Queensland's own chicken. They also have a special children's menu that's been designed with help from nutrition Australia to be healthy but still something the kids are actually going to eat.</p>
<p>Highlights include pitta burgers, a nacho bowl and DIY falafels. If that's not alluring enough, the Holiday Inn has a "Kids stay and eat for free" plan for anyone under the age of 12.</p>
<p>Next door to Teshi's is the Blue Mango cafe and wine bar, where you can get lighter snacks and salads at any time of the day, including the best beer-battered fries known to man. But if even getting into the lift and going downstairs is too much to face after a day exploring the rainforest, there is 24-hour room service on all of the menus.</p>
<p>The main drawcards for Cairns are the reef and the Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation. Tours are abundant and the Holiday Inn staff knowledgeable, so do get them to help you book.</p>
<p>There is still plenty to check out much closer to the hotel. The beach is basically a swamp (and croc-infested, the locals will tell you with delight) but there is a beautiful waterfront lagoon you could easily spend the entire day in.</p>
<p>Further up the coast are the Northern Beaches, including Palm Cove and Port Douglas, where swimming is easier.</p>
<p>Every night there are night markets, with stalls selling locally made soap, sweets, shoes and clothes. You can also grab a quick massage here or walk through to the food court.</p>
<p>Have you ever been to Cairns? What was the highlight of your visit?</p>
<p>Let us know in the comments below.</p>
<p><em>Written by Kathrin Goldsworthy. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>
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