About Cairns
Cairns, the international gateway to tropical Far North Queensland, is a fantastic choice for international students. Known as the “sunny garden city where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics Rainforest," Cairns holds the reputation as being the “safest tropical city in the world”. Cairns has a vibrant and exciting energy yet is a manageable city that is easy to get around. It has a moderate population of approximately 150,000, the weather is great, the cost of living is low, the people are friendly and the seasonal job opportunities are high.
Geography
Cairns is the most northern city located in the eastern state of Queensland. Known as the 'Sunshine State', Queensland it is the second largest state in Australia. Cairns is well known for its close proximity to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed rainforests which are both within 30 minutes of the city. Over the ranges to the west are the Savannah lands of the Australian Outback and to the north the frontier wilderness of Cape York.
Cairns Weather
Cairns is located in the Wet Tropics region, so it is hot and humid during the wet (summer) season with beautiful mild and dry (winter) seasons. The average annual temperatures are a minimum of 17°C and a maximum of 33°C.
The wet season generally occurs between January and March. The average rainfall is 1992mm on an average of 154 days of the year. The dry season runs from April to December and during these months it is usually warm and sunny every day with fantastic blue skies. Sea temperatures vary from a minimum 23°C in July to a maximum of 28°C in February.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 6 - 15 | 8 - 16 | 7 - 15 |
| Summer | 18 - 26 | 19 - 26 | 16 - 29 |
| Brisbane | Perth | Cairns | |
| Winter | 10 - 21 | 9 - 18 | 18 - 26 |
| Summer | 21-29 | 18 - 30 | 23 - 31 |
Average cost of living (not including tuition fees)
| Melbourne | Sydney | Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per week | $446 - $586 | $346 - $404 | $275 - $440 |
| Per year (52 weeks) |
$23,200 - $30,500 | $18,000 - $21,000 | $14,300 - $22,880 |
| Source | Uni Melbourne | Australian Education International | Uni of South Australia |
| Brisbane | Perth | Cairns | |
| Per week | $327 - $365 | $403 - $456 | $250 - $310 |
| Per year (52 weeks) |
$17,000 - $18,980 | $20,977 - $23,712 | $13,000 - $16,120 |
| Source | Qld University of Technology | Uni of Western Australia | Tropical North Queensland TAFE |
Culture
Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Cairns is a good example of this as it is home to more than 150,000 people from all corners of the world and has a long history of immigration.
People in Cairns are generally cheerful and positive and the city has a very relaxed, easy-going culture. Many people in Cairns are on holiday or work within the tourism industry so the whole city has a very holiday-like feel. Many of those who come to Cairns choose to make it their permanent home making Cairns a diverse, multicultural and welcoming city for international students.
