Cairns

Cairns ( KAIRNZ; Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical northeast coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 169,312. The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River. During World War II, the city became a staging ground for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. By the late 20th century the city had become a centre of international tourism. In the early 21st century, it has developed into a major regional city. The economy of Cairns is based primarily on tourism, healthcare and education, along with a major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries. As of 2024, the city had a gross regional product of about $12.2 billion. The city is served by Cairns International Airport, the seventh-busiest airport in Australia. Cairns also has a major cruise ship industry servicing both domestic and international markets, with terminals at Cairns Seaport and Cairns Wharf Complex. Cairns is a major tourist destination, with access to two UNESCO world heritage sites: the Daintree Rainforest as part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.