News and Media

10 November 2010

Cairns - a tropical paradise

Cairns beach Cairns is Queensland's most northern city. It is a tropical paradise and the gateway to one of the world's greatest natural treasures, The Great Barrier Reef.

Over 147,000 residents live in this 'postcard perfect' location and are exceptionally hospitable, playing host to hundreds of tourists each and every year.

With only two Defence establishments (HMAS Cairns and the 51st Army Battalion), the Defence population in Cairns is not huge. All the Defence families that live here are able reap the benefits of this northern setting with beautiful beaches, tropical rainforest and activities galore on offer - right in their backyard.

Even with all this on offer, families that live here would all agree that there are some natural elements that can take some getting used to - the weather for one.

Cairns has two distinct seasons which are referred to as the 'wet season' and the 'dry season'. It's the sort of place where you'll rarely need a jumper and you may as well pack away your winter coats! The ideal season for most, and certainly for the tourist population, is the dry season (May to October). At this time of year the humidity is low and the cool breezes make it great weather to get out and about; the average minimum temperature is around 17 degrees.

The Wet season (November to April) can take a little more getting used to. During these months rainfall can average 169mm a month. Combine this with 29 degree days (average maximum temperature) and you have a pretty balmy environment with over 60% humidity. As such, heat rash can be fairly common, even more so in children, but this can be managed with some good lotions. The Wet season is also the time of year where the deadly Box Jellyfish and Irukandji are out and about so keep your eye out for these warnings.

A concern for many newcomers to the Far North Coast is the tropical cyclones. These are more common in the Wet Season and can play havoc with the weather. Over the years Cairns has weathered its fair share of cyclones and is built to withstand these harsh elements.

For Defence families, you can rest assured that your Defence housing is built to withstand these elements. Most houses owned by Defence Housing Australia (DHA) are less than 10 years old and have to be built according to the stringent cyclone proof guidelines.

DHA has approximately 250 homes across the Cairns region with houses situated in Edmonton, Redlynch, Brinsmead, Kanimbla, Forest Gardens and Caravonica; these homes accommodate about half the Defence population in Cairns. Most DHA properties in the region are fitted with air-conditioning and tiled throughout to help maintain a cool environment inside the house. The older houses are generally fitted with one cooling unit in the main living area with ceiling fans throughout the rest of the house including the patio areas. The newer houses are fitted with several units including ones in the bedrooms. The open-plan houses are predominately four-bedroom, usually with a double car garage or carport and security screens fitted to the house windows.

Regardless of where you live in Cairns, it isn't too far to either of the two Australian Defence Force establishments. HMAS Cairns can be found in the suburb of Portsmith which is right next to the city centre and has roughly 750 personnel. The 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR) employs about 80 full-time members and is situated in the southern suburb of Edmonton. When driving to either base, from a DHA property, it shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes.

Don't have a car? Well that's okay - the public transport network, operated by Marlin Coast Sunbus, services from the northern suburb of Palm Cove to Gordonvale in the south. Push bikes and scooters are also popular as the city isn't that large and is reasonably easy to get around. If you don't have a car or choose not to use one, just make sure you're prepared for the wet weather!

Families with younger children who attend childcare are advised to do their research and secure a placement as soon as possible. Even though there are plenty of providers in Cairns, placements are not always readily available. Schools on the other hand are plentiful with a great selection of schools including James Cook University and a TAFE college for adult education- just ask the Regional Education Liaison Officer and they will provide you with plenty of information on schooling in your area.

Something ADF members moving up north may not have dealt with before is the creepy crawlies. They are something that can take a little getting used to if you are the squeamish type.

Geckos are small reptiles that make their home in warm climates and as such are very common in Cairns. Residents have been known to find them both inside and outside of the home. These little mosquito eaters are completely harmless and nothing to worry about unlike their amphibian friend the cane toad.

Cane toads are considered a pest and are found in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Although they seem harmless they have poison glands and can be harmful to the family pet. You'll know the difference between the native frog and the cane toad as the cane toad is heavily built (up to 20 cms) and a brown/mustardy colour.

One reptile that you definitely won't welcome around your house is the crocodile. Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit the region. The tourist Information Centre or the City Council can provide you with further advice, but as a general rule, don't swim where you see a crocodile warning sign and avoid muddy waters - the safest place to swim is the local pool. Cairns has some great places to swim, including the Cairns Swimming Lagoon, which offers an-all-year-round, safe swimming location.

Living in a tropical area for the first time can pose some challenges, so if at anytime you'd like further advice, the staff in DHA's Housing Management Centre (HMC) will be only too happy to help. The HMC should be your first point of contact for housing services, including housing allocations, rent assistance and home maintenance.