The relaxed ambiance is readily apparent in this north Queensland city, pronounced “Cans” by the Aussies. Cairns, Australia, is surrounded by tropical forests, coffee, tea, and sugar cane plantations and, of course, the living masterpiece of the Great Barrier Reef stretching along its coast.

The area has two seasons, wet and dry, and can have two meters of rainfall from November to March. Just outside of town, the scenic Skyrail transports visitors over the lush tropical rainforest, waterfalls, and rivers to the tranquil village of Kuranda.

We arrived on a Sunday to find the locals relaxing at the oceanfront Esplanade lined with shops, restaurants, and galleries. And finally back in wine country, we found a nearby shop with a welcome selection of bottles of Australia’s vintages, just in time to get us through to the next port.

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