Located in the heart of tropical North Queensland, Cairns Airport is the gateway to an exciting holiday. Although it’s an 8-hour flight from Auckland, with a stopover in the middle, the distance is worth it for this type of destination.
Cairns has a never-ending summer, with year-round warm weather, sunshine, and a tropical atmosphere that will make anyone happy and relaxed. It’s the perfect trip to break up the New Zealand winter or to extend the summer just that little bit longer.
Cairns has the scenery of your wildest dreams right on its doorstep. The underwater playground of the Great Barrier Reef is just offshore, but the dense rainforest, with waterfalls galore, is also just a few moments away. Then, there are the beaches - long stretches of beautiful golden sand, and perfectly blue ocean waters. And you will be able to access all of these incredible places with a rental car from Hertz.
Hit the Road with Hertz
Cairns is the perfect town to use as a base for wider exploring of the North Queensland region. It’ll welcome you back at the end of each adventure, with fun nights, plenty of activities, and great food. However, it’s the daytime adventures that will be the most exciting, and there are a plethora of them.
Located just an hour’s drive from Cairns, Port Douglas is renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. It boasts effortless beauty, with tranquil blue ocean waters and white-sanded beaches, and at the centre of this, is the gorgeous town that will make the perfect stop for refreshments.
We say that this town will be the perfect refreshment stop because it’s likely that you’ll be headed onto a much bigger adventure a few hours’ drive from Port Douglas itself. As New Zealanders, you’re no stranger to a road trip or adventure, so embrace it all and head on up to The Daintree Rainforest. At over 135 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is a magnificent piece of natural history: the oldest living rainforest in the world, it’s the only place on the globe where two World Heritage-listed sites meet. And, you can see it all while driving from Cairns.
There are other highlights that we recommend you see while in Cairns. There are a multitude of waterfalls around, thanks to the tropical climate and dense rainforest. From the famous Millaa Millaa Falls to Josephine Falls and Barron Falls, there are plenty of beautiful spots to see and admire. And in some instances, if it’s safe to do so – head on in for a swim.
Visit the Great Barrier Reef
This is probably the main reason many people visit Cairns from New Zealand. The Great Barrier Reef is a tourist destination unlike any other, and we are very lucky to have it right on our doorstep.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and it is home to over 2,900 individual reefs that stretch over 2,300 kilometres. It’s a huge space that you’ll have plenty of time to explore. You can pick a trip that suits your needs – from a three-day diving trip to see the places that not many have yet seen, to a snorkel trip to some of the shallower parts – maybe even go on a helicopter and view it from above. The options are limitless.
There could be a number of reasons why you’re thinking about Cairns for your next holiday. Whether it’s to extend the New Zealand summer, escape the winter, or visit an incredible destination with family and friends, there has never been a more perfect time to do it. We can’t wait to welcome you to Cairns soon, at Hertz Cairns Airport.
