--- Watch Cairns local Aaron Fa'Aoso in Strait to the Plate, 8pm Thursdays on SBS Food, NITV, or stream it free on . ---
Filled with lush tropical rainforests, stunning waterfalls, the crater lakes, the Great Barrier Reef and a breezy, bustling CBD, Cairns is a popular destination for southern state residents to escape the cold winter months. Its proximity to the equator (close) means the temperature doesn't change a lot year-round. Just be mindful when visiting in the wet season.
Because Cairns has an international airport and fly's direct to Japan there are a lot of migrants who have made an impact on the food scene. Its proximity to the Torres Strait and general popularity with tourists/backpackers have also influenced culture and dining.
Lake Eacham is a volcanic crater lake and it's the residual minerals that make the water so blue. Source: Camellia Aebischer
Must eats
When you're in the tropics it's best to embrace all it has to offer: tropical fruits, iced drinks and seafood.
For a tropical fruit fest, make sure to visit Rusty's Markets in the city. It's only open Friday to Sunday so make sure you plan that into your holiday. Grab whatever is in season from rambutans and mangosteen to local lychees, custard apples, bananas and of course mangoes. These are great to take with you on trips to waterfalls, or for poolside snacking at the hotel.
Once you've made it through to the Grafton Street end of the markets, grab an iced coffee from Annee's Caphe Sua Da. They serve customisable light and refreshing iced coffee with regular or coconut condensed milk.
Rusty's Market is full of local tropical fruit offerings Source: Camellia Aebischer
All about Annee's
Caphe sua da goes from market stall to mainstay at Annee’s
After a day of sightseeing head down to the harbour for a seafood experience not to forget at Prawn Star. The restaurant set across a couple of docked boats down on the harbour. They serve up basic drinks and an array of simply-prepared seafood from prawns to lobsters, Moreton Bay bugs, and platters of sashimi. Beware though, there are no sides like bread or salad, only seafood.
If you're after a more rounded meal, head over to Lanna Thai for som tam, Ganbaranba for a bowl of ramen in the aircon (trust me) or Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant for an amazing Indonesian feast.
Be warned, they only serve seafood and drinks, no bread or salads. Source: Camellia Aebischer
If you only eat one dish
If there's only one spot you check off the list it has to be The Lillipad Cafe. Yarabah local and owner Nyoka Hrabinsky serves up generous brunches in a casual space. It's been around for decades and hasn't changed much in that time, for good reason. Customise a plate of bacon and eggs or just pick something off the menu. The only requirement is to make sure you go hungry.
Customised breakfast at The Lilipad Cafe Source: Camellia Aebischer
Best food souvenir
A bottle of croc vodka made from papayas or a bag of locally-grown coffee beans from Skybury Farms are two great choices. If you can't get to the tablelands, you can find locally grown coffee at the Night Markets or Coffee Works in the CBD.
There's also locally made Davidson Plum gin from Wolf Lane Distillery or beers from one of the many surrounding breweries.
Best time to visit
There's not really a bad time to visit, but late summer can get pretty sticky and humid as it's the wet season. The extra rain also means that some outdoor activities like walking tracks, swimming holes and reef trips are limited. If you want a more detailed list of what to do and a few places to eat, here's a
