lindam42

I moved here with my then husband and two young children in the 2000s. I have lived in Gold Coast, Sydney, Tasmania, England, South Africa among other places and I honestly can't say anywhere has felt like home like Cairns. There is a view of a beautiful mountaintop pretty much from absolutely anywhere in Cairns, the freshwater creeks and swimming holes are world class and the beaches are tropical with coconuts and windswept palms. Cape Tribulation is a 3 hour drive, the Tablelands are beautiful blah blah blah...I could go on. However there is a youth crime problem, there aren't a lot of jobs although I do well here. I now live with teens and a few animals, including a large dog which I would recommend to anyone moving here as it deters break ins (only if you love dogs though). I have lived in 6 suburbs in Cairns and finally found a house on a street that I love. Great neighbours, affordable rent, HEAPS of space and a NICE Queenslander, you know, wooden floorboards (it's what everyone coming from out of state wants in house, amiright?). BUT yes, you need a job or an income. It gets really freaking hot in summer so if you don't like heat don't move here. It pisses everyone off at some point because it is so dang humid. I like to go outside and look at a mountain whenever the humidity gets on my nerves! Cairns is what you make it at the end of the day. It is not the safest city. If you like to live in complete safety in a community then this might not be for you. Personally I hate the sterility and snubbery that I associate with that type of living so it was never a consideration for me even though I had young kids. Couldn't recommend a dog enough though! There is a community vibe here and the people are generally really friendly and laid back. No one cares where you came from, there's not much snobbery in Cairns and it's pretty inclusive, given that there are people from remote idigenous communities to Europeans who just never left and everything in between. If you focus on the negative that's what you will get out of it, if you focus on the positives of Cairns THAT'S what you will get out of it and there are a hell of a lot of positives.