General News
25 July, 2025
Tranquil ranking for city
CAIRNS has been ranked as one of the top tranquil destinations in the world after Queenstown in New Zealand and the Seychelles.
Travel website Travelbag rated Cairns in third spot. Cairns was also second behind Seychelles as the world’s most tranquil beach destination and third as a top-rated beach spot after the Gold Coast and Rio De Janeiro.
Their survey said ‘calmcations’ were on the rise, a new wave of travel focused entirely on on peace, quiet and rejuvenation.
The UK-based website describes Cairns as “a nature-rich city that seamlessly blends tropical charm with restorative calm”.
“Closely following the Seychelles, Cairns matches top-ranked Queenstown with an impressive noise and light pollution score of 25, a testament to the city’s unexpectedly serene atmosphere, despite its vibrant energy.
“Its cleanliness score of 69.6, combined with a strong 78.5 for the quality of its green spaces, highlights Cairns’ easy access to nature and well-maintained public spaces, making it especially appealing to those who value both tranquillity and an active, outdoorsy lifestyle.
“Travellers seeking tranquillity in Cairns will find ample peaceful locations to explore. The botanic gardens are a lush retreat close to the city, while the Crystal Cascades offer secluded freshwater swimming holes nestled in rainforest surrounds.
“Just outside Cairns, Fitzroy Island and Green Island, located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, offer pristine beaches and coral lagoons perfect for snorkelling, sunbathing or simply soaking up island serenity.
“With golden beaches and warm tropical waters, Cairns offers a perfect coastal escape.
“Visitors are drawn to its stunning coastline, with its beaches scoring a 4.7 out of five, making them some of the most loved.
“And it’s perhaps no surprise that with a cleanliness score of 69.6 and a relatively low water pollution score of 34.3, they are some of the most pristine and peaceful beaches in the world.
“From the palm-lined shores of Palm Cove to the quiet beauty of Trinity Beach, the region’s coastline combines natural charm with calm, swimmable waters, earning it an impressive average beach rating of 4.7 stars.”
Mayor Amy Eden said it was “no surprise to see Cairns recognised among the world’s most tranquil destinations. Anyone who has spent time here knows just how special this place is”.
“Our city has the largest urban canopy of any Australian city with tree coverage of almost 80 per cent – we are green and we are inviting,” she said.
“We’re also incredibly lucky to be the gateway to two World Heritage-listed natural wonders – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest – making it a nature lover’s paradise and the perfect place to relax and unwind.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said tranquillity went hand in hand with the destination’s two World Heritage areas.
“The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest are two pristine areas where visitors can enjoy peaceful activities like stand-up paddle boarding at Fitzroy Island or walking through rainforest alongside the Babinda Boulders,” he said.
“With so many places to explore around Cairns, visitors disperse ensuring there are no crowds when you want to unwind by cooling off under a waterfall or snorkelling with turtles.”
Passions of Paradise chief executive officer Scotty Garden said there was nowhere more tranquil than the Great Barrier Reef.
“Once you leave the bustle of day trippers joining the many reef boats at the Cairns Marlin Marina it is a peaceful hour or so on the water as the boats disperse to their own patch of the Great Barrier Reef where there are no crowds,” he said.
“Dive in and the only sounds are from the marine life making it a mesmerising underwater experience as you take in the diverse shapes of the corals and extraordinary colours of the many fish that swim past.”
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