Queensland Practical Information

• Tourist Offices: The Visitors Info Bureau, on the Esplanade between Aplin and Florence St., has a 24hr. information line (☎07 4041 0007) and offers details for local accommodations, tour companies, and bike rentals.
• National Parks Office: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) (☎07 4046 6600), 5b Sheridan St. Provides helpful brochures and advice for visitors to national parks. Purchase the permits required for camping in national parks here ($4.50 per person per night). Open M-F 8:30am-5pm.
• Currency Exchange: There are places to change currency and travelers checks throughout the city. The 2nd fl. of Orchid Plaza, 79-87 Abbot St., usually has the best rates for both, but be sure to shop around since rates change all the time. Travelex charges an $8 minimum for currency and traveler’s checks but has negotiable rates for large transactions ($500+). Locations throughout the city: 69 Abbott St. (☎07 4031 6880; open daily 9am-9:30pm); Night Markets, Royal Harbour, 71-73 the Esplanade (☎07 4031 8280; open daily 5-10pm); 50 Lake St. (☎07 4051 6255; open M-Sa 9am-5pm).
• Ticket Agencies: TicketLink in the Cairns Civic Theatre (☎07 4031 9555; www.ticketlink.com.au), at the corner of Florence and Sheridan St. Offers discounts for students and children. Box office open M-F 8am-6pm; Sa 9am-1pm.

Emergency And Communications

• Police: (☎07 4030 7000) on Sheridan St., between Spence and Hartley St. Open 24hr. There’s a police station next to the lagoon on the Esplanade. Open daily 8am-4pm.
• Crisis Lines: Alcohol and Drug Information (☎1800 177 833). Lifeline (☎13 11 14).
• Pharmacy: Chemmart Pharmacy, 119 Abbott St. (☎07 4041 0228). Open daily 9am-9pm. Gives advice to travelers continuing on to Asia.
• Medical Services: Cairns Base Hospital (☎07 4050 6333), on the Esplanade past the Boardwalk. Emergency department. Open 24hr. More centrally located Medical Centre (☎07 4052 1119), on the corner of Florence and Grafton St. Open 24hr.
• Internet Access: Internet access points are available all over the place in Cairns, but they don’t really come cheap. Many places on the Esplanade and in City Place charge $4-5 per hr. Global Gossip, 125 Abbott St., offers low rates for members. $1 for first hr., $1 per 30min. after; free membership. Printing $0.35 per page, photocopies $0.25 per page, CD burning $7.50 for CDs, faxing, digital camera readers, and discount deals on international calls. Membership is free. For non-members, Internet is $4 for 1st hr., and $1 for every subsequent 20min. The best deal without membership is Backpackers World, 9-13 Shields St. (☎07 4041 0999), where you can access the Internet for $3 per hr., burn CDs for $2, and print for $0.50 per page. Also offers unlimited Wi-Fi deals ($15 for 1 day, $50 for 7 days, $150 for 30 days). The Cairns City Public Library, 151 Abbott St., charges $4 per hr. Wi-Fi available.
• Post Office: Cairns General Post Office (GPO), 13 Grafton St. (☎07 4031 4303), on the corner with Hartley St. Open M-F 8:30am-5pm. Smaller branch located in Orchid Plaza just south of City Place between Abbott and Lake St. Postal Code: 4870.