Guidebook for Edge Hill

Dianne
Guidebook for Edge Hill

Food Scene

We are blessed here in Edge Hill--all the coffee is good in this precinct, and there are no less than seven coffee shops within a few hundred metres--but this little cafe is the one we keep returning to because its coffee just that little bit better. 2 blends -one a bit stronger than the other -both very good. Also has the best breakfast going -and is open early. See https://restaurantguru.com/FIXX-cafe-Cairns
Fixx Cafe
139 Collins Avenue
We are blessed here in Edge Hill--all the coffee is good in this precinct, and there are no less than seven coffee shops within a few hundred metres--but this little cafe is the one we keep returning to because its coffee just that little bit better. 2 blends -one a bit stronger than the other -both very good. Also has the best breakfast going -and is open early. See https://restaurantguru.com/FIXX-cafe-Cairns
This unpretentious and very popular little restaurant has some of the best Japanese style food in town at excellent prices. Our Asian guests all give it very high marks -we eat there ourselves often,as do most locals.Japanese beer available- and BYO. Their taste and value has truly raised the bar for other Japanese restaurants in Cairns and Australia wide. Go there and have a great meal. See their reviews on tripadvisor.com.au to get the feel of this place.
34 locals recommend
Haruka Japanese Cuisine
124-126 Collins Ave
34 locals recommend
This unpretentious and very popular little restaurant has some of the best Japanese style food in town at excellent prices. Our Asian guests all give it very high marks -we eat there ourselves often,as do most locals.Japanese beer available- and BYO. Their taste and value has truly raised the bar for other Japanese restaurants in Cairns and Australia wide. Go there and have a great meal. See their reviews on tripadvisor.com.au to get the feel of this place.
Popular cafe on the Collins Avenue strip. Always busy for a reason--one of the best spots for lunch on the Collins Avenue strip.
104 locals recommend
Ozmosis Café Trattoria Bar
116 Collins Ave
104 locals recommend
Popular cafe on the Collins Avenue strip. Always busy for a reason--one of the best spots for lunch on the Collins Avenue strip.
Located in the Cairns Botanical Gardens-one of the top rated Botanical Gardens in the southern hemisphere. Beautiful garden setting and before or after you try the extensive menu you can stroll through the extensive Gardens -and the butterfly house "Conservatory" . Nature's beautiful backdrop for a coffee (good) or a meal--a nice change from the street cafe scene. 7am - 4:30pm, 7 Days. For menus see http://www.cafebotanic.com.au/
112 locals recommend
Botanic Gardens Restaurant & Cafe
LOT 400 Collins Ave
112 locals recommend
Located in the Cairns Botanical Gardens-one of the top rated Botanical Gardens in the southern hemisphere. Beautiful garden setting and before or after you try the extensive menu you can stroll through the extensive Gardens -and the butterfly house "Conservatory" . Nature's beautiful backdrop for a coffee (good) or a meal--a nice change from the street cafe scene. 7am - 4:30pm, 7 Days. For menus see http://www.cafebotanic.com.au/
You want some of the best Thai food you'll ever have? You want it at (almost) street food prices? Well you'll get it here. We have dined here on a very regular basis over the last couple of years and have always been impressed. Hugely popular with the locals (best to book especially near a weekend) and its' BYO. I don't think we've ever paid more than $20-24 s per head -and that includes corkage--and the serves are very generous-one selection each is enough for most people. Google- samgasat thai cairns for a long string of great reviews. Open 5 pm to 10 pm 6 days -closed Mondays
34 locals recommend
Samgasat Thai Cuisine
271 Pease St
34 locals recommend
You want some of the best Thai food you'll ever have? You want it at (almost) street food prices? Well you'll get it here. We have dined here on a very regular basis over the last couple of years and have always been impressed. Hugely popular with the locals (best to book especially near a weekend) and its' BYO. I don't think we've ever paid more than $20-24 s per head -and that includes corkage--and the serves are very generous-one selection each is enough for most people. Google- samgasat thai cairns for a long string of great reviews. Open 5 pm to 10 pm 6 days -closed Mondays
On the Marina Boardwalk, the Piato restaurant is a joint effort from two of Cairns well known restaurant families.Menu is a mix-Greek, Mediterranean, and one of the best steaks Ive ever had , tapas --all make for a memorable day or evening out. See http://www.piatocairns.com/ and google -piato cairns reviews
Piato Cairns Restaurant
On the Marina Boardwalk, the Piato restaurant is a joint effort from two of Cairns well known restaurant families.Menu is a mix-Greek, Mediterranean, and one of the best steaks Ive ever had , tapas --all make for a memorable day or evening out. See http://www.piatocairns.com/ and google -piato cairns reviews
Cairns most awarded restaurant--for a good reason. Now on the Marina restaurant precinct. Here you will find a menu that is really unlike anywhere else--its "Australian cuisine" and specialises in local and native produce with a daily catch of seafood and premium Australian beef tenderloin most recently recognized as ‘Best Beef’ at Royal Brisbane Show. Despite the quality , their prices are most reasonable and it's one of our favorite restaurants--a go-to place for any special occasion. Check out their website and menu at https://ochrerestaurant.com.au/
38 locals recommend
Ochre Restaurant
1 Marlin Parade
38 locals recommend
Cairns most awarded restaurant--for a good reason. Now on the Marina restaurant precinct. Here you will find a menu that is really unlike anywhere else--its "Australian cuisine" and specialises in local and native produce with a daily catch of seafood and premium Australian beef tenderloin most recently recognized as ‘Best Beef’ at Royal Brisbane Show. Despite the quality , their prices are most reasonable and it's one of our favorite restaurants--a go-to place for any special occasion. Check out their website and menu at https://ochrerestaurant.com.au/
Beautiful freshly baked (preservative free) bread, rolls,cakes , pies and all manner of bakery items. The best bread in town and only a 100 metre stroll from home.. Open at 5 a.m. until mid afternoon.
26 locals recommend
Brumby's
86 Woodward St
26 locals recommend
Beautiful freshly baked (preservative free) bread, rolls,cakes , pies and all manner of bakery items. The best bread in town and only a 100 metre stroll from home.. Open at 5 a.m. until mid afternoon.

Parks & Nature

Enter off Collins avenue past the Botanical Gardens and near the Wild Bean Cafe-it's well signposted . A not difficult track up the hill through the rain forest (plenty of steps and formed pathways and about twenty minutes or less will find you at the top looking out over the airport and ocean, the city and northern beaches . A beautiful view and well worth the (reasonably easy) exercise . The Blue Arrow loop/circuit is a continuation of this , but its a good hour or two return trip, but not difficult if you have the time..
103 locals recommend
Red Arrow Circuit Lookout
46-62 Collins Ave
103 locals recommend
Enter off Collins avenue past the Botanical Gardens and near the Wild Bean Cafe-it's well signposted . A not difficult track up the hill through the rain forest (plenty of steps and formed pathways and about twenty minutes or less will find you at the top looking out over the airport and ocean, the city and northern beaches . A beautiful view and well worth the (reasonably easy) exercise . The Blue Arrow loop/circuit is a continuation of this , but its a good hour or two return trip, but not difficult if you have the time..
The Cairns Botanic Gardens, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia, is a tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture.Walk for hours if you want in the shaded boardwalks The Gardens is divided into: The Flecker Gardens (main Gardens area) Gondwana Heritage Garden Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory-- Freshwater and and Saltwater Lakes; and Zhanjiang Friendship Gardens (on south side) see http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cbg/visit/visitor-information for info and maps on the whole Botanic Gardens area-- a big area - Collins avenue down to Greenslopes st
10 locals recommend
Flecker Botanic Gardens
10 locals recommend
The Cairns Botanic Gardens, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia, is a tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture.Walk for hours if you want in the shaded boardwalks The Gardens is divided into: The Flecker Gardens (main Gardens area) Gondwana Heritage Garden Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory-- Freshwater and and Saltwater Lakes; and Zhanjiang Friendship Gardens (on south side) see http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cbg/visit/visitor-information for info and maps on the whole Botanic Gardens area-- a big area - Collins avenue down to Greenslopes st

Arts & Culture

Unique. Four massive wartime concrete fuel storage tanks which were hidden in the jungle have been "re-purposed" into art galley, theater, live music and performing arts facilities. Has become a centre for arts activities in Cairns -something happening there virtually every day and/or night. Check the Tanks Art Centre website for whats on. And its also walking distance from home--just past the Botanical Gardens.
190 locals recommend
Tanks Arts Centre
46 Collins Ave
190 locals recommend
Unique. Four massive wartime concrete fuel storage tanks which were hidden in the jungle have been "re-purposed" into art galley, theater, live music and performing arts facilities. Has become a centre for arts activities in Cairns -something happening there virtually every day and/or night. Check the Tanks Art Centre website for whats on. And its also walking distance from home--just past the Botanical Gardens.

Sightseeing

Ride the Skyrail (see /www.skyrail.com.au) down from Kuranda village to its base at Smithfield. Stunning views all the way down (It can also be ridden up to Kuranda) The best routine for this day is to ride the iconic Kuranda Scenic Railway (see www.ksr.com.au/) from Cairns up to Kuranda and then ride the cable-car down. At the bottom you'll find the Tjapukai Cultural Park (see www.tjapukai.com.au/)--and one of the best Military history/hardware museums in Australia--the Australian Armour and Military Museum (see ausarmour.com/)-complete with underground shooting gallery. A big but rewarding day best arranged through the Cairns Tourist Information centre.
284 locals recommend
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
6 Skyrail Dr
284 locals recommend
Ride the Skyrail (see /www.skyrail.com.au) down from Kuranda village to its base at Smithfield. Stunning views all the way down (It can also be ridden up to Kuranda) The best routine for this day is to ride the iconic Kuranda Scenic Railway (see www.ksr.com.au/) from Cairns up to Kuranda and then ride the cable-car down. At the bottom you'll find the Tjapukai Cultural Park (see www.tjapukai.com.au/)--and one of the best Military history/hardware museums in Australia--the Australian Armour and Military Museum (see ausarmour.com/)-complete with underground shooting gallery. A big but rewarding day best arranged through the Cairns Tourist Information centre.
Take a drive (16km) up the winding road above Cairns to this little gem . A pretty lake setting which is part of Cairns water supply. Beautiful lookout spots along the way and at the top free electric barbecues and sheltered picnic areas all beautifully kept and usually quiet. Tip- take your breakfast hamper with you and get there at 8 am when gates open and enjoy a tranquil bbq breakfast . Closes at 6 pm Check it out here http://www.adventuremumma.com/free-things-to-do-in-cairns-copperlode-dam/
11 locals recommend
Copperlode Dam
11 locals recommend
Take a drive (16km) up the winding road above Cairns to this little gem . A pretty lake setting which is part of Cairns water supply. Beautiful lookout spots along the way and at the top free electric barbecues and sheltered picnic areas all beautifully kept and usually quiet. Tip- take your breakfast hamper with you and get there at 8 am when gates open and enjoy a tranquil bbq breakfast . Closes at 6 pm Check it out here http://www.adventuremumma.com/free-things-to-do-in-cairns-copperlode-dam/
Take a drive to "Port" as the locals say. Its one of the prettiest drives in Australia with the water on one side much of the way and rainforest on the other. An easy 1 hour drive. When you get there have lunch -or brunch at the "Tin Shed" on the water across from the Hotel. See http://www.thetinshed-portdouglas.com. On your way call into Paradise Palms Golf course Club House and and enjoy the spectacular landscaped scenery while you sip your drink or enjoy a coffee. Art groups regularly hold outdoor painting sessions down in front of the clubhouse--its that "photogenic" If you fancy a round of golf this is a great course to test your golfing "character" see http://www.paradisepalms.
239 locals recommend
Port Douglas
239 locals recommend
Take a drive to "Port" as the locals say. Its one of the prettiest drives in Australia with the water on one side much of the way and rainforest on the other. An easy 1 hour drive. When you get there have lunch -or brunch at the "Tin Shed" on the water across from the Hotel. See http://www.thetinshed-portdouglas.com. On your way call into Paradise Palms Golf course Club House and and enjoy the spectacular landscaped scenery while you sip your drink or enjoy a coffee. Art groups regularly hold outdoor painting sessions down in front of the clubhouse--its that "photogenic" If you fancy a round of golf this is a great course to test your golfing "character" see http://www.paradisepalms.

Essentials

Piccones IGA Pease street a well stocked supermarket open 8 am to 8 pm most nights. Also in the complex is a large chemist/drug store, a medical centre, liquor store florist, various take away food shops, yes a McDonald's, gym, laundromat, Post Office. There is also a small IGA convenience store at the roundabout on corner of Woodward street and Pease Street-open until 11pm usually-a 3 minute stroll..
61 locals recommend
Piccones SUPA IGA Pease St
159 Pease St
61 locals recommend
Piccones IGA Pease street a well stocked supermarket open 8 am to 8 pm most nights. Also in the complex is a large chemist/drug store, a medical centre, liquor store florist, various take away food shops, yes a McDonald's, gym, laundromat, Post Office. There is also a small IGA convenience store at the roundabout on corner of Woodward street and Pease Street-open until 11pm usually-a 3 minute stroll..