City edge and inner suburban living in Cairns
The city fringe suburbs in Cairns allow for some larger backyards, while keeping the short commute into the city.
These suburbs also have access to regular public transport, schools, and shopping centers around Cairns.
The inner suburbs of Cairns are home to a varying demographic of families, couples, retirees, singles and young people. Housing ranges from compact units, low-maintenance apartments and townhouses to luxury homes.
What's it like to live on the edge of Cairns city?
Cairns' city fringe is home to cafes and an increasing number of creative and collaborative working spaces. Health services, apartments and both public and private schools are also nearby.
Suburbs particularly close to the city include Parramatta Park, Cairns North, and Bunglow. These suburbs contain a variety of local cafes, Queenslander homes, and industrial precincts, along with pubs, services, and hardware facilities.
- Mooroobool is popular for the proximity to a wide choice of services and schools - public, private, primary and secondary. Mooroobool is also close to multiple shopping centres and has a multicultural demographic.
- Manunda has strong community connections, affordable housing, compact townhouses and unit developments. Manunda is close to shopping centres and has one of the two Aboriginal Health services in Cairns - Wu Chopperen.
- Manoora has low maintenance houses for ease of living, from apartments to larger-scale semi-private estate developments like Village Edge. Several schools and parks are nearby, with the Botanic Gardens and other services within walking distance.
- Earlville has wide streets, highset houses and services and a major shopping centre, Earville Shopping Town, nearby.
- Westcourt: The main road into Cairns passes through Westcourt, Mulgrave Road, where you can find a variety of shops, gyms, churches, services, dining outlets, cafes and medical centres, along with the DFO shopping centre.
- Aeroglen is opposite the airport and at the base of some of Cairns' most popular walking tracks, the Arrows. Aeroglen has very leafy streets, parks and sporting fields as well as a two-lane cycling track.
- Edge Hill has a reputation for festivals, live music, cafes, restaurants, and big homes. It is home to the live music venue, Tanks Arts Centre. Enjoy the village feel of Edge Hill with walkable streets, a large state school and the a sporting precinct for cricket, soccer and football fields.
- Whitfield is close to the hills of the rainforest, plenty of parks, tree-lined footpaths, wide streets and a short walk to a fancy bakery or organic cafe. Whitfield has a large public state school.
What locals love about living in Edge Hill
I live in a worker’s cottage built around 80 years ago in Edge Hill. The house is a short walk, scooter ride or skateboard from everything my family needs or does.
For my teenage kids, we’re close to their schools, a public pool - with trampolines - air conditioned basketball courts, the soccer fields, gym and skate park.
For me, it’s less than 2kms to a music gig in a converted WW2 tank, a choice of around a dozen coffee shops and restaurants, the supermarket, or the start of a rainforest walking track. If I was that way inclined, I could even get my teeth whitened or my nails done nearby.
Marie
Find out how one recently-arrived Cairns family is making their mark in the city fringe, particularly in the suburb of Stratford, as they open small bars, a homewares store and a gin distillery!