Tropical hotel gets fresh vibe

Coastal surroundings dominate in Cairns, where the affordable Mercure has reopened under new management, writes MOGENS JOHANSEN

Australia’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has just opened a new midscale hotel in Queensland’s tropical north.

The Mercure Cairns, located in the heart of Cairns, opened for business in January after a multimillion­dollar upgrade and rebrand of what was the Ibis Styles hotel.

Australian designer Scott Carver has taken inspiration from the relaxed Queensland coastal surroundings to create a casual atmosphere.

The hotel’s lobby, restaurant and outdoor dining, lounge and pool areas are designed to act as

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Now is the time to secure your voyage to create memories that will last a lifetime on board Scenic Eclipse,The World’s First Discovery Yachts™ meeting places where guests can congregate to work, dine or relax. The hotel has 75 spacious rooms ranging from standard queen and twin single rooms to family rooms and executive king rooms. The hotel’s restaurant, The Stanley, features a stylish indoor/outdoor space that is designed to reflect the charm of the region. It serves a modern Australian menu of fresh local produce.

Sarah Derry, chief executive of Accor Pacific, says the company is delighted with its latest offering With 55 properties across Australia, Mercure is the largest and fastest­growing midscale hotel brand in the country.

FIVE THINGS TO DO IN CAIRNS

CBD

Cairns is an attractive destination with the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforests on its doorstop, but there’s also a lot to do within the city itself. Here are five things to do near to the Mercure Cairns hotel.

1Enjoy a dip at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. The lagoon is right in the heart of the CBD. It is family­friendly and has plenty of cool shady areas. 2

Go underwater at Cairns Aquarium and connect with an abundance of underwater creatures among 71 exhibits. 3

Go troppo at the Cairns Botanic Gardens, which is well known for having some of the best displays of tropical plants in Australia.

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Get an adrenaline fix at the Zoom and Wildlife Dome which, among a lot of other things, has a zip­line that takes participants directly over a live 4m saltwater croc.

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Chill out at the markets. Rusty’s Markets in the centre of town is a popular spot to buy local produce and Tanks Arts Centre markets is the place to go for arts and crafts.

On the flight deck of USS Intrepid. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Pictures: Stephen Scourfield