Stuck in a northern tropical city, my workday routine became a dream
The author reflects on a week spent in Cairns, Queensland, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. He describes his daily routine of enjoying local cafes, working at the library, and swimming in the lagoon. This experience led him to consider the possibility of living in this tropical city permanently.
- ▪The author was in Cairns during the fifth COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne.
- ▪He enjoyed leisurely breakfasts at local cafes and worked at the Cairns City Library.
- ▪The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon provided a pleasant swimming experience after work.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-06-03T19:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-06-03T19:00:00Z","description":"After breakfast at a cafe, I’d work a few hours at the local library before heading to the lagoon for a swim. It wasn’t long before I started wondering if I could live here.","headline":"Stuck in a northern tropical city, my workday routine became a dream","keywords":"My happy place, Opinion, For subscribers, Australia, Cairns, Queensland","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tim Richards","jobTitle":"Travel…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at SMH Traveller.