Cairns is fascinating primarily because it serves as the dual gateway to two of the world's most significant UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It is the only place on Earth where two such distinct natural wonders "meet" at the coastline. Another interesting aspect of Cairns is its "artificial beach" called the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Because the natural coastline of the city is made of salt-water crocodile-infested mudflats and is home to lethal "Irukandji" jellyfish during certain seasons, the city built a massive 4,800-square-meter filtered seawater swimming lagoon right on the shore so residents and tourists can swim safely year-round. Cairns also has a unique "Bat Colony" in the middle of the city; thousands of Spectacled Flying Foxes (large fruit bats) roost in the trees near the library, creating a spectacular (and loud) sight every evening as they fly out to feed. This blend of high-end reef tourism, ancient Indigenous culture from the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people, and raw, dangerous Australian nature makes Cairns a uniquely polarized and adventurous destination in the tropics.