A Kiwi recommends ... Tropical North Queensland

Trinity Beach, just 15 minutes north of Cairns, is a favourite local holiday spot. Photo / Thinkstock

Each week, expat Kiwis tell us what they most love about living by Queensland's beaches. Today we hear from artist Geoff Dixon.

SEE

Best beach? Trinity Beach, just 15 minutes north of Cairns. There is no surf up here but it has lot of "not-so-developed" appeal and local flavour - quaint, small eateries to the left, holiday apartments to the right.

Best walk? Centenary Lakes and boardwalk (look out for the massive paperbark trees) from Greenslopes St to the botanical gardens, where you can check out the amazing Jade Vine - it's curiously draped over the public toilets. You can go on to visit the Tanks Art Centre, the mirrored visitors' centre or venture up the Red Arrow walking trail (you have to be fit for this one, though).

Best adventure? The Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival, held biennially in June on the sacred "Bora Ring", just outside Laura. This area is steeped in indigenous culture and spirituality. Be prepared to rough it for three days (campervan is best) while immersing yourself in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island performance and art.

Best view? Rex Lookout, halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas, has spectacular views up and down the coast and down to the rocks below.

When Kiwis visit, they love? Well, it's a pretty amazing climate - it can be both nurturing and occasionally volatile.

Best kept secret? Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, an hour out of Cairns. You need permission to visit this home to a proud tradition of indigenous storytelling and mark-making.

Famous for? The rainforest meeting the Great Barrier Reef; there is no need for words.

Best water activity? Diving on the Great Barrier Reef. My favourite spot is Michaelmas Cay. Above the water, you share it with a lot of seabirds and their droppings - below the water is another story.

Best place to swim? The Lagoon at Cairns Esplanade is very popular with tourists, but the best waterhole for me is Mossman Gorge - it includes a magnificent rainforest walk and indigenous visitors' centre and art gallery.

TASTE

Best coffee spot? Perrotta's on the verandah of Cairns Regional Gallery. It has a great vantage point to watch the world go by - having just immersed yourself in the local culture at the gallery

Best spot to get an ice-cream? In this climate? Anywhere.

Best picnic spot? My favourite is Crystal Cascades but any of the Northern Beaches, where barbecue facilities are usually provided, are great.

What's the best local produce? Seafood: tiger prawns, mud crab, painted crayfish and, of course, coral trout. The local tropical fruit and veg is also pretty amazing. Rusty's Market is the place to see this, and is both a local landmark and incredible indicator of the cultural mix of the area - right down to local PNG women selling betel nut.

Where should we eat? I always recommend or take visitors to Marinades Indian Restaurant at 43 Spence Street in Cairns. It's not always on the menu, but try the Lamb Saag if it's there - addictive.

Looking for something special for dinner? Dundees on the boardwalk at the Pier. The food is modern Australian and excellent ... and there's a beautiful view over the marina.

Where to hang out when the sun goes down? Cairns has its share of diverse pubs and clubs.

PLAY

Best shop? Cairns Central shopping centre.

Don't miss ... The Cairns Show in June.

It's worth paying for... Mud crab and coral trout.

Best cultural activity in the area? The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair has been in existence for about five years now. Held at the refurbished processing terminal at Cairns Port, this is an ideal opportunity to appreciate and purchase Aboriginal and Torres Strait art.

STAY

Best place to rest your head? Floriana Guesthouse in Cairns, just for the quirkiness and the nostalgia.

Highly recommended place to stay? The Elandra, Mission Beach.

Favourite hotel nearby? The Hilton Cairns.

RELAX

Best sunset view? The Elandra, towards Dunk Island.

Best beach or park? Mission Beach.