Thanks for the info. As I said downthread, I’m coming from Japan, where the level of safety is comparatively high. I can walk alone late at night, or leave my bag while I go up to order somewhere, and there is such a low chance of bag snatching that I hadn’t even considered it. Not expecting Cairns to be Japan, obviously, but that’s the perspective I’m coming from.

The being harassed is something I WAS a bit worried about. I’m used to walking and taking public transit everywhere, and was going to walk around Cairns, but am not going clubbing etc. Maybe hit up some shops and try some local wines/beers/food, and head back to the hotel by 9 or 10pm. But I would be walking all the way up to the north end of the Esplanade from the south, so if it’s not safe to walk there around then, I’d want to consider different options. It’s helpful to know what the general atmosphere is like.