Since the first set of traffic lights went up in Cairns in 1972, our local region has become gradually more and more tourist orientated, and general trading times and holiday opening hours have regularly changed in response. Generally speaking, most retail businesses open from 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Saturday. Most supermarkets trade from 9am -9pm Monday - Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. As in the rest of 'Oz', banks, post offices, liquor outlets and government shopfronts have set opening and closing times, and Sunday trading hours are also regulated for many retail outlets. Post offices are open from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Banks are open from 9.30am - 4pm Monday - Thursday and until 5pm Fridays. Government departments are usually open to the public from 9am-4.30pm. Most hotels (of the pub variety) are open from 10am - 12am every day (they may close earlier on Sundays) and booze can be taken away during these trading hours. Independent liquor merchants open at 10am and usually close at 9pm but this can vary, depending on the shop. Public holiday pay rates do prohibit a few businesses from operating, however the majority of retail services are readily available in one form or another during most public holidays. Public transport also motors on in limited numbers, and there's always at least one chemist, several petrol stations and plenty of most styles of food vendors open somewhere. New Year's Day and Good Friday are traditionally very quiet. Public Holidays in Queensland 2000 NEW YEAR'S DAY - January 1st NEW YEAR'S DAY HOLIDAY - January 3rd AUSTRALIA DAY - January 26th EASTER - Good Friday - April 21st Easter Monday - April 24th ANZAC DAY - April 25th LABOUR DAY - May 1st (Queensland) QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY - June 12th CAIRNS SHOW - July 21st (Cairns only) CHRISTMAS DAY - December 25th BOXING DAY - December 26th School Terms in Queensland 1st Term - January 31st - April 20th 2nd Term - May 2nd - June 30th 3rd Term - July 18th - September 15th 4th Term - October 2nd - December 15th