Cairns is a tropical adventure city, and in our opinion, a must-visit destination in Australia.
In this Cairns holiday guide, we will tell you about all the best Cairns things to do, which include unmissable sites such as spectacular waterfalls to cool down, famous Australian wildlife, adventurous activities, discovering tropical islands, and of course experiencing the Great Barrier Reef – all of which will assist you in answering the question “Is Cairns worth visiting?”.
This chilled-out city in North Queensland is geographically located in one of the best places in the world and is on many Australian itineraries.
On one side of Cairns lies the world’s oldest rainforest, and on the other side the largest living ecosystem on earth. Some people stay for weeks, others just come for a weekend. Whatever length you stay, there will be plenty of attractions in Cairns to keep you entertained.
We have done all the work for you in this Cairns holiday guide and hopefully answered all the questions you may have.
Cairns Things to Do: The Great Barrier Reef
In contemplating the question “Is Cairns worth visiting?” Let’s begin with what is probably the most famous factor making Cairns a top holiday destination in Australia – the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s 7 natural wonders. This remarkable reef stretches more than 2300 along the coast of Queensland, from the tip of Cape York right down to Bundaberg, located about 385km north of Brisbane.
Mother Nature presents fascinating and unique sights to behold during your visit to the Great Barrier Reef. You can witness stunning coral formations, thousands of tropical fish such as the famous clownfish, sea turtles, giant clams, and even giant whales—all in a single day!
Let’s check out some of the options available to experience the incredible Great Barrier Reef.
1 – A Great Barrier Reef Cruise
There are a few different ways to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, but the most popular one is a boat cruise. Getting to the Reef will take about 2 hours and most cruises last a full day, leaving early in the morning and returning around 5 PM.
On a Great Barrier Reef tour, you will experience vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling and diving, and the chance to encounter majestic sea creatures like turtles and colorful fish.
There are budget-friendly cruises, as well as, more luxurious, catamaran cruises available.
2 – Scuba Dive The Great Barrier Reef
Ranking number one on most Australia bucket lists is scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. Surely this Australian gem has to be the best place in the world to scuba dive right?!
For experienced divers, there are many different tours and locations available. What they all have in common though is the surroundings of an underwater paradise with coral sculptures and countless tropical fish.
If you want to learn how to scuba dive there are beginner courses available, and those keen to advance their skills can enroll in a 4-day PADI course.
This activity is a once in a lifetime opportunity and is sure to be the highlight of your Cairns holiday.
3 – Fly The Great Barrier Reef On a Scenic Flight
To truly witness the scale and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef you can catch a flight by either plane or helicopter and witness this world wonder from the sky. It is not easy to get a photo of the reef when on a boat, so this is the best choice for those who love photography.
Flights over the Great Barrier Reef last one hour and you are guaranteed a window seat with one very spectacular view.
Now that you have some differing options to discover Queensland’s top attractions, you may be wondering what other Cairns attractions there are to see besides the Great Barrier Reef. Well, fear not, we have only just scratched the surface as to why Cairns is a must-visit destination in Australia.
Let’s explore some more best Cairns things to do and its surrounding areas.
4 – Fitzroy Island
Off the coast of Cairns, you will have an abundance of choices of islands to visit. All of these can be visited during a Cairns day trip or overnight stays.
Our favorite trip from Cairns was to Fitzroy Island, an island surrounded by natural beauty – rainforests, palm trees, blue waters, and white-sand beaches.
During our Cairns trip to Fitzroy Island, we stayed in the stunning, yet affordable, Fitzroy Island Resort.
We may have received a discounted price due to visiting Cairns during the wet season (January to April), but did it look like that stopped us from having a good time?! Little did they know we are from Ireland and well used to a bit of rain! Make sure to keep an eye out for deals if you are visiting Cairns during this time of the year.
Fitzroy Island can also be visited on a day trip from Cairns. This island is located only 45 minutes by ferry so you won’t be taking too much time from your Cairns Holiday getting there.
If you want to sit back, relax, and have everything organized for you then check out the full-day adventure tour to Fitzroy Island from Cairns. This tour includes both snorkelling and hiking so you can truly experience all that the island has to offer.
Don’t fancy the hiking part? You can opt for glass bottom boat tours which include your ferry ticket from Cairns to Fitzroy Island.
If you decide to visit Fitzroy Island, make sure to visit Nudey Beach. Don’t let the name confuse you, it is actually not a nude beach, but one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches!
5 – Frankland Islands
If you picture Australian tropical islands to be a paradise haven with turquoise water, and white sand beaches lined with palm trees, then Frankland Islands are made for you.
In our opinion, the Frankland Islands offer some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches.
Not only are these beaches in Queensland stunning beyond belief, but you’ll likely find yourself having this untouched piece of Australian paradise entirely to yourself.
The Frankland Islands are such an Australian hidden gem that when we explained to our Airbnb host during our Cairns holiday that we were planning a day trip from Cairns to these islands, he had no idea what we were talking about. He was from Cairns!!
Boats depart from Mulgrave River to Frankland Island, which is about half an hour’s drive from Cairns. Around these islands, you will experience some of Australia’s best snorkeling spots.
It was on a visit to the Frankland Islands where Kate from Happy Irish Wanderers even had a close encounter with a gigantic Manta ray – this may sound like an amazing experience for most people, but she has still not recovered from this unexpected encounter!
6 – Green Island
Another very popular Island to visit on a day trip from Cairns is Green Island. Just like the previous two, this is another tropical island that is a perfect place to go swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, walking through the rainforest, or simply relaxing with a cocktail on the beach.
Boats leave daily from Cairns harbor. There are many options to choose from – afternoon cruise, half-day morning cruise, full-day cruise, and snorkeling or glass bottom boat tour.
Basically your options are endless when it comes to visiting heavenly, tropical islands from Cairns!
Cairns Things to Do: The Mainland
As you can see a lot of the main Cairns attractions revolve around The Great Barrier Reef. But what if you are not a fan of boats or snorkeling during your Cairns holiday?
Not to worry, there are plenty more wonderful things to do in Cairns that do not involve possible sea sickness or surprise encounters with giant manta rays!
Let’s check out what mainland Cairns attractions we have visited for ourselves and recommend.
7 – Daintree National Park
The Daintree Rainforest is a must-visit Cairns attraction during your Australia travels. This ancient rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Queensland and holds a status as one of the oldest tropical rainforests on Earth.
We did tell you that there were more great things to do in Cairns than just visiting the Great Barrier Reef!
Daintree National Park is comprised of two sections – Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation.
Cape Tribulation is a scenic headland nestled within Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforest landscapes, and rich biodiversity, making it a significant ecological and natural attraction when visiting Cairns.
Mossman Gorge is a stunning natural attraction situated in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, famous for its clear waters, ancient rainforest setting, and cultural importance to local Indigenous communities.
Take a day trip to Cape Tribulation from Cairns (including Mossman Gorge), where the reef meets the rainforest – a rainforest that is over 180 million years old!!
The drive to Cape Tribulation is nothing short of spectacular as you hug the Queensland coastline driving through mountains overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean. We can assure you that the trip from Cairns to the Daintree National Park will be remembered as one of your best Australian road trips, if not the best road trip in the world. Big statement but we invite you to make this decision for yourself.
Consider a Cape Tribulation/Mossman tour which includes a cruise option, and for the more adventurous of you, there is a 4WD guide tour option.
Note that swimming is strictly prohibited off the beaches in Cape Tribulation due to the many saltwater crocodiles that inhabit the area. But, if you are lucky though you might come across a cassowary….
8 – Find A Cassowary: A Real-Life Dinosaur!
What the Fxck is a Cassowary you say? Cassowaries are large flightless birds slightly smaller than an ostrich.
They have bright blue heads and necks and a large casque on their heads. Their claws are huge dagger-like and look more like a dinosaur’s foot!
We are sure that during your Australian travels, you will have realized that Australia is home to some rather distinctive creatures, and we are not referring to the Australian people!
Don’t worry, we love everything Australia – sure we are Australian citizens ourselves.
There is no guarantee of seeing these giant colorful birds in the wild. Just make sure you bring a bag of patience with you and have a bit of luck on the day.
We did not see any Cassowaries in the Daintree National Park, but we did see one in the town of Innisfail, an hour and a half south of Cairns, it is famous for wild Cassowaries roaming around.
9 – Crocodile Spotting
A must-do activity when visiting Cairns is embarking on a Crocodile safari. You will see MANY stunning beaches on your trip to Cape Tribulation, and around Cairns in general, but what is crazy is that you cannot go swimming here as there are MANY saltwater crocodiles in the water.
Instead of seeing the inside of a crocs mouth, maybe consider going on a Wildlife and Crocodile Cruise. Marvel at the exotic Australian wildlife as you travel through the rainforest and experience the ancient surroundings from a unique perspective with an expert guide.
On the drive from Cairns to the cruise starting point you will pass Mossman Gorge, this is a great spot to stop off for a break and some lunch.
Cairns Things to Do: Exotic Waterfalls and Swimming holes
Next on our Cairns things to do recommendations, you will be able to go swimming without any fear of a crocodile munching on you!
In the Cairns surrounding area, there are many waterfalls and swimming holes. Trust us you could easily spend an entire day trip from Cairns visiting these top Cairns attractions.
Just a quick check-in, where are you leaning towards in answering the question “Is Cairns worth visiting?!” So far it sounds really good right!
10 – The Waterfall Circuit
To visit all these waterfalls on a day trip from Cairns, the most popular route is the “Waterfall Circuit”. Three waterfalls along a 20km lap – Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, and Elinjaa Falls (Millaa Millaa being the pick of the lot) are an hour and a half South of Cairns.
If you are visiting Cairns in the wet season (January to April) these waterfalls will look spectacular at full flow. A top Cairns activity has to be to swim in some of Queensland’s best waterfalls – finally! Just because it is wet season does not mean it isn’t still roasting so a waterfall dip will be very much welcomed.
If you are not too keen on driving this waterfall circuit yourself, you can find the perfect waterfall tour to suit you, and for the more adventurous types you can do a half day splash and slide waterfall tour.
11 – Windin Falls: Is It Worth It?
There is one Queensland waterfall we would strongly recommend not visiting – Windin Falls. If you do visit, then please apply a lot of caution. This is a waterfall made very famous by Instagram in the last few years.
Windin is a waterfall where you can stand or sit in an infinity-type pool at the edge of a 50-meter drop, you don’t actually see the waterfall.
There are no safety barriers in place. We have seen a lot of dangerous and dodgy places on our travels but when we visited this place on a day trip from Cairns, we felt very unsafe.
We watched as people posed at the edge of this vertical 50-meter drop taking selfies with not a care in the world. One slip, (and it is slippy) they would have been gone. We didn’t bother taking the famous photo, it wasn’t worth it for us.
A couple of months after we had visited Windin Falls unfortunately a life was lost there. We are not here to lecture you on what to do and what not to do. Just please have a think and ask yourself the question….
Is putting your life at risk worth the photograph?
12 – Magical Fig Trees
Moving on with the must-visit attractions in Cairns. The Waterfall Circuit is of course stunning, yet there are still plenty more extras you can see on this day trip from Cairns than just waterfalls.
How about visiting two magical, out-of-this-world fig trees – the Cathedral Fig Tree and Curtain Fig Tree?
Both trees are located around the Danbulla National Park area and are only about a 10-minute drive off the waterfall circuit.
No photo does them justice, you have to see these beauties with your own eyes.
13 – The Barron Falls
Barron Falls is only 40 minutes by car on the Northwest side of Cairns. We hope you enjoyed plenty of refreshing dips during the waterfall circuit because we’re back to the no-swimming zone! You can’t go swimming at Barron Falls, it is only a viewing area.
At 125 meters tall this impressive cascade waterfall is quite the sight to see in the wet season, and you can even do a half day white water rafting tour.
But note, in the dry season Barron Falls is unfortunately a lot less impressive as can be seen during our Cairns holiday.
14 – Atherton Tablelands
The drive from Cairns to Barron Falls brings you up the Atherton Tablelands and brings you to the town of Kuranda, a relaxed hippy-style town where you can also do a river cruise and spot some freshwater crocodiles. These guys are a lot smaller than their gigantic cousins “The Salty’s’.
Check out Bookme.com.au for any deals in the area – we purchased our river cruise tour for $12 per person.
15 – Kuranda Scenic Skyrail
There is an alternative way of getting to Kuranda instead of driving, and that is Cairns’ most booked activity – The Kuranda Scenic Skyrail.
Glide over the pristine rainforest and beneath the towering waterfalls in the Barron Gorge. There are a few spots to get off and enjoy the view but the train itself is also a main attraction.
Be prepared by booking your Skyrail tickets online.
16 – Babinda Boulders
Are you still open to another Cairns day trip?
Only one hour south of Cairns is yet another natural playground that is our favorite swimming hole in Queensland – The Babinda Boulders.
The Babinda Boulders is a spectacular place to go for a swim in crystal clear waters surrounded by massive granite boulders in the middle of a rainforest.
Doesn’t sound like a bad day trip from Cairns does it?!
Sounds pretty awesome right, what makes it even better is this top Cairns attraction is free to visit.
Besides swimming, you can also go for hikes to the three viewpoints overlooking scenes of enchanting waterfalls and unique boulder formations.
Embrace the surroundings, chill in the large grassy picnic area, and cook up some food on the many available barbecues.
Read all about how we eat cheap around the world.
Cairns Things to Do: The City of Cairns
Now that you have explored the Great Barrier Reef and the stunning surrounding areas of Cairns let’s see what there is to do a little closer to the city.
How are we feeling about the Cairns attractions so far? Is there now an understanding as to why Cairns is a must-visit destination in Australia?
If not, we’ll keep going!
17 – Cairns Aquarium
Not everyone can swim, and then some people can swim but are afraid to swim in the ocean – fair enough in Australia!
If you want to experience the famous marine life and coral reef ecosystems but from a comfortable, dry, and SAFE place, then Cairns Aquarium is your place to be. You’ll find the aquarium right near the reef terminal, which is walkable from town.
If you want to skip the line, you can book a Cairns aquarium Ticket online in advance.
18 – Cairns Botanical Gardens
Last on our list of Cairns things to do is one of the best botanical gardens you will ever see in your life.
We were absolutely mesmerized by the plant life we saw in Cairns Botanical Gardens, and we visit botanical gardens everywhere we travel!
Some of the plants that we saw here were like something from the movie Avatar, and you can even do a night walk tour of the gardens.
While you’ll always find a huge range of diverse tropical plants and lush rainforests on most of the hiking trails in Tropical North Queensland, the Cairns Botanic Gardens contains more than 4000 different species.
Within the park, you will find brochures explaining all the native flora and fauna making it the perfect place for nature lovers.
What a perfect way to spend a few hours during your Cairns Holiday.
Cairns Botanical Gardens is located within walking distance of the city center, and the entrance is free to another must-see attraction in Cairns.
How To Get Around Cairns
Surely by now you getting excited yet after reading all the many incredible Cairns things to do?!
Hopefully, this Cairns travel guide gave you the information you were looking for and convinced you that Cairns is worth visiting.
If you are wondering how to see all of these epic Cairns attractions. Well, then read on friend!
Unless you have your own transport you are going to need to hire a car to discover Cairns and the Tropical North of Queensland.
It is possible to take tours – for example, this half-day city sightseeing tour, but having your own transport allows you that freedom to go at your own pace and stop anywhere, anytime you want.
If you have flown into Cairns then you can pick up a rental easily at Cairns Airport. Below are the main companies we would recommend. Cars and vans can be booked out more than 6 months in advance due to Cairns being a very popular place to visit. So do not wait till the last minute to avoid disappointment.
- Discovercars – This is the best website to compare all car rental companies and score the best deal for you. There are all sorts of vehicles available, from small-budget cars to large family saloons, or perhaps even a 4×4.
- Spaceship Vans – Are you a backpacker or a budget traveler? No problem, then this is the one for you. There are great deals available on Spaceship Vans. We used it for four weeks in New Zealand and had no issues. This is highly recommended by us.
Another bonus is that if you are planning a Cairns to Brisbane road trip, both companies have depots in Airlie Beach and Brisbane to drop the vehicle off once your epic Australian road trip is completed.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Cairns?
Cairns is in the North of Australia in Queensland and has a tropical climate all year round. There are only two seasons of the year, wet and dry.
There are pros and cons for both so let’s check out when is the best time to visit Cairns.
Dry Season: April to November
This is a great time to visit Cairns, the weather is averaging around 26-28 degrees Celsius daily and there will hardly be any rain.
As a consequence, no rain means the waterfalls will be a lot less powerful, on the other hand, you don’t have to worry about any stingers in the sea.
Wet Season: December to March
These months are hot and wet, but it is still possible to visit Cairns and have a great time. The temperatures will be hot and humid in the low 30 degrees, so we highly recommend booking accommodation with a pool to cool down.
When it rains in Cairns, expect some tropical downpours. On a positive note, you guessed it, that means some pretty impressive waterfalls!
Keep two factors in mind when deciding when is the best time to visit Cairns; in the wet season it’s stinger season, so make sure to wear a stinger suit when swimming or snorkeling.
Lastly, the wet season in tropical Queensland also means cyclone season. Just make sure to check the forecast before you go.
How Many Days Do You Need For Your Cairns Holiday?
Cairns is one of our favorite places in the world, bold statement right? Every time we visited this adventure capital we always came away with a new experience.
With these Cairns attractions there is truly something for everyone – adventure, natural landmarks, wildlife, and lots of time and places to relax as well.
It is possible to experience lots of the top Cairns attractions on a long weekend trip – we lived in Mackay for almost 7 years and drove to Cairns many long weekends.
Ideally, you want to give yourself a full week to experience the very best of Cairns and its stunning surroundings. A trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree National Park will take up two full days alone.
Is Cairns Worth Visiting?
Let’s revisit the important question that we mentioned at the start “Is Cairns worth visiting?” We already gave away our answer that in our opinion Cairns is worth visiting, but have you made up your mind yet?
How good does Cairns sound? Pretty cool right, this is why we lived in this part of Australia, Queensland, for almost 7 years. Simply because it is one of the best places on earth, and Cairns most definitely tops the list as Australia’s must-visit destination.
What is your opinion, is Cairns worth visiting? Have you now put it on your Australia bucket list? We would love to hear from you.
Feel free to leave a comment or ask us a question.
Enjoy your Cairns visit, and don’t forget to check out our socials to find out where we are these days.
Safe travels and have a great time.
Slán go fóil
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