Travel Guide of Cairns in Australia by Influencers and Travelers
Cairns is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the east coast of Far North Queensland. The city is the 5th-most-populous in Queensland, and 14th in Australia.
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The Best Things to Do and Visit in Cairns
TRAVELERS TOP 10 :
1 - Cairns City
Cairns City is a coastal suburb at the centre of Cairns in the local government area of Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It can also be referred to as the Cairns Central Business District.
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2 - Esplanade
The Esplanade Hotel was a hotel on The Esplanade across from Esplanade Reserve in Perth, Western Australia. Its demolition in 1972 was controversial because of the building's beauty and popularity.
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3 - Scuba Diving in Cairns & the Tropical North
If snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, don’t miss this day trip from Cairns. The 35-metre superyacht, Evolution, departs Cairns with a record 5 hours spent exploring 2 spectacular and exclusive outer Great Barrier Reef locations for an adventure-filled day! You’ll visit 2 different locations on the barrier reef for the chance to see tropical marine life in the clear waters. Lunch is included onboard the boat, and you have the option to upgrade to include additional adventures such as introductory or certified scuba diving or a helicopter flight over this UNESCO World Heritage site. Both water sports enthusiasts and novices are welcome. Includes instruction and equipment provided by friendly and professional instructors.
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4 - Cairns North
Cairns North is a coastal suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Cairns North had a population of 5,191 people.
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5 - Edge Hill
Edge Hill is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.
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6 - Shore Excursions in Cairns & the Tropical North
Marvel at the natural beauty of Cape Tribulation and its surrounding attractions on a day trip from Cairns and Port Douglas. Get ready for a day of native culture and UNESCO World Heritage–listed wonders, as this guided tour delivers it all: coastal drives, a rainforest walk, Mossman Gorge, the Daintree Rainforest, an indigenous 'Welcome to Country' event and smoke ceremony, and a river cruise, if selected when booking (the river cruise is an optional upgrade). Hotel pickup and drop-off and lunch are included.
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7 - White Rock
6 km away
White Rock is a locality in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The majority of land in White Rock remains covered in natural vegetation. In the far north west, the Centenary Motorway links Springfield with the Cunningham Highway to the west.
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8 - Cairns City QLD
Cairns is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the east coast of Far North Queensland. The city is the 5th-most-populous in Queensland, and 14th in Australia.
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9 - Sightseeing Cruises in Cairns & the Tropical North
Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green Island, with plenty of time to snorkel or scuba dive, tour the reef on a glass-bottom boat or view coral from a semi-submersible submarine.
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10 - Cairns Aquarium
Cairns Aquarium, the first public aquarium built in Australia in 18 years, is home to more than 16,000 specimens and 10 ecosystems.
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11 - Trinity Inlet
The Trinity Inlet is an oceanic inlet which serves as the port for the city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The city centre is on the western bank where the inlet meets the Coral Sea.
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12 - Helicopter Tours in Cairns & the Tropical North
Experience the sheer size and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and gain a true appreciation of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This flight includes views of beautiful Green Island and Fitzroy Island and on low tide, Vlasoff Sand Cay and Upolu Sand Cay. Sightings of manta rays, turtles and other marine life are not uncommon. If you're flying with us in the winter months, there is even a chance of spotting whales!
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13 - Kuranda Scenic Railway
9 km away
The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a tourist railway service that operates along the heritage-listed Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line.
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14 - Cairns Botanic Gardens
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15 - Rafting in Cairns & the Tropical North
Enjoy an outdoor adventure in Queensland with a 2-hour white-water rafting tour in Barron Gorge National Park. This experience is a suitable introduction to river rafting for first-timers, providing an exhilarating time with a rafting guide. Take in rainforest views along the Barron River as you navigate rapids up to grade III. When booking, you have the option to include pickup in Cairns and the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas, or drive yourself to the starting point.
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16 - Edmonton
11 km away
Edmonton is a town and suburb in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Edmonton had a population of 10,753 people.
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17 - Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
12 km away
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a 7.5-kilometre scenic tourist cableway running above the Barron Gorge National Park, in the Wet Tropics of Queensland’s World Heritage Area in Australia.
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18 - Stony Creek
12 km away
Stony Creek is a small township in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, located roughly between Meeniyan and Foster. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 281.
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19 - Yorkeys Knob
13 km away
Yorkeys Knob is a coastal suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Yorkeys Knob had a population of 2,759 people.
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20 - Stoney Creek Falls
14 km away
The Stoney Creek Falls is a cascade waterfall on the Stoney Creek located where the river descends from the Atherton Tablelands to the Cairns coastal plain, in Queensland, Australia.
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21 - Cape Grafton
16 km away
Cape Grafton is a cape located to the north-east of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. The cape was named by Lieutenant James Cook during his first voyage of discovery in 1770.
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22 - Barron Falls
17 km away
The Barron Falls is a steep tiered cascade waterfall on the Barron River located where the river descends from the Atherton Tablelands to the Cairns coastal plain, in Queensland, Australia.
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23 - Rainforestation Nature Park
17 km away
Rainforestation Nature Park is situated five minutes from Kuranda in Far North Queensland, Australia. Set on 100 acres in the midst of World Heritage rainforest, the park opened in 1976. The site had previously been used as a coffee and orange plantation.
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24 - Trinity Beach
17 km away
Trinity Beach is a coastal suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 census, Trinity Beach had a population of 5,488.
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25 - Birdworld Kuranda
18 km away
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Pictures and Stories of Cairns from Influencers
18 pictures of Cairns from Nicholas Teoh, Manny Moreno, Kelly Dalling and other travelers
- The stunning view on the road to Port Douglas ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Kim Sutcliffe | ©Unsplash
- Awaiting another swoop through the valley after the flying insects. North Queensland, Australia. ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Kelly Dalling | ©Unsplash
- a RARE photo of me just living my best life :D Check out my account for more :) ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Manny Moreno | ©Unsplash
- This teenage bird was trying to look cool but failing miserably. ...click to read more
- Experienced by @David Clode | ©Unsplash
- A Bush Stone-curlew sits out a rain shower. ...click to read more
- Experienced by @David Clode | ©Unsplash
Why should you visit Cairns ?
Travel to Cairns if you like:
🏖️ Beach 🐾 Wildlife 🌲 Forest 🏖️ ShoreLearn More about Cairns
Located in the far north of Queensland, Cairns has a tropical atmosphere and a natural environment full of life. Cairns is a city full of surprises that knows how to adapt.
While some might complain that this coastal city lacks a beach, the city has been ingenious in offering locals and tourists alike a beautiful man-made lagoon in the center of town.
It is a city where life is good, far from the agitation of the other big Australian cities. Nevertheless, Cairns does not forget its sense of celebration which appeals so much to Australians.
Its many restaurants, bars, clubs and hostels will welcome partygoers back from their excursions in the Daintree National Park or on the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns is the main access to the Great Barrier Reef, which makes it a great stop for many tourists during their stay in Australia.
It would be unthinkable to be in Cairns and not explore the Great Barrier Reef which is only a few kilometers away.
Cairns is often considered the main gateway to the reef. The city is home to many tourist operators who offer a variety of activities to access it.
Snorkeling, scuba diving, semi-submersible, catamaran or clear-bottom boat rides, seaplane flights, skydiving.... There is something for everyone to discover this natural jewel.
It shelters an incredible marine fauna and flora. There is a multitude of corals and tropical fish, sea turtles, whales and dolphins or sharks.
Cairns is located in an area where nature is omnipresent. Mountains and national parks surround the city.
The Daintree National Park, the Wooroonooran National Park and the Kuranda State Forest to name a few. The change of scenery is total. Stroll through the jungle or off the beaten track.
Let yourself be surprised by the impressive diversity of fauna and flora and breathtaking landscapes.
For activities, you can make an excursion on the Daintree River to observe the crocodiles that live there.
Further inland is the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, which is well worth a visit. This plateau offers a unique diversity of landscapes and open spaces.
It is home to many waterfalls with different but nevertheless impressive characteristics (Millaa Milla Falls, FallsZillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls).
The region is also known for its past and present volcanic activity. It is symbolized by the chain of extinct volcanoes of the Seven Sisters or the volcanic lake of Eacham whose surrounding paths are full of history and aboriginal art.
It is also near Atherton where the famous Curtain Fig tree is found.
The city of Cairns is located on the coast, but the beaches accessible on foot from the city center are not suitable for swimming. The municipality decided to create an artificial lagoon on the Esplanade. It is an ideal place for swimming and relaxing on its shores. The place is as well frequented by tourists as by locals.
Don't hesitate and discover Cairns!
Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Cairns
It is best to visit Cairns between April and December during the dry season. At this time of the year, the tropical climate is most favorable.
During this period the temperatures are pleasant, between 20 and 30 degrees and the humidity is quite bearable.
Between January and December, there are frequent tropical rains in this region of northern Australia. The high temperatures combined with the humidity are stifling.
As a tropical region, in Cairns, it is warm all year round, with rainy summers and few winters.
May to August is the best time to spend the season. Average summer temperature : 25°~ 32°C; average winter temperature: 19°~ 26°C.
Where to Stay in Cairns
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More Travel spots to explore around Cairns
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Discover more travel spots to explore around Cairns
🤿 Underwater spots 🐾 Wildlife spots 🌴 Jungle spots 🌲 Forest spots 🌴 Rainforest spots 🏖️ Shore spots 🏞️ Waterfall spots 🏞️ National park spots 🏖️ Beach spots 🛣️ Road trip spots 🏰 Church spots 🌆 Skyline spots 🏘️ Town spots Ferris wheel spots ⛰️ Hill station spots 🗼 Landmark spotsTravel map of Cairns
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