Travel Guide of Cairns City in Australia by Influencers and Travelers

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.

Download the Travel Map of Australia on Google Maps here

The Best Things to Do and Visit in Cairns City

TRAVELERS TOP 10 :

1 - 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.

Learn more

2 - Cairns

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.

Learn more

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.

Book this experience

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.

Learn more

5 - Edge Hill

Edge Hill is an inner suburb of the city of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia located approximately four kilometres north west of the city centre.

Learn more

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.

Book this experience

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.

Learn more

8 - 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.

View on Google Maps Book this experience

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.

Book this experience

10 - 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.

Learn more Book this experience

11 - 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.

Learn more Book this experience

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!

Book this experience

13 - Cairns Botanic Gardens

Learn more

14 - 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.

Learn more

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.

Book this experience

16 - 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.

View on Google Maps Book this experience

17 - Copperlode Dam

   12 km away

Copperlode Falls Dam or Lake Morris is a fresh water reservoir dam in Lamb Range, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, servicing the city of Cairns. The dam is located in the range immediately west of Cairns.

View on Google Maps Book this experience

18 - Yorkeys Knob

   13 km away

Yorkeys Knob is a coastal suburb of Cairns, in Cairns Region, Far North Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 13 kilometres north of the centre of Cairns, and is the third beach suburb after Machans Beach and Holloways Beach.

Learn more

19 - Stony Creek

   13 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.

Learn more

20 - Barron Falls

   16 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.

Learn more Book this experience

21 - Barron Gorge National Park

   16 km away

Barron Gorge National Park is a protected area in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is predominantly within the locality of Barron Gorge.

Learn more Book this experience

22 - 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.

Learn more Book this experience

23 - 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.

Learn more

24 - Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

   19 km away

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is a butterfly sanctuary and exhibit situated in the centre of Kuranda, Queensland, Australia.

View on Google Maps Book this experience






Disover the best Instagram Spots around Cairns City here

   Book Tours and Activities in Cairns City

Pictures and Stories of Cairns City from Influencers

14 pictures of Cairns City from Cris Saur, Rayhan Hibatullah, David Clode and other travelers

Why should you visit Cairns City ?

Travel to Cairns City if you like:

  ⛰️ Hill station     🤿 Underwater     🐾 Wildlife     🏞️ National park  

Learn More about Cairns City

Cairns city is located in the northeast coast of Australia in the region of Queensland. It was founded by Sir William Wellington Cairns, governor of Queensland, who gave his name to the city in 1875. It is a transit town as it served the miners heading to the Hodgkinson River gold field, and later became a rail head and an important port for the export of gold, sugar canes, minerals etc, from other coastal cities. The city is very popular because of its tropical landscapes. The city is known for its tropical climate and most of all the Great Barrier Reef which is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. You will be able to see the Great Barrier Reef but also tropical marine life while inside a submarine or if you prefer scuba-diving. You will enjoy a breathtaking view of the amazing marine life hidden in the reef. You can also appreciate the blue waters of The Esplanade Lagoon and swim year round. The Daintree Rainforest is a must-see when visiting Cairns, it is the largest continuous area of rainforest in Australia, The area includes the Daintree National Park, some national forest areas and some private land. This forest is full of numerous animal species, some of which are protected. It is a city that has been touristic for a long time, so don't panic to find something to live in and to accommodate yourself. In the heart of the city, you can eat in renowned restaurants and cafés, there is something for everyone’s taste. The city is also known for its shopping experience, it is the ideal city to buy your vacation souvenirs. If you are looking for a new experience and to discover tropical landscapes and lagoons, this destination is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Cairns City

What are the most affordable hotels in Cairns city?

Cairns offers many accommodation options! For those who want quality accommodation, there are 5-star hotels. But for those on a budget, Gilligan's, Castaway Backpackers or the Cairns Central YHA are good choices!

Any Reef tour/cruise recommendations from Cairns City ?

There are many ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef, depending on your mood and ability. Cairns is the closest place to the Great Barrier Reef and offers a variety of reef tours. 
The choices of excursions are varied, whether it's a dive cruise, a dive and snorkel tour on a boat, a helicopter flight, a superyacht vacation, it's up to you to decide how you want to enjoy this unique experience.
It is well known that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best dive sites in the world. To get close to the coral reefs, diving and snorkeling are probably the most rewarding ways to experience them in all their glory.
A day trip to the reef takes place on small boats, and heads even further offshore to the outer reef, where you are dropped off and can explore. Many companies offer snorkeling and diving day trips.
If you don't feel like diving the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling is another option. All equipment is provided and sessions last about an hour. You can also try snorkeling, supervised by professionals.
The pontoons are large floating platforms where you can do several activities for a few hours for those who are not comfortable on a boat.
If one day is not enough, it is possible to spend one or more nights aboard a cruise ship to watch the sunrise and sunset over the Great Barrier Reef, a magical sight. During the day, you can enjoy water activities and admire the beauty of the environment.
There are also several Great Barrier Reef boat tours that explore the surrounding islands, so you can combine snorkeling from the shore with relaxing on the beach. This is a great option for those who want to experience different things.
There are still many options to discover this natural wonder, you choose what you prefer, of course some options are more expensive than others.

Which beach in Cairns City is the most suitable for swimming?

The beaches of Cairns are a real paradise. However, there are a few things you should be aware of during your beach days. Many of the beaches in the area are protected by jellyfish nets. It is therefore imperative to respect the signs and instructions of each beach during stinger seasons.
​​The most famous and visited are Trinity Beach and Clifton Beach. But if you want to have peace of mind without thinking about a potential danger, we recommend the Cairns Lagoon, indeed it is not really a beach, but you can swim safely.

​​Where to rent a car in Cairns city?

 To get around, the car is a good means of transportation, you can directly rent a car at the airport on arrival or in Cairns city. There are about 20 car rental companies in the city, especially along the sea, so it's up to you to decide on your budget and the type of vehicle you need. Mini Car Rentals, Enterprise Rent-a-car or 1300 Meteor Car Rental Cairns are highly rated companies, it's up to you to choose!

   Where to Stay in Cairns City

   More Travel spots to explore around Cairns City

Click on the pictures to learn more about the places and to get directions

Discover more travel spots to explore around Cairns City

  🤿 Underwater spots     🐾 Wildlife spots     ⛰️ Hill station spots     🗼 Landmark spots     🏞️ National park spots  

  Travel map of Cairns City

Explore popular touristic places around Cairns City

   Download On Google Maps  🗺️📲

   Book Flights to Cairns City, Australia

• Share This Travel Guide