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Cairns Region

Province · Queensland, 🇦🇺 Australia
Population 166,943
Area 1,695 km²
Time zone Australia/Brisbane
Official website www.cairns.qld.gov.au
Cairns Region

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Featured Lists

Photnart / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cairns Unmissables

Cairns serves as the primary base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This selection includes the heritage-listed Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, both traversing Barron Gorge National Park. In the city center, the 4,800-square-meter saltwater Lagoon offers year-round swimming. Local culture and nature are highlighted through the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the historic Flecker Botanic Gardens, while Rusty's Markets and the Night Markets provide fresh tropical produce and local crafts.

13 places

Camping and Caravan Adventures

This collection spans the tropical coastline and rainforest hinterland of the Cairns region. It includes commercial holiday parks with full amenities like BIG4 Coconut Resort and Lake Placid Tourist Park, alongside primitive national park sites in Wooroonooran. Coastal options at Bramston Beach and Palm Cove provide direct ocean access, while the Goldsborough Valley and Babinda Boulders offer freshwater swimming holes and rainforest hiking trails. For island stays, the Fitzroy Island campsite provides access to the Great Barrier Reef via ferry.

23 places
Toby Hudson / CC BY-SA 3.0

Parks and Natural Escapes

Explore a diverse collection of green spaces across Cairns, ranging from the heritage-listed Flecker Botanic Gardens to the marine environment of Green Island National Park. This selection highlights popular community hubs like Goomboora Park, known for its Freshwater Creek swimming holes, and the Cairns Showgrounds. It also features numerous neighborhood reserves throughout the northern beaches—including Kewarra Beach and Trinity Beach—alongside local sporting facilities like the Holloways Beach Sporting Complex.

20 places
Photnart / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scenic Viewpoints

This collection features scenic vantage points across Far North Queensland, ranging from the coastal platforms of Palm Cove to the elevated ridges of the Macalister and Gillies Ranges. It includes historical infrastructure like the Kuranda Scenic Railway and natural formations at Babinda Boulders, where granite outcrops shape the tropical landscape. Key lookouts such as Henry Ross and Wright’s provide perspectives of the Barron Gorge National Park, the Coral Sea, and the surrounding agricultural valleys.

18 places

Spectacular Waterfalls

This collection features the diverse waterfalls and natural swimming holes surrounding Cairns, primarily located within the Wooroonooran and Barron Gorge National Parks. These sites showcase the region's unique geology, including ancient granite formations and the natural rock slides of Josephine Falls. The list covers a range of accessible freshwater pools like Crystal Cascades and historic landmarks such as Stoney Creek Falls, which is famously spanned by the Kuranda Scenic Railway bridge.

11 places

Cairns Region — Map

Cairns Region — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: May, June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 23°–33°
  • 25° at night
  • 23 rainy days
  • 8 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 12 · extreme

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 24°–33°
  • 25° at night
  • 22 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 12 · extreme

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 23°–32°
  • 24° at night
  • 20 rainy days
  • 9 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in April

Good
  • 27° (feels like 29°) · extremes 21°–30°
  • 23° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 11 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 27°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in May

Great
  • 26° · extremes 18°–28°
  • 21° at night
  • 10 rainy days
  • 11 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 25°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in June

Great
  • 24° · extremes 17°–27°
  • 20° at night
  • 8 rainy days
  • 10 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 23°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Great
  • 24° (feels like 23°) · extremes 16°–26°
  • 19° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 14 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 23°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in August

Great
  • 24° · extremes 16°–27°
  • 19° at night
  • 6 rainy days
  • 18 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 23°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in September

Great
  • 26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 18°–29°
  • 20° at night
  • 6 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 24°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in October

Good
  • 28° (feels like 29°) · extremes 20°–31°
  • 22° at night
  • 8 rainy days
  • 22 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 26°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in November

Fair
  • 29° (feels like 31°) · extremes 22°–32°
  • 23° at night
  • 12 rainy days
  • 18 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 27°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 12 · extreme

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 23°–32°
  • 24° at night
  • 18 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 12 · extreme

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Australian Dollar AUD A$ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers
000 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Left
Calling code
+61
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Kuranda Scenic Railway
Drive
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Drive
Lagoon

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