Cairns Region

Province · Queensland, 🇦🇺 Australia

Population 166,943

Area 1,695 km²

Time zone Australia/Brisbane

Official website www.cairns.qld.gov.au

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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