Cairns
A tropical city on Far North Queensland's coast and the base for Great Barrier Reef boats, with the Wet Tropics rainforest reached by road or rail.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Cairns is a city on the tropical northeast coast of Far North Queensland, in the Cairns Region of Queensland, Australia. It is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and many reef tours and cruises leave from its harbor. The Wet Tropics of Queensland and the Daintree Rainforest, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, are nearby, as is the Atherton Tableland. The Kuranda Scenic Railway climbs the Macalister Range from Cairns to the village of Kuranda.
Plan the trip around the season. The wet season runs from November to May, with heavy downpours, and tropical cyclones usually form in those months. June to October is the drier season and is generally the more comfortable time to visit, though light showers can still occur. The Esplanade Lagoon, a public swimming lagoon with barbecue areas that opened in March 2003, is an easy swim in town. Three days can fit a reef trip and the Kuranda railway, and a longer stay leaves room for the Daintree.
Cairns in five
- Pick the reef boat before the hotelCairns has the largest choice of reef departures, from big pontoon boats to small snorkel boats and island day trips. Fix the reef day first, then build the other days around the weather.How to choose a Cairns reef trip
- Plan reef and beach days around stinger seasonThe Queensland guide has the state's stinger dates, swim rules and crocodile advice. Reef boats and the northern beaches both sit in tropical waters, so ask each operator about stinger suits when you book.Queensland swim safety
- Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway one wayThe heritage railway covers 37 km, climbs 327 m and crosses 55 bridges and 15 tunnels. Many visitors pair it with the Skyrail cableway for the return; check the operator's site for the current service.Cairns in 3 days
- Use Cairns as the base for the northPort Douglas is about an hour north of Cairns, with Mossman Gorge and the Daintree beyond it. A Cairns base suits short trips and day tours; a slower week suits Port Douglas.Port Douglas
- Choose a base: city, Esplanade or northern beachesThe city and Esplanade put restaurants and tour pickups on foot. Palm Cove and the beaches north trade that for quiet and sand. Edge Hill suits car-based stays.Where to stay in Cairns
Things to do in Cairns
See all attractions in Cairns
Need to know
- Airport
- Cairns (CNS), the main air gateway for the reef and the north
- Getting there
- Domestic flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
- Getting around
- Walkable center; tours or a hire car for rainforest and coast
- Best base
- City and Esplanade, or Palm Cove for a beach stay
- Time needed
- 3 days; 5 or more with the Tablelands and Daintree
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, stingersJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 478 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, stingers
- FebruaryRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, cyclone riskFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 344 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cyclone risk
- MarchRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Wet, humidMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 359 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Wet endsAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 173 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet ends
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Dry, stingers endMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, stingers end
- JunePartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Dry, coolerJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Dry, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Dry, clearAugustClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, warmingSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warming
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry, hotOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- NovemberClear10 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Stingers returnNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Stingers return
- DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet beginsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 336 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet begins
Average daily high and low in Cairns, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cairns
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 45%
Cairns
06:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°45%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Wed29°23°2%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu29°23°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri30°22°12%Friday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat30°23°9%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun30°23°14%Sunday: Fog. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 01:50 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kurandaby scenic railway or cablewayA rainforest village above Cairns; the railway climbs 327 m over 37 km.
- Atherton Tablelandsa full day by carWaterfalls, crater lakes and farm gates, covered in the region guide.Read the guide
- Great Barrier Reefby boat from the marinaOuter reef, island and snorkel boats leave daily; see the reef guide for how the bases compare.Read the guide
Before you go to Cairns
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Cairns, checked
- Kuranda Scenic Railway: a 37 km journey climbing 327 m, 55 bridges and 15 tunnels, run by Queensland Rail.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Cairns FAQ
How many days do you need in Cairns?
Three days cover a reef day, a rainforest day to Kuranda or the waterfalls, and a slow day on the Esplanade. Add two or three days if you want the Daintree or the Tablelands.
What is the best time to visit Cairns?
June to October is the drier part of the year and suits reef boats, rainforest walks and hot days without the heavy rain. Stinger season runs November to May.
Do you need a car in Cairns?
Not for the city, reef boats or Kuranda, which have pickups, trains and cableways. A car pays off for the Tablelands, waterfalls and the coast road north.
Is it safe to swim in Cairns?
Follow the swim rules in the Queensland guide: patrolled, netted or enclosed areas only, between the flags, and no swimming where crocodile signs or local advice say to stay out.
Should I base myself in Cairns or Port Douglas?
Cairns has the most flights, tours and choice; Port Douglas is quieter and closer to the Daintree. Cairns suits short trips and frequent day tours, Port Douglas suits a slower week.