From rainforest walks to intriguing museums to deliciously fresh produce, these are the best things to do and see in Cairns.
You may know Cairns primarily as the jump-off point for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, but there’s even more to discover. Find direct flights to Cairns from just about any major Australian city.
Cairns top 5 landmarks
Add these five stops to your Cairns what to see list.
Great Barrier Reef
Welcome to the largest coral reef system in the world.
Every shade of blue exists at the Great Barrier Reef, and Cairns is at its doorstep. Within these hues, you’ll find 100s of islands and reefs with soft and hard corals, reef fish, crustaceans and thousands of species of marine life calling the reef home. Out in the deeper water, see sharks, sea turtles, rays, and pelagic fish cruising through. Make Cairns your departure point for snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and other aquatic adventures. For a unique POV, go on a sightseeing flight.
Cairns Museum
Learn about Cairns’ intriguing history in a fun yet informative way.
A tropical frontier town at its heart, Cairns is a city unlike any other. Learn about its interesting past at the Cairns Museum. Five permanent exhibits touch on the culture of the Aboriginal Traditional Custodians of the land, the sugar cane industry and its role in creating Cairns, tourism, the reef, and the rainforest. This is one of the best things to do in Cairns city with kids–they’ll love participating in the museum’s interactive exhibits. If you’ve dreamed about moving to the tropics, the museum touches on what life is really like near the equator.
Atherton Tablelands
Pack your hiking shoes and venture to this tropical plateau.
Cairns is famous for its natural surroundings. If you’re searching for “Cairns what to do” and want something outdoors, head to the Atherton Tablelands. This is where rainforests, savannah grasslands, and marshlands converge. Admire geological marvels like gargantuan caves, lava tubes, and gorges. Search for wildlife like wallabies, bandicoots, tree frogs, and shy platypuses down on the ground. In the treetops, tens of species of tropical birds perch. When it’s time to unwind, soak in a swimming hole or under the cooling spray of a rainforest waterfall.
Cairns Esplanade
Shop at the esplanade and splash around in the croc-free lagoon.
The Cairns Esplanade is the gathering point in Cairns. Come here to join in on a fitness class, run, walk and swim in the Esplanade’s giant saltwater lagoon. Kids will love the shaded playground. Enjoy dining on fresh seafood or grabbing a casual bite to eat at the local pub. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, throw some snags on the free public barbecues or head to the Cairns Night Markets nearby, open every day at 4:30 p.m.
Cairns Botanic Gardens
These botanic gardens are a small slice of the Daintree Rainforest.
Find serenity at Cairns Botanic Gardens, a tranquil place to admire many species of tropical plants. Walk amongst tropical blooms in Flecker Gardens, admire the ancient ferns from the Gondwana era, look at rare plant species in the Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory. There’s also the Zhanjiang Friendship Gardens, dedicated to Cairns’ sister city, Zhanjiang. The gardens are free to enter and open every day of the year.
Explore Cairns like a local
Go on and get amongst all the natural wonders around Cairns.
Beach and island hop
Crowds? What crowds. If it’s sun you seek, there’s a beach for that.
Wondering what to do in Cairns? Well, you’re never far from a beautiful beach. The Cairns Esplanade is especially scenic, but venture further afield to beaches like Barron Beach, Second Beach, Yarrabah Beach, and King Beach for golden sands and warm waters (just be sure to watch for crocodile or stinger sightings and signage). For more fun, take a 45-minute ferry ride to Fitzroy Island and claim a spot under a shady palm frond all to yourself.
Set sail
Whether you’re on a day trip or a liveaboard cruise, Cairns’ waters are worth exploring.
One of the best things to do in Cairns is go sailing. With tens of islets and reefs within reach, no two trips are ever alike. Put on a mask and snorkel and explore the reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, moor near a white sand island and enjoy a picnic. Go for a swim wherever the water is calm and clear. To swim with dwarf minke whales, visit from June to August.
Cape Tribulation is one of the few places in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites–the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest–converge.
The Cairns Region is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef covers a whopping 348,700 km² and is home to hundreds of islands and coral reef systems.
Dine on delightful seafood and produce
Food doesn’t get fresher than this.
Cities like Sydney and Melbourne might host Australia’s de facto foodie scene, but there’s plenty of scrumptious food in Cairns. Fresh, tropical fruits are grown throughout the region. Farm-fresh pawpaws, mangoes, and bananas are found at the local markets. Enjoy plates of just-caught barramundi, trout, snapper, kingfish and more all throughout the city.
Soak in a secluded swimming hole
Natural rock pools make Cairns the spot for a natural spa experience.
Every local has their own favourite swimming spot, and it takes some experimentation to discover which one yours will be. Just outside Cairns, take a dip in the jade pools of Babinda Boulders, canyon down and swim in Behana Gorge, or laze at the bottom in the pool of Josephine Falls.
Learn about traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
Connect with the ancestral lands of Australia’s first peoples.
The Cairns region and around is home to some of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. Learn more about the rainforest and the reef with Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours, where you’ll cruise through a protected reserve with a cultural guide. Or, explore the sea with Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait sea rangers. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a dinner at Flames of the Forest, a ceremonial experience led by Kuku Yalanji guides.
Visit the Daintree Rainforest
This is where the wild things are.
You can’t visit Cairns without going to the Daintree, one of the longest surviving rainforests on earth (thought to be over 130 million years old). Creatures like cassowaries, tree kangaroos, tree frogs and over half of Australia’s bat and butterfly species live amongst ancient ferns and primitive plants. Pack your hiking boots, a rain jacket and binoculars in between your snorkeling gear!
Cairns costs
When you’re in Cairns, expect to pay:
Accommodation: Budget hotels can cost around $100 per night, while luxury hotels can start from $250.
Food: A meal at a local restaurant may cost around $30 per person.
Drink: A local beer usually costs about $10.
Transport: An average 10-minute taxi journey costs around $20-30.
Thinking of travelling to Cairns? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
