Cairns

Gateway To The Reef

About Cairns

Gateway to the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest , Cairns is the crown jewel of Queensland and is one of the go-to holiday destinations for Australians. Mountains, beaches, tidal wetlands, lakes, mangroves, estuaries and coastal plains are all part of Cairns’ unique topography.

Cairns, now a tourist hotspot, was once a lush rainforest primarily inhabited by the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. Gimuy was, and still is, the Aboriginal name for the city. Delve deep into the city and its roots and you will still find them inhabiting areas around Cairns and Yarrabah. Carrying on the legacy of their ancestors, they continue to educate the current generation about their rich and ancient heritage.

From a sleepy little town, Cairns has evolved into a tropical playground with an infectious holiday energy. With access to the most exclusive reef destinations, Cairns River cruises promise the most incredible sightseeing, snorkelling and diving experiences.

Embark on a 7.5km-long Skyrail Rainforest Cableway running above the Barron Gorge National Park, journey into the Kuranda village in the Wet Tropics on the Kuranda Scenic Railway or snorkel above countless coral gardens at the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns cruises are the go-to options for this! You can also sunbathe at the man-made Esplanade Lagoon and visit the beautiful rivers, gorges and waterfalls just a short distance from the city. Spend days, or even months exploring this tropical oasis!

Cairns Cruise Experiences

Snorkel and Dive Tours

10 Cruises

From $110

Adventure

6 Cruises

From $79

Fitzroy & Green Island Tours

7 Cruises

From $110

Sightseeing Cruises

5 Cruises

From $55

Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises

8 Cruises

Featured Cruises

19 Cruises

4hr Afternoon Big Cat Green Island & Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Reef Rocket cruise to Green Island. Enjoy pristine white beaches & guided a rainforest boardwalk. Free glass-bottom boat tour to discover coral gardens.

Duration 4hr

From $110

8Hr Reef Magic Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Cruise to an exclusive activity pontoon on Moore Reef! Enjoy snorkelling, semi-submersible, glass-bottom boat tours, lunch, beverages and more.

Duration 8hr

From $299

4Hr Morning Big Cat Green Island Cruise & Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Reef Rocket cruise to Green Island. Enjoy pristine white beaches & guided a rainforest boardwalk. Free glass-bottom boat tour to discover coral gardens.

Duration 4hr

From $110

See All Cruises

Know Before You Go

Best Time To Visit

One of the major highlights of Cairns is its weather, and there are many advantages to visiting any time of the year. The weather in Cairns is unlike Australia’s southern regions, here there are two seasons: a summer and a dry season.

During the dry season, you can enjoy favourable weather and even witness migrating whales, but it's important to be prepared for larger crowds. In contrast, the summer season brings tropical weather with occasional summer showers.

Public Holidays

Sunday, 1 January: New Year's Day
Monday, 2 January: Additional public holiday for New Year's Day
Thursday, 26 January: Australia Day
Friday, 7 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 8 April: Day following Good Friday
Sunday, 9 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 10 April: Easter Monday
Tuesday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Tuesday, 26 December: Boxing Day

Events & Festivals

Crankworx Cairns (May)
Crankworx is a mountain biking festival showcasing top elite races, amateur and CWNEXT next generation events, as well as engaging Kidsworx activities. The festival also features a lively expo and a vibrant atmosphere, bringing together mountain biking enthusiasts and action sports fans to revel in the best of Australian hospitality.

Cairns Children's Festival (May)
Exclusive for children under the age of 12, the Cairns Children’s Festival shines the spotlight on the creativity of the younger ones, with a safe and engaging environment for families to explore. The festival invites local creatives to design installations and activities as well as plenty of opportunities for children to be part of the festival.

Cairns Show (July)
The annual Cairns show is the one that unites the city to the state – except family entertainment, competition entries, educational displays, awesome food stalls, thrilling rides, animals of all sizes, local business exhibits and more.

School Holidays

TERM 1 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2023
Queensland: 1 April to 16 April

TERM 2 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2023
Queensland: 24 June to 9 July

TERM 3 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2023
Queensland: 16 September to 2 October

TERM 4 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2023 - 2024
Queensland: 9 December 2023 to 21 January 2024

Accommodation

It is advisable to pre-book your hotel/ accommodation when visiting Cairns as it has a high tourist influx, throughout the year. All major hotels offer airport pick-up & drop off and parking facilities. Plan ahead and enjoy a great stay!

Dining

Cairns is known for its relaxed, laid-back lifestyle, exquisite food, and spectacular views, that’s exactly what you get when you dine out on one of their top restaurants.
Indulge in a variety of delectable dishes in this area, ranging from ocean-fresh seafood to locally procured meats infused with African flavours. Your culinary experience is bound to be exceptional, with an abundance of satisfying meals to choose from.

Transport

Cairns has transport options for all budgets and tastes including the many four-wheel drive tours that can pick you up and drop back off at your doorstep. Daily bus services are run by Sunbus and take you to most suburbs, beaches, and towns with most routes beginning from the Cairns City Mall. You can hail a taxi from the street or better, get an Uber - don’t forget to tip!

Cairns Tourist Information

Public Conveniences

Public restrooms (both paid and free) are available at all major locations. You can also pop-in at a restaurant or shopping centre, as all of them are equipped with well-maintained restrooms.

Shopping & Market Hours

In Cairns, you'll discover a selection of luxury fashion and retail shopping outlets typically associated with capital cities. The Cairns CBD Shopping Precinct is home to a range of high-end Australian and international brands, including couture labels and exclusive boutiques.

Most of the markets are open on all days of the week, and the general timings are 8am to 9pm on weekdays, from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and 1pm to 8pm on Sundays. Cairns also has a prominent night market scene, which is active every day of the year from 4pm.

Medical Services

The emergency hotline for any assistance from Police, Fire and Ambulance is 000. For non-urgent medical help you can connect on: 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84). Cairns has hospitals namely Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital etc. for any medical service.

Blogs & Articles

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Reef-sponsible Adventures At The Great Barrier Reef

Absolutely, no doubt about it, the Great Barrier Reef is ethereal! This natural wonder is the ultimate crib for so many different marine species. Some of them are veritable reef celebrities – you can’t find them anywhere else on the map.

Posted on Sep 01, 2023