TNQ Writer
When it rains, activities pour in Cairns. See why Cairns shines all summer long with this wet weather activity guide.
What can I do in Cairns when it rains?
With a name like Tropical North Queensland, a little rain is part of the landscape. In Cairns, it rarely puts plans on hold, instead opening the door to a city layered with culture, food, stories and indoor experiences worth trying. A change in plans, it turns out, can be just as much fun.
Check out an exhibition
Cairns Art Gallery
When better to explore Cairns’ bustling arts scene than on a rainy day? Cairns Art Gallery spans three stunning heritage-listed buildings, where historic architecture sets the scene for an ever-changing array of exhibitions, all of which are completely free. Spend a few hours (or even a whole afternoon) discovering an array of historical and contemporary art by leading Indigenous, regional, national, and international artists. Don’t forget to pop to the Gallery Shop to browse an array of artisan goodies, homewares and local art works.
A short walk away, Northsite Contemporary Arts showcases exhibitions by artists from across North Queensland and the Torres Strait, while the adjoining gift shop is a treasure trove of gorgeous pieces.
Shop Till You Drop
Cairns Rusty's market
Cairns Rusty's market
Cairns crystal ball bookstore
Cairns crystal ball bookstore
Palm Cove shop
Palm Cove shop
It’s always good weather for shopping, and Cairns delivers with a mix of boutiques, markets and local producers. Grafton Street, once the heart of Cairns’ historic Chinatown, remains a lively stretch of the city and is home to Rusty’s Markets, which is open from Friday to Sunday (inclusive). Completely undercover, Rusty’s is best known for its tropical fruit and vegetable stalls, but it’s just as much about the atmosphere. Alongside fresh produce and street food, you will find handmade jewellery, pottery and homewares as well tasty street food and local favourite Annee’s Caphê Sua Da. Beyond the markets, Grafton Street reveals its character through its arcades. Oceana Walk Arcade, Mainstreet Arcade and Marinos Arcade cut straight through the block, offering plenty to explore beyond the main street with tucked away cafés, vintage finds and independent boutiques.
Tanks Arts Centre and Edge Hill
Tanks Art Centre
A short drive or bus ride from the CBD, Tanks Arts Centre offers a very different wet-weather experience. Set within converted World War II oil tanks and surrounded by rainforest, the galleries and performance spaces regularly host exhibitions, installations and live events. It’s worth checking the program ahead of time to see what’s on. Outside, the Tanks precinct also has plenty to explore from the Cairns Botanic Gardens next door to large scale artwork and colourful murals that make for an easy photo stop. Just beyond the gates, the suburb of Edge Hill brings a distinctly eclectic energy. Think funky cafes, restaurants, cocktail bars and plenty of big trees and shelter for those grey days.
Spa Day
Palm Cove Spa
If going outdoors isn’t on the cards, Cairns’ hotels make it easy to slow things down with on-site spa experiences designed for days like this. In the city, Crystalbrook Riley is home to Eleme Spa, Hilton Cairns offers the Banyan Spa, and Pullman Cairns International features Vie Spa. Further north, Palm Cove’s resort spas at Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore, Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa and The Reef House Adults Retreat sit perfectly alongside one of Australia’s most famed beaches. If you are looking to make wellness your whole holiday focus, nourish your mind, body and soul at these day spas and yoga retreats while you are at it.
Eat. A Lot
Cairns Mexicairns restaurant
Cairns Mexicairns restaurant
Cairns Ochre restaurant
Cairns Ochre restaurant
Cairns Tamarind restaurant
Cairns Tamarind restaurant
No matter the weather, Cairns knows how to do dining well, especially by the water. Few things beat settling in for a long lunch while watching the boats roll into the marina. Set along the waterfront, Cairns Marlin Marina is lined with more restaurants than you could reasonably eat your way through in a week, which makes choosing the hardest part. What’s guaranteed, though, is variety and quality. Think fresh local seafood, Mediterranean flavours, Australian dishes and Asian-led menus that reflect Cairns’ multicultural roots. Check out the menus at Ollie’s Italian, Dundee’s Restaurant, Ochre, Ela, Salt House, Sails and Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, which are all top choices. Leave the waterfront and the choices are endless, but Little Sister, Rufus and Tamarind all come highly recommended.
Order a craft beer paddle at a brewery
Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf
Rainy days are a good excuse to settle in and sample what Cairns does best at the bar. Set at the Cruise Liner Terminal, Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf pairs small-batch brewing with views across Trinity Inlet. Order a tasting paddle and work your way through house favourites like the 7th Heaven Tropical Ale and Prospector’s Gold Lager, alongside rotating seasonal and small-batch releases brewed on site. With a full food menu, be warned this is one stop you may not move too far from. For something more low-key, head to Coral Sea Brewing Co., tucked away down Bank Lane, where large-scale murals line the walls and set the scene for this funky taproom. Expect a limited core range alongside seasonal releases, with Tropic Ale a local favourite.
Get your game on
Mexicairns games
If the rain sets in, take the competition indoors at Mexicairns. This high-energy venue blends old-school games like bowling, darts, shuffleboard, ping pong and more with Mexican-inspired plates and well-made cocktails, all set within a bold, design-led space. Families are welcome earlier in the day, with the venue shifting to adults-only after 6pm. For a different kind of game night, head to the Sports Arena at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, where wall-to-wall screens and a large LED theatre display make it easy to follow live sport from around the world.
Discover Cairns Hidden Bars
Cairns Flamingos Tiki Bar
Step away from the obvious and you will find smaller, personality-driven venues tucked along laneways, upstairs rooms and quiet corners of the CBD that locals return to time and again. Three Wolves has built a loyal following for its tequila and mezcal focus, while nearby Flamingos Tiki Bar leans into rum with a sense of fun that lives up to its name. For something more pared back, Fox Small Bar keeps things intimate, with classic cocktails, good music and just enough buzz. Find more local favourites in this handy guide.
Cruise above the treetops
Kuranda market
Kuranda market
Barron cascades
Barron cascades
Skyrail Rainforest
Skyrail Rainforest
For a wet-weather rainforest experience, explore the Wet Tropics with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway whose gondolas connect Cairns with Kuranda, rain or shine. In the wet, the views go from magical to mythical, making it easy to envision a time when dinosaurs roamed this land and ate the very-same Jurassic plants you see today. At the top, Kuranda village offers a relaxed change of pace. Settle in for lunch at one of the village cafés and browse the markets for unique gifts to take home.
Go below the surface
Cairns Aquarium
Explore life below the water’s surface at Cairns Aquarium, which packs 10 of Tropical North Queensland’s diverse ecosystems and over 15,000 animals into one city block. With half a day on your side you can explore 71 different exhibits, which would otherwise take more than 2300km of travelling to cover. This aquarium packages up the best of the world’s oldest rainforest and the world’s largest coral reef into one highlight reel. Feeling brave? Don a scuba suit to swim with the sharks with the aquarium’s shark diving experience. Or just around the corner, enter the ancient world of Egpyt with Tomb of the Pharoahs, an amazing collection of artworks replicating those discovered in ancient Eyptian tombs.
Live Music
Cairns live music
A rainy night is a good excuse to head indoors and see what’s playing. Cairns’ live music scene stretches from intimate local sets to larger-scale performances, with something on most nights of the week. In the city, venues like Elixir Music House champion local talent with regular gigs and open mic nights, creating a relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere that suits spontaneous plans. BAR36 – Live Lounge, located at Pullman Cairns International, has long earned a reputation as great place to settle in for a night of live music. Open 7 nights from 4pm, check out the gig guide for what’s playing.
Just north of the city, Ellis Beach Bar & Grill pairs live music with ocean views, hosting bands and DJs across a wide mix of genres in a laid-back coastal setting. For larger touring acts, orchestras and contemporary performances, Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Munro Martin Parklands and Tanks Arts Centre anchor the city’s performance calendar year-round.
Waterfall Chasing
Millaa millaa falls
When it rains in Cairns, the waterfalls don’t just appear, they perform. Just a short drive from the city, the waterfalls of the Atherton Tablelands turn a grey day into a front-row seat, with Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Elinjaa Falls all easily linked on one circuit. Closer to Cairns, spots like Crystal Cascades, Stoney Creek and Barron Falls reward those willing to get a little damp, with flowing creeks, misty rainforest and plenty of places to stop and watch the water rush past. Conditions change quickly after heavy rain, so check access and road conditions before you go, then enjoy seeing the tropics at full force. Before you head out, watch this freshwater safety video to help you explore safely.
Embrace It
Rafting adventure
Rafting adventure
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
Wildlife Cassowary
Wildlife Cassowary
If you have a tour booked or a Great Barrier Reef visit planned, a little rain is rarely a reason to cancel. Many reef tours and experiences operate rain or shine, and conditions can vary widely across the region. It’s common for showers along the coast to miss the reef entirely or pass quickly once you are offshore. On land, rainforest tours, river cruises and guided experiences continue as planned, offering a chance to see the tropics in one of its most authentic states. Pack a light rain jacket, lean into the conditions and trust the locals, this is weather the region knows how to work with, not around. Tour options can include Cassowary Falls, Back Country Bliss, bungee jumping with Skypark Cairns, rafting with Cairns Adventure Group or nature spotting with FNQ Nature Tours.
Go all in
Cairns Jet Boating
If rain’s already in the forecast, this is one experience where it genuinely doesn’t matter. Cairns Jet Boating delivers high-speed thrills on Trinity Inlet, with spins, slides and spray guaranteed from the moment you leave the dock. Dress to get wet and hold on as the jet boat tears through mangrove-lined channels, with music pumping and commentary from a skipper who knows these waters inside out.
Taste a local gin
Cairns Wolf Lane
Cairns has built a quietly impressive distilling scene shaped by tropical ingredients. Small producers across the city and region are turning local sugarcane, rainforest botanicals and native flavours into spirits best sipped and savoured. Hidden down a laneway in the CBD, Wolf Lane Distillery is known for its tropical gins and liqueurs, with a cellar door that welcomes tastings. Narrow Tracks Distilling Co. adds another layer, producing small-batch spirits with a strong focus on craft and quality. Hire a car and venture further afield with distilleries like Mount Uncle Distillery, Distil on the Hill and Devil’s Thumb Distillery rounding out the experience.
Learn about Cairns’ fascinating history
Cairns Museum
Rainy days are made for getting hands-on with Cairns’ past at Cairns Museum. Right in the heart of the city, the museum brings local history to life with interactive exhibits that go beyond reading labels. Can you lift a bag of cane sugar? Try your hand at the tools, stories and everyday challenges that shaped early life in the tropics, from hard physical work to moments of ingenuity and community. With a mix of permanent displays and changing exhibitions, with plenty to keep kids engaged, it’s an easy few wet-weather hours spent learning something new.
Break out of an escape room
A locked door, a ticking clock and a series of cleverly designed puzzles make an escape room an easy way to forget about the weather altogether. At Escape Academy Cairns, teams work their way through themed rooms that test logic, communication and problem-solving under pressure.
Get up close with wildlife
Cairns Koala’s & Creatures
Rainy days are a great excuse to meet some of Tropical North Queensland’s cutest residents. At Cairns Koala’s & Creatures you can get up close with koalas, reptiles and other native wildlife in Cairns CBD. For something extra special, private guided tours offer behind-the-scenes access with wildlife keepers, including time inside the koala enclosure, hands-on reptile encounters and insights into local conservation efforts. Don’t be surprised if you leave with a new favourite animal and a soft spot for the work being done to protect them.
