TNQ Writer
Why Visit Cairns?
If there’s one destination in Australia that truly earns the phrase “so much to do, so little time”, it’s Cairns.
Framed by two UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonders, Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, Cairns is a launch point for some of the most diverse nature, culture, and adventure experiences in the world.
Few places allow you to snorkel coral reefs in the morning and swim in rainforest waterfalls by the afternoon. This combination makes Cairns one of Australia’s most experience-dense travel destinations.
If you’re wondering what to do while visiting, this guide covers the best things to do in Cairns, including itineraries, local insights, and seasonal tips to help you get the most out of your trip.
The non-negotiable things to do for first-time visitors to Cairns are:
- Snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef
- Swim in a rainforest waterhole (Crystal Cascades, Stoney Creek o Fairy Falls)
- Take a day trip to Kuranda by Scenic Rail or Skyrail
- Explore Rusty’s Markets on a Friday or Saturday morning
- Walk the Cairns Esplanade and swim in the free Cairns Lagoon
- Take a guided Indigenous cultural experience
- Visit the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Visit the Great Barrier Reef
Woman snorkelling at Moore Reef with a sea tortoise
‘Seas’ the day with a visit to the Great Barrier Reef
Why it’s popular: The Great Barrier Reef is the defining experience of Cairns travel, offering the chance to explore one of the world’s most spectacular Heritage Listed natural wonders. The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 types of molluscs and 600 species of hard and soft coral. Whether you’ve only got a morning to take a reef tour, or you want to end your day languishing on a luxury catamaran, you’ll find a reef tour to suit.
Best for: First-time visitors, families, snorkellers and divers.
Expert tip: Book reef trips for early morning departures as sea conditions are typically calmer, Check out TTNQ top 10 reef adventures before choosing an operator.
Go under water without getting wet at the Cairns Aquarium
People looking at the underwater creatures at the aquarium
What can you see at the Cairns Aquarium?
Why it’s popular: It’s a top Cairns attraction for experiencing local wildlife, marine life and conservation. The Cairns Aquarium holds the unique distinction of being the only aquarium in the world showcasing 6,000+ animals across 10 ecosystems and 71 exhibits from two UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Highlights include shark diving experiences (no prior certification required), a dedicated turtle hospital, and the Marine Life Encounters guided tour for a behind-the-scenes experience including access to back-of-house facilities.
Best for: Families, wildlife lovers, first-time Cairns visitors, rainy-day activities and travellers looking for an immersive Great Barrier Reef and rainforest experience.
Wander the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Walk through 38 hectares of lush greenery
Wonder the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Why it’s popular: Cairns Botanic Gardens is one of the best free things to do in Cairns, offering a 38-hectare tropical garden filled with rare plants, rainforest species and native wildlife just minutes from the CBD.
Established in 1886, the gardens are home to unique tropical flora, walking trails, and guided tours where you can experience Tropical North Queensland biodiversity up close and personal. Seriously, the gardens are home to one of only two Amorphophallus Titanums found in Australia. This Jurassic-looking flowering plant can grow up to 70kg, with each leaf reaching almost seven metres, making it comfortably the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. It’s a must-see.
Best for: Families, nature lovers, photographers, wildlife spotting and visitors looking for a relaxing Cairns activity close to the city.
Get active outdoors
Morning joggers running on the Cairns Esplanade
Walk or Run the Cairns Esplanade
Why it’s popular: Swap the four walls of your hotel gym for something much more interactive – Cairns’ great outdoors. The Cairns Esplanade is a scenic outdoor fitness destination where visitors can walk, run, cycle or exercise along a 2.5km waterfront path overlooking the Coral Sea.
Best for: Fitness travellers, runners, walkers, families, sunrise seekers and visitors looking for a free outdoor activity in Cairns.
For more fitness inspo, head to this fitness lover’s guide to Cairns.
Swim in the rainforest
Women swimming underwater at Fairy Falls, just 25 minutes from Cairns CBD.
Swim In The Rainforest
One of the most underrated and uniquely Cairns experiences is swimming in a rainforest waterhole. With an annual weather pattern that puts the ‘tropical’ in Tropical North Queensland, knowing where to cool off is just as important as knowing where to stay in Cairns.
Why it’s popular: Fairy Falls, Stoney Creek and Crystal Cascades are popular swimming spots near Cairns. Offering a series of refreshing freshwater pools surrounded by dense rainforest canopy, ideal for families and children. Located around 25 minutes from Cairns CBD, these natural waterfalls and waterholes provide an easy escape from the tropical heat.
Best for: Nature lovers, swimmers, families, photographers and hikers.
Safety note: Saltwater crocodiles inhabit waterways across Tropical North Queensland. Always check current safe swimming advice and signage before entering any waterway.
Discover Rusty’s Markets
Two Cairns locals shopping the fresh fruit aisle at Rusty’s.
Shop Where the Locals Shop at Rusty’s Markets
If you thought the colours of the landscape up here were bright and bold, wait until you see the region’s local produce at Rusty’s Markets.
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, Grafton Street transforms into one of Queensland’s iconic fresh produce markets that not only draws the locals, but some of Tropical North Queensland’s most acclaimed chefs, including Nick Holloway of the award-winning Nu Nu Restaurant in Palm Cove.
At Rusty’s Markets you’ll find:
- Street food
- Local coffee and produce
- Handmade goods
- Indigenous art
- Hot food stalls
Expert tip: Go early – the best produce sells fast. Bring cash.
Go bar hopping
Wolf Lane Distillery
What’s good to drink?
Playing tourist is thirsty work at the best of times but with Cairns growing craft drinks scene, quenching your thirst is a no brainer.
You’ll find everything from speakeasy-inspired gin joints and rooftop bars overlooking the Coral Sea to Hemingway Brewery pouring frothies mixed from the healing waters of Mossman Gorge, all within Cairns’ city footprint.
Hit the shops
Interior of Eggplant and Poppy in Oceana Walk, Cairns
Hit the Shops
Souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes in Tropical North Queensland from pocket-sized linen tea-towels to hand-painted didgeridoos.
For treasures from the tropics, hit the shops in the CBD wandering the Cairns Night Markets, Cairns Central, Oceana Walk, Grafton Streets boutiques, or one of the many local markets.
Have yourself a seafood feast
Friends enjoying a seafood feast at Prawn Star
Where are the Best Places to Have Yourself a Seafood Feast?
Few destinations can cut down the food miles between trawler and the table quite like Cairns.
Why it’s the best: Cairns is one of Australia’s premium prawning regions. Fresh barramundi, mud crab, coral trout and reef fish are caught locally.
If you’re looking for a seafood smorgasbord, check out this list of the best seafood restaurants in Cairns to treat your taste buds.
For a dinner to remember, head down to the marina and hop aboard Prawn Star, for simple (but superb) fresh seafood and cold beers.
Catch an art exhibition
Interior view of the Art Gallery in the CBD
Catch an Art and Indigenous Cultural Experience
Is the art scene worth it? Tropical North Queensland plays muse to more than a few artists and has the art gallery scene to prove it.
The Cairns Art Gallery is housed across three adjacent heritage-listed buildings in the Cairns CBD and features a myriad of exhibitions from Indigenous, local, national and international artists.
For Indigenous art, Bulmba-ja in Cairns showcases the works and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
See Cairns from above
Helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef
Helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef
Helicopter view of the Great Barrier Reef
Helicopter view of the Great Barrier Reef
Scenic Flights Over the Reef and Rainforest
One of the most spectacular perspectives on Tropical North Queensland is from the air. Scenic flights operating from Cairns Airport offer aerial views of the reef structure, including the impossibly blue of the lagoon, the reef edge drop-offs and, during certain seasons, coral spawning from above.
Nautilus Aviation and Zoom Helicopters run helicopter flights from Cairns and the Reef Fleet Terminal, ranging from short scenic flights to full-day reef and rainforest combinations including reef pontoon landings.
Take a dip in the Cairns Lagoon
Cool off in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Few public pools are as iconic as the Cairns Lagoon, with 4800 square meters of saltwater swimming space fronting the Coral Sea.
With safe swimming conditions right in the heart of the CBD, this free swimming hole draws a crowd, day and night (well, until 9pm).
Make a day out of it by packing something to throw on the free BBQs nearby, or join one of Cairns Council’s free fitness events – with everything from pilates to volleyball on the schedule.
Catch a show
Enjoy an outdoor performance at Munro Martin Parklands
There’s always something on in Cairns, but there’s only one place to get an overview of all events happening in Council-owned venues – Ticketlink.
Here you’ll find a list of what’s on at The Tanks, Munro Martin Parklands and Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
Of course if you’re looking for other events, jump across to see what’s on throughout the region here.
Best time to visit Cairns
The Golden Tropical Season (May–October)
- Best weather
- Calm seas for reef trips
- Peak tourist season
The Lush Tropical Season (November–April)
- Lush rainforest scenery
- Fewer crowds
- Higher humidity and rainfall
Travel Tips for Cairns
- Book reef tours early (high demand year-round)
- Use reef-safe sunscreen
- Allow buffer days for weather changes
- Stay central to maximise walkability
- Mix reef + rainforest days for balance
Cairns is not a destination you simply “visit”; it’s a destination you experience.
Whether you’re chasing adventure, nature, or relaxation, Cairns delivers all three often in the same day.
Few places in the world offer:
- The Great Barrier Reef offshore
- The world’s oldest rainforest inland
- A laid-back tropical city in between
