Cairns is known as the gateway to the oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree, and the Great Barrier Reef, but there are plenty of amazing things to do beyond this! Cairns is the perfect launching point in Far North Queensland for so many amazing adventures.
On my recent trip, we discovered just how many fun things to do in Cairns, Australia, there really are. From gorgeous beaches to adventurous day trips, you’ll love visiting here. Here are 16 fun things to do in Cairns, Australia.
1. Enjoy the Esplanade
The Cairns Esplanade is in the heart of downtown Cairns and is a must see area of the city! It’s busy every night of the week, with locals and tourists alike enjoying the beautiful Cairns weather year round (even if it is a little hot in the middle of summer!).
You’ll find beautiful walkways, sculptures showcasing Aboriginal art, a large swimming area, and a Ferris Wheel. Plus, you can also find tons of restaurants, bars, and shops here.
I recommend spending an evening walking around here to check things out. If you want to swim, I’d suggest a separate visit so you are soaking wet walking around. It’s up to you, though, as you’ll see people are very casual in this area!
2. Grab Seafood along the Waterfront
One of the best things to do in Cairns is try the fresh seafood in the city, and there are lots of great restaurants to choose from along the Waterfront. We chose to have dinner at Tha Fish, and it was excellent!
Australia (and North Queensland, specifically) is known for a few different specialties like Morton Bay Bugs (tastes similar to lobster), Mud Crabs (delicious crabs), Barramundi (white tasty fish), and Coral Trout (another great fish). I recommend getting a seafood platter where you can try many different things!
3. Shop and Snack at the Cairns Night Market
The Cairns Night Market happens every night from 4 – 11 pm near the Esplanade and features a variety of vendors offering souvenirs, local crafts, and a diverse selection of food options. It can be a great place to grab a t-shirt or get a quick relaxing massage after a day out and about!
I loved the fresh fruits, juices, and snacks that you could get here. For dinner, La Pizza is close by, delicious and quick!
4. Explore Cairns Botanic Gardens
The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a beautiful spot just a few kilometers from Cairns city center. It’s known for its diverse tropical plants and makes a great calming spot for nature lovers, botanists, and photographers.
They have a cafe onsite and guided tours of the gardens are available for a more in depth experience. Entry to the gardens is free.
5. Take a Cruise
The coastline and ocean around Cairns are just beautiful, and one of the best ways to experience it is on the water! Take a boat cruise and see a different side of Cairns. Sunsets are best from the water in Cairns, too.
There are options to do this, from luxury three-course dinner boat cruises to sightseeing cruises with commentary to learn about the area and look for wildlife.
Cruise Options:
6. Head to the Cairns Aquarium
The best way to see wildlife in Cairns is getting into the wild, but for those who are looking for something more relaxing, are with small children, or are older, the Cairns Aquarium is a great option!
The Cairns Aquarium is a premier attraction showcasing the incredible aquatic life of Tropical North Queensland. Don’t miss the underwater tunnel and feeding sessions!
- Hours: Open daily, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (check for seasonal variations)
- Tickets: Prices typically range from AUD $36 to $46 for adults, with discounts for children, seniors, and families. Recommended you purchase in advance.
7. Spend the day at Palm Cove
North of downtown Cairns is where all the best beaches are and my favorite is Palm Cove! Palm Cove is a beautiful little beach community about thirty minutes north. You can take an Uber, but I recommend renting a car. Many luxury accommodations are here, so it’s a great little relaxing town (and if you have the budget, it’s amazing for a stay near Cairns).
The beach here is pristine, and there’s a swimming net set up during summer months to protect from the jellyfish (stingers). They also have lifeguards, so you don’t have to worry about watching for the saltwater crocs!
Palm Cove is perfect for boutique shopping, fun activities like kayaking and biking, or grabbing a delicious bite to eat. We spent a whole day here and had a wonderful time.
8. Head to a Nearby Island
Cairns is the perfect jumping off point for two beautiful islands close to Cairns and great for a day trip. Fitzroy Island and Green Island are both a less than hour ferry ride from Cairns.
Both Fitzroy Island and Green Island are stunning tropical islands offering unique experiences on the Great Barrier Reef. Both offer beaches and snorkeling, but I prefer the overall terrain and beaches on Fitzroy Island! It makes the perfect day trip.
Which to Choose?
Choose Fitzroy Island if:
- You’re seeking a more adventurous, active experience.
- You enjoy hiking or exploring less commercialized natural surroundings.
- You want a chance to stay overnight and immerse yourself in the environment.
- This is a great option for ferry tickets, and you can add extras!
Choose Green Island if:
- You’re short on time and prefer a quicker, more accessible trip.
- You’re traveling with young children or prefer a more developed, tourist-friendly atmosphere.
- You want to combine your reef experience with other leisurely activities.
- This is a great option that includes the transfer, snorkeling or a glass bottom boat trip, and beach time.
9. Snorkel or Dive in the Great Barrier Reef
As mentioned toward the beginning, you’re at the launching point for the Great Barrier Reef when in Cairns, so no trip is complete without visiting the reef! It’s so beautiful, and due to climate change, it may not be around for much longer, so it’s worth seeing while you can!
There are so many different ways to do this, but I recommend a liveaboard (if you don’t get seasick). It allows you to spend longer on the reef, do more dives or snorkels, and visit different parts of the reef. We had an amazing time on ours and I’m so glad we committed to a few days on the reef. Our friends did a day trip instead and had a great time, too!
Options for visiting the Great Barrier Reef:
10. Take the Skyrail and Train to Kuranda
Kuranda is a charming rainforest village located in the hills above Cairns, Australia. Known for its lush surroundings and vibrant arts scene, it’s a popular day-trip destination with plenty to explore.
Accessible via scenic transportation options and filled with attractions, Kuranda offers something for everyone. When reading reviews about things to do in Cairns, this was often listed as something more touristy to do. This is true, it is on the touristy side of things to do in Cairns.
However, I think it is still worth doing if you love good views, history, and opportunities to see wildlife. I highly recommend taking the skyrail to Karunda and making all the available stops on the way up.
Once you arrive in the town of Karunda, visit some of the Aboriginal art galleries and decide if you’d like to visit the Butterfly Garden or Koala Gardens to see some animals. Grab a bite to eat before heading back on the historic train.
This is a great way to spend the day. We saw a tree kangaroo in the wild, birds, and the views from the skyrail and train were spectacular!
We did not do a tour for this. Instead, we did a round trip ticket, including pick up and drop off from your hotel. This made things super easy and convenient while still making it relaxing without a big group. You can book the same one here.
11.Visit the Oldest Rainforest in the World Daintree
Daintree is the oldest continually living rainforest in the world, by ten million years no less! It is at least 135 million years old – possibly even as old as 180 million years. So crazy to think about that!
It’s also the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet. Daintree is where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. It’s amazing to see the two collide when at Cape Tribulation!
There are several different companies that offer tours of Daintree. I highly recommend a tour that includes a smoke ceremony at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Center with the Kuku Yalanji and a crocodile cruise like the one we took here.
This is a long day from Cairns and we personally didn’t see much wildlife, but it was still special to be at such a historic and monumental place for the day. Plan to be out at least 11-12 hours the day of this tour or trip because Daintree is two hours from Cairns.
12. Chase Waterfalls
You’ll find many beautiful waterfalls in the rainforest around Cairns. They also offer a great place to swim in freshwater without worrying about a stinger suit in summer (although you still have to stay crocodile aware!).
If you get the chance to visit during summer, that’s even better because the waterfalls will be raging and beautiful. You’ll have to be careful when swimming if it begins raining!
On our trip, we did the waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands and visited some of the falls south of Cairns with a rental car. However, there are also some falls closer to Cairns and there are tour options for a day trip. Below are some options (with a * next to my favorites).
- Crystal Cascades: A series of beautiful cascades and swimming holes in a tropical rainforest setting. About 20 min drive from Cairns.
- Josephine Falls*: A beautiful cascade with a natural rock slide (suitable for swimming in summer). About one hour from Cairns.
- Millaa Millaa Falls*: Known for its picturesque beauty with a 20-meter drop and lush rainforest surroundings. It has a large, shallow pool perfect for swimming. About 90 minute drive from Cairns.
- Ellinjaa Falls: 15-meter cascade surrounded by lush rainforest, with a swimming hole at the base. 10 minutes from Millaa Millaa Falls.
- Nandroya Falls: Beautiful, secluded waterfall that cascades over several tiers in the rainforest. It requires a long hike to get to! About 90 minute drive from Cairns.
- Tchupala Falls: Tall, cascading waterfall with stunning views and abundant wildlife. About 90 minute drive from Cairns.
13. Visit Farms in the Atherton Tablelands
Atherton Tablelands really surprised me on our trip. The landscape is different than the coastal rainforests of Cairns and the land is beautiful! This area of Australia produces 80% of the crops in the country, so to say there is a plethora of farms here is an understatement!
You can combine visiting some of the farms in the Tablelands with visiting waterfalls and make a two-day trip to Atherton Tablelands (or longer), which I’d highly recommend over a day trip. But, make sure you spend time visiting some of the farms here!
Foods grown in the Tablelands include bananas, avocados, papaya, dragon fruit, mangos, coffee, chocolate, dairy, meats, and tons of other fruits and vegetables. The possibilities for amazing fresh food here are endless!
Farms to consider visiting:
Take a food tour of the amazing food and wine in Tablelands if you don’t want to drive yourself!
14. Taste Local Fruits at Rusty’s Markets
Open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Rusty’s has over 180 stalls with fresh produce, seafood, international food, and more. This market started in 1975 and has been going ever since! It’s the perfect place to try some exotic tropical fruits, pick up some amazing local coffee, or unique souvenirs.
- Hours: Friday – Saturday 5am to 6pm, Sunday 5am to 3pm
- Location: 57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns
15. Take a Day Trip to Port Douglas
About an hour from Cairns, you’ll find the cute town of Port Douglas. This town is where many of the rich and famous from around the world own a home in Australia! You’ll find fine dining, great boutiques, and a beautiful beach here.
Similar to Palm Cove, spending a day in Port Douglas can be a really fun day trip. Chic and relaxed, spend a day in Port Douglas at Four Mile Beach, grabbing drinks at Hemingway’s Brewery, and grab some food at Nautilus Restaurant.
16. Spend a Day at Resort with a Day Pass
Cairns is home to many great resorts around the city and around the north beaches like Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. With so many adventurous things to do and day trips, spending the day relaxing at a resort is ideal!
Many different resorts around Cairns offer day passes to their pools and facilities. During our trip, we went to Cairns Colonial Club (where you can grab food and use the pool after eating), and had a great time! The Crystalbrooke Riley offers lunch and access to their pool as well as Novatel Cairns Oasis Resort.
There are so many amazing things to do in Cairns, Australia, that will make your trip special. As you can probably tell, you could spend a week here and still have things to see! I hope you love your trip to Cairns.
Cairns looks awesome! If I ever get to Australia, it’s definitely on the list. You did a great job making a nice tidy list of great things to check out, and the details are super helpful! Thanks!
Thanks so much! Glad this is helpful and yes, I think North QLD should be on everyone’s Australia itinerary for sure!
Cairns looks beautiful! I’ve never been to Australia, this looks like a great place. thanks for sharing!
Yes! The Great Barrier Reef is a spot you can’t miss, but there’s lots of other great things here too.
Wooo! there are so many fun things to in Cairns! I did not know about any of these but both Palm Cove and the rainforest look absolutely stunning! Can’t wait to visit!
It surprised me as well once I started digging into it! Lots of beautiful places and things to do.
This part of the Queensland coast gets (well deserved) attention for the Great Barrier Reef, but there’s so much more! The transition from the more desert-like south QLD to the tropical rainforest in the north is stunning and shouldn’t be missed. Great list!
Couldn’t agree more! This is such a unique part of the world and for more than one reason!
I didn’t realize that Cairns had so many waterfalls, looks like a fun spot to visit!
Yes! Lots of beautiful rainforest nearby. Tons of fun!
The snorkeling looks amazing here! Great list of things to do.
The Great Barrier Reef is truly stunning!
I am heading to the gold coast for a month later in the year, so this was great reading
Ah that’s great. Have a wonderful trip!