Cairns family-friendly travel guide

Cairns’ tropical climate means that it experiences a wet season and a dry season. The wet season tends to be between December and April. While the temperature is best at this time, the rain may interrupt holiday plans. The temperature is always mild with humidity, so Cairns is still pleasant in winter. The best time of year would be spring, when the temperature is perfect and the rainfall is still low.

Between the months of December and February, summer has an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and has an average monthly rainfall of 277 millimetres.

Between the months of March and May, autumn has an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and has an average monthly rainfall of 220 millimetres.

Between the months of June and August, winter has an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and has an average monthly rainfall of 33 millimetres.

Between the months of September and November, spring has an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and has an average monthly rainfall of 73 millimetres.

The local airport is Cairns Airport. Depending on what you’re planning to do on your holiday, you may wish to hire a car at the airport so that you can then go on road trips.

Taxis and Ubers are available at Cairns Airport to take you to the city or your hotel.

Lots of accommodation options operate their own courtesy coaches to and from the airport, or you can pre-book a bus with certain companies to take you to your hotel.

Sunbus public transport service operates around Cairns. You can get single, daily or weekly fares. The Spirit of Queensland train runs between Brisbane and Cairns five times a week.

Cairns is criss-crossed with cycling paths, a perfect way for families to travel around the area once they arrive. Some of the most popular routes take in the Esplanade, Botanic Gardens and Centenary Lakes.

Cairns has some great opportunities to try local produce at Rusty’s Markets and at tropical fruit farms in the Atherton Tablelands.

Because Cairns gets so many tourists and backpackers, there is a wide variety of cuisines on offer in the evening, with many restaurants offering early-bird specials. Along the esplanade, you can find a number of seafood restaurants and ice-cream parlours.

If you’re taking the kids to Muddy’s Playground, make sure you also stop by Muddy’s Cafe for a snack.

Try French at C’est Bon, tapas at Fusion Art Bar & Tapas or for Australian cuisine, head to Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront, Nu Nu Restaurant or Ochre Restaurant. You might even get to try some crocodile or kangaroo!

If you want to go shopping in Cairns, there’s Cairns Central, DFO Cairns or The Pier. However, the most popular shopping venues are the two markets.

Rusty’s Markets are on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The markets mostly sell produce but there are also some jewellery and clothing stalls.

The Night Markets are held every evening. They are the perfect place to buy souvenirs for family and friends back home, or a little gift to treat yourself!

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

Cairns has beautiful warm weather all year round, so you will mainly want light layers. Maybe pack a light jacket in case you get a cooler day on your trip.

Remember to be sun safe with a hat and sunscreen.

Australia is renowned for its laid-back, egalitarian culture. By and large, friendliness is equated with good manners.

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australian cities.

Cairns is in the tropics, so there are few safety issues to be aware of.

Queensland often has floods and cyclones during the wet season. If possible, travel outside of the wet season to avoid these dangers.

Cairns has lots of wildlife in and out of the water to be wary of. If hiking, wear long pants, long socks and enclosed shoes to protect against snakes. If you’re going swimming, look out for signs warning of crocodiles and sharks in the area. You may also want to wear stinger suits to protect against stingers.

Cairns and the surrounding area are jam-packed with gorgeous natural landscapes to grab the perfect picture. While these are some of our favourites, there are plenty more to find in this beautiful area.

Regularly ranked in Australia’s Top 10 Beaches, Nudey Beach is a stunning combination of turquoise water and coral beach, surrounded by colourful marine life. You can enjoy wildlife on the Summit Track, rope swing on the stunning beach or if you’re feeling luxe, step aboard the Eye Spy catamaran for a sunset sail. Fitzroy Island is just a 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns and an unmissable trip if you’re visiting this tropical city, if only for a picture-perfect ‘gram on the powder white sand.  

Spanish immigrant Jose Paronella purchased the land for what would become Paranolla Park in 1929, where he slowly started to create his beautiful gardens, North Queensland’s first hydro-electric plant and a castle inspired by those in Catalan. Now restored and heritage-listed, the fairytale castle hidden in the rainforest is a stunning setting for a few photos. Exploring the grounds can take all day and there are a selection of tours to help you along your way, a great option for those who are interested in the history of the park.  

The easy walk from Babinda Boulders to Devils Pool is full of worthy photo locations and has become a popular place to swim and relax for tourists and locals alike. Visit the quiet town of Babinda, stock up at the bakery and then make your way through the rainforest to one of the three stunning lookouts. It’s worth noting that the area is particularly significant for the traditional owners of the land, and it features in a number of time-honoured tales and spooky ghost stories.

Although this is a bit of a drive, the Wooroonooran National Park is well worth an excursion, particularly if you’re interested in chasing some waterfalls. The Josephine waterfalls, natural water slides and swimming holes are a great place for a dip and a shot of the emerald water, and a trip to Nandroya Falls will have everyone in awe of the powerful 50 metre waterfall. For families with slightly older children, the 5.5 kilometre hike to Windin Falls provides one of the best photo locations in the region. At the top of the waterfall is a natural infinity pool and breathtaking views over the valley, and along the hike you can have fun looking out for the elusive Cassowary.

The lush Daintree rainforest is the oldest continuously surviving rainforest in the world and is UNESCO World Heritage listed. The park is huge and you need a few days to explore it, but there are some photo opportunities that can’t be missed. Mossman Gorge is perfect for a swim and a snap with big boulders providing the perfect perch for a picture. The Alexandra Range lookout gives views of the vibrant green rainforest meeting the mouth of the Daintree River, another great shot for your Instagram feed. Finally, visit Cape Tribulation where the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef meet. Take your car across the river on the Daintree ferry and explore the area which has hundreds of gorgeous spots for a fab family photo.