Why Not Backpackers
At a glance: 2-star · Since 1901 · 54 rooms
Near: Cairns Aquarium · 14 min walk
Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns
8h 30m
(3,969 reviews)
From $196
Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience
4 hr
(545 reviews)
From $128
Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns
(339 reviews)
From $77
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
7 hr
(1,168 reviews)
From $156
Cairns Aquarium
1.1 km away · 5 Florence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
(7,557 reviews)
Cairns Museum
1.5 km away · 93/105 Lake St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
(706 reviews)
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
1.5 km away · 52/54 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
(6,167 reviews)
Sunlover Reef Cruises
1.9 km away · Reef Fleet Terminal (Bottom floor, 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
(1,483 reviews)
The best time to visit Cairns is from June to August, when days are mild (25-26°C) and rain is least frequent, with only 8-9 rain days per month. September and October are also pleasant, with drier conditions and warmer temperatures around 27-30°C. Avoid January to March, the wettest and most humid stretch, with 20-23 rain days and high humidity. The dry season offers clear skies for reef trips and outdoor sights, while the wet season brings lush waterfalls but frequent downpours.
Cairns City Center suits first-time visitors, with the Esplanade, lagoon, and most hotels like Crystalbrook Flynn and Hilton Cairns. Palm Cove offers a relaxed beach resort feel, with Peppers Beach Club and Sanctuary Palm Cove nearby. Trinity Beach is quieter and family-friendly, with Vue Apartments and Coral Sands Beachfront Resort. Choose Cairns City for convenience, Palm Cove for beachfront calm, and Trinity Beach for a laid-back stay.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway glides over the rainforest canopy for sweeping views. Cairns Aquarium showcases the region's marine life up close. The Esplanade Lagoon is a free, safe swimming spot right in the city. Cairns Botanic Gardens offer lush, easy walks through native plants. Barron Falls thunders dramatically, especially after rain.
The full-day tours head to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling and diving, Kuranda via the scenic railway and Skyrail, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest, Fitzroy Island, and the Tully River for rafting. Each offers a distinct slice of the region's nature, from reef life to rainforest and gorges.
Plan 3 to 4 days in Cairns. Use 2 days for the city sights: the Esplanade Lagoon, Botanic Gardens, and Cairns Aquarium, plus a day for the Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway. Add an extra day for a reef trip or a Daintree tour, making 4 to 5 days total if you include a day trip.
