If there was ever a place where the phrase “so much to do, so little time” applied, it would be Cairns in Australia. So, start with these 12 things to do in Cairns if this is your first time visiting the capital of North Queensland.
1. What has made Cairns famous?
The entrance to the Great Barrier Reef is unquestionably Cairns.
The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest reef system in the world, with more than 2,900 distinct reefs. Worldwide visitors swarm to the reef every year to swim, snorkel and dive with the more than 1,500 aquatic creatures that call it home.
See more related posts:
- Josephine Falls: The Best Natural Swimming Pool In Cairns
- 25 Cool Things To Do in Gold Coast For Free
- New Year’s Eve 2022 In Brisbane: Everything You Need To Know
2. Is it worthwhile to visit Cairns?
The perfect starting point for day adventures, Cairns also provides a fantastic entryway for wildlife exploration. This city has everything you might want, whether you’re interested in the reef, the old rainforest, waterfalls, or little hippy towns.
3. Best things to do in Cairns
Take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef
If you simply have a morning to see the Great Barrier Reef quickly or more nights to laze on a liveaboard, you’ll find a reef tour to fit. You’ll discover a marina full of tour boats to take you out to the neighboring islands and outer reefs. So, it is one of the best things to do in Cairns that you should not miss.
Visit Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome to view the city from unique perspectives
Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome is the place to be if you want to up your heart rate. It is a world-first visitor experience that can be found on the rooftop of The Reef Hotel Casino and combines a ropes course with a wildlife park.
One of the many reasons this park has earned a spot on this list of the top animal experiences in this city is the fact that you can zipline over a 4.5-meter crocodile by the name of Goliath.
The Cairns Aquarium offers a wet and dry underwater exploration
Although Tropical North Queensland offers a wealth of exciting natural encounters, it is virtually impossible to see all of its different ecosystems unless your trip has no set end date.
Enter the Cairns Aquarium, which boasts 71 unique displays and 16,000 kinds of creatures spread across ten distinct habitats. It also holds the distinction of being the only aquarium in the world to feature wildlife from two World Heritage-listed locations.
At the Cairns Aquarium, in addition to the typical behind-glass aquarium experience, you may also go shark diving (no prior diving experience is necessary) or take a Marine Life Encounters tour, which includes a personal guide into the aquarium’s back room and newly built turtle hospital.
Walk through the Cairns Botanic Gardens
The 38-hectare tropical Cairns Botanic Gardens, located five minutes from the city center of this city, is a great place to go for a free activity.
The tropical plants here are both rare and well-established, having been introduced in 1886. Seriously, there are just two Amorphophallus Titanums in Australia, and one of them is discovered in the gardens.
With each leaf reaching approximately seven meters and a maximum weight of 70 kg, this blooming plant with a Jurassic appearance is easily the largest unbranched inflorescence (also known as a plant where the flowers serve as the branch and stem) in the world.
You can take part in a variety of guided walks to look for wildlife and explore gardens. It is one of the best things to do in Cairns that you should not miss.
Swim in the jungle
Knowing where to cool off is just as vital as knowing where to stay in this city because of the region’s consistently tropical weather.
Visit Stoney Creek, Crystal Cascades, or Fairy Falls in the Wet Tropics Rainforest, all around 25 minutes from the central business district of Cairns, for consistently pleasant swimming conditions.
Learn about Rusty’s Markets
Wait until you see the regional produce at Rusty’s Markets if you thought the brilliant and dramatic colors of the terrain up here were impressive.
For more than 30 years, Rusty’s has operated out of the same location on Grafton Street. Over 180 stalls selling anything from sarongs to Vietnamese coffee, fruit, and vegetables to bracelets made of crocodile leather are crammed into one city block.
Some of Tropical North Queensland’s most renowned chefs, including Nick Holloway of the award-winning Nu Nu Restaurant in Palm Cove, come here to stock up on fresh vegetables because it is the main lure.
Visit the stores
Tropical North Queensland offers a wide variety of souvenirs, from hand-painted didgeridoos to pocket-sized linen tea towels.
Visit the shops in the CBD while exploring the Cairns Night Markets, Cairns Central, Oceana Walk, Grafton Streets boutiques, or one of the numerous local markets for treasures from the tropics.
Make a seafood feast for yourself
Few places are as effective at reducing the distance between the trawler and the table as Cairns. Check out our list of the top seafood restaurants in this city if you’re searching for a seafood feast to please your palate.
For a memorable dinner, go to the marina and board Prawn Star. There, four renovated fishing trawlers that are now moored and festooned with lights provide a straightforward (but excellent) menu of fresh seafood and cold beverages.
Visit an art gallery
The art gallery scene in Tropical North Queensland serves as a muse to numerous painters.
Visit the Court House Gallery and the Cairns Art Gallery, which are conveniently located next to one another, to observe how the natural environment has affected artists.
The crafts and tales of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are shown at Bulmba-ja in Cairns. It is one of the best things to do in Cairns that you should not miss.
Observe the Cairns Museum
Visit The Cairns Museum on Lake St in the central business district of Cairns if you enjoy learning about a city through its past.
The Cairns Museum explores nearly every aspect of the history of Tropical North Queensland, from Indigenous legends to those of the cane pioneers.
This museum focuses on unusual historical events like toad plagues, mold outbreaks, and the effects of the hippie movement in the 1970s rather than merely the obvious icons of Cairns like the reef and rainforest.
Discover the top playgrounds in Cairns
When you’re traveling with young children, knowing the location of the closest playground becomes just as crucial as knowing where to get your caffeine fix.
The Cairns Esplanade’s Muddy’s Playground, which is covered by soaring Fig Trees, is one of the popular playgrounds in Tropical North Queensland that you should add to your schedule for small travelers.
With a flying fox, slides, a rope bridge, and an on-site café for parents, Muddy’s Café this playground surpasses all others.
Add Fig Tree Playground, also known as the ultimate treehouse, and Centenary Lakes, the home of nature play, to your travel schedule if you want to make your playgrounds progressive.
Dive into the Cairns Lagoon
Few public pools are as well-known as the 4800 square meters of saltwater swimming area fronting the Coral Sea that make up the Cairns Lagoon.
This free swimming hole is popular day and night due to the safe swimming conditions right in the CBD (well, until 9 pm). It is one of the best things to do in Cairns that you should not miss.
Make a day of it by bringing food to cook on the free BBQs nearby or participating in one of the free exercise programs offered by the Cairns Council, which features everything from volleyball to pilates.
4. How long should you stay in Cairns?
For the best experience Cairns has to offer, I advise staying at least five days. This involves visiting the Great Barrier Reef, waterfalls, and Cairns City, as well as taking adequate time to rest.
5. What should you avoid in Cairns?
You may see thousands of different species of wildlife here, whether you’re in the rainforest, the outback, or the ocean. While most of them are safe to be around, there are several that you should avoid, such as crocodiles, marine stingers, snakes, spiders, and cassowaries.
Related Posts:
