Things To Do In Cairns Australia – The Top 6 Activities

There are many things to do in Cairns Australia, it's an amazing city and destination that many people flock to from around the world.

Cairns is the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The city started in 1876 and has a rich history between the settlers and the natives.

Top Things To Do In Cairns, Australia

#1 – Great Barrier Reef

There are many things to do at the Great Barrier Reef, for example, sailing through the many islands of Whitsundays, seeing the marine life, and staying in resorts surrounded by utopian seas. While visiting the Great Barrier Reef, you could take a cruise to sail to Michaelmas Cay and dive into the clear water to see unforgettable sea life.

Other things you'll love to do at the Great Barrier Reef are taking a cruise to the Agincourt Reef and the seaplane over the Heart Reef. The Agincourt Reef is a popular place for divers to visit because of the sixteen different diving sites and you can take the Quicksilver Cruise that will create an unforgettable and blissful trip to the Agincourt Reef. Let’s not forget the Heart Reef, which you could view from the above by flying through with a seaplane.

You're absolutely going to want to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef – check out this awesome activity: Learn to Scuba Dive on the Great Barrier Reef: 4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course.

#2 – Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Here is what to do in Cairns while in the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park: you could learn so much about the very rich and ancient culture of the local Aborigines there and explore their fascinating arts. Next, you will learn how to make a fire without a lighter and take part in their traditional dances with the joyful sounds from their didgeridoo. You will also be able to enjoy a wonderful play by the Djabugay people.

The cultural Park shows a demonstration of how the locals live in a village. There is also a show that tells a story about creation by using big holograms and actors. There are boomerang and spear throwing activities where you could learn how to use those weapons. Afterward, you could go on a turtle-spotting ride followed by a beautiful dinner in nature by a fire, how romantic!

Take a day trip to visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park with this activity called: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Day Trip from Cairns.

#3 -Cairns Esplanade

What you need to do in Cairns Australia is visit the Cairns Esplanade’s lagoon near the city’s water shores. The city has this saltwater pool with its stylish Woven Fish sculptures. There’s also a boardwalk full of places to have a quiet picnic, watch birds, do barbecues, and using the free fitness equipment in the park. Not far there is a Muddy’s which has kid playgrounds with a skating ramp and volleyball courts.

While in Cairns Esplanade, you can enjoy sunbathing while taking in the local scenery. This area is also famous for the gathering of global backpackers who come to see the Trinity Inlet and mountains on the horizon. It is also a great place to socialize with the locals and the many tourists from other countries while enjoying the local foods.

Explore and have fun near the Cairns Esplanade with an activity called: Chillagoe Caves and Outback Day Trip from Cairns.

#4 -Daintree National Park

A nature walk through Daintree National Park is a great family activity to do in Cairns Australia. This park not only has a rainforest but also a beachside. You could visit the local Aboriginal people called the Eastern Kuku Yalanji while in the park. The park has two portions: the Cape Tribulation which starts 110km North of Cairns and Mossman Gorge which starts 80 km North of Cairns.

The Mossman Gorge has the lovely river while Cape Tribulation has the rainforest parts with the mountains on the horizon. People can go swimming in the river of Mossman Gorge and enjoy the beaches on the Cape Tribulation side. The Daintree National Park is the home of many rare birds and great biodiversity. These are all amazing Cairns activities.

Here is an activity that you could do while in the Daintree National Park called: Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour.

#5 – Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait Islands in the Torres Strait are in the middle of the northern continental Australia’s Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea Island. The Torres Strait Islands comprise about 274 little islands and people live in fourteen of the islands. They are around a large diversity of sea life, an amazing ecosystem, and many distinctive species.

The Torres Strait Islands have a rich culture with traditional dances and arts and each of the islands have their own dance traditions. These islands are also a great place for you to go fishing, there’s a huge amount of various fish. You could visit Roko Pearls and Kazu Pearls farms where you can watch and learn how the process of the pearls works.

Here is an activity that you could do while in the Torres Strait Islands called: Daintree Rainforest: Aboriginal Cultural Day Tour with Lunch.

#6 – Cairns Night Markets

Other Cairns activities include exploring the night markets where you will visit many shops and businesses offering many services at night. In the night markets, you will discover all kinds of foods. You also able to hustle the prices down to get a better deal. The markets also offer other products including clothing and artifacts.

There is also the Farm Gate Market which offers weekly fine and quality foods from local farmers. This farmer's market is only for the local farmers. They provide organic and chemical-free foods by the Pier at the Marina. Another market close to the lagoon called the Esplanade market has fantastic food, tattoo shops, and skincare shops.

Here is an activity close to the Cairns Night Markets you'll love – From Cairns: Rainforest & Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

A Quick Cairns Travel Guide

Money – In Cairns, people use Australian dollars (AUD). If you have foreign currency, you can exchange it in airports, banks, and hotels. The restaurant tipping is the usual 15-25% but some places include the gratuity in the bill.

When is the best time? – The best time to travel is from April to September because it is the most affordable time to travel, the weather is less humid, and the crowds are smaller.

Getting here – You can get to Cairns by plane, bus, car, or train.  For the cheapest prices on flights, I recommend that you set up flight alerts with Skyscanner.

Getting around – The car rental companies like Avis and Enterprise are available at the airport and in the cities. While in the cities, you could use the Translink bus, the Uber app, Cairns Scooter, Bicycle Hire, and Cairns Taxis.  If it's your first time using Uber, make sure to use code willt1234ue to get $10 off your first ride.

Where should I stay?

What about Cairns Airbnbs?

If you prefer to stay in private room rentals, here are my picks for the top 8 Cairns Airbnb properties that you can find on the market right now.  With so many on the market, it's hard to choose from the litter so I've only listed my favourites that are under $100 USD, and hosted by Superhosts.

If the map below is difficult to navigate, make sure to head to the best Airbnbs in Cairns.

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There is my list of the Top 6 things to do in Cairns, Australia. I hope you enjoyed it. What about you? Do you have suggestions from your own experience? Drop a comment below, I'd love to hear your suggestions.