Cairns is the main gateway to North Queensland. Fringed by mountains to its west, Cairns is a narrow city that sprawls up the coast. From the suburb of Edmonton in the south of Cairns to Palm Cove in the north is a distance of 38 km (23.6 miles).

Cairns is an ideal place to base yourself to experience a whole range of adventures in the region as well as activities in Cairns itself. Cairns is a central point that you can base yourself to explore the whole area including two world heritage-listed sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest (including the Daintree Rainforest Area). 

However, before venturing further afield, check out the best things to do in Cairns city. In this article, we’ll cover 11 Cairns must do activities and experiences.

Join the Great Barrier Reef Travel Planning Facebook Group

Check out our Great Barrier Reef Travel Planning Facebook Group – you are welcome to join and it is a great resource to enable you to ask questions about your Great Barrier Reef trip, including gateway towns and what to do on land!

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Tourist Map of Cairns City

To help you better understand where each tourist attraction is located in Cairns City we have put together a detailed map below. You can zoom in and out, and click on each attraction to see more details without leaving this page.

Top Things to Do in Cairns City

Below are our recommended free and paid activities to do in Cairns City, we work with Get Your Guide, a reputable online travel agent as a great option to pre-purchase all of your Cairns activities. Make sure you book them early as they can often book out ahead.

1. Cairns Aquarium

The Cairns Aquarium is Australia’s newest aquarium (opened in September 2017). If you are looking for things to do in Cairns CBD, it is one of the most popular and highly rated experiences in Far North Queensland.

Cairns Aquarium showcases 16 000 marine and land animals from the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. The aquarium has been designed to take you on a journey from the rainforest to the reef.

In the rainforest area you will experience the animals living in the freshwater creeks and streams of the Wet Tropics rainforest as well as creatures living in the swamps, canopy and emergent layers of the rainforest including turtles, snakes, lizards and spiders.

As you move closer to the ocean you will then discover the animals of the mangroves including crocodiles, crabs and other species that thrive in the brackish waters. Finally you will travel out and discover the marine animals of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

There are heaps of amazing displays and experiences to enjoy including:

• Marine touch pools where you get a chance to interact with creatures such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, and carpet sharks.
• A 20 metre (65 feet) underwater tunnel.
• A 10 metre (32.8 feet) deep reef tank.
• The 360-degree Oceanarium

A range of educational talks are held throughout the day including: Life of Sharks and Rays; Curious and Colourful; Flooded Billabong River Monsters; and Ribbon Reef Denizens of the Deep.

There are also additional paid encounters to enjoy including diving with the sharks, aquarium by twilight, and tours of the turtle rehabilitation centre. You can also participate in a two-hour personally guided tour through the aquarium which includes a back of house visit, the Cairns turtle hospital, scatter feeding of river monsters fish and handfeeding of the cow nose rays.

There are a range of ticket options when you visit Cairns Aquarium which are detailed below.

2. Cairns Skyrail

The Skyway Rainforest Cableway is a multiple award-winning experience. Just some of the awards the Cairns Skyrail has won are both Queensland and Australia’s best major tourist attraction as well as multiple sustainable tourism awards. It’s a must do Cairns experience.

Smithfield Station in Cairns is the starting point for your Skyrail journey. It’s housed in a Queenslander-style building. Apart from ticketing, there is a café, gift shop, and restroom facilities. The total length from Skyrail’s Smithfield Terminal to the Kuranda Skyrail Terminal is 7.5 kilometres (or 4.7 miles). In total you should allow approximately 1.5 hours for a one way journey.

Make sure you download the Skyrail Interpretive App & Audio Guide to your phone before boarding the Cairns Skyrail to get the most out of your experience. The app includes gondola commentary, journey tracking and Augmented Reality (AR) rainforest animals.

The first section of the journey to Red Peak Station takes about 10 minutes. At this stop you can wander through the rainforest on the Rainforest Board Walk loop. Allow about 20-30 minutes to appreciate the vast variety of flora and fauna including ferns, palms, butterflies, birds and giant rainforest trees. A complimentary ranger guided boardwalk tour is available. While there, make sure to check out the scenic lookout.

From Red Peak Station, the next stop is Barron Falls Station which is about a 12-14 minute gondola ride. Allow another 20-30 minutes at Barron Falls Station as there is a rainforest interpretation centre, an historical display and the Edge lookout over the stunning Barron Gorge and Barron Falls. Barron Falls is at it’s most awe-inspiring during the wet season from December to March.

The final leg of the journey from Barron Falls Station to Kuranda Station takes another 7-8 minutes. Kuranda, is a town located in the rainforest north-west of Cairns with lots of attractions and experiences to enjoy. At the Kuranda terminal there is a ticketing area as well as restrooms and another gift shop.

Click here to check out and book a self-guided trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail through Get Your Guide.

3. Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is another great way to travel to Kuranda particularly when you combine it with the Cairns Skyrail. The journey takes just under two hours.

We would recommend travelling up to Kuranda on the Scenic Railway and back on the Skyrail. You can readily make a combined ticketed booking either as self-drive or hotel pick-up from Cairns (not currently including departures from the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas). Here are the two options:

• Self-Drive – Click here to check and out make a combination Skyway Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway booking through Get Your Guide.
• Cairns Hotel Pick-up – Click here to check and out make a combination Cableway and Scenic Railway booking through Get Your Guide.

A trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway is almost as much about the train as the actual journey. The engine pulling the carriages is over 50 years old and is beautifully decorated so make sure you go to the front to check it out. Some of the refurbished wooden carriages are up to 100 years old and display wonderful craftsmanship.

Don’t expect air conditioning in the carriages, so particularly during the hotter times of the year dress in cooler clothing and stay hydrated. The large open-air windows allow you to appreciate the stunning views as well as smell the scents and hear the sounds of the rainforest around you.

The rail line twists and turns along 33 km (about 20 miles) of track and ascends 327 metres (1076 feet) above sea level by the time you reach Kuranda. Over the course of the journey you’ll go through 15 tunnels, cross 55 bridges and experience 98 curves. There are fantastic photo opportunities throughout the trip as you travel through a World Heritage-listed rainforest, particularly when the train stops and you disembark at Barron Falls Station.

At the end of the journey, the Kuranda Railway Station is also stunning. The historic station is over 100 years old and heritage-listed. The building and it’s tropical surrounds make it one of the more photographed train stations in the world.

The Scenic Railway departs from Cairns Station twice a day at either 8:30 am or 9:30 am. If you wish to take the return journey, the train leaves Kuranda at either 2:00pm or 3:30 pm.

Click here to check out and book a self-guided trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail through Get Your Guide.

4. Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Lagoon

The Cairns Esplanade extends for about 2.5km (about 1.5 miles) along the Cairns foreshore. It’s one of the great things to do in Cairns for free.

The Esplanade is the perfect place to go for a jog, bike ride or a leisurely stroll and there are plenty of things to see and do. You can easily spend a few hours in this part of Cairns alone.

On the southern end of this waterfront promenade near the Cairns Tourist Information Centre and the Cairns Night Markets you will find the Reef Fleet Terminal and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants.

Also on the southern end of the Esplanade is the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Along with attractions like Cairns Aquarium, the lagoon is definitely one of the top things to do in Cairns with kids.

The centre of Cairns doesn’t have any beaches which makes the lagoon the perfect place to cool off. It’s a 4800 square metre (51 000 square feet) salt-water swimming area fringed by sand. Water depth ranges from 80 cm (32 inches) to 1.6 metres (5 feet).

The Lagoon is open from 6:00am to 9:00pm every day except Wednesday when it opens at 12:00pm. It’s a safe swimming area patrolled by lifeguards without the concerns of stingers and crocodiles. There are plenty of covered areas, picnic tables and barbeques. It also has changing areas, showers and toilets. Opposite the Lagoon, on the city side of the Esplanade you will also find lots of other places to eat and drink.

As you continue north past the Lagoon, there are plenty of other facilities to enjoy including more BBQ facilities, Muddy’s playground, skate plazas, beach volleyball and basketball courts. At the northern end of the Esplanade you will find the Fun Ship Playground and even a petanque court.

5. Cairns Beaches

If you’re looking for more free things to do in Cairns, there are a series of beaches north of the Cairns CBD that are considered to be some of the most beautiful in QLD. Imagine beautiful soft sand, aquamarine water and most of the beaches with palm-fringed edges and you’ve painted yourself a picture of what to expect.

Three of the beaches, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach and Palm Cove Beach, are patrolled year round and the other beaches are patrolled during stinger season (November to May). Palm Cove is considered to be Cairns’ best beach.

Here are some further details of Cairns beaches (from closest to furthest from the CBD):

• Holloways Beach (14 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Holloways Beach is patrolled between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm in stinger season. It has a stinger net enclosure. The foreshore has a children’s playground, picnic area and electric barbeques.
• Yorkeys Knob (16 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Yorkeys Knob is patrolled year round between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. It has a stinger net enclosure in stinger season. Yorkeys has a walking/cycling path, a children’s playground, bench seats, a covered picnic area and electric barbecues.
• Trinity Beach (20 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Trinity Beach is patrolled from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm year round. It has a stinger enclosure in the marine stinger season. Trinity Beach has a children’s playground, picnic shelters, bench seats and electric barbecues along the foreshore.

• Kewarra Beach (22 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Kewarra Beach has a stinger net enclosure and is patrolled between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm during the marine stinger season. At the northern end of the beach, there is a children’s playground, picnic shelter, bench seats and electric barbecue.
• Clifton Beach (23 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Clifton Beach has a stinger net enclosure and is patrolled by Surf Lifesavers between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm in the marine stinger season. The foreshore has good shading and includes benches and tables. At the northern end there is a small playground.
• Palm Cove Beach (27 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Named for the Paperbark Palms that line the beach, Palm Cove Beach is patrolled year round between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. It has a stinger net enclosure in stinger season. The shaded foreshore has electric barbecues, bench seats, a walking/cycling path and fenced children’s playground. This is also the location for the Palm Cove Markets.

• Ellis Beach (28 min drive north of Cairns CBD) – Ellis Beach has a stinger net enclosure and is patrolled between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm during stinger season. The foreshore has electric barbecues.

6. Cairns Markets

If you love visiting markets, there are 3 to choose from in Cairns: Rusty’s Markets, Cairns Night Markets and the Palm Cove Markets.

Rusty’s Markets

Rusty’s Markets are right in the centre of Cairns on Grafton Street. They are a Cairns institution having started in 1975. Rusty’s Markets are open Friday to Sunday every week and there are over 180 stores.

As an example of what to expect, at Rusty’s you can find a huge variety of fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables such as mangos, paw paws, custard apples, dragon fruit and jackfuit. You will also find seafood, delicatessen items, coffee, chocolate, jewellery, clothing and heaps more. If you’re feeling hungry, you can also enjoy a variety of cuisines at any time – breakfast, lunch or an early dinner.

Cairns Night Markets

The Cairns Night Markets have been running for 25 years and are located in a building opposite the lagoon at 54-60 Abbott Street. The Night Markets are open every day from 4:30pm.

The Night Markets were heavily impacted by COVID which sent many stall holders out of business so at the moment expect quite a few vacant shops. However, management are trying to attract new and more boutique shops to reinvigorate the night markets.

At the retail outlets you can find clothing, jewellery, arts, crafts and accessories. You can expect a mix of unique items as well as some more touristy, mass-produced products. If you want a souvenir of Cairns there are plenty of choices at the Night Markets. There are also a range of food options from the food court as well as some more street-food style choices.

Palm Cove Markets

Palm Cove Markets are located on the beach-front Williams Esplanade in the northern Cairns suburb of Palm Cove (about 30 minutes drive from the Cairns CBD). They are held on the first Sunday of every month (April to December excluding September) from 8:00am to 2:00pm.

Take a leisurely stroll through the relaxed atmosphere of Palm Cove and enjoy the 130 stalls selling mostly locally-made arts and craft, fashion, plants, produce, food, drinks and more. In addition to the markets themselves, there are nearby local cafes and restaurants to enjoy.

7. Cairns Botanic Gardens

You could easily spend several hours in the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Even though it is relatively compact at 38 hectares in size, there are a whole host of areas and experiences for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

There are plenty of garden areas to explore including:

• An Aboriginal plant use garden
• The Bamboo collection
• Gondwanan Heritage Collection showing the evolution of plants from photosynthetic bacteria to modern flowering plants.
• Rainforest boardwalk
• Saltwater lake
• Zhanjiang Friendship Garden which is a Chinese-style garden.

Tropical flora is showcased in many areas of the botanic gardens. Also make sure to check out the Conservatory with its collection of local butterflies and some of the Garden’s most delicate and valuable plants.

In addition to the areas already mentioned there is a nature playground. The playground has plenty of areas for children to enjoy and explore including dinosaur bones, climbing ropes, a fairy garden, huts to build, balance logs, tunnels, digging patches and plants that encourage sensory play due to their colours, textures and scents.

The Cairns Botanic Gardens also offers a number of free walking tours. If you’re thirsty or need to refuel while browsing the gardens, there are two cafes in the Botanic Gardens precinct: Botanic Gardens Restaurant and Café as well as Tank Sixty Four.

8. Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett

If you’re looking for adventure in Cairns, look no further than Skypark Cairns. AJ Hackett Cairns was renamed Skypark Cairns in 2020. Skypark is located in the suburb of Smithfield, a northern Cairns suburb. It is set in tropical rainforest overlooking the northern suburbs of Cairns with the Pacific Ocean and Great Barrier Reef in the distance.

The Skypark is open from 10:00am to 3:00pm every day. It’s about a 20 minute car drive from the Cairns CBD. There is free parking on site and free return transfers are also available.

There are three main activities at the Skypark which will get your adrenaline pumping: the Bungee Jump, the Giant Swing, and Walk the Plank. You can also have a fantastic time at Skypark even if you’re not participating as there are spectating platforms and viewing decks to enjoy all the action.

50 Metre Bungee Jump

Skypark Cairns is the only place you can bungee jump in Australia which makes it unique. The Bungee Jump tower is located above a deep natural lagoon and is 50 metres (164 feet) in height. There are 16 jump styles available and the jump includes an optional water touch.

Click here to check out and book the 50 metre bungee jump through Get Your Guide.

Giant Swing

The Giant Swing is another great activity for adrenaline junkies although not as daunting. After being secured into your harnesses, you first get taken up backwards to the starting position of the Swing up amongst the rainforest canopy and close to the height of the Bungee platform. Then, you wait to go into free fall. Once released you are launched into a 45 metre (147 feet) swing and you can reach top speeds of 120 km/hr (75 miles/hr) in just 3.5 seconds.

Click here to check out and book the Giant Swing through Get Your Guide.

Walk the Plank

If you want something a bit milder than the bungee jump or giant swing, try Walk the Plank. Hook up to a safety harness, walk out onto the plank which is 140 metres (460 feet) above sea level and enjoy the rainforest and reef views, then lean back over the drop.

Click here to check out and book Walk the Plank through Get Your Guide.

9. Museums in Cairns

There are a wide variety of museums to explore in the region with quite different collections. Three of these museums are in Cairns city:

• Cairns Museum – This museum tells the the history of Cairns and its surrounds. It explores: how Cairns has evolved over time including the traditional owners of the land; first contact between indigenous owners of the land and European settlers; the industries such as sugar that made the area prosper; the evolution of Cairns into a port town; and how Cairns became a major international tourist destination.

• The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum – It is the largest museum of its kind in the southern hemisphere with over 220 armoured vehicles and artillery pieces. The collection contains vehicles from countries including Australia, the UK, Russia, Germany and Japan. There are vehicles from both World Wars with a particular emphasis on World War 2.
• Samurai Gallery Australia – This museum is owned and operated by John Grasso a man with a passion for Japanese Samurai Culture. It’s the only museum/gallery dedicated to the arts, armour and weaponry of Japanese samurai warriors. At Samurai Gallery Australia you will get to view artefacts which are hundreds of years old. One of the most prized items in the collection dates back to 1040 AD. Make sure you call John prior to visiting as he is often travelling to exhibitions.

10. Cairns Art Galleries

There are plenty of art galleries in the region to visit and enjoy. Here are some examples of the galleries that you can find in Cairns city:

• Cairns Art Gallery – This gallery is housed in a beautiful heritage building with the collections and exhibitions displayed over three storeys. It has a great mix of contemporary, indigenous and more classical pieces. Exhibitions change regularly which means there is always plenty of variety including photography, paintings, art installations and much more. Cairns Art Gallery also hosts a range of events and class. It has a highly regarded café, restaurant and bar called Perrotta’s at the Gallery. The gallery also has a great gift shop with quality jewellery and other gifts. Entry is free.

• Doongal Aboriginal Art Gallery – This gallery specialises in local aboriginal rainforest art and artefacts. It also has artwork by indigenous Central Australian artists.
• Australia.Gallery – This gallery is operated by the owners of Samurai Gallery Australia. It has a wide variety of Australian artwork from established and developing artists. It is also a representative gallery for Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation.
• Kgari 3 Sisters – This gallery sells the indigenous art of Susan Reyes. Her family has lived in Cairns for five generations.
• Munganbana Aboriginal Art Gallery – The artwork at this gallery is by the artist owner, Munganbana. His artwork combines traditional Aboriginal themes with contemporary techniques and striking colour. His work features seascapes, riverscapes, rainforest and wildlife.

11. Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome

Cairns Zoom and Wildlife dome is an amazing fusion of rope adventure courses set inside a wildlife park. Cairns Zoom is located at the top of the Reef Hotel Casino and is housed inside a 20-metre high (65 feet) all-weather dome.

There are heaps of different experiences including:

• High-Zoom Course – Lots of elements and crossings, some of which are 12 metres (39 feet) above the ground, including 3 ziplines one of which takes you over Goliath the crocodile.
• Power Jump – A free fall adventure where you jump off a 13 metre (42 feet) tower – while attached by a rope of course.
• Pirate Climb – Climb a 13 metre (42 feet) high cargo net to the Power Jump Platform.
• Mid-Zoom Course – A course with a mix of climbing walls, tunnels, cargo nets, swings and a zipline 3 metres (10 feet) above the ground.
• Commando Rope Climb – Climb a 13 metre (42 feet) rope to the Power Jump Platform.

As well as the adventure course inside the dome, there is an external dome climb where you walk on a 60 cm (2 foot) wide platform outside the dome for amazing views over Cairns.

In addition to the adventure courses, there are a various wildlife interactions and experiences including: feeding tours; a crocodile show; a small bird aviary; insect and reptile talks; and koala and mammal talks. Private wildlife tours are also available which include a private 40 min tour, as well as photos where you get to hold three animals of your choice (from a koala, crocodile, snake, Frogmouth owl, or a lizard).

Click here to check out and book tickets for Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome through Get Your Guide.

Join the Great Barrier Reef Travel Planning Facebook Group

Check out our Great Barrier Reef Travel Planning Facebook Group – you are welcome to join and it is a great resource to enable you to ask questions about your Great Barrier Reef trip, including gateway towns and what to do on land!

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.