Cairns travel guide
Cairns Tourism | Cairns Guide
You're Going to Love Cairns
With a population of 153,075, Cairns is a must-see destination in Queensland, Australia. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Cairns has to offer.
Where to Eat in Cairns
Cairns CBD is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Cairns. These include popular favourites such as Vivaldis Restaurant (53-57 Esplanade), Bushfire Flame Grill Restaurant - Pacific Hotel Cairns (43 Esplanade) and Hemingway's Brewery - Cairns (Cairns Wharf Corner Wharf & Lake Streets). If you’re looking for affordable options, Bellocale (62c Shields St) and O' Cha Cha (Palm Court, 34 Lake St) are great picks.
When to visit Cairns
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Cairns in January, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 31 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 17 °C, with an average temperature of 21 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in March, when precipitation is around 430 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Cairns, with an average rainfall of 20 mm.
How to Get to Cairns
Plane
When flying to Cairns, you’ll arrive at Cairns (CNS), which is located 3 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Cairns from Ireland departs from Dublin and takes around 39h 50m.
Train
The train station in Cairns is called Cairns, and is located 0.2 miles from the city centre.
Bus
Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Cairns. From Proserpine, the bus ride to Cairns takes 760 miles and will cost you around €115. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about €517 for a journey of 1920 miles.
Airlines serving Cairns
Where to stay in Cairns
From 5-star hotels such as the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino to great affordable options like the Cascade Gardens, Cairns offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around €85 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to €179 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Travellers Paradise Heritage Historical Place - Hostel and Caravella Backpackers. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Cairns, with prices from €12 to €1,572 per night. Cairns CBD is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Cairns are about 37% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Cairns
Most booked hotels in Cairns
Hiring a car in Cairns
Hiring a car in Cairns costs €85 per day, on average, or €256 if you want to hire it for 3 days. Sixt, Alamo and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Cairns is the Bargain Car Rentals branch at 410, Sheridan Street, which is 2 miles from the city centre.
Expect to pay €1.10 per litre in Cairns (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between €13.11 and €17.48. The most frequently booked car type in Cairns is Full-size (Toyota Highlander or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Kia Stonic or similar) is, on average, 66% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.