The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest — Australia's finest adventure base.
Cairns is the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The city itself is a tropical resort — Australia's most relaxed city, from which dive trips to the reef, skydiving above the tropics, and the Kuranda scenic railway through rainforest all depart. In August, the weather here is perfect winter conditions.
3,5M
visitors/year
Best time to visit
May–October — dry season, pleasant tropical winter; avoid the monsoon November–April
Top sights & experiences
- 🤿 Great Barrier Reef
- 🌿 Daintree Rainforest
- 🚂 Kuranda Scenic Railway
- 🪂 Skydiving over the tropics
- 🦈 Snorkelling at Fitzroy Island
Perfect for
Diving & snorkellingNatureAdventureFamilies
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