Cairns Holiday Weather Overview
Cairns can be found in the northern reaches of the Queensland region of Australia and was named after William Wellington Cairns, the Governor of Queensland when the city was founded in 1876. Cairns is a popular tourist destination due to its tropical climate and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
Top places to stay in Cairns
As Cairns is a very popular tourist destination there are more than enough hotels, apartments, villas and resorts to choose from. From the Cairns Aquarius to the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino there are hotel rooms to suite any budget. If you prefer to stay in a chain hotel then there are Hilton hotels, Mercure hotels and even Ibis hotels in the city.
If you are looking for a resort rather than a hotel then there is the Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort and The Lakes Cairns Resort that offer apartments and facilities to keep even the fussiest traveller happy.
For those that prefer to stay in bed and breakfasts there are more than enough in the city to let you experience Australian hospitality on a different level. If you feel happier staying in holiday villas or apartments then there plenty to choose from in the heart of the city as well as overlooking the stunning ocean.
Food in Cairns
When it comes to food in Cairns, you will be hard pressed to find better ice cream anywhere in Australia with ice cream parlours like Gelocchio and Devine Gelato there is fantastic tasting ice cream and milkshakes on offer to help keep cool in the tropical heat of the city.
When it comes to dining in Cairns, there are cafes, bistos and fine dining experiences to delight even the harshest of critics. When it comes to coffee and café culture there is Cruze Coffee that not only knows how to bring out the best in coffee but also how to provide excellent customer service.
For pizza and relaxed dinning there is Little Ricardo’s and Houdini’s Gourmet Pizza that provide fantastic food at reasonable prices. However if you are looking for more elegant dining then there are restaurants such as C’est Bon that specialises in French cuisine and Tamarind that brings elegance to dining with a menu that offers Australian, contemporary and Asian fusion food.
Things to do in Cairns
Cairns is a hub of activity and attractions that cover a wide variety of interests from the North Queensland Trail Bike Adventures, Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon, the Cairns Botanic Gardens and the Tablelands, Waterfalls and Spanish Castle.
If you have children you need to keep entertained then Muddy’s Playground is a great place to take them where they can have fun for hours on end and stay cool even in the height of the summer heat.
For those who prefer to take a stroll and admire views then the Esplanade Boardwalk is a great place to visit and take a turn upon. There is also the Red Arrow Walk that is slightly more effort that the boardwalk but is more than worth the extra effort.
For those that would rather spend their holidays down at the beach, enjoying the ocean, then there is Michaelmas Cay snorkelling and scuba diving that lets you explore the Great Barrier Reef in a very up close and personal way or Trinity Beach for those who just want to enjoy the sun, sand and surf.
Best month to travel to Cairns
The most popular time to visit Cairns is between June and August due to the sunny weather and mild temperatures. However if you want to avoid the crowds then visiting between September and November means that you can enjoy slightly warmer weather than in June to August, low levels of humidity and avoid the wet season as well as the crowds; though it is good to remember that cyclones can be seen as early as November.
Cairns, like other northern regions of Australia experiences a wet season and a dry season due to its tropical climate. Unlike other areas such as Broome, Cairns experiences high annual levels of rainfall that average around 1992mm. During the wet season there is also a likelihood of tropical cyclones occurring as well as storms. In the dry season the temperatures can reach up to 31 degrees Celsius and in the wet season they stay around 18 degrees Celsius.
Summer in Cairns
The summer months are between December and February and which is also the wet season in Cairns. The temperatures range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius and have an average monthly rainfall of around 400mm. Humidity levels are also high during the summer and the warnings of tropical cyclones are common.
Winter in Cairns
The winter season spans from June to August and though the temperatures are much milder, only averaging around 18 degrees Celsius, the climate is much less humid; there are no threats of tropical cyclones. The winter season is also the dry season for Cairns, so it is much easier to enjoy all that Cairns has to offer in the dry season.
Autumn and spring in Cairns
The autumn and spring in Cairns sees temperatures that average between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius. Between March and May there is still enough humidity to make tropical cyclones a slight risk, but with temperatures cooling it is not as bad as during the summer months.
What to wear in Cairns
If you plan to take advantage of many of the hiking trails, sporting options or enjoy the North Queensland Bike Trails, then remember to bring suitable clothing as wearing a bikini and flip flops may not be the most sensible thing to wear.
If visiting during the wet season a light poncho is advisable along with light clothing such as shorts and t-shirts. In the dry season, especially the winter months it is advisable to take some longer, warmer clothing for wearing in the evenings.
Always remember to check the dress code of any resorts or hotels that you are staying in before you pack so you can ensure you have suitable clothing with you.
Best months to visit Cairns?
August and May are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Cairns. Within Australia the weather data gathered from Cairns weather forecast and Cairns weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 25°c and average of 246.7333 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Cairns?
August and July are the coldest months with temperature at around 18°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Cairns?
January and February receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 366.77mm.
Travelling to Cairns? Check out our Weather averages of Cairns to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Cairns section.