11 reasons why Cairns is the best place to chase the sun with the whole family

Unlock the magic of Cairns, Queensland for families! From the Great Barrier Reef to lush rainforests, it’s a dream destination for family fun.

There’s a meme making the rounds that describes every Aussie family holidays as either, ‘Up the coast’, ‘Down the coast’ or ‘Bali‘. And it’s funny because it’s kind of true.

But this kind of thinking means that way too many of us are missing an experience that’s not only right here on our doorstep, but whose stunning landscapes and surrounds make it the stuff of our paradise holiday fantasies.

Cairns is paradise for families

Cairns, on the east coast of Far North Queensland, is the gateway to the incredible Great Barrier Reef, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and so much more.

Flying into Cairns over The Great Barrier Reef looks like you’re about to land in Hawaii, and within minutes of your arrival you certainly are aware that you’ve landed somewhere with magic in the air.

Oh and don’t be fooled by the natural wonders, because you’ll also find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches on offer too.

If Cairns isn’t on your family holiday bucket list, you might want to think about changing that, because when it comes to memory making fun, Cairns has child-friendly adventure in spades.

What time of the year is best to visit Cairns?

Cairns doesn’t get its lush, tropical reputation for no reason. There are two definite seasons when it comes to Cairns weather, summer and winter.

Summer (November to April) brings the wet season. The summer heat (25 – 30 degrees Celsius) coincides with some pretty impressive electrical thunder storms.

Meanwhile, in winter (May to October), you can expect plenty of sunshine and pleasant warm temperatures (around 17 – 25 degrees Celsius) with cool refreshing breezes and low rainfall.

However, locals say the best time of year falls in between the two, running from April to October. The bugs aren’t around yet, the water remains free from stingers and the weather is clear and calm and missing the humidity of summer.

Regardless, the tropical Cairns climate means it is always a good time to visit Cairns.

You should also know that stinger season stretches from around the first of November to May. In those months you might be sharing the ocean with some very tiny and very nasty creatures, so it’s recommended that you suit up in a full body ‘stinger suit’ if you’re planning to swim in the sea. But don’t let that scare you off, the stinger nets will be in the water as soon as there is any possible danger and local tour guides know all the ways to keep you safe.

Scroll on to see 13 things to do in Cairns with kids in the gallery below

But first, what’s new for families in Cairns in 2024?

• Jump on a jetski and whizz around Pajinka, the northern-most tip of Australia, with a First Nations-led jetski tour launching on 25 May. Pafetai Morseau from Badu Island has founded Cape York Jetski Tours to showcase the remote region’s culture and history as part of an action-packed jetski tour that can also take in the Torres Strait islands. Fishing and trips to remote art centres are among the options for the tours departing from Seisa in Cape York Peninsula. 
• Cuddling a koala and seeing woodland creatures while learning about conservation and sustainability can be done in less than half a day in the Cairns CBD with the opening of Cairns Koalas & Creatures. Cairns’ newest attraction opened on 3 May providing an educational and family-oriented attraction showcasing Tropical North Queensland’s diverse ecosystems from the Great Barrier Reef to the outback. 
• Passions of Paradise has launched daily citizen science tours on the Great Barrier Reef for experienced divers departing from Cairns. Certified divers can now choose the Marine Biologist for a Day program on any day of the week and help to monitor coral planting undertaken through the Coral Nurture Program with the Passions crew who have planted more than 9000 corals on Hastings Reef off Cairns.
• A private croc feeding experience and a private nocturnal tour have been introduced at Wildlife Habitat to give guests an intimate insight into animal behaviour and habitat conservation. A professional croc keeper guides the croc feeding experience and wildlife keepers lead the two-hour Your WildNIGHT Habitat offering encounters with elusive marsupials as they come to life in their natural habitats.
• Embark on Wildside Adventures’ new ‘Get Dunk’ed’ tour on Dunk Island. Experience the adrenaline rush of speeding around this tropical paradise to explore sandy beaches, coral reefs, hiking trails, and secret caves against a stunning Jurassic backdrop, and snorkelling or relaxing at Coconut Bay. Limited to 10 people per journey, this 4-hour tour includes friendly guides, snorkelling gear, and refreshments. Departs twice daily from Mission Beach and is priced at $150.
• Cairns Aquarium has been ranked the favourite experience for shore excursions worldwide by passengers on Viking Cruises. Staff from the Aquarium’s education team join passengers on their coach transfers to talk about the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics before they tour its 71 exhibits and hear from wildlife educators at each of the four amphitheatres.

Things to do with kids in Cairns

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