13 things to do on your first trip to Cairns

Visit the Great Barrier Reef

Top priority: Make the most of your day by visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the World Heritage-listed marvel right at Cairns' doorstep.

The marina is filled with tour boats ready to whisk you away to the nearby islands and outer reef. Whether you have just a morning to explore the Great Barrier Reef quickly or several nights to relax on a liveaboard, there is a reef tour to fit your schedule.

Go under water without getting wet at the Cairns Aquarium

Tropical North Queensland offers vast natural experiences, but exploring all its diverse ecosystems is nearly impossible unless your vacation is indefinite.

That's where the Cairns Aquarium comes in, featuring 16,000 animal species across 10 ecosystems and 71 exhibits. It also boasts the unique distinction of being the only aquarium worldwide to display wildlife from two World Heritage-listed sites.

Beyond the typical behind-glass aquarium experience, Cairns Aquarium offers opportunities to dive with sharks (no prior experience needed) and take a Marine Life Encounters tour. This tour includes a personal guide through the aquarium, access to behind-the-scenes areas, and a visit to the newly established turtle hospital.

Wander the Cairns Botanic Gardens

For a cost-free activity in Cairns, head to the 38-hectare Cairns Botanic Gardens, located just five minutes from the Cairns CBD.

Founded in 1886, these gardens feature tropical plants that are both well-established and rare.

Remarkably, the gardens house one of only two Amorphophallus Titanums in Australia. This prehistoric-looking flowering plant can weigh up to 70 kg, with leaves reaching nearly seven meters, making it the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world.

You can join various guided walks to explore the gardens and observe the local wildlife.

Get active outdoors

Exchange the confines of your hotel gym for the engaging experience of Cairns' great outdoors.

Join the locals who each morning jog along the 2.5 km Cairns Esplanade, enjoying one of the most picturesque workouts with views of the Coral Sea.

No need for a sports watch—Cairns Regional Council has installed markers every 500 meters to help you track your distance effortlessly.

For additional fitness inspiration, check out this fitness enthusiast's guide to Cairns.

Swim in the rainforest

With a climate that truly embodies the 'tropical' in Tropical North Queensland, knowing where to cool off is as crucial as finding the right accommodation in Cairns.

For consistently refreshing swimming spots, head to Stoney Creek, Crystal Cascades, or Fairy Falls, all nestled within the Wet Tropics Rainforest and approximately 25 minutes from Cairns CBD.

Interested in discovering more waterfalls and waterholes? Explore 20 more options near Cairns.

Discover Rusty’s Markets

If you think the landscape's colors in this region are vibrant and bold, just wait until you explore the local produce at Rusty’s Markets.

For over 30 years, Rusty’s has been a fixture on Grafton Street, cramming more than 180 stalls into a single city block. Here, you'll find everything from sarongs and Vietnamese coffee to fruits, vegetables, and crocodile-leather bracelets.

The highlight is undoubtedly the fresh produce, attracting some of Tropical North Queensland’s most renowned chefs, including Nick Holloway of the award-winning Nu Nu Restaurant in Palm Cove, who come to source their ingredients.

Go bar hopping

Exploring as a tourist can be thirsty work, especially in a tropical climate with high humidity. To quench your thirst, make sure to bookmark this list of the best bars and breweries in Cairns.

Within the city, you'll find a variety of options, from speakeasy-inspired gin bars and rooftop lounges with views of the Coral Sea to breweries serving beers crafted with the pure waters of Mossman Gorge.

Hit the shops

In Tropical North Queensland, souvenirs range from pocket-sized linen tea towels to intricately hand-painted didgeridoos.

For tropical treasures, explore the shops in the CBD by visiting the Cairns Night Markets, Cairns Central, Oceana Walk, the boutiques on Grafton Street, or any of the numerous local markets.

Have yourself a seafood feast

Few places can minimize the distance from trawler to table as effectively as Cairns.

For a seafood feast, explore this list of the top seafood restaurants in Cairns to delight your palate.

For an unforgettable dining experience, visit the marina and board Prawn Star. Here, four restored fishing trawlers, now moored and adorned with festoon lights, offer a straightforward yet exceptional concept: fresh seafood paired with cold beers.

Catch an art exhibition

Tropical North Queensland serves as an inspiration for numerous artists, as evidenced by its vibrant art gallery scene.

To explore how the natural surroundings have shaped artistic expression, visit the Cairns Art Gallery and Court House Gallery, conveniently located next to each other.

For Indigenous art, Bulmba-ja in Cairns features the works and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Turn back the pages of history at the Cairns Museum

If you enjoy discovering a city's history, visit The Cairns Museum on Lake Street in the heart of Cairns' CBD. The museum delves into a wide range of topics, from Indigenous narratives to the tales of cane pioneers, offering a comprehensive view of Tropical North Queensland's history. It goes beyond Cairns' well-known icons like the reef and rainforest, highlighting intriguing historical moments such as toad plagues, mold outbreaks, and the influence of the 1970s hippie movement.

Explore Cairns’ best playgrounds

When traveling with young children, knowing the location of the nearest playground becomes as crucial as finding your caffeine fix.

Tropical North Queensland offers several popular playgrounds that are perfect for your little one's itinerary, such as Muddy’s Playground, nestled under the towering Fig Trees on the Cairns Esplanade.

This playground stands out with features like a flying fox, slides, a rope bridge, and Muddy’s Café for parents to enjoy.

For a variety of playground experiences, also include Fig Tree Playground, known as the ultimate treehouse, and Centenary Lakes, which offers nature-play, in your holiday plans.

Take a dip in the Cairns Lagoon

Few public pools are as iconic as the Cairns Lagoon, offering 4,800 square meters of saltwater swimming space overlooking the Coral Sea.

Located in the heart of the CBD, this free swimming spot provides safe conditions and attracts visitors both day and night (until 9pm).

Spend the day by bringing something to grill on the nearby free BBQs, or participate in one of Cairns Council’s free fitness events, which include activities ranging from pilates to volleyball.