Is Cairns Good For A Family Holiday?
Is Cairns good for a family holiday? Absolutely! With year-round warm tropical weather and plenty of fun activities for kids, Cairns is an amazing place for a family holiday! Cairns is the perfect place to base yourself for trips to the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest. And the city of Cairns itself is affordable and easy to get around, making it ideal for family holidays.
There is a wide range of adventures, attractions, and day trips around Cairns that are suitable for kids of all ages. So if you’re looking for a tropical getaway where you and your family can experience some of the most lush nature and unique wildlife and culture in Australia, head to Cairns!
Planning A Family Holiday To Cairns
Once you’ve decided to take a family holiday to Cairns, you can think about when to visit and how to get around. You can visit Cairns year-round, but consider what type of weather and affordability you want. The rainy season, which runs from roughly November to March, has higher temperatures and more rain. But it also has cheaper prices for flights and accommodations, and attractions may be less crowded!
The dry season in Cairns runs from roughly April to October. Temperatures drop and sunny days are more frequent! But this is peak tourist season in Cairns, so the city is much busier and you’ll have to book tours and accommodations well in advance to ensure they don’t sell out.
Getting around on a Cairns family holiday is straightforward as well! You can rent a car to have the flexibility of exploring on your own. Or you can book guided tours for various day trips around the city. When traveling with a family, a guided tour can save you a lot of hassle as all your transport and planning are covered for the day!
What To Do In Cairns On A Family Holiday
If you’re wondering: “Is Cairns good for a family holiday”, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many family-friendly activities there are in Cairns! From local eateries and pools within the city itself, to natural wonders such as waterfalls, coral reefs, and rainforests, there are so many fun things to do in Cairns on a family holiday.
Great Barrier Reef
One of the most incredible experiences you can have as a family is snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef together! Full of colorful coral reefs, exotic sea creatures, and a fascinating underwater world, the Great Barrier Reef is a top attraction near Cairns.
There are so many amazing Great Barrier Reef day tours from Cairns that are suitable for all ages. Reef Magic Pontoon Tour is a popular family-friendly snorkeling trip, whereas Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel takes you out to the reef with an Indigenous guide so the family can learn about the First Nations people and their connection with the reef.
Rainforest and Wildlife
Another one of the best things to do in Cairns on a family holiday is exploring the surrounding nature! From waterfalls, to wildlife centers, to ancient rainforests, and more, your family is sure to have a blast adventuring out in the wilderness.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure Wildlife Park is the perfect place to take kids who love animals! Learn about Australia’s native flora and fauna from the local staff and spot animals like crocodiles, cassowaries, koalas, turtles, and more.
Or you could take a trip up to Cape Tribulation! Venture into the Daintree Rainforest with Active Tropics and let your local guide show you to all the best swimming spots and wildlife-spotting locations. This is a great option for adventurous families who love to get out in nature!
Kuranda
A fun family day trip from Cairns is Kuranda. This charming town surrounded by lush jungle has lots of interesting activities such as art galleries, craft markets, walking trails, and even a butterfly sanctuary and a koala garden. Take the scenic railway or the Skyrail from Cairns so you can witness the marvelous rainforest views on the way to Kuranda!
Explore Cairns
You should definitely make time for at least one day trip to the reef or the rainforest, but there are lots of fun things to do in the city center of Cairns itself! Take a break from all the planning and just spend some time wandering around Cairns with the family.
Head to the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon for a relaxing day of splashing around in this safe, public pool. Or walk over to Rusty’s Market and pick up some delicious, sweet, tropical fruits to share! There are also lots of high-quality cafes, breakfast spots, and seafood restaurants for a nice family meal.
More family-friendly activities include the Cairns Aquarium and the Zoom and Wildlife Dome. At these locations, you can see some wildlife right in the heart of the city. Zoom and Wildlife Dome also has ropes courses and zip lines if the kids need to burn off some energy!
So Is Cairns Good For A Family Holiday?
Absolutely, Cairns is an amazing place for a family holiday. The year-round warm temperatures make packing super easy, as you won’t need any heavy winter clothes! And there is no bad time of year to visit Cairns on a family holiday. You can save money on travel during the rainy season, or enjoy cooler weather during the dry season if your kids are sensitive to the heat.
And once you arrive in Cairns, there are so many family-friendly attractions! Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, visit a wildlife park, venture into the Daintree Rainforest, or just make the most of all that Cairns city has to offer.
