When’s the best time to visit Cairns?

Cairns is the perfect place to escape your busy life for a few days. Relax, soak in the sun and refresh yourself in this tropical paradise.

Cairns is renowned for being a tropical wonderland bursting with greenery and endless sunny days. So iconic are it’s summer days that it once had the slogan ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next.’ But, like anywhere, it has its ups and downs throughout the year. So, it is always best to plan your holiday before travelling, to avoid any surprises that may affect your overall holiday.

Which Season?

Instead of looking at the usual four seasons, Queensland’s weather is a bit different. Being a tropical area, the city rarely has a cold day, instead of having a wet or dry season. The dry season is between April to October and is filled with warm temperatures and low rainfall. The wet season is between November and April, where the temperatures though still warm, are mild, with an reasonable amount of rainfall.

There are pros and cons for each season, depending on your preferences. Wet season obviously has more rain, which can put a damper on outdoor activities. The rain reduces the visibility of the underwater reefs as well as causing stronger currents. As well, tropical monsoons which include cyclones are common occurrences, which can result in weeks of storms and unsafe areas. However, these issues sometimes only occur in sections of this season and can lead to the stunning scenery of greenery for the rest of the time. The dry season is without the chance of heavy rainfall but can be swelteringly hot. With high temperatures reaching up to high thirty’s the days can be quite tiresome for travellers who are not used to this hot humidity.

Additionally, crowd sizes fluctuate with the season. Dry season brings larger crowds and things are more likely to be booked out, meaning you need to be more organised. As crowds are smaller in the wet season you can be a bit more spontaneous with your trip and may even get some wet season deals!

Stinger Season

Stinger season involves the dangerous jellyfish roaming Cairn’s seas. Jellyfish, or stinger, season fluctuates each year between November to May, so look out for warnings. During this time travellers and locals have a higher risk while swimming, as these jellyfish pack a punch, with the potential to maim or seriously injury. Another way to stay safe is to wear a stinger suit and swim at beaches where there is netting.

The Verdict

Although Cairns can be fantastic throughout the year, the best time for both weather, safety, and the price is between April to September. Popping in after the Australian summertime will guarantee a miss from the scorching hot days, as well as the Christmas holiday crowds.

Related article: How to spend the weekend in Cairns?