Despite being best known as a gateway to epic outdoor offerings, the city of Cairns is also a must-visit destination.
For much of the year, the city is bathed in glorious sunshine, making every day opportune for exploring its magnificent beaches and reefs. However, the November to April rainy season can bring periods of heavy rainfall, storms, and high humidity.
Don’t let a bad weather day stop you from exploring this awesome region. Use this plan to organize a food and fun-filled day out in central Cairns.
Cairns Aquarium
Cairns may be the gateway to a vast, mesmerizing underwater world, but stormy days aren’t the best time to dive in with your snorkel. At Cairns Aquarium, you can get right up close to some 16,000 species of sea creatures regardless of the weather, giving you a taste of the wildlife you might encounter on a snorkeling or diving trip. Prepare to see some jaw-dropping sea life across the 71 different exhibits showcasing 10 different ecosystems.
If browsing behind the glass doesn’t satisfy your appetite for close encounters, you can also go diving with the sharks (no experience required) or take a Marine Life Encounters tour, which takes you behind the scenes and lets you check out a turtle hospital!
Chances are you’ll leave hungry to explore the real reefs yourself! Why not join one of our day tours to Great Barrier Island, Port Douglas, Fitzroy Island when the weather improves?
Cairns Art Gallery
Just a 7-minute walk from Cairns Aquarium lies the Cairns Art Gallery. Northern Queensland is home to countless talented artists, and nowhere is this more evident than in this historically charming building. Alongside its regularly changing exhibitions featuring classic and contemporary work, the gallery has a strong focus on the diversity and breadth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from Far North Queensland. Its shop stocks a wide range of unique and exciting gifts, so there’s a souvenir to suit every taste!
Cairns Museum
Continue on to the Cairns Museum to walk through the pages of history. With exhibitions documenting tales of the area’s development, extreme weather events, White Australia, Aboriginal resistance, and more, there’s something for everyone to learn over three floors of modern rooms and comfortable amenities. If something in particular fascinates you, you can always pick the brain of a friendly local guide!
Rusty’s Markets
Every Friday & Saturday (5 am to 6 pm) and Sunday (5 am to 3 pm), this sheltered farmers market comes alive with its 180-strong fresh produce and product stalls, attracting hungry locals and visitors from far and wide! Browse a range of succulent regionally grown and sold fruits and vegetables, or indulge in a bit of retail therapy at the stores selling jewelry, clothing, coffee, and more! What was once just 6 stalls in 1975 is now a bustling three-day affair known across Australia and the world.
Cairns Night Markets
Open every day from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Cairns Night Market proudly advertises that they have “something for everyone”. Once the first night market in Australia, the air-conditioned space now has over 70 market shops and a food court offering a broad range of cuisines.
