Most international visitors who come to Cairns do so to visit the nearby Great Barrier Reef. This city is officially in the Tropics so it’s warm or hot all year round, and the main variable is that summer (December through February) sees higher humidity and much more rainfall than the rest of the year.
The good news for budget travelers is that Cairns tends to be at least a bit less expensive than the large cities in Australia when it comes to hotels and even food prices at casual places. The bad news might be that the diving excursions and other adventure sports that motivate people to come here are all kind of expensive.
| Population | 142,500 |
| Area | 142,500 |
| Timezone | UTC+10 |
| Currency | Australian dollar |
| Airports | Cairns Airport (CNS) |
Cairns is very touristy, especially in the area where you are likely to stay, so finding food and drinks is rarely a problem.
| Budget breakfast | If you're looking to enjoy breakfast outside of the hotel, there are plenty of places to pick from. | $3.90 - $7.79 |
| Budget lunch | Lunch is a great time for pizza with most eateries offering a slice or two. | $5.19 - $11.69 |
| Budget dinner | Dinner options are endless with both local and international cuisine available. Just keep in mind that if you pay for your meal before 7:30pm you have a good chance of getting the early bird discount at some restaurants. | $7.79 - $16.23 |
| Beer | Both domestic and imported beers can be found at most restaurants but be prepared to pay a higher price than you're used to. | $3.25 - $5.84 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 89 | 75 | 15.6 |
| February | 88 | 75 | 17.7 |
| March | 87 | 73 | 16.7 |
| April | 85 | 71 | 7.7 |
| May | 82 | 68 | 3.6 |
| June | 79 | 64 | 1.8 |
| July | 78 | 63 | 1.2 |
| August | 80 | 63 | 1.0 |
| September | 83 | 66 | 1.0 |
| October | 85 | 69 | 1.8 |
| November | 87 | 72 | 3.7 |
| December | 89 | 74 | 6.9 |
Due to its tropical location, Cairns is known for getting warm and humid, but in a good way. November through March is a great time to visit with both great weather and chances to see numerous wildlife both on land and in the water. Water temperatures are just right, not too cold and not too warm.
If you’re not a fan of the heat, another great time to visit is in June or the months surrounding June where the temperatures drop a bit.
Rain is present at its heaviest from January to March but luckily it tends to only fall at night, reducing your need for a daily umbrella.
| 21 Mar | 6:21am | 6\"27pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:45am | 5:52pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:08am | 6:13pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:40am | 6:49pm |
Hotels in particular start off at much lower prices than you’d find in the big cities, although in high season you might not think so. Backpacker types can at least find some bargains in Cairns, so lingering here should be cheaper than most other parts of Oz.
October through March is considered the wet season. It’s also when you’ll find lower hotel rates and flight fares. If you plan on visiting during the other half of the year, plan on paying a bit more for your stay.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 12.34 - 33.12 |
| 20.78 - 48.70 |
| 22.73 - 99.35 |
| 38.96 - 122.08 |
| 146.10 - 218.83 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 11.69 - 24.03 |