About Cairns

Welcome to the tropical paradise that is the city of Cairns!

Nestled on the coast of Far North Queensland, the city is tucked between the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea and the lush rolling downs of the Atherton Tableland to the west.

Cairns is home to more than 130,000 people from all corners of the world and is renowned for its tourism attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest.

Cairns has an estimated population of 130,594 which is growing at an average rate of 1.8 per cent per year. There is something here for every visitor to enjoy … adrenaline-charged adventures like diving, white water rafting and bungy jumping or more gentle pursuits like birdwatching, hiking, gourmet restaurants or just sitting under a palm tree sipping a cocktail.

Cairns is the jewel in the crown of Australia’s natural attractions … there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Cairns Climate 

Located in the Wet Tropics, the region’s climate is hot and humid during summer months with mild, dry winters. The rainy season generally occurs during summer between January and March. The average rainfall is 1992mm on an average of 154 days of the year.

From December to March, the monsoon trough is close to Cairns and brings with it hot, humid conditions and possible thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. The tropical cyclone season is normally from December to April but exceptions do occur.

From May to October, there are evening and overnight showers that generally dry off by the afternoon. The temperature in the Cairns region is fairly uniform, ranging from 23-31C in mid-summer and 18-28C in mid-winter.

Where is Cairns?

The city of Cairns is located on the northeast coast of Australia in the state of Queensland about 2500km from Sydney by road.

The official Cairns region follows a narrow coastal strip from Ellis Beach in the north to Mirriwinni in the south and covers an area of 1687sq km.

The region includes Queensland’s tallest mountain, Mr Bartle Frere, and two World Heritage-listed attractions – the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics rainforests