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Cairns is the destination of choice for beach worshippers, and if you’re one of them read on because we’ve sussed out the optimal time to visit when you won’t feel like a hot and sticky sardine on the sands.
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
April to September is the best time to visit for the ideal balance of affordable accommodation, warm dry weather and thin crowds. By popping in after summer, you’ll completely miss the Christmas crowds and the high humidity, while still being able to enjoy sunshine and warm days. Plus, you’ll only pay a fraction of the peak season price.
Why is April to September the best time to visit Cairns?
Located in the tropical north, Cairns enjoys hot, humid summers and mild winters with temperatures rarely dipping below 24℃ during the daytime.
Cairns is a popular destination for Australian families as it’s the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and offers family friendly beaches. To avoid the crowds, you should steer clear of Cairns during the school holiday period in June/July.
Travelling closer to winter means you’ll enjoy pleasant, dry days that are still ideal for beachside bumming or for exploring neighbouring islands and the Daintree rainforest.
If you're heading to Cairns to kick-start a Queensland road trip, travelling during the dry winter season will also mean there's less of a chance to encounter flooded roads - especially if you're travelling off the beaten track - that can put a real damper on your trip.
Weather and prices
Best time to visit Cairns, weather wise: April to September.
Cheapest time to visit Cairns:Search for flights and hotels in February or March when prices drop as it’s just after the peak holiday period.
Beaches: With a temperatures of 25-31℃ throughout the year, Cairns is good for beaches any time of the year, though it is best from June to October when it’s the driest.
Snorkelling: Snorkelling is good all year round though, the wet season between December and May will likely find you the best deals.
Diving: Similar to snorkelling, diving is good all year round with the best deals occurring from December to May, but the least chance it will rain while you're snorkelling is from June to November..
Riding the Kuranda Scenic Railway: Ride the rails on this iconic railway during the cooler and drier months of winter for clear views sans the stuffed carriages. The Kuranda Scenic Railway operates every day except Christmas Day.
Watersports: Available all year round, watersports such as jetskiing and parasailing are best enjoyed during dry warm months such as April and May or September and October.
Now that you know when to go, here are Cairns travel deals to save on your trip:
Up to 49% off 3-nights luxurious getaway w/ wine + flights
Available for travel until 31 March 2022 to Cairns. Package includes return airfare, stay at Hilton Cairns, room upgrade, breakfast, $100 food and drinks credit, bottle of wine and more. Valid for 2 persons. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates on hot air balloon flights, scenic flights, aerobatic flights and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Sydney, Whitsundays, Gold Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights in 2021 to Sydney, Hobart, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia and Qantas. T&Cs apply.
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Cairns include Palm Cove, Mareeba and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on rentals from 1 February - 15 December 2021 across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights from February - September 2021 to Launceston, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Uluru and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Plus get up to 19% off stays from 6 January - 30 June 2021 when you spend a minimum of $250. Destinations include Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Townsville and more. Exclusive for Trip.com members. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.
Available on select flights from February - September 2021 to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina and Launceston-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates until December 2021 to Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Jetstar sale: Australia-wide flights from $35 each way
Available on select flights from February - September 2021 to Launceston, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Uluru and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Australia: Romantic getaways from $150 + an extra 10% off with code
Available on select travel dates when you buy 2 or more vouchers. Destinations include Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Cairns, Yarra Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates until December 2021 to Gold Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Canberra, Cairns, Hamilton Island and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates, including school holidays, for activities like sandboarding, whale watching, jet boat rides, indoor skydiving, cruises, swimming, go karting and much more. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on flights in January 2021 to Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Perth and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina with FlyPelican. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $96, Qantas from $133 and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 30% off Australia experiences + Extra 10% off with code
Available on select travel dates when you buy 2 or more experiences such as sightseeing cruises, hot air balloon flights, day tours and skydives. Destinations include Brisbane, Adelaide, Hunter Valley, Gold Coast, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
Valid on select dates and adventures like quad biking, sandboarding, bridge climbing, canyoning, horse riding, abseiling, soccer training and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Cairns and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on flights until 30 June 2021 to Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Broome, Cairns and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select activities best as birthday gifts like skydiving, hot air balloon flights, quad biking, off road v8 race buggies and scuba diving. Destinations include Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates to Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Darwin and more. Applies to bookings up to 6 persons. T&Cs apply.
Stephanie Yip is the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for Travel Weekly, Escape, Showpo, The Nibbler and Hostelworld. She was also the editor of kids magazine DMAG. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and has visited 55 countries (and counting).
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