Motorhome Republic
Up to 20% off Cruisin' Motorhomes rentals
Ends
Available from 29 December 2021 – 10 April 2022 on pick up locations including Cairns, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. T&Cs apply.
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
Dreaming of sunnier climes? The sunshine state has the answer.
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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.
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 should I go then?
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.
Latest Cairns travel deals
Motorhome Republic
Flight Centre - Domestic
Domestic flights from $59 each way
Ends
Available on select flights until September 2022. Destinations include Hobart, Ballina, Gold Coast, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Brisbane. T&Cs apply.
Kayak
Qantas sale: Flights from $99 each way
Ends
Available for travel from 26 December 2021 – 25 September 2022. Destinations include Newcastle, Townsville, Coffs Harbour, Alice Springs and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina.
Trip.com
Get $50 off flights with code
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Available on select travel dates until 30 June 2022. Minimum spend of $100 required. Destinations include Coffs Harbour, Ballina, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
RedBalloon
Up to 30% off select experiences + an extra 10% off with code
Ends
Available on select dates and activities including hot air balloon flights, sightseeing cruises, V8 racing, skydives, jet boat rides and more. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth and more. Must purchase 2 or more vouchers. T&Cs apply.
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 15% off luxury stays in Australia
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Available on select stays in 2022. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Hobart and more. T&Cs apply.
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 15% off Australia family getaways
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Available on select dates in 2022 and on select properties across Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
Kayak
Jetstar sale: Flights from $29 each way
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Available from February – September 2022 to Sydney, Bali, Auckland, Tokyo, Bali, Nadi, Honolulu, Phuket and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne.
Klook
Up to 15% off Australia attractions and experiences
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Available on select dates and activities including skydives, sightseeing cruises, day tours and attraction passes. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and more. Minimum spend of $100 required. T&Cs apply.
Cruisin' Motorhomes
Up to 20% off Cairns rentals
Ends
Plus get an extra 10% off when you book for 21+ days. Available from 29 December 2021 – 10 April 2022. Drop off points are Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. T&Cs apply.
Cheap Flights
Australia-wide flights from $59 return
Ends
Available on flights until February 2022 to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Hobart, Adelaide, Launceston and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
KKday
Australia: Up to 25% off activities and experiences
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Available from 20 December 2021 – 30 March 2022, including Christmas and New Year's Eve. Includes day tours, attraction passes, dinner cruises, skydives, hot air balloon flights and more. T&Cs apply.
Adrenaline
Australia: Up to 30% off adventures + an extra 10% off with code
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Available on select dates when you spend a minimum of $350. Activities includes skydiving, V8 racing, hot air ballooning, kayaking, water rafting and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Blue Mountains, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
Agoda
Exclusive
Up to 30% off Australia hotels + an extra 10% off with code
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Available on stays until 31 December 2022, including Christmas and New Year's Eve when you use the code. Destinations include Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
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Adrenaline
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Get 5% off Australia-wide experiences with code
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Available on activities including V8 racing, hot air balloon rides, kayak tours, skydives and more. Destinations include Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and more. Minimum spend of $300 required. T&Cs apply.
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Adrenaline
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Get 10% off Australia activities and experiences
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Available on select dates and activities including V8 racing, tandem skydives, scenic helicopter flights and jet boat rides. Destinations include Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and more. Minimum spend of $350 required. T&Cs apply.
Exclusive
Luxury Escapes
Up to 41% off Cairns escape with $150 dining credits and flights
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Available for travel until 24 December 2022. Package includes return airfare, stay at Pullman Cairns International and bottle of wine. Valid for 2 persons.
Everything Australia
Up to 23% off boat tours in Australia
Ends
Available on select dates until December 2022, including Christmas and New Year. Destinations include Cairns, Gold Coast, Hobart, Sydney and more.
Flight Centre - Holidays
$875: 4-night Cairns escape with flights
Ends
Available from 1 May – 19 June 2022 and includes return airfare departing from Sydney and stay at Mantra Trilogy. T&Cs apply.
Contiki
Up to 15% off Australia adventures
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Available on select travel dates until 2022. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Rottnest Island, Cairns, Darwin, Sydney, Byron Bay, Uluru, Canberra, Jindabyne, Great Ocean Road and more.
Flight Centre - Domestic
Australia-wide flights from $43 each way
Ends
Available on select flight dates until September 2022. Destinations include Hobart, Ballina, Canberra, Broome and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
Accor Hotels
Up to 25% off Australia-wide escapes
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Available on 2+ night stays until 2022. Destinations included Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Flight Centre - Holidays
Up to 20% off Australia getaways
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Available on select stay dates until 2022 across Port Douglas, Broome, Adelaide, Darwin, Sydney and more.
Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $62 return
Ends
Available on flights until September 2022. Sample fare is Sydney–Melbourne with Jetstar. Destinations include Gold Coast, Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns, Darwin and more.
Skyscanner
Up to 50% off Qantas flights
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Available on flights until 28 February 2022 to destinations including Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Hobart, Adelaide, Hamilton Island, Cairns, Darwin, Broome and more.
Skydive Australia
Up to $40 off skydives and gift vouchers
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Available on all jump dates at all Skydive Australia locations including Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne and more. T&Cs apply.
Pullman
Australia hotels from $199/night
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Available on select stay dates until 2022. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Port Douglas, Brisbane, Sydney and more. Sample stay is at Pullman Sydney Airport Hotel.
Klook
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Available on select dates when you spend a minimum of $100. Activities include hot air balloon flights, skydives and attraction passes. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane and more. Exclusive for new members. T&Cs apply.
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Adrenaline
Get 5% off Australia activities
Available on activities including skydives, jet ski rides, whale watching cruises, day tours, rally driving, scenic helicopter flights and more. Minimum spend of $300 required. Destinations include Cairns, Sydney, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
RedBalloon
Get $10 off sitewide with code
Available on activities such as hot air balloon flights, skydives, quad biking experiences, high teas, getaways and more. Minimum spend of $300. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
Flight Centre - Holidays
Australia beach holidays from $169
Ends
Available for travel from November 2021 – March 2022. Destinations include Sunshine Coast, Broome, Gold Coast, Cairns and more. Sample rate is for 3-night escape in Trinity Beach.
Cudo
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Budget Car Rental
Up to $50 off Australia weekend car hires
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Available on rentals until 28 February 2022 when you book a minimum of 3 days including Saturday night. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
Novotel
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Available on stays until December 2022. Destinations includes Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Melbourne and more. Sample stay is at Adelaide Rockford.
Wotif
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Available on select dates from November 2021 – December 2022 when you book you hotel and flights together. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and more.
Virgin Australia
Australia-wide flights from $59 each way
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Available from November 2021 – September 2022 to destinations including Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina and Sydney-Coffs Harbour. T&Cs apply.
Booking.com
Up to 15% off Australia holidays
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Available on stays until 3 January 2022 on destinations including Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth and more.
Accor Hotels
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Available on stays up to 13 months from booking date. Destinations include Brisbane, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Whitsundays. T&Cs apply.
Adrenaline
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Available on select travel dates until 2022 in Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane and more.
Adrenaline
Up to 42% off activities for kids
Available on select dates, including Christmas and New Year, for activities like whale watching, go karting, sightseeing tours, attraction passes and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra and more.
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.
Best time to visit Cairns for...
- 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.
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