7 days in Cairns Itinerary

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Get out of town with these interesting Cairns side-trips: Australian Butterfly Sanctuary (in Kuranda), Port Douglas (Four Mile Beach, Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, &more) and Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery (in Mossman). Spend the 9th (Sun) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 15th (Sat) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Next up on the itinerary: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, view the masterpieces at Bones and Jones, and take an unforgettable tour with a helicopter tour.

To see maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Cairns trip planner.

May in Cairns sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 24°C at night.