The best times to visit Cairns and Tropical North Queensland

By Angela Saurine

July 12, 2023 — 11.13am

This article is part of Traveller’s Destination Guide to Cairns.See all stories.

With its tropical climate, you pretty much know what you’re going to get when you visit Cairns and surrounds. Basically, it’s hot and humid in summer, and warm and dry in winter. But there’s another important factor to consider when venturing to this part of the world: stinger season. From around October/November to May/June venomous box jellyfish and Irukandji jellyfish are out and about. So, if you don’t fancy peeling on a full-length stinger suit every time you want to take a dip in the ocean, you might want to time your trip outside these months.

Summer

This is the wet season in Cairns, and that means rain, and lots of it. December to February typically sees the biggest downpours of the year, with accompanying thunderstorms and the risk of tropical cyclones. Heat and humidity are also through the roof, with temperatures ranging from around 23°C to 31°C. It may not sound like the most enticing time to visit, but there are some pros to braving the elements. This is when you’ll see nature at its most powerful, with thundering waterfalls and spectacular lightning shows over the Coral Sea.

It’s also mango season, when the tropical fruit is at its juiciest, so be sure to pop into Rusty’s Markets in Cairns. Other exotic produce, like lychees, paw paw and starfruit, are also abundant. Summer is also the best time to see cassowary chicks at places like Etty Bay and Mission Beach on the aptly named Cassowary Coast. Accommodation is also more affordable in the low season – just make sure it has air-conditioning.

Pop into Rusty’s Markets to get stuck into the season’s juiciest, sweetest fruit.Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Don’t miss: Hearing the roar of thousands of litres of water pouring over the granite canyons at places like Barron Falls and feeling the mist in your face (from the safety of a lookout) is an experience you will only get at this time of year.

Key events: The year kicks off with a bang with New Year’s Eve fireworks at Cairns Esplanade, Palm Cove and Port Douglas, and there are some happening parties at places like rooftop bar Rocco, The Benson Hotel and Pullman Port Douglas. Cairns also goes big on Chinese New Year, just a few weeks later, with a 15-day extravaganza of red lanterns, dancing lions and drum beats.

Autumn

As temperatures drop to a range of 23°C to 28°C, it’s a decidedly more pleasant time to explore the tropics. The rivers and waterfalls are still in flow, and as outback roads begin opening to travellers in April and May it’s a good time to head west along the Savannah Way to Gulf Country, with its dramatic gorges, fascinating fossil fields and classic country pubs. Alternatively, embark on a road trip to the Tip — an epic, if dusty, 1000-kilometre drive from Cairns to the continent’s northernmost point, Cape York.

Don’t miss: The Cardwell Spa Pool turns a striking blue towards the end of spring as the rains subside. About 180 kilometres’ south of Cairns, the natural swimming hole is a top spot for a picnic and a refreshing dip.

Key events: Port Douglas is the place to be in May, when its annual Carnivale celebrates the best of the region. There’s a street parade, rock concerts and long lunches showcasing local produce, plus a family beach day featuring flying kites, sandcastle building competitions and a treasure hunt. Kids are also well catered for at the Cairns Children’s Festival, with theatre shows, art exhibitions and fun interactive experiences at venues including Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Botanic Gardens.

Winter

Believe it or not, it can get chilly in Cairns, with overnight temperatures dropping down to 17°C during winter. But the days are as close to perfect as you can get, averaging 26°C to 27°C from June to August. It’s the best time of year to go hiking, and Kuranda National Park and neighbouring Mowbray National Park have some excellent paths weaving through ancient rainforest. Fitter folk can challenge themselves with more demanding treks to Glacier Rock, about 20 minutes north of Cairns in Barron Gorge National Park, and Lambs Head (Kahlpahlim Rock) in the Atherton Tablelands. Water temperatures hover at about 24°C, and it’s also prime time to visit Cairns Botanic Gardens, with many exotic orchids and native rainforest trees coming into flower.

Don’t miss: If swimming with dwarf minke whales is on your bucket list, this is the time and place to do it. In June and July, a small number of operators offer the chance to partake in the life-changing experience, which can only be had on the Great Barrier Reef. Also keep an eye out for humpback whales on their annual migration.

Taste Port Douglas sees the region’s major culinary players converge.

Key events: Winter is peak festival time in this neck of the woods, and the best time to embrace Indigenous culture. First, there’s the chance to see diverse works from the remote Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Islands in one place at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. The bi-annual Laura Quinkan Indigenous Dance Festival is fantastic event in which communities from across the region come together and spend three days showcasing their stories through dance, passing on their culture to future generations. And you can check out some pretty special rock art while you’re there. Re-enactments of Captain Cook’s landing are also told from an Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspective at the Cooktown Discovery Festival.

Sports fans flock to town for IRONMAN Cairns in June and the Cairns Marathon in July, while the family-friendly Cairns Show provides a taste of the country, with woodchopping contests, esky racing and an animal parade, plus the obligatory rides and fireworks. Some of Australia’s best chefs and local producers also converge for the Taste Port Douglas food and drink festival in August, with events like long lunches, truffle masterclasses and rainforest fire cooking dining experiences.

Spring

The coral spawning event on the Reef happens just once a year.Credit: Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Ahhhh, spring. This is when you will enjoy the highest number of sunny and clear days on the calendar, with the mercury oscillating between 19°C and 31°C. The period from September to November is ideal to witness the sunrise from the summit of Mount Bartle Frere, on the edge of the Atherton Tablelands, with the least chance of clouds covering Queensland’s highest peak. The remarkable Morning Glory cloud formation, which can be up to 1000 kilometres long and two kilometres wide, can also be seen above the skies in Burketown in September and October.

Don’t miss: One of nature’s most magical phenomenon takes place on the Great Barrier Reef each spring, when coral polyps simultaneously release millions of bundles of sperm and eggs that float gently to the surface. The exact coral spawning date can be hard to predict because it depends on several factors, including ocean temperatures and tides, but it usually occurs at night a few days after the full moon in October on inshore and island reefs, and a few days after the November full moon on outer reefs. Companies including Divers Den and Pro Dive Cairns offer special evening tours to the reef for snorkellers and divers.

Key events: For an authentic slice of Australiana, make your way to the small sugar town of Babinda, about 60 kilometres south of Cairns, for its annual Harvest Festival. With events like tractor pulling, a festival queen contest and a rubber duck race (otherwise known as the ‘duck dash’), it’s a hoot. Motor sport enthusiasts also descend for the TARGA Great Barrier Reef Tour, in which restored classic cars and touring vehicles race on sealed roads that are closed off for the competition, passing sugarcane and banana plantations.

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The Sydney Morning Herald