Best time to visit · Cairns · Australia
The best time to visit Cairns
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kerry Raymond, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Cairns is June to October, the dry season, when days are sunny and warm, humidity is low and reef visibility is generally good; September and October bring the calmest seas. May and November are good shoulder months. February and March are the wettest months, with cyclone risk, flooding and marine stingers.
Key facts
- Best months
- June–October
- Shoulder season
- April–May and November–December
- Warmest month
- December (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- June (avg high 26°C (79°F))
- Rainiest month
- March (~16 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- February–March
Seasons
Cairns is tropical, with a hot, humid wet season from about December to April, when most rain falls and cyclones are possible, and a warm, drier, less humid season from May to October. Marine stingers are present in coastal waters mainly from about November to May.
December–January
Early wet season
Hot, humid and stormy, with marine stingers present and holiday crowds over Christmas; reef trips still operate most days.
February–April
Peak wet season
The heaviest rain and highest cyclone risk; lush rainforest and full waterfalls, but flooded roads and cancelled trips are possible.
May–August
Dry season
Sunny, mild and comfortable, with cooler nights; peak season in July with southern school holidays.
September–November
Build-up
Hot, sunny days and the calmest, clearest seas for the reef before humidity rises and stingers return in November.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 24°C | 13 | 29°C | 13 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| February | 31°C | 24°C | 15 | 29°C | 12.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 30°C | 23°C | 16 | 28°C | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 29°C | 22°C | 12 | 27°C | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 27°C | 20°C | 10 | 26°C | 11.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 26°C | 18°C | 6 | 25°C | 11.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 26°C | 17°C | 5 | 24°C | 11.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 27°C | 17°C | 4 | 24°C | 11.5 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 28°C | 19°C | 4 | 25°C | 12 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 30°C | 21°C | 5 | 26°C | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 31°C | 22°C | 7 | 28°C | 12.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 32°C | 23°C | 10 | 29°C | 13.1 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| April | ANZAC Day services (25 April) |
| June | Ironman Cairns (usually June) |
| July | Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (usually July) |
| August | Cairns Festival (usually late August to early September) |
| September | Cairns Amateurs horse-racing carnival (usually September) |
| November | Mass coral spawning on the reef (usually a few nights after a full moon in November or December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in February–March, and the sights are quietest in February–March. Many visitors avoid February–March.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Early wet season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Peak wet season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Dry season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Build-up | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Cairns?
The best time to visit Cairns is June to October, the dry season, when days are sunny and warm, humidity is low and reef visibility is generally good; September and October bring the calmest seas. May and November are good shoulder months. February and March are the wettest months, with cyclone risk, flooding and marine stingers.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Cairns?
Usually in February–March. Peak wet season with the heaviest rain and highest cyclone risk; some roads flood and trips can be cancelled.
+What is the rainiest month in Cairns?
March, with about 16 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Cairns get?
The warmest month, December, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 23°C (73°F).