Season guide · Cairns · Australia
Cairns in the early wet season
December–January: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: user riftreef, [1], CC BY 2.5
![user riftreef, [1]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Welcomebay.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Hot, humid and stormy, with marine stingers present and holiday crowds over Christmas; reef trips still operate most days. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 23 rainy days across December–January.
Key facts
- Months
- December–January
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 23
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the early wet season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 13 | 13 h | 3/5 |
| December | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 | 13.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 23 of the year's roughly 107 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
Good choices for the early wet season
Aquarium · Cairns City
Cairns Aquarium
A modern aquarium in the city centre that showcases the ecosystems of Far North Queensland, from rainforest rivers and mangroves to the Great Barrier Reef, with a large oceanarium of sharks and rays.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Gallery · Edge Hill
Tanks Arts Centre
Check the programme for evening concerts or the monthly markets in the dry season.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Gallery · Cairns City
Cairns Art Gallery
The regional gallery near the Esplanade focuses on the art of Far North Queensland, including strong collections from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, in a heritage-listed former public office building.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Free
Day trips in the early wet season
- Daintree and Cape Tribulation (About 2.5 hours each way by car) — North of the Daintree River, ancient rainforest runs down to beaches at Cape Tribulation, where two World Heritage areas meet.
- Mossman Gorge (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Clear water tumbles over granite boulders in the southern Daintree.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the early wet season a good time to visit Cairns?
It is a trade-off: Hot, humid and stormy, with marine stingers present and holiday crowds over Christmas; reef trips still operate most days. The best months overall are June–October.
+What is the weather like in Cairns in the early wet season?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 23 rainy days over the season.