Free things to do · Cairns · Australia
8 free things to do in Cairns
Cairns without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roadrunnerz45, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Cairns without paying an entry fee: Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk, Cairns Botanic Gardens, Rusty's Markets and Cairns Night Markets are all free. The Esplanade Lagoon, botanic gardens, Crystal Cascades and Mount Whitfield are all free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 1
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- February–March
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Cairns City
1.Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk
Bring binoculars at low tide; the Esplanade is one of Australia's well-known shorebird-watching spots.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Garden · Edge Hill
2.Cairns Botanic Gardens
Combine the gardens with the Red Arrow circuit on Mount Whitfield for a city view, early in the day before the heat.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Market · Cairns City
3.Rusty's Markets
Ask stallholders for a taste of unfamiliar fruit, and go early on Saturday for the best choice.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
Market · Cairns City
4.Cairns Night Markets
Eat at the food court, then walk the lit-up Esplanade boardwalk afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Nature · Redlynch
5.Crystal Cascades
Swim only in the designated pools and stay away after heavy rain, when flash flooding is a real risk.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Palm Cove
6.Palm Cove beach
Swim inside the stinger net during the stinger season and walk to the jetty at sunrise.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Gallery · Edge Hill
7.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
8.Cairns Art Gallery
A good one-hour stop in the heat of the afternoon between the lagoon and dinner.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Free
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Cairns City | Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk, Rusty's Markets, Cairns Night Markets and Cairns Art Gallery | 2 hours + 1 hour + 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Edge Hill | Cairns Botanic Gardens and Tanks Arts Centre | 1.5–2 hours + 1 hour |
| Redlynch | Crystal Cascades | 2 hours |
| Palm Cove | Palm Cove beach | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Market · Kuranda
Kuranda village and markets
Walk the riverside trail behind the railway station for quiet rainforest away from the market crowds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Shopping
- Nature
More ways to save
- The Esplanade Lagoon, botanic gardens, Crystal Cascades and Mount Whitfield are all free.
- Combine the Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway on a package rather than buying separately.
- Reef-trip prices vary widely; compare inclusions such as lunch, gear, introductory dives and the number of reef sites.
- Shoulder months (April–May and November) bring lower accommodation rates than the July peak.
- Cook your own meals using free Esplanade barbecues and produce from Rusty's Markets.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cairns expensive to visit?
Cairns is expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Cairns?
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk: Bring binoculars at low tide; the Esplanade is one of Australia's well-known shorebird-watching spots.