Month guide · Cairns · Australia
Cairns in November
What November is really like in Cairns: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
November is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 22°C (72°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 12.9 hours of daylight. Hot and increasingly humid; stinger season starts. Coral spawning may occur after a full moon.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 12.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in November
November is the 4th-warmest month in Cairns: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 29°C (84°F), and nights fall to about 22°C (72°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 30 days. Compared with October (30°C (86°F)), November is about as warm; by December highs stay near 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 November)
- About 05:35
- Sunset (15 November)
- About 18:29
- Daylight
- About 12.9 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Early wet season (December–January). Hot, humid and stormy, with marine stingers present and holiday crowds over Christmas; reef trips still operate most days.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, November rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in November
- Mass coral spawning on the reef (usually a few nights after a full moon in November or December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in November
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · Cairns City
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
Experience · Smithfield
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
A 7.5-km gondola glides just above the rainforest canopy of Barron Gorge National Park from Smithfield to Kuranda, with stops at Red Peak for a boardwalk among giant kauri pines and at Barron Falls for lookouts over the gorge.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours one way
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Kids
Experience · Kuranda
Kuranda Scenic Railway
The train pauses at the Barron Falls station for the lookout platform; be ready to step off quickly, as the stop is short.
- Time needed
- About 2 hours one way
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
Garden · Edge Hill
Cairns Botanic Gardens
The gardens in Edge Hill hold one of Australia's best collections of tropical plants, including palms, gingers and rainforest species, with boardwalks through swamp forest to Centenary Lakes and trailheads for Mount Whitfield.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Cairns.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 22°C and 7 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is November a good time to visit Cairns?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Cairns in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is November a good time to visit Cairns?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and increasingly humid; stinger season starts. Coral spawning may occur after a full moon.
+How warm is Cairns in November?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cairns in November?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.