Travel tips · Cairns · Australia
Cairns travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Cairns is a relaxed, multicultural tropical city built on tourism, sugar and fishing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are strongly present: the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji are traditional custodians of the Cairns area, and the region's art scene is showcased at the annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. Life slows down in the wet-season heat.
Key facts
- Language
- English
- Currency
- AUD
- Plugs
- Type I sockets (angled two-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 000 (police, fire and ambulance); 112 from mobiles
Things to know
- Follow crocodile warning signs without exception; never swim in rivers, creeks or estuaries where crocodiles may live.
- Do not touch, stand on or take coral or shells from the reef; it is protected marine park.
- Ask before photographing people at cultural events, and buy Aboriginal art from ethical galleries.
- Respect road signs for cassowaries in the Daintree and Mission Beach areas, and never feed them.
- Dress is casual everywhere; shoes and a shirt are expected in restaurants.
- Book Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip ahead: Book a day or two ahead, and keep a spare day in case trips are cancelled for wind or weather.
- Book Skyrail Rainforest Cableway ahead: Combined Skyrail and railway packages are worth booking ahead in the dry season.
- The Esplanade Lagoon, botanic gardens, Crystal Cascades and Mount Whitfield are all free.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving a tip for reef-boat crews or about 10% for good restaurant service is appreciated but optional.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stinger suit | Full-body lycra suit worn against jellyfish |
| Wet season | Hot, rainy months, roughly December to March |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Esky | Cool box |
What to wear
Light, breathable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and reef-safe sunscreen; a light rain jacket is useful in the wet season.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type I sockets (angled two-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire and ambulance); 112 from mobiles
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in Cairns and along the coast but patchy or absent north of the Daintree River and in parts of the Tablelands.
- Time zone
- Australia/Brisbane
Cairns is generally safe for visitors. The real hazards are natural: saltwater crocodiles in rivers, estuaries and some beaches, marine stingers in coastal water from about November to May, strong tropical sun and cyclones in the wet season. Obey warning signs and swim in netted, patrolled areas.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Australia's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cairns?
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving a tip for reef-boat crews or about 10% for good restaurant service is appreciated but optional.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cairns?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Cairns?
Type I sockets (angled two-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cairns?
English.