What can you enjoy in Cairns as a Family?

Cairns is jam-packed with extraordinary highlights, with the beachfront lined with stylish bars and award-winning restaurants for all.

However, despite these spots being a hit for adults, dragging your kids to these glamorous venues can turn into a disaster. Luckily for you, there is plenty to see and do that will entertain the whole family! We’ve made it easy and listed our top favourite spots that’ll please everyone when visiting Cairns.

• Great Barrier Reef

  The number one activity for anyone visiting Cairns is a trip out to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. No matter what age you are, this is a must-do experience. The Great Barrier Reef is renowned for being the biggest living thing on the planet, home to an astonishing range of marine life, including colourful coral, unique sea animals, and fabulous reef islands. Take a boat out to the deep reef spots and spend the day snorkelling or scuba diving the region, seeing turtles, tropical fish, and the unusual marine plants living on the seafloor. One of the best family-friendly ways to see the reef is at the Pontoon. A permanent fixture on top of the reef, featuring a playground, food court, a lounge deck, and interactive reef experiences.

• Cairns Lagoon

  For a delightful beach day amidst the city centre, the Cairns Esplanade is the way to go. Home to the Cairns Lagoon, a man-made beach that offers visitors soft sands and refreshing waters right in the heart of the city. Visitors can spend a day in this pristine water and finish their day in a nearby restaurant, watching the stunning sunset settle over the ocean horizon.

• Green Island

  As well as the Great Barrier Reef’s reef spots, another great spot to visit is the many islands scattered about the water. Green Island is one of the closest islands to Cairns, only taking a 45-minute boat ride to reach, perfect for impatience kids wanting to start the adventure as soon as possible. Here, there are an array of activities, with guests getting free time to do what they like for the day. Snorkelling and diving experiences are available for those wanting to explore the shallow shores, with all swimming equipment available, and floating devices on offer for those a bit nervous to swim for long periods. Kayaks are also available, so you can your family can cruise around the island, stopping off at secret beach spots for your very own beach day. If you are interested in the lush rainforest on top of the island, simply head down one of the many walking paths that weave through the thick trees to discover the ancient plant life and unique animals roaming about!

• Sky rail Rainforest Cableway

  Get one of the best views around when you soar up Cairn’s Skyrail. Gliding over 7.5 kilometres of rainforest, this state-of-the-art cableway takes you on a 90-minute journey to see Cairns from above. The sky rail finishes at the charming town of Kuranda, which offers a fantastic range of shops and experiences, with homemade sweets, souvenirs, and fabulous restaurants to enjoy for the day before you make the trip back down to the city again!

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Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.