£468+ Cheap flights to Cairns

Cairns overview

Cairns is perhaps Australia’s most unabashed tourist-friendly city. Every year, more than two million tourists take flights to Cairns for its near-perfect climate and its proximity to the jaw-droppingly awesome attractions of the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Cairns is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Areas meet.

Cairns city is a great base and has plenty to occupy tourists while they’re between reef or rainforest trips. There’s a wonderful Esplanade that’s comprises a swimming lagoon that’s open between 6am and 10pm daily, an amphitheatre, picnic and barbecue spots, walking trails, a children’s playground called Muddy’s and shops, restaurants and markets both day and night. Just 2 miles (4km) from the centre of the city are the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Lush and very, very green, these 24 miles (38km) of gardens are made up of the Flecker Gardens and Centenary Lakes, where a boardwalk will wind you through mangroves and tropical rainforest. Behind the gardens, Mt Whitfield Conservation Park is more than 741 acres of forested mountain range.

Cairns climate

There are two seasons – a wet season that runs from November to May (summer) and a dry season that starts about June and stretches to October (winter). January, February and March are the wettest months and there is the greatest chance of cyclones between December and April. Temperatures are pretty stable throughout the year. Daytime temps range between 14 and 26 degrees Celsius in the dry season while visitors can expect temperatures of between about 24 to 33 degrees during the wet season. 

Getting around Cairns

Cairns’s city centre is small enough to walk around, but if you are planning on getting out to the

Daintree National Park (a three-hour drive north of Cairns) or Kuranda Village (a 40-minute drive), renting a car is best. There are car-rental desks at Cairns Airport. Alternatively, you could take a four-wheel drive (4WD) tour. Several companies offer 4WD tours to the most popular destinations including Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation, Cape York, Undara National Park and Chillagoe. If you’re visiting the region during the wet season (November-April) a four-wheel drive is the best way of getting around. Sunbus is the bus service around Cairns. There are eight routes, serving destinations such as the Botanic Gardens, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach and Yorkeys Knob.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Travellers who take flights to Cairns may wish to rent a car at the airport for maximum independence. Alternatively, there is a taxi rank located beside both the International and Domestic terminals at Cairns Airport (CNS). A taxi fare to the CBD runs between $15 and $20. Airport shuttle bus services are operated by Australia Coach/Sun Palm Express. They connect the airport with hotels, the city centre, Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. Finally, several accommodation providers will operate courtesy coach services to and from the airport.

What is good to know if travelling to Cairns?

• Walsh’s Pyramid is located about 12 miles (20km) south of Cairns. It’s the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world. At 922 metres high, it is a popular, if strenuous, hike. 
• Crystal Cascades is a little-known freshwater swimming hole in a tropical rainforest. To get there, drive to Redlynch, and then follow the signs to Crystal Cascades. When you see the Red Beret Pub, you’ll be just 6 miles (10km) from the swimming hole. 
• Josephine Falls are considered to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tropical North Queensland. Take the Bruce Highway, then drive towards Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain. You’ll see signs to the falls. 
• If you’re in Cairns between May and October, grab a picnic and catch a film at the Starry Night Cinema in the Flecker Botanic Gardens. The local film club screens non-mainstream films. 
• Fitzroy Island is just 45 minutes from Cairns. Just 839 acres, of which 801 is designated Fitzroy Island National Park. It’s a castaway island where you can snorkel, hike, or kayak.

Cairns airport overview

Cairns is the most convenient gateway to the natural attractions of northern Queensland, which include the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and the 110 million-year-old Daintree Rainforest. Because of this, the relatively small airport is among the busiest in Australia, handling more than 3.5 million passengers per year from destinations all over Asia and the Pacific.

The airport has recently expanded the Domestic Terminal, although unfortunately queues are still long and areas like lounges and security are perpetually understaffed. This isn’t an ideal airport to be stuck in for hours at a time as food and shopping opportunities are limited and there never seems to be enough seating.

You won’t find direct flights to Cairns from Europe and the Americas, but regular flights from Sydney and Brisbane mean there are plenty of options to reach the sunny beach resorts and world-class natural attractions of this popular holiday town.