What to Expect in Cairns, Australia
You’ve probably never heard of Cairns, but if you’re planning on going to the Great Barrier Reef – you’ll probably end up staying in this humid, Australian city.
What is Cairns?
Cairns is a city on the northern east coast of Australia popular for its nearby reef…
… the Great Barrier Reef.
View of Cairns; January 2019
How Do I Pronounce Cairns?
Aussies pronounce Cairns the way Americans pronounce “cans”, like “cans of soda”.
Pronounce it correctly with some natives, and you’ll immediately be “in” with them – as Americans frequently mispronounce Australian cities.
Landing in Cairns from Brisbane; January 2019
Where is the Best Place to Do a Day Trip to the Great Barrier Reef?
If you’re looking for a place to stay for the night to see the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the perfect place to stay – as several day-excursions leave from Cairns everyday.
What can i do Cairns besides the great barrier reef?
What many people who visit Cairns don’t know, is that there are two other really cool things to do besides visiting the Great Barrier Reef.
Daintree Rainforest: Known as the oldest rain forest in the world, Daintree Rainforest – is a about a 2 hour drive from Cairns, making it a great day trip from Cairns by car. I didn’t get around to doing this, but I met someone native to Cairns on the plane who said it’s amazing and well worth doing.
Cairns Botanical Gardens: A truly stunning garden with incredible, eye-catching leaves and plants – some of which thrive in tropical conditions like in Cairns. Best of all, it’s free to go to the Botanical Gardens – making it the perfect other thing to do in Cairns besides the Great Barrier Reef.
Entering the Cairns Botanical Gardens; January 2019
Is It Worth Going to the Cairns Botanical Gardens?
Yes, you must see the Botanical Gardens while you’re in Cairns – as the plants are distinct and native to Australia, meaning you won’t find them anywhere else.
It is, without a doubt, the best botanical garden I have seen around the world.
The pictures speak for themselves…
The leaves looked like real life paintings… stunning.
Leaves in the Cairns Botanical Gardens; January 2019
Leaves in the Cairns Botanical Gardens; January 2019
The Botanical Garden in Cairns in like a Tropical wonderland; January 2019
How is Cairns Different From Other Cities in Australia?
Cairns itself isn’t similar in comparison to other Australian cities. It’s not as developed as the bigger metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
My dad and I realized this when there was a storm, and the streets in Cairns flooded easily. The sewage system isn’t as set as somewhere like Sydney, which is understandable – as the city only has a population of around 160,000 and is more remotely located in the country.
The streets and aesthetic of the city itself is very similar to Miami; with numerous palm trees and simple apartment buildings.
Cairns looks a lot like Miami, Florida at times; January 2019
Where is the Most Humid Place in Australia?
Out of everywhere we went on our Australian trip during the height of their summer, we found Cairns to be the most humid city of them all.
In fact, I would argue that Cairns is the epitome of humidity. I’m (kind of) from the Washington D.C. area, and if you’ve ever been to the U.S. capital in the middle of July… then you have an idea of what to expect when you visit Cairns.
The humidity in Cairns is worse than Florida. It’s worse than New York during the summer. It’s worse than elsewhere in Australia.
It won’t matter much when you go to the reef for the day because you’ll, presumably, be in a swimsuit – but if you want to do other things in the city itself, bring sweat resistant clothing.
Water wicking or dry-fit material that is often used to make workout clothes will serve you well here!
View of Cairns Marlin Marina; January 2019
Overall, I’m glad that my dad and I had a half day to walk this city and its botanical gardens. It’s a completely different vibe than the other cities in Australia, as it’s much quieter – and it’s an opportunity to see the diversity that Australia has to offer.
If you want to know more about what a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef looks like while in Cairns, click here.
If you’re looking for other things to do in Australia, click here.
Last updated: June 7, 2025