Cairns Holiday Houses & Accommodation

The city of Cairns is set in a beautiful landscape against a backdrop of lush green mountains on the east coast in Far North Queensland, Australia. It's one of the most popular gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed Daintree rainforest. Boasting a rich Indigenous Australian culture and breathtakingly beautiful natural environment, it's a perfect holiday destination for visitors of all ages.

Catering for solo travellers, couples, families, and groups of friends, Cairns holiday houses are the perfect choice for visitors who want all the comforts of home while they explore this beautiful tropical city and its surroundings. You'll find everything from spacious houses & modern apartments to pet friendly accommodation and luxury holiday cottages. You can choose holiday apartments that have dramatic ocean views, private balconies and prime locations, with practical amenities such as wireless internet, spacious dining and living areas, and jacuzzis. Choose your own Cairns accommodation to enjoy sun-soaked beaches, tropical rainforests, and excursions to the Great Barrier Reef.

Getting to Your Cairns Accommodation

Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns sits on the northern Queensland coast. While you can drive to Cairns from Brisbane, it will take around 20 hours, so a flight is often the better option to get to your Cairns accommodation.

There are several flights a day from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Darwin to Cairns International Airport, which is located right on the coast, north of the city centre. There is a shuttle bus service into the city. A taxi to your holiday apartment in Cairns will cost around $30.

What to do around Cairns: reefs, rainforest, and so much more

Cairns' most popular excursion destination is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world. Numerous boat tours provide visitors with a glimpse into this unique marine environment. Some of the best local day trips are diving and snorkelling tours on the outer reef. Green Island and the Michaelmas Cay National Park are other popular destinations for reef tours.

Many visitors also enjoy a day trip to Kuranda, a beautiful rainforest village in the mountains west of the city. Approximately 28km from Cairns by road, the village can also be reached by the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail Cableway. Kuranda is renowned for many activities, including rainforest walks through the Barron Gorge National Park, visits to local wildlife sanctuaries, and the Kuranda Markets, where many local craftspeople sell their creations.

A road trip through the scenic Atherton Tablelands is another popular excursion for visitors of all ages. Highlights include quaint villages, lush rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, and views over Cairns and the coastal plains. The spectacular Daintree National Park is also a popular day trip for visitors to the Cairns region. Located approximately 80km north of Cairns, the park is renowned for its rugged rainforested mountains meeting the Great Barrier Reef near Cape Tribulation.

Art and culture in Cairns

The Cairns Art Gallery is located in the heart of the city and features exhibitions by local and interstate artists. It's also the venue for regular art workshops, children's classes, and occasional yoga classes. The gallery complex includes a gift shop where quality souvenirs and gifts, handmade by local artisans, are sold.

Nearby, the Cairns Museum traces the history of the city, beginning with the traditional culture of the local Indigenous people. Its exhibition spaces also display photos and artefacts from Cairns' early days as a remote colonial outpost and bustling port.

Approximately 20km north of Cairns, Tjapukai Cultural Park is a destination that will be appreciated by visitors seeking deeper insights into the lifestyle of the Tjapukai people, the traditional owners of the Cairns area. The complex features interactive displays, art galleries, storytelling, and multimedia presentations of the ancient Dreamtime narrations. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn about tribal lore and hunting methods, as well as how to gather native bush food and medicinal plants. For many people, the highlight of a visit to Tjapukai Cultural Park is experiencing traditional music, song, and dance in a corroboree ceremony.

Holidays with kids in Cairns

A fun, affordable family outing in Cairns is a visit to the Esplanade, a lovely parkland that extends along Trinity Bay, and through the city's central precinct. A stroll along the 2.5km path that meanders through the park is a great way to spend an hour or two with children, and several adventure playgrounds along the way will be sure to enhance their enjoyment. Another popular part of the Esplanade parklands is the Lagoon, a large shallow pool that is open to the public throughout the year, free of charge.

A boat trip to nearby Green Island is also a great outing for families, and kids will enjoy looking at the undersea coral on the glass bottom boat tour, playing on the sandy beaches, and snorkelling in the clear shallow water. In addition, the Cairns region boasts many wildlife parks, including the popular and long-running Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, where children can learn all about the unique species that inhabit the tropical rainforests.

Nightlife and going out in Cairns

After spending an enjoyable day diving on the beautiful and extensive reefs that surround the city or trekking through the rainforest, it’s time to hit the town and explore Cairns' diverse nightlife. The varied bars and clubs offer you the chance of enjoying a few beers and share the day’s stories with other travellers.

Whether you choose a bar or night club near the waterfront or in the central business district (CBD), the party atmosphere in these vibrant Cairns' watering holes starts early and continues until the next morning. The nightclubs in the central business district create a strip of the wildest entrainment venues along Spence Street and range from glamourous cocktail lounges to live music venues.

The Down Under Bar is a popular spot for a game of pool on one of its ten tables, while Dunwoody’s Tavern, the Edge Hill Tavern and the Green Ant Cantina are great venues to catch local bands. The city is a popular destination for backpapers so large capacity venues such as the three bars located at Gilligan's Hostel are always busy. For a more sophisticated alternative check out the extensive cocktail menus at The Lounge on Shields Street or the Six Degrees Bar and Lounge which is located on the esplanade, overlooking Trinity Inlet.

Excursions and day trips from Cairns

Palm Cove Village is a favourite celebrity hangout which is home to city’s most luxurious restaurants, scenic beachfront barbecue spots, landscaped garden spots and bars. Situated just to the north of the city, its palm fringed beaches offer a glimpse of a tropical paradise.

Cairns is known as the heart of Queensland’s tropical fruit bowl and at Rusty’s Market you will find a wide range of fresh, regional produce. The market opens three days each week and has different stores selling flowers, baked goods, jewellery, clothing and deli items.

The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway starts 15km north of Cairns and takes visitors on an unforgettable journey through the pristine rainforest canopy. It provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to explore the beautiful village of Kuranda which is served by a narrow gauge railway.

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is home to an impressive butterfly aviary and over 2000 butterflies. It’s advisable to wear white clothing to attract the butterflies so that they will land on your shoulders. The sanctuary is the largest butterfly aviary in the southern hemisphere

Fitzroy Island is the largest Australian tropical island which is covered in rainforest and surrounded by and extensive coral reef system. The island is located 30km from Cairns City and is surrounded with white sand beaches which are ideal for snorkelling, hiking, kayaking and beachcombing.

Festivals and events in Cairns

The annual Cairns Festival offers a varied programme of entertainment for both locals and visitors to the city. It features an eclectic range of exciting things to see and do, such as free outdoor concerts, a family fun day, street parade, children's entertainment, creative workshops, and fireworks. The festival is known for showcasing the vibrant community spirit of the city and it’s held every year from late August to the end of September. Taking place on the Cairns Esplanade, The Grand Parade is the highlight of the festival and showcases magical performances and brightly decorated carnival floats.

Other major festivals that take place in Cairns each year are the Cairns Show, Cairns ECOfiesta, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, the Crystalbrook Collection New Year's Eve festivities, and Chinese New Year.

The Best Beaches in Cairns

The Great Barrier Reef is not the only reason to visit Cairns - the coastline around this sun-soaked city offers stunning beaches where you can relax and unwind. Trinity Beach, highly popular with the locals, provides an idyllic beach experience for travellers with families. A short drive north of the city, this sheltered beach features barbeques, which are free for anyone to use.

Ranked as the best beach in Australia in 2018, Nudey Beach on Fitzroy Island is a tropical paradise. You can take a short boat ride to Fitzroy Island from Cairns Marina, and the beach itself is only a short walk from the Welcome Bay jetty where the boat docks.

A protected National Park, Nudey Beach presents a stretch of clean white sand surrounded by lush tropical rainforest vegetation. Make sure you explore the rest of Fitzroy Island too, including the Summit Walking Trail, which offers spectacular views reaching all the way to the Great Barrier Reef.

Palm Cove, a little north of Trinity Beach, is a lively spot to visit by day or by night. With its stylish restaurants and bars, Palm Cove makes for a great evening beach experience. The jetty here is often packed with local fishermen as the sun goes down.

Frequently Asked Questions