What to Know Before Visiting Cairns: Top Tips

Intro

Previously on my round the world trip, the journey kicked off with the historic charm of Paris and the vibrant, urban energy of Berlin before diving headfirst into the magic of Europe’s best holiday markets. From the romantic palace backdrop of Schloss Charlottenburg and the gourmet stalls of Gendarmenmarkt to the medieval wonder of Prague’s Old Town Square, the trail of mulled wine and chimney cakes eventually led north across the Øresund Bridge. After exploring the winter wonderland of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and the traditional handicrafts of Malmö, I traded city lights for the soaring heights of the Swiss Alps, braving the thin air at 3,883 meters to reach the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and its breathtaking 360-degree views.

But the cozy European winter soon gave way to a grueling transit through the Southern Hemisphere; after a whirlwind stop at Singapore’s Changi Airport, I finally traded my coat for the summer sun, landing in Australia to begin a brand new chapter of this strenuous global trek. I was in Cairns on Day 12 of my adventure.

What I wished I knew before getting to Cairns, Australia

I was in Cairns, Australia. After 10 years, I was back in this continent. In 2015 I had come here to visit Sydney, Melbourne and Uluru, and the impression these places led on me made me want to come back, especially since I had something in my bucket list that I had to live once in my lifetime, but you will see that in a future post.

For now, I was excited to be in this city, because I was finally wearing shorts after the cruel winter in New York City, and the freezing days in Europe and especially in The Alps, but also because I finally was able to see one of the Nature Wonders of the World: The Great Barrier Reef. I had collected in the past the New 7 Nature Wonders of the World, and I actually shared my experience with those in the past:

• Iguazú / Iguaçu Falls: Brazil and Argentina
• Komodo Island (National Park): Indonesia
• Hạ Long Bay: Vietnam
• Table Mountain (National Park): South Africa, read my story here!
• Amazon Rainforest and River: Colombia, Peru and Brazil: read my story here!
• Jeju Island: Korea: read my story here!
• Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: Philippines

But the more traditional, CNN 7 Wonders of Nature, are a little bit more difficult to achieve, just see the list for yourself:

• Aurora Borealis (also known as the northern lights)
• Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Mount Everest, Nepal and Tibet
• Parícutin, Mexico
• Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe

I guess I had been to Rio and the Grand Canyon in the past, and that’s 2 off the list, but for example the Mount Everest or the Aurora Borealis seemed something more difficult to achieve than the ones in the other list.

Well, Cairns is close to the Great Barrier Reef, and offers tours to go explore it and see it, and that’s exactly what I did. I booked the From Cairns: 40-Min Scenic Reef Window Seat Airplane Flight. I was excited and nervous, since it would be my first time in one of these smaller planes, but I was expecting seeing the amazing views.

Well, as I landed in Cairns I knew things were going to change quickly.

Let’s say that basically, the entire time I was in Cairns it was pouring. We were in the middle of the Wet Season, with the peak happening just now. I had no idea this was a bad time to come here in these months, and also had no idea that this area was so tropical. In my mind I thought that the entire Australia had similar climate, but it seems like the Northern part, where Cairns is located, is more tropical, like many islands in the South East Asia.

I was on the phone with the tour company, and they kept saying that nothing could be cancelled until mere hours before the tour. So I was hopeful the next day would be more clear, but the weather app kept saying it was going to be very rainy the next days.

For now, it was almost night time, so I went for a stroll around the hotel, by the Cairns Esplanade.

Cairns is a vibrant tropical hub where the Great Barrier Reef meets the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Located on Australia’s northeast coast, the city is famous for its lively Esplanade lagoon and as a base for world-class diving and alpine rail journeys to Kuranda. With a growing population of approximately 178,104, Cairns currently ranks as the 15th largest significant urban area in Australia. The atmosphere is a unique blend of adventure and relaxation, offering everything from bustling night markets to lush mountain escapes, all set within the humid, emerald beauty of the Far North Queensland tropics

Day 13: The Rainstorm

It was already Day 13 of my Round The World Trip, and woke up early for my tour even though I knew it would be cancelled. I thought lucky 13 would work for me, but as I called and called the tour company, they finally did it. They cancelled the tour and told me to call GetYourGuide to get my refund. I was devastated since I only had one full day in this city, but oh well, it gave me reasons to come back to Cairns one day.

For now, I would have to figure out what I would do in this rainy day, but first, I went to get a nice breakfast around the corner of the hotel.

From there, I took an Uber to the Reef Fleet Terminal, maybe trying to look for a ferry into Green Island (technically part of the Great Reef, but ended up not getting in it after a very heavy storm started falling down. What was the point of going there if I would not be able to see anything.

The terminal is quite cute tho, and very organized.

Cairns Aquarium

Something safe to do was the Cairns Aquarium, so I took an Uber there, and after a long line (yes, everyone was here), I made it inside and started exploring.

The Cairns Aquarium is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to the habitats and species of Tropical North Queensland. It offers an immersive journey that follows a drop of rain from the mountain waterfalls of the Wet Tropics, through freshwater rivers and mangroves, and finally out to the Great Barrier Reef and the depths of the Coral Sea.

Key Exhibits: Features a 10-meter deep reef tank (the only one of its kind in Australia), a 360-degree oceanarium, and a 20-meter underwater tunnel where sharks and rays swim overhead.

Diverse Wildlife: Beyond marine life like clownfish and sea turtles, the aquarium houses land creatures including emerald tree monitors, pythons, and crocodiles.

Interactive Experiences: Visitors can participate in daily “Marine Touch Tank” shows and ecosystem talks led by wildlife educators.

This was definitely a good idea. Last year I went to the New York Aquarium, but this one was a little bit better in my opinion.

There were not only sea creatures, but all kind of reptiles and animals from the tropical areas of Queensland.

Like this crocodile. I would be seeing more of these during my Australia portion of the trip.

With 2 levels, it was definitely a good walk, and the exhibition was worthy of one of the best aquariums I have ever been. The lines to come in, especially with this heavy rain were still very long.

There were a few presentations, but with the background of this huge tank it was all worthy to check them out and learn more about this tropical ecosystems.

Made it to the Finding Nemo portion of the aquarium lol.

And for the first time ever I was seeing a cow fish. I literally did not know these animal existed, and now it responds all the questions I had with the restaurant located in City Walk at Universal Orlando Resort lmao.

Now, to the shark section of the aquarium…

The tunnel was fun.

But now it was time to leave, and I would just walk to my hotel in the middle of the storm, and chill. I had had very long flights in the last couple of days, so I decided to relax just before another journey started within this same country.

An afternoon in the Cairns Esplanade

I like that this city is so small, and everything goes around the Esplanade, and after the storm, I was just walking and being grateful of just being here, despite the weather and the cancellations. Even if you plan everything hour by hour, things can go wrong, and you just have to accept your fate.

Got myself a very sugary coffee from one of the restaurants of the Esplanade, and continued walking towards the center of the town.

A lot of people were enjoying this weather, and just walking, running and relaxing. It was warm but not super hot, perfect weather just to be outside.

I even made it to the lagoon, which is a public pool, but was not in the mood to get in at the moment. I am not a huge fan of pools anyway.

I was hungry now, and decided to eat at the Prawn Star, a boat restaurant in the Cairns Pier.

Of course, I had to try the local brew, and it was pretty good.

But when I was brought the giant prawns I was in shock lol. So huge, I thought I would not finish. They were fresh, and very delicious, especially with the sauce on the side. Amazing. 10/10. And you know I am a seafood aficionado.

The Night Markets

I needed a walk after all that food, so I went to the Night Markets. The night markets in Cairns are the energetic heart of the city’s evening scene, modeled after the bustling hawker-style bazaars of Southeast Asia. Located in a fully air-conditioned indoor complex, they offer a welcome escape from the tropical humidity and are open every night of the year, rain or shine.

Global Food Court: The market features a wide array of cuisines including Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Italian. Reviewers often highlight the self-service systems where you can assemble a diverse meal at reasonable prices.

Unique Souvenirs: You can find authentic Australian keepsakes such as locally sourced pearls, kangaroo and crocodile jerky, and handmade Aboriginal art like boomerangs and murals.

Artisanal Crafts: Several stalls showcase the work of local creators, including hand-poured candles embellished with crystals, intricate macramé plant hangers, and custom-made Australian bush hats.

Wellness & Entertainment: A dedicated section of the market is home to several massage parlors offering Chinese and relaxation treatments. You may also encounter live music and cultural performances that add to the lively, international flair.

Sweet Treats: Dessert lovers frequently visit for specialized stalls serving freshly made churros, nitrogen-infused ice cream, and a “Mango Bar” famous for its tropical fruit drinks and desserts.

I ended up getting my first ever foot massage here lol.

Day 14: From Cairns to Sydney

After having a very good night at the hotel, it was time to check out and get some nice breakfast from the same place around the corner.

And then book a short ride Uber to the airport.

It was raining once again, so my chance of seeing the Great Reef from the plane went to zero. For now, I was excited to go back to Sydney after all these years.

Seeing all these tropical views blew my mind, especially like I said before I did not know Australia had so much of it.

But some time later, I was back in the kind of terrain I had in mind when I thought of Australia, and it was because we were heading south towards Sydney, the most populous and famous city of this country, and where I was expecting to cross out one of my bucket list items.

And here it was, an amazing metropolitan area waiting for me. I was excited to finally be here.

And yes, it was December 30th, 2025. Which means that my bucket list item is: seeing the fireworks at the Sydney Harbor and being in one of the first cities to receive the New Year. But this will be in my next posts. See you there.