Cairns

Travel Guide

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which includes rainforest and landscape views
Palm Cove Beach showing tropical scenes, a sandy beach and swimming
Cairns featuring street scenes and signage
Cairns featuring general coastal views, tranquil scenes and a bay or harbor
Cairns featuring forest scenes, a cascade and a river or creek

Where to stay in Cairns

Palm Cove showing a beach, a garden and tropical scenes

Palm Cove

Palm Cove is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like Palm Cove Beach and Vie Spa Palm Cove.

Palm Cove
Cairns which includes a city

Cairns Central Business District

5/5(1 area review)

Cairns Central Business District is known for its popular shops, and with sights like Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Marlin Marina, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Tropical North Waterfront.

Cairns Central Business District
Trinity Beach which includes landscape views, tropical scenes and surfing

Trinity Beach

Travelers to Trinity Beach praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach.

Trinity Beach
The Cairns Lagoon at sunrise in Tropical North Queensland

Cairns North

Beaches and abundant dining options are well-reviewed features of Cairns North. Make a stop by top sights like Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland while you're exploring the area.

Cairns North
Yorkeys Knob showing tranquil scenes and mountains

Yorkeys Knob

Yorkeys Knob is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Yorkeys Knob Beach and Half Moon Bay Golf Course.

Yorkeys Knob
Clifton Beach showing a luxury hotel or resort, golf and mountains

Clifton Beach

Travelers come to Clifton Beach for its beaches, and you can see top attractions like Clifton Beach and Palm Cove Beach while you're in town.

Clifton Beach
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

5 out of 5
Pierpoint Road Cairns QLD
The price is P7,666 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
P7,666
P8,433 total
Mar 31 - Apr 1
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 bars/lounges, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,011 reviews)
Best holiday experience I’ve had!

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Hilton Cairns

Hilton Cairns

5 out of 5
34 Esplanade Cairns QLD
The price is P6,768 per night from Mar 25 to Mar 26
P6,768
P7,445 total
Mar 25 - Mar 26
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Cairns. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service, and a 24-hour health club. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
Comfortable clean room

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2026

Hilton Cairns
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns

4.5 out of 5
121-123 The Esplanade & Florence St Cairns QLD
The price is P5,801 per night from Mar 25 to Mar 26
P5,801
P6,381 total
Mar 25 - Mar 26
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Cairns. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
See all 1,328 properties in Cairns
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Southern Cross Atrium Apartments

Southern Cross Atrium Apartments

4 out of 5
3-11 Water Street Cairns QLD
Stay at this aparthotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,626 reviews)
The apartment has no elevator. We stayed at 3rd floor and was hard to carry heavy luggage to it. The AC is not cool at all. I don't recommend the 3rd floor living especially during the hot summer due to AC inefficiency.

Reviewed on Mar 5, 2026

Southern Cross Atrium Apartments
Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort

Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort

3.5 out of 5
23-51 Anderson Road Woree QLD
Book a stay at this family-friendly aparthotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (772 reviews)
Great spot for families . Needs to regulate some of the smoking trends around kids and also karts around kids play area is a receipie for disaster . Overall great spot for families

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026

Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort
Sea Change Beachfront Apartments

Sea Change Beachfront Apartments

5 out of 5
31-35 Vasey Esplanade Trinity Beach QLD
Book a stay at this luxury aparthotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (1,394 reviews)
Large 3 bedroom apartment witb Ocean views. Fabulous location, fabulous stay. Would definitely go back.

Reviewed on Mar 10, 2026

Sea Change Beachfront Apartments
See all properties in Cairns
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Cairns Esplanade which includes swimming, a luxury hotel or resort and a pool

Cairns Esplanade

Stroll along the boardwalk surrounded by palms tree and landscaped gardens and watch the sun set over the Coral Sea.

Cairns Esplanade
Palm Cove Beach featuring a beach, tropical scenes and general coastal views

Palm Cove Beach

Located in between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, this palm tree-lined beach is an idyllic spot to take it easy or begin an adventure.

Palm Cove Beach
Cairns Marlin Marina which includes sailing, mountains and a marina

Cairns Marlin Marina

Enjoy views of the harbour and and unwind with al-fresco dining, entertainment and shopping beside the bay.

Cairns Marlin Marina
One of best things to do in Cairns is ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway. It's a 90 minute journey that takes you down the mountain to Cairns passing waterfalls, scenic lookouts and over old bridges. Catch the Skyrail up the mountain from Cairns and then catch the train back down. Or, vice versa.

Cairns Central Shopping Centre

During your visit to Tropical North Waterfront, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Discover the beautiful coral reefs in this walkable area, or enjoy its local tours.

Cairns Central Shopping Centre
Esplanade Lagoon which includes a coastal town and a hotel

Esplanade Lagoon

Relax after a day of sightseeing or cool down from the summer heat in this fresh-water lagoon, one of Cairns’ best city attractions.

Esplanade Lagoon
Cairns Convention Centre, Queensland: Aerial Photo of Iconic Architecture, Urban Landscape, Waterfront, and City Infrastructure in Tropical North Queensland, Australia

Cairns Convention Centre

Learn about the events happening at Cairns Convention Centre during your trip to Tropical North Waterfront. Discover the beautiful coral reefs in this walkable area, or enjoy its local tours.

Cairns Convention Centre

Things to do

Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

P10,384
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise
relaxing at the deck of a ship in Australia

Full-Day Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Snorkeling Tour

P10,887
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Full-Day Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Snorkeling Tour
Kuranda Scenic Rail & Skyrail including Gold Class

Kuranda Scenic Rail & Skyrail including Gold Class Tickets

P11,339
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Kuranda Scenic Rail & Skyrail including Gold Class Tickets
passengers aboard amphibious DUKW drive through jungles in Cairns

Army Duck Tour of the Rainforest

P1,335
per adult
80% of travellers recommend
Army Duck Tour of the Rainforest
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel Adventure

Silverswift Dive & Snorkel Cruise

P12,160
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel Cruise
Wavedancer Low Isles Cruise on Luxury Sailing Catamaran

Wavedancer Low Isles Cruise on Luxury Sailing Catamaran

P10,887
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Wavedancer Low Isles Cruise on Luxury Sailing Catamaran
See all activities in Cairns
Aerial photo of tropical housing estate in mountain range

Koah

The road from palm Cove to Port Douglas is about as close as you can get to the ocean without driving on the sand. Enjoy the view but drive carefully as you wind through the bends in the road (also don't swim...croc are about!). This was taken in January - the tropical rains come and go every few minutes.

Wangetti

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