Cairns,

Australia

Photo by Jina Ihm on iStock

000

For all emergencies.

Emergency Number

Australian dollar ($)

Local Currency

175,398 (2023)

Population

Loading...

Local Time

UTC+10 until Invalid Date, then UTC+10

Time Zone

English

Official/Primary Languages

Port Essentials

Everything you need to know for your visit to Cairns.

Cruise Terminal

Address Wharf St, Cairns City, Queensland, 4870, Australia

Distance to CBD 0.1 km (0.1 miles)

Tender Required Depends on Ship Size

Walk Off/Shuttle Walk Off

Notes The Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal is situated in the heart of Cairns City, within walking distance of downtown shopping areas. It accommodates both international cruise ships and domestic reef vessels.

General Information

Current Offset UTC+10

Daylight Saving Cairns does not observe daylight saving time.

Primary Local Currency

Australian dollar (AUD $).

Currency Conversions

Below we've listed some conversion rates for the Australian dollar against popular international currencies. The exchange rates are based on 100 AUD, are refreshed once per day and were last updated on 03 Jul 2025

Currency	Equivalent
USD	65.71
EUR	55.90
GBP	48.15
AUD	100.00
CAD	89.13
JPY	9532.01
CNY	471.05

To convert custom amounts, or to see the exchange rate of the Australian dollar against different currencies, try our currency converter by clicking the button below.

Credit cards, especially Visa and Mastercard, are generally accepted throughout Cairns. While American Express is also accepted, it may not be as widely accepted in smaller businesses or market stalls, and can incur additional fees.

Tap-and-pay options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted, particularly in larger establishments and tourist areas. Many major banks and credit card providers support contactless payment methods.

Overall expectation Tipping is not customary or expected in Cairns, due to Australia's fair minimum wage.

Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Saturdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sundays 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Notes

Shopping centers and large retailers in Cairns generally follow these hours. However, individual store hours can vary, especially smaller shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

Some stores may open earlier or close later, particularly on Thursdays. Always check specific store websites or contact them directly for the most accurate information. Trading hours may also change during public holidays.

Staying connected in Cairns is generally straightforward, with a variety of free public Wi-Fi options available throughout the city:

Cairns Libraries: All branches, including the City Library at 151 Abbott Street, offer free Wi-Fi access to members and visitors during opening hours. Simply connect to 'Cairns Libraries Wi-Fi' and follow the login instructions.
Cairns Central Shopping Centre: Located in the heart of the city, Cairns Central provides free Wi-Fi throughout the centre.
Mount Sheridan Plaza: This shopping centre offers free Wi-Fi in the food court area. Connect to 'Mt Sheridan Plaza Guest WiFi' to get online.
Orchid Plaza: Situated in the Cairns CBD, Orchid Plaza provides free Wi-Fi to visitors, ideal for a quick check-in while exploring the city.
DFO Cairns: The Direct Factory Outlet offers free Wi-Fi in its visitor lounge.
The Pier Cairns: Just a short walk from the cruise terminal.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon:
Cairns Airport: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both domestic and international terminals.
Telstra Payphones: Selected Telstra payphones across Cairns offer free Wi-Fi access. Look for the 'Free Telstra Wi-Fi' signage to connect.

A note of caution: Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it's not always secure. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts or entering personal information when connected to open networks. Consider using a VPN for additional security.

PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM

Whether you're checking maps, messaging friends, or booking last-minute tours, staying connected matters. That’s why we recommend Nomad eSIMs — one of the best travel eSIMs on the market (and we've tried a few!)

Nomad offers reliable, affordable data in over 100 countries, including most cruise ports. No physical SIM swap, no roaming surprises — just install and go.

Get a Nomad eSIM

Outlets Type I

Voltage 230V @ 50Hz.

Outlet and Plug

Transportation

Below is a list of common transport options for cruise ship visitors. We haven't included every possible choice — public transport, for example, is not listed since most visitors won't need it for a short, one-day stay.

Ride-share

Uber

Website: Click here.

Cairns city center is highly walkable, especially along the Esplanade, with its flat terrain and numerous attractions, restaurants, and shops within easy walking distance. Key areas like the Lagoon, Marlin Marina, Rusty's Market, and Night Markets are easily accessible on foot.

While venturing beyond the city center requires other transportation, the core area offers a pedestrian-friendly experience for visitors.

Safety & Health

Universal

Call 000

Notes: For all emergencies: police, fire, ambulance.

Police (Non-Emergency)

Call 131 444

Notes: Contact Policelink for non-emergency assistance.

State Emergency Service (SES)

Call 132 500

Notes: For flood, storm, and other natural disaster assistance.

Travel Safety Guidance for Australia

No official Smartraveller advisory for Australia.

Australia is a safe and stable country. Still, all travellers should stay alert and informed, especially regarding local conditions like bushfires, wildlife, and health alerts.

Use common sense and follow local laws and signage.
Check seasonal hazards like fires or flooding.
Stay aware of conditions when exploring regional or remote areas.

For more info, visit Australia’s official tourism safety guide.

Safe to drink? Yes

Precautions While tap water is generally safe to drink in Cairns, bottled water may be a better option for those sensitive to changed mineral contents.

Weather

Monthly weather in Cairns

°C °F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum Temp	30.1	86.1	30.3	86.5	29.4	84.9	28	82.4	26	78.7	24.6	76.3	24	75.1	24.5	76.1	26	78.7	27.5	81.5	28.8	83.9	29.7	85.5
Minimum Temp	25.1	77.2	25.3	77.5	24.8	76.7	23.6	74.5	21.8	71.2	20	67.9	19.3	66.8	19.2	66.5	20.7	69.3	22.4	72.3	23.8	74.8	24.8	76.7
Avg Rainfall (mm)	353	280	305	187	74	45	50	32	34	45	59	234
Avg Rainy Days	22	20	21	15	12	9	8	6	7	8	11	16
Daylight Hours	13	12.6	12.2	11.7	11.3	11.1	11.2	11.6	12	12.5	12.9	13.1
Avg UV Index	9.9	9.9	9.6	8.6	7.3	6.3	6.8	8	8.9	9.4	9.6	9.8

Best Time to Visit

Cruise ships usually just spend one precious day in port — and we want to help you make the most of it.

To give you the best chance of an enjoyable visit, we’ve created a custom “Best Time to Visit” score for each month, unique to each destination. The score is calculated using factors that are likely to matter the most:

Comfortable temperatures
Lower rainfall and fewer rainy days
More daylight hours
Moderate UV levels

Each score is based on historical monthly averages and adjusted for each port’s climate. We weight the above factors — for example, long daylight hours and fewer wet days matter more when you're only ashore for part of the day. That's also why no month gets a 10/10, as there's always a trade-off. For example, warmer weather and clear skies comes with higher UV (and more sweat!).

This chart isn't meant to suggest that a port is bad to visit outside the highest rated months — each season provides something memorable for each location. But if you’re deciding when to cruise, this will hopefully give you the best chance of having perfect weather on your visit.

Temperature Chart

Rainfall Chart

UV Index Chart

1–2: Low

3–5: Moderate

6–7: High

8–10: Very High

>10: Extreme

Tours & Experiences

Each tour you see below has been selected for cruise ship visitors. For example, each tour has Free Cancellation, as most of us have experiened the stress of trying to refund a tour when a port visit is cancelled or an itinerary changed on short notice. They're also no more than 6 hours in length, leaving you plenty of time to make dinner on the ship, or explore the port further on foot.

By booking through our links, you help support PortQuest and allow us to continue providing valuable content to enhance your port visits (at no extra cost to you).

Top Attractions

Discover the top attractions in Cairns, selected for cruise passengers!

Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

★ 4.9 (1159)

View Details

Cairns Botanic Gardens

★ 4.9 (422)

View Details

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

★ 4.9 (50)

View Details

Atherton Tablelands

★ 4.8 (3005)

View Details

Kuranda

★ 4.8 (87)

View Details

Great Barrier Reef

★ 4.7 (18858)

View Details

PortQuest Picks

Our team has hand-selected these tours to showcase the best and most unforgettable experiences each port has to offer — ones we've either personally enjoyed or have at the top of our bucket list.

Small Group Tour Kuranda via bus & Kuranda Scenic Rail

This great value small-group tour includes transfers from your hotel or port to Kuranda. Travel past fields of Sugar Cane and ascend the magnificent Macalister ...

$78 USD (≈ 118 AUD)

6h 0m

★ 4.9 (52)

Cairns,

Australia

Cairns, Australia

000

Australian dollar ($)

175,398 (2023)

Loading...

UTC+10 until Invalid Date, then UTC+10

English

Port Essentials

Cruise Terminal

General Information

PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM

Transportation

Ride-share

Safety & Health

Weather

Best Time to Visit

Temperature Chart

Rainfall Chart

UV Index Chart

Tours & Experiences

Top Attractions

Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

Cairns Botanic Gardens

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

Atherton Tablelands

Kuranda

Great Barrier Reef

PortQuest Picks

Browse Tours

Small Group Tour Kuranda via bus & Kuranda Scenic Rail

Cairns City Sights and Surrounds Tour

Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

Cairns Pub & Club Tour

Mountain Bike Tour - Cairns

Great Barrier Reef 40 Minute Scenic Flight from Cairns - Reef Hopper

Small Group Kuranda Tour via Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Rail

Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise

Hot Air Ballooning Tour from Northern Beaches near Cairns

Skypark Adventure Day Pass

Cairns Classic Hot Air Balloon ride

Bungy Jump & Giant Swing Combo in Skypark Cairns Australia

Rainforest River Tubing from Cairns

Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Park Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall 4WD Tour from Cairns

Breakfast with the Koalas at Hartley's Crocodile Park from Cairns or Palm Cove

Cairns Explorer Tour

Award winning Paronella Park Day and Night Tour

Cairns Shore Excursion: Cairns City Sights & Surrounds Tour

Half Day Fitzroy Island Return Ferry Trip – Departing 8am

Hartley's Crocodile Adventure Half-Day Tour

Cairns Estuary Fishing

Cairns Explorer Tour

Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch

Shared Shuttle Return Transfers (ex Cairns) Transfers Only

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Day Trip from Cairns

Port Douglas Sunday Markets Day Tour

Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise

Green Island Half-Day Trip from Cairns

Cairns Pub & Club Tour

Hook-a-Barra Gourmet Farm Tour

Rusty's Market Foodlovers Tour

Behana Adventure Tour by Cairns Canyoning

Night Walk in Cairns Botanic Gardens - Let's Go Buggin

Cairns History Walking Tour

Cairns Pub & Club Tour

Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise

Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour

Photography and Nature in Cairns Botanic Gardens Let's Go Buggin

Hook-a-Barra Gourmet Farm Tour

Rusty's Market Foodlovers Tour

Self Guided The Cairns Syndicate City Escape Game

Green Island Half-Day Trip from Cairns

Night Walk in Cairns Botanic Gardens - Let's Go Buggin

Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience

Small Group Tour Kuranda via bus & Kuranda Scenic Rail

Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour

Small Group Kuranda Tour via Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Rail

Reef Rainforest Fusion - 45 Minute Reef and Rainforest Flight

Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise