There’s nothing worse than a family trip where someone’s saying ‘I’m bored’ every five minutes. But we think you’ll find that’s almost impossible in Cairns. There’s some amazing weather, great waterfront spaces and the unbelievable Great Barrier Reef. What else could you possibly need?
We’ve put together a handy guide to help you discover the best Cairns family activities. We cover everything from free playground visits to trips to the reef, ready to make your family trip extra special. Check out our top 10 and start planning.
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Play around Cairns Esplanade
Let’s start with Cairns Esplanade. It’s the perfect place to let the kids burn off some energy, without having to go to too much effort. We absolutely love the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon because it’s free to use and has the perfect shallow area for little swimmers. You can rock up with a picnic and have a nice morning out while the kids play.
If you go a bit further up to Muddy’s Playground, you’ll find fun water-play spots for different ages. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s always the Figtree Playground, which has loads of different play equipment built around a huge fig tree. Take some snacks with you or you can stop at one of the many food spots along the waterfront, including the Little Sister Restaurant and Bar and Villa Romana.
There is some great family-friendly accommodation in Cairns that’s close to Cairns Esplanade. If you stay at the Oaks Cairns Hotel, you’ll be right on the waterfront. The rooms have all of the usual things you’d expect, like cosy beds, WiFi and mini fridges. There’s also an on-site restaurant, Oak & Vine, which has some epic views across the Esplanade.
Ice Cream & Museum Date
Any day can be made better with some ice cream, especially when the hot Cairns weather sets in. But first, you need to go to Cairns Museum and discover everything there is to know about the area and what it’s like to live here. There are loads of free family activities inside, including the Super Sleuth Challenge and the Object Scavenger Hunt, so you can spend hours here with the kids and the time will fly by.
Once you’ve completed the museum, you can head over to the Esplanade or Cairns Night Markets for an ice cream. It’s the perfect reward for all that learning!
This is a useful idea to keep in your back pocket if you’re faced with a rainy day, or you want to do something a little less fast-paced!
Day Trip to Kuranda Scenic Railway
No list of family activities in Cairns would be complete without a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Think of it as part train ride, part rainforest adventure! It’s probably one journey where the kids won’t be asking for screen time. The Kuranda Scenic Railway is famous for taking passengers through the mountains, lush rainforest and stunning waterfalls. It even passes through the spectacular Barron Gorge.
This isn’t something you want to rush, so take your time once you get to Kuranda. The village has plenty of things to see, including some markets and cafés, there’s also plenty of wildlife attractions to check out. If you want a bit of a different view on the way back, you can take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Leave plenty of time to enjoy the rainforest; there’s loads there for families to do.
Get friendship bracelets at Port Douglas Sunday Markets
This one’s a great idea if you’ve rented a car for your trip. About an hour from Cairns is Port Douglas, and that’s where you can visit the Port Douglas Markets. You can spend hours checking out the different stalls, with food, clothes and homewares, along with loads of other stuff.
The markets run from 08:00 am to 1:30 pm, so you’ll want to set off early to make the most of it. They’re known as a ‘Cotters market’, which means all of the goods need to be locally produced. Send the kids to hunt for friendship bracelets and other souvenirs to keep them busy. It does get warm here during the day, so make sure you’ve got plenty of water with you.
While the markets are great, there’s loads more to see in Port Douglas. You should think about staying overnight at Oaks Port Douglas, one of our top-rated picks for family-friendly accommodation near Cairns. It’s right next to Four Mile Beach, which is worth a visit, and there’s plenty to do at the hotel too. It has an amazing pool (with a swim-up bar for the adults), games lounge, and there’s a restaurant on-site too.
Boat ride to nearby islands
A boat trip is fun for all the family, and you’ve got two great options from Cairns: Green Island and Fitzroy Island.
First up is Green Island, which is a small coral cay, and it’s the perfect thing to do with kids in Cairns. They’ll love the sandy beaches and the rainforest trails. Once you get to the water, you can take a little paddle or snorkel and see what’s hiding in the sea! There’s also a glass bottom boat tour if you’d prefer to see the coral without getting wet, which is perfect for young kids.
Over at Fitzroy Island, things are a bit rugged, but just as fun. You can go on a family walk or go to the coral beaches. And if you want an extra special family activity, you can visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and learn about the rescued sea turtles. It’s as cute as it sounds.
Make sure you’re prepared, as there won’t be much to buy once you’re there. Pack all of the usuals like sun protection and snorkelling equipment, plus snacks!
Dive at the Great Barrier Reef
At the top of our Cairns family activities list has to be the Great Barrier Reef. It’s everything you’ll have heard about and more, and something the whole family will enjoy. If you’ve got older kids, they can even try an intro dive depending on the dive company you choose. Make sure you pack an underwater camera, as you won’t want to miss capturing these special moments.
Beginners will be under constant supervision, so you can feel a little more confident in the water on your first time. If you’ve got a diving qualification, you could join one of the more experienced groups to go a little further. You’ll see everything from the stunning coral to sea turtles, and plenty of tropical fish too. You might even find Nemo!
Going to the Reef isn’t just for divers, and there are loads of operators that will offer different experiences. They can also answer all your questions, which is handy if you’ve got some curious kids.
A trip to the Great Barrier Reef is a whole day or multi-day activity, so avoid planning much in the evenings as you’ll be shattered from all the excitement.
Wildlife Experience: Cuddle a koala or say hi to a kangaroo
Animal-loving kids are in for a treat in Cairns. Nestled between the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest, the region is home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Whether your family wants to spot colourful butterflies, meet native Australian animals or discover marine life, there are plenty of experiences to suit every itinerary.
The Rainforestation Nature Park is near Kuranda and is one of our fave activities to do with kids. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is another place worth visiting, and you’ll see some rare Aussie butterflies here, like the Cairns birdwing.
If you want to get up close with the kangaroos and koalas, check out Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas. They have loads of experiences, like ‘Breakfast with the Birds and Koalas’ and ‘Swim with the Salties’ (the crocs!). Another good spot to complete our Cairns family activities list is Kuranda Koala Gardens.
Moving Picture Nights
Cairns’ Moving Picture Nights are a really fun and free summer activity, where family films are shown on screen outdoors. There’s plenty of entertainment and food stalls, making it a great way to cool down in the evenings after a warm day.
Check the calendar to see what’s on and make sure you bring the essentials. A blanket and some insect repellents are definitely worth packing!
Beach Hopping Day
The Cairns coast is amazing, so it’s worth spending the day checking out the different sides of it. One thing to note is if you plan on doing some swimming, check the conditions first as you don’t want to go into the water during stinger season!
Half Moon Bay Beach is near Yorkeys Knob and is one of the better places to go for a quiet family day as the crowds are a lot smaller. You can see Double Island or just enjoy soaking up the sun.
Trinity Beach is another laid-back beach, but there are some cafés and restaurants close by. L’Unico is great for pizza on the beach, or you can try The Beach House at Trinity is one of our favourite family-friendly restaurants in Cairns.
If you want to feel the holiday vibes, then Palm Cove will be perfect. The Esplanade has loads of cafés and restaurants to choose from and you can go for some nice walks along the jetty after you’ve finished.
Night at the Cairns Aquarium
Ever been to an aquarium after dark? The Night at the Aquarium experience will give you just that. It’s a dinner and tour event where you’ll visit ten tropical eco-systems and see what the animals get up to after dark, including sharks, rays and loads of different fish!
It’s an amazing family activity that’s suitable for all ages, but you’ll want to go a bit earlier if you’ve got young kids.
To wrap it up!
There’s so many fun things to do with kids in Cairns, that you might find it tough to fit it all in. There’s some easy wins like ice cream and trips to the park, but plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences too. Some of these activities are really magical and will be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Whatever you decide to do, we know you’ll have an amazing time discovering Cairns as a family.
