Cairns
Cairns is touted as the "gateway to the Great Barrier Reef" and other destinations such as Kuranda and the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland. Although the city has little to offer to travellers besides tour agencies, a handful of restaurants, cafes, and backpacker bars, and a long walk along the esplanade looking out at the swampy shoreline. Wikivoyage
Population 146,778 (Wikidata)
Before you go
Getting there
Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.
Still gathering the markets around Cairns. I'll let you know here when it's all in — or open the live guide.
Best-documented sights
All of them in the guide- Cairns Museum Museum · 370 m
- Cairns Aquarium Aquarium · 790 m
- The Lovers Viewpoint · 510 m
- Cairns Regional Gallery Gallery · 520 m
- Cairns Art Gallery Museum · 520 m
- The Court House Gallery · 520 m
- Stories of Cairns Monument · 610 m
- Skydive Cairns Attraction · 660 m
Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.
Eating nearby
All 50 places to eatSomewhere to run
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.
Cairns is ready Everything that was still being gathered is in.