For a getaway that involves balmy weather, Heritage-listed natural wonders and experiences your kids will never forget, it’s hard to go past Cairns.
Split your time between swimming in tranquil (and warm!) waters, exploring coral reefs and wandering through ancient rainforest.
That’s when you’re not dining on tropical delights in family-friendly restaurants and having incredible adventures, like white-water tubing, meeting crocodiles, and visiting an aquarium after dark.
Here’s your guide to where to go and what to do with the kids in Cairns. Whether you’re there for a couple of weeks or a couple of months, you won’t run out of ideas.
WHERE TO SWIM WITH KIDS IN CAIRNS
As soon as you arrive in Cairns — and into the sublime tropical weather — you’ll have one question on your mind: where do we swim?
If you’re travelling with kids, take your first dip at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. This human-made slice of paradise gives you 4,800 square metres of saltwater to play in, complete with sandy beaches, wooden decks and fish sculpture. It’s free to enter and you don’t have to worry about meeting crocodiles or stingers.
Other great spots for swimming in and around Cairns with kids include Sugarworld Adventure Park (where you’ll find slides, fountains, water jets and more), Trinity Beach (where there’s a playground, barbecues and an esplanade perfect for cycling) and Kewarra Beach (where you can escape the holiday crowds).
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS IN CAIRNS
After all that swimming, the kids will have a serious appetite. Luckily, Cairns has plenty of family-friendly eateries.
Start your day with coffee at Wharf One. You’ll be treated to fabulous water views while the kids keep themselves busy at the playground opposite.
Come lunch, jump in the car and head to St Crispin’s for more views — this time over the Daintree, foregrounded by a private lagoon. You’ll be feasting on prawn and saffron risotto; the kids will be fishing and spotting baby crocodiles from the shady deck.
At dinner, you’re spoilt for choice. Restaurants with dedicated kids’ areas include Trinity Beach Sports Club, Red Beret Hotel and Yorkeys Knob Boatclub.
WHAT TO DO WITH KIDS IN CAIRNS
Since you’ve travelled all the way to Cairns, you won’t want to miss the Great Barrier Reef. A day tour is a great place to start — and there’s a bunch of family-friendly companies to choose from, including Passions of Paradise and Sunlover Reef Cruises.
The other natural wonder you shouldn’t miss is the Daintree Rainforest. The kids will love wandering among waterfalls and mahogany trees along the Dreamtime Walk, which leaves from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. To see more of the rainforest, jump aboard a ferry to Cow Bay, where you’ll find the Daintree Discovery Centre and a spectacular beach.
Other more unusual adventures on offer in and around Cairns include white water tubing on the Mulgrave River, coming face-to-face with a crocodile on a Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure and taking an after-hours tour of Cairns Aquarium.
GETTING TO CAIRNS
Cairns, located in Far North Queensland, is a 27-hour drive north of Sydney and a 19-hour drive north of Brisbane.
Unless you’re hoping to take the road trip of a lifetime – making Cairns the end destination – it could be a good idea to fly to Cairns Airport. It’s just three hours by air from Sydney and 90 minutes from Cairns.
SIXT has a branch onsite, so you can land, pick up your luggage, and jump into a car hire straight away. There’s a variety of rental vehicles available – from smooth-driving SUVs to budget-friendly sedans.
