Cairns Regional district, Queensland, Australia

Places to visit near Cairns

Cairns is a city in Cairns Regional district, Queensland, Australia, home to about 153,075 people. Within 50 km by road there are 117 places to visit — 26 waterfalls, 26 wildlife, forests & gardens, 21 hill stations & viewpoints and 18 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Cairns Mosque (1 km), Cairns Botanic Gardens (4 km) and Grey Peaks National Park (12 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Cairns on the map

Cairns at a glance

Location
Cairns Regional district, Queensland, Australia
Population
about 153,075
Coordinates
16.9237° S, 145.7661° E
Places within 50 km
117 (22 must-see)
Best time to visit
July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens

Top places to visit near Cairns

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Cairns: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Cairns, by type

Waterfalls near Cairns

71 waterfalls within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Tablelands, Waterfalls, and Spanish Castle (1 km); the best-known is Barron Falls (21 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Cairns

62 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Cairns Botanic Gardens (4 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Cairns

45 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Campbells Lookout (6 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Beaches & coast near Cairns

38 beaches & coast within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Barron Beach (8 km). Best time: october to march.

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Forts & heritage near Cairns

19 forts & heritage within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Cairns Cenotaph (2 km). Best time: october to february.

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Rivers, islands & mangroves near Cairns

13 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Cairns. The closest is Redden Island (10 km); the best-known is Double Island (30 km). Best time: september to february.

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Queensland →

A one-day trip from Cairns

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 67 km on the road.

  1. Start in Cairns
  2. 16 km Barron Gorge National Park · national park, Mareeba Shire
  3. 6 km Barron Falls · waterfall, Mareeba Shire
  4. 17 km Cairns Botanic Gardens · garden, Cairns Regional
  5. 3 km Cairns Mosque · mosque, Cairns Regional
  6. 13 km Grey Peaks National Park · national park, Cairns Regional
  7. 12 km Back to Cairns

Plan a longer trip from Cairns — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Cairns

No traveller has reported from around Cairns yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Cairns

    All places near Cairns by distance

    Within 15 km of Cairns

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Cairns by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Waterfalls2671Tablelands, Waterfalls, and Spanish Castle (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens2662Cairns Botanic Gardens (4 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints2145Campbells Lookout (6 km)
    Beaches & coast1838Barron Beach (8 km)
    Forts & heritage619Cairns Cenotaph (2 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves613Redden Island (10 km)
    Museums48Cairns Art Gallery (2 km)
    Churches06St Mark's Anglican Church (54 km)
    Parks44Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome (2 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs23Lake Placid (14 km)
    Other attractions13Turtle Cove Beach Resort (50 km)
    Mosques & dargahs22Cairns Mosque (1 km)
    Caves12Chillagoe Caves (1 km)

    Cairns: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Cairns?

    Cairns Mosque (mosque, about 1 km), Cairns Botanic Gardens (garden, about 4 km), Grey Peaks National Park (national park, about 12 km), Barron Gorge National Park (national park, about 16 km), Barron Falls (waterfall, about 21 km), Rainforestation Nature Park (nature spot, about 21 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Cairns?

    117 places on Spotwander: 26 waterfalls, 26 wildlife, forests & gardens, 21 hill stations & viewpoints, 18 beaches & coast, 6 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest waterfall to Cairns?

    Tablelands, Waterfalls, and Spanish Castle, about 1 km by road; Josephine Falls Waterfall (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Cairns?

    Cairns Botanic Gardens, about 4 km by road; Flecker Botanical Gardens (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Cairns?

    Campbells Lookout, about 6 km by road; Erin’s Ledge Lookout (6 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Cairns?

    Start in Cairns, visit Barron Gorge National Park, then Barron Falls, then Cairns Botanic Gardens, then Cairns Mosque, then Grey Peaks National Park, and drive back — about 67 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Cairns?

    July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Towns near Cairns

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Cairns’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.