The Best Time to Visit Cairns: How to Time Your Trip Right For Snorkelling and Other Key Activities

Knowing the best time to visit Cairns is more important than you might think.

Located in tropical North Queensland, Cairns has a volatile climate with very hot, wet summers (the monsoon).

The humidity, rain and heat also vary drastically throughout the year.

Many of the activities in Cairns are weather-dependent. For example, rainy conditions can cause poor visibility when you are diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

I visited Cairns for nearly four weeks during the rainy season, which is undoubtedly the worst time to visit Cairns.

However, I had the luxury of time, and took my chance to go snorkelling (and exploring) on dry and sunny days.

So, with the help of my first-hand experience, let’s get stuck into the worst and best time to visit Cairns – and the pros and cons of each season (month-by-month).

While you’re here, feel free to steal my Cairns travel itinerary or read my round-up of all the best things to do in Cairns CBD.

After Cairns, I took a Cairns to Mission Beach road trip – the first leg of my epic two-month-long Cairns to Brisbane road trip.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

Seasons in Cairns: A Month-by-Month Breakdown

There are four main seasons in Cairns: winter, spring, summer (monsoon) and autumn.

Month	Season	Average temperature
🌧️ January	Monsoon	31°C
🌧️ February	Monsoon	31°C
🌧️ March	Autumn (rainy)	30°C
🌧️ April	Autumn (rainy)	29°C
⛅ May	Autumn (rainy spells)	27°C
☀️ June	Winter	26°C
☀️ July	Winter	26°C
☀️ August	Winter	27°C
☀️ September	Spring	28°C
⛅October	Spring	29°C
⛅ November	Spring	31°C
🌧️ December	Monsoon	31°C

1. Winter (June to August)

Winter is the peak season in Cairns. Overall, it has low rainfall and an average temperature of 27 °C.

It’s also the least hot and humid part of the year, which makes being outdoors for long periods far more bearable.

Winter is the best time to go to Cairns for snorkelling, diving and other outdoor activities.

2. Spring (September to November)

Spring is another good time to visit Cairns, with dry weather and an average temperature of 29 °C

Following on from the cooler winter, the humidity starts to build in October and November in preparation for the monsoon season.

3. Summer (January to February)

Summer in Cairns marks the beginning of the monsoon season.

During the monsoon period, Cairns experiences heavy rains. This can cause tours and outdoor activities to be cancelled at short notice.

There’s also a higher risk of extreme weather events like flooding and cyclones.

Summer is the hotest and humidest part of the year. My time in Cairns was very hot and sticky, so I tried to stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.

4. Autumn (March to May)

The monsoon (rain) continues until April, getting less intense as time progresses.

In May, the transition to winter begins. That’s why May is often called the ‘shoulder season’, a time when you get a good balance between weather and crowds, as well as more reasonable tour prices.

The Best Time to Visit Cairns

The best time to travel to Cairns is June to August, the winter season.

In winter, it is predominantly dry and sunny.

It’s also less hot and humid, with the average temperature sitting pretty consistently around 27 °C.

I visited Cairns during the summer, when it was consistently 33°C and very rainy.

The humidity was very intense, so I’d jump at the chance to experience Cairns when it’s less hot and humid.

Second to the winter, spring (September to November) is a good time to visit Cairns.

However, the temperature, humidity and rainfall gradually increase throughout spring, so I recommend you visit early in the season.

The Best Time to Go Diving in Cairns

The best time to go diving in Cairns is May to October, the dry season.

When is Stinger Season in Cairns?

Ideally, you want to avoid visiting from November to May, as this is stinger (jellyfish) season.

During this period, the water is warmer, so there is likely to be more jellyfish in the water.

That being said, when I went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef in December, I didn’t come across any jellyfish.

Stinger suits (protective gear) are provided on snorkelling and diving tours. Wearing a suit is compulsory.

When is Peak Season in Cairns?

The peak season in Cairns is the dry season (May to October).

However, the busiest time periods are the school holidays, from early July to mid-September.

Public holidays (Christmas, New Year and Easter) are also busy times.

On top of that, it gets very busy in Cairns during Cairns Festival (an annual event that starts at the end of August).

To avoid crowds, you should avoid visiting Cairns in the school holidays and take advantage of the shoulder season (from April to May).

That all sounds straightforward, right?

Well, not exactly. December to February is the peak season on the east coast of Australia, so despite it being rainy season, Cairns remains quite busy with people who are starting or ending their Cairns to Sydney road trip in Cairns (like me!).

The Worst Time to Visit Cairns

I visited the city in what is undoubtedly the worst time to visit Cairns: the rainy season.

Yes, I landed in Cairns at the end of December ready for a two-week-long Christmas petsit (through Trusted Housesitters).

However, the humid and rainy weather didn’t ruin my trip.

I stayed in Cairns for a total of three to four weeks, so I had the luxury of being able to monitor the weather forecast and handpick sunny days for my tours and activities.

The only thing is, heavy rain cause can cause poor visibility on the Great Barrier Reef. It also increases the chances of extreme weather events like flooding or cyclones.

Waterfalls surrounding Cairns may also have more leeches.

I only recommend visiting Cairns during the monsoon if you have the luxury of time. By waiting for sunny days during the monsoon season, you can easily beat the crowds. The tours are far less crowded.

When is Cyclone Season in Cairns?

Cyclone season lasts from November to May.

These dangerous tropical storms are far more likely to occur during the rainy season.

I experienced a cyclone in Airlie Beach in January. The cyclone occurred just off the coast, but it was severe enough to flood the only road out of the town, leaving me stranded for three to five days.

So, Where to Stay in Cairns?

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I hope you found this guide to the best time to visit Cairns useful! If you want more help with planning your trip, continue reading…

• Cairns travel itinerary – start here!
• The best things to do in Cairns CBD
• Cairns to Mission Beach road trip itinerary
• East coast route! Steal my Cairns to Brisbane road trip plan!
• Next up: Backpacking Whitsundays budget guide + the best backpacker Whitsundays tours
• How to get to Whitehaven Beach from Airlie Beach
• How to get to Fraser Island (K’Gari) – camping and more!

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