Wet and Dry Seasons in Cairns
Cairns enjoys warm weather year-round, with daytime temperatures sitting in the mid-20 °C range. Rather than the traditional seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn, the region experiences two distinct climates: the dry season and the wet season.
Dry Season (May to October)
Low humidity, clear skies and average temperatures close to 25 °C make these months ideal for open-air dining, reef exploration and long scenic drives. Rainfall is minimal and evenings are comfortably cool.
Wet Season (November to April)
Warm afternoons often give way to tropical showers that swell waterfalls and intensify the rainforest’s deep greens. This period coincides with marine stinger season (November to May), so swimmers should use protective beach nets and wear full-body lycra suits when entering the ocean.
Stinger Season in Cairns
Between November and May, warm tropical currents bring dangerous jellyfish, including box jellyfish and tiny but potent Irukandji into Cairns’ coastal waters. These creatures thrive in water temperatures above 24 °C, making stinger season a reality for more than half the year
To stay safe, swim only where protected enclosures have stinger nets in place and wear a full-body lycra suit whenever you venture beyond the sand. Always check local beach signage before entering the water, and keep a bottle of vinegar close at hand - applying it immediately to any sting helps neutralise remaining venom.
If someone is stung, rinse the area with vinegar for at least thirty seconds, remove any tentacles carefully (using gloves or a blunt object), and monitor for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain or collapse. In the event of a serious reaction, call 000 for emergency assistance and begin CPR if the person loses consciousness. By respecting these precautions, you can still enjoy Cairns’ reefs and beaches safely during stinger season.
Things to do in Cairns during the dry season
Private Outer Reef Cruise
Reserve a small luxury catamaran or charter yacht and reach the outer Great Barrier Reef in under ninety minutes. Visibility peaks in these months, revealing bommies lined with soft corals and giant clams. Many operators include a chef-prepared lunch and guided snorkelling.
Scenic Helicopter Flight
A thirty-minute helicopter circuit delivers a bird’s-eye view of kaleidoscopic reef shelves and the emerald spine of the Wet Tropics. During the months of June to August you might see whales swimming in the waters.
Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Cableway
On the Kuranda scenic railway you ascend the Macalister Range in a heritage timber carriage, then glide back above treetops in a glass-floored gondola. Check maintenance closures before you go.
Daintree River cruise
On a Daintree River cruise, begin the day aboard a purpose-built vessel gliding through mangrove channels that shelter estuarine crocodiles, kingfishers and salt-tolerant orchids. A naturalist guide interprets each sighting while you enjoy morning tea on deck, setting a relaxed yet informative tone for the journey ahead.
Palm Cove Beachfront Dining and Day Spas
Fifteen minutes north of the city, Palm Cove couples coconut-lined sand with award-winning restaurants such as Nu Nu, a regular on national fine-dining lists. Pre-book a terrace table for sunset.
Cairns Botanic Gardens
In the Cairns Botanic gardens, shaded boardwalks wind past exotic orchids, giant lily ponds and heritage rain trees, all looking their crispest in the clear winter light. Visitor centre displays add context, and entry is free, so you can drop in for twenty minutes or spend a lazy afternoon before retreating to the motorhome.
Paronella Park “Darkness Falls” Night Tour
Drive an hour south, settle your motorhome at the nearby Paddock Van Park Caravan, and wander torch-lit castle ruins framed by waterfall mist. Evening tours of Paronella park reveal the Spanish-inspired gardens at their most atmospheric.
Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef
During the dry season, calm seas and minimal rainfall deliver outstanding underwater visibility, making this the ideal time to explore the Great Barrier Reef’s coral bommies and marine life. Most day cruises from Cairns Marina include all snorkelling gear, mask, snorkel, fins and, if you choose, a lightweight lycra suit for stinger precautions.
Basic safety rules for snorkelling:
• Always snorkel in pairs or under guide supervision, and stay within the vessel’s designated swim area.
• Check your mask’s seal and snorkel’s purge valve before entering the water.
• Apply reef-safe sunscreen at least twenty minutes before entering the sea to protect both your skin and the corals.
• Never touch or stand on coral; even gentle contact can damage these fragile ecosystems and injure you.
• Remain aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on boat markers and follow your guide’s instructions at all times.
Things to do in Cairns during the wet season
Waterfall Chasing
Wet-season downpours send Barron Falls thundering through the gorge and fill the tiered pools of Crystal Cascades. Arrive early to secure long-vehicle parking and enjoy shaded walking tracks.
White-Water Rafting on the Barron River
High rainfall guarantees grade-three and grade-four rapids for white water rafting. Guides supply all equipment and hotel transfers, so you can leave the motorhome hooked up at your holiday park.
Indigenous Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge
Rain intensifies rainforest scents, making this guided journey with Kuku Yalanji custodians through the Mossman gorge even more immersive. Expect a smoking ceremony, bush-medicine demonstrations, and ochre painting beside crystal streams.
Spa Retreats at Eléme Day Spa
Wet afternoons invite indulgence. Eléme at Crystalbrook Riley offers personalised massages and facials. Each retreat includes lounge access where you can sip herbal tea and enjoy waterfront views before returning to your motorhome.
Native-Ingredient Cooking Demo at Ochre Restaurant
Join a small masterclass at Ochre restaurant where chefs showcase Australian bush flavours like finger lime and wattleseed, then sit down to a six-course degustation matched to premium wines.
Babinda Boulders
Rain-fed streams slip between enormous granite blocks at Babinda Boulders, filling clear green pools that stay cool even in midsummer. A sealed path leads to photo lookouts and a grassy picnic lawn, making this an easy detour on the drive south of Cairns. Always heed the safety signs, as strong currents can form after heavy downpours.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary houses more than a thousand blue Ulysses, Cairns birdwings and other tropical beauties. It is a perfect rainy-day option because the climate-controlled habitat stays dry and warm while storms pass outside.
Things to do in Cairns with kids
Travelling in a well-equipped motorhome makes family logistics easy. You can pack snorkels, extra towels and a change of clothes, then return to air-conditioned comfort after each outing. The ideas below suit most age groups and work in both the wet and dry seasons unless noted.
Cairns Aquarium
More than sixteen thousand reef and rainforest creatures live at the Cairns Aquarium, making it an ideal refuge on humid afternoons or during tropical downpours. Children can touch harmless sea stars in the marine touch tank and join the popular “Night at the Aquarium” tour to watch nocturnal species after dark.
Muddy’s Playground and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Free, lifeguard-patrolled fun in the city centre at Cairns Esplanade lagoon and Muddy’s playground. The lagoon has shallow shelves for younger swimmers, while Muddy’s offers splash pads, rope bridges and slides shaded by huge fig trees. Both venues open daily, usually from 9 am to 7 pm, and barbecue stations nearby let you cook lunch before strolling back to the motorhome.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
Forty minutes north of Cairns, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures offers boat rides through a mangrove lagoon where saltwater crocodiles leap for food. Land exhibits include koalas, cassowaries and wombats, and the daily program spaces wildlife shows so families can take breaks at the café.
Great Barrier Reef pontoon with waterslide
Sunlover Reef Cruises anchors a multi-level pontoon at Moore Reef featuring a thirty-metre spiral slide, an enclosed ocean pool for smaller swimmers and an underwater observatory. Lifeguards supervise all day, and family packages include snorkel gear and lycra stinger suits in the wet season.
Where to stay and motorhome tips for Cairns
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Choose centrally located holiday parks. NRMA Cairns Holiday Park and Cairns Coconut Resort both offer powered sites, shaded pools, and concierge desks that can book reef cruises or helicopter slots.
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Plan town parking. Dedicated motorhome bays on Hartley Street, at the end of Hartley Street, near the Sheridan Street intersection.
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Mind cyclone updates. During the wet season monitor the Bureau of Meteorology app for tropical low alerts and follow park manager instructions.
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Respect stinger safety advice. Between November and May swim only within stinger nets, wear a lycra suit, and keep vinegar in your on-board first-aid kit.
Do more in Cairns with a maui motorhomes
There are so many things to do in Cairns, Australia, making it the perfect Australia road trip destination. Best of all, with a maui branch in Cairns, renting a van for a road trip around this region has never been easier. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our travel guides, popular driving routes, and download the thl Roadtrip App to help plan your route.
If you’re ready to rent a van to travel on your upcoming Cairns holiday, take a look at our range of premium vehicles and book your motorhome today.