Our Top 12 Family Friendly Activities In Cairns
Christmas will be here before you know it, and you know what that means — your kids will be on holidays and looking for ways to stay entertained.
Do you need some ideas to keep your little ones occupied while they’re home for the break? If so, this guide has got you covered.
Listed below are 12 of our favourite fun, family-friendly activities to check out in the Cairns area.
1. Cairns Esplanade Playgrounds
Cairns Esplanade is one of the city’s most family-friendly attractions. It features plenty of exciting activity options, including three playgrounds:
● Muddy’s Playground: Open from 9 am to 7 pm with a variety of play equipment, including water play areas, a rope bridge, several slides, and a collection of puzzle games.
● Funship Playground: Open all day, every day, this playground features a seesaw, slide, puzzle games, and climbing features
● Healing Gardens Playground: Open all day, every day, this playground is uniquely decorated in pale violet and yellow, two colours that soothe distress and encourage calmness.
All the playgrounds at Cairns Esplanade are entirely free, making them perfect destinations for families who want to have fun on a budget.
2. Green Island
For a fun day trip, take a 45-minute catamaran ride to Green Island.
Green Island is home to a 6,000-year-old rainforest. It’s part of the larger Great Barrier Reef Marine Park — which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
While visiting the island, you and your kids can enjoy various activities. From snorkelling and diving in the coral gardens to walking along the nature trails, there’s something for everyone here.
3. Fitzroy Island
If you’re looking for another island adventure, spend a day at Fitzroy Island.
Also located about 45 minutes away from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is known as one of the Great Barrier Reef’s most unspoiled islands. Nearly all of it is a national park.
Fitzroy Island is an excellent destination for families who want to take a walk and enjoy the scenery — including mangroves, rainforests, coral beaches, and open woodland.
4. Kuranda Scenic Railway
A ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway takes you and your family through the Wet Tropics, a World Heritage-listed rainforest.
This train trip gives travellers a chance to view thousands of plants, hundreds of animals, and several stunning waterfalls as they journey from Cairns to the rainforest village of Kuranda.
A friendly heads up - Travellers should dress for warm temperatures, as the train carriages are not air-conditioned.
5. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Another way to enjoy the beauty of the Wet Tropics is to take a trip on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
The cableway allows you to glide several metres above the rainforest and see the landscape from a new perspective. You and your family can participate in this activity on its own or combine it with a voyage on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
6. Outer Barrier Reef
You may have visited the Great Barrier Reef — after all, it’s one of the biggest natural wonders in the world — but have you ever taken a trip to the Outer Reef?
The Outer Reef is the point where the coral system and the water meet. It’s not as frequently visited as other parts of the Reef, but it’s certainly worth exploring if you’re willing to travel a few hours from the QLD shore.
Visitors can scuba dive, snorkel, or go on a boom-netting adventure if they’re feeling a bit more daring.
7. Northern Beaches Leisure Trail
Does your family love hiking or cycling? If so, plan a trip to the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail.
The trail features a collection of shared pathways that work for people of all ages and abilities — including those who use wheelchairs or mobility devices. Everyone can come here to enjoy the area's beauty and breathe in the fresh air.
8. Cairns Aquarium
If you prefer to view sea life in a slightly more controlled environment, visit the Cairns Aquarium.
Cairns Aquarium offers a wide range of attractions and activities, including a marine life encounter and a turtle rehabilitation centre tour.
When you get hungry, enjoy lunch at Dundee’s Café (open from 10 am to 12 pm, Tuesday through Sunday). You can also have a more formal lunch or dinner at Dundee’s Restaurant (available Tuesday through Sunday).
9. Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome
Located on top of The Reef Hotel and Casino, Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome proudly features the first ropes course in the world to be built in a wildlife park.
Visitors can enjoy many activities here, from cuddling with a koala to riding a zip line over Goliath, the attraction’s massive saltwater crocodile.
10. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
If a glimpse of Goliath isn’t enough to satisfy your family’s crocodile fix, head to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.
Hartley's is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Cairns area. It started as a tea house in 1934 and has grown into an impressive zoo, crocodile sanctuary, and collection of wildlife exhibits.
11. Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
The Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park is the country’s largest employer of indigenous Australians. Visitors can learn, play, and more during their visit to this expansive park, which features a museum, multiple theatres, a gallery, and a 5-star buffet restaurant.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park opens every day from 9 am to 5 pm — except for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
12. Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands features an incredible collection of waterfalls — and a series of hiking and walking trails from which visitors can see them.
Nature-loving families will find plenty to do in this stunning location and can even spend the night at nearby campgrounds, motels, and cabins.
Want to Know More About the Cairns Area?
With decades of combined experience in the Cairns region, the Champions In Real Estate team pride themselves on knowing everything there is to know about this beautiful city.
Whether it’s family-friendly activities or intimate knowledge of the property market, you can be sure you’re in safe hands with our local agents.
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday with your family. You can find more Cairns news and events on our social media, so be sure to follow us @championsinrealestate
And if you enjoy your holiday here so much that you decide you want to move to this picturesque slice of North QLD, reach out to our experts today.
