Best Time to Visit Cairns

The dry season: June to October

This is the time most people come, and it's easy to see why. Days are sunny, the air feels lighter, and evenings on the Esplanade (the waterfront strip) are comfortable enough for a walk after dinner. July is the coolest month, with highs of 24°C. It's still warm enough for the reef.

August and September are our top picks. Only about six or seven days a month see rain, and the sea is calm for boat trips out to the Great Barrier Reef. October is the sunniest month and gets hotter, so it suits you if you like beach weather more than cool nights.

Expect higher prices and fuller tours from June to September. Australian school holidays in late June to July and again in late September add to the crowds. If you want a reef trip on a particular day, don't leave it to the last minute.

The wet season: December to April

Be honest with yourself about this one. January is the wettest month, with 384 mm of rain, and it feels sticky all day. Humidity sits close to 90% in March. Afternoon downpours are common, and roads north of town can flood.

It's also the quiet season. Hotels are cheaper and the rainforest around Kuranda and the Daintree is very green. Tropical cyclones are possible, so keep an eye on forecasts. Stingers (box jellyfish) are around too, so swim only inside the netted areas, such as the Cairns Lagoon, which is a free public pool and a good fit for kids.

The in-between months: May and November

May is a good middle choice. Rain is easing off, the crowds haven't arrived, and the rating is Fair. November is Good, with warm days and few visitors, though the heat builds before the wet starts.

Events help you choose. The Cairns Festival runs in late August and September, with parades and live music. The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is held in July, and it's worth planning around if you like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

So who goes when? Reef divers and families should aim for August or September. Budget travellers who don't mind rain might try April or May.