Cairns with kids: 4 days of family fun in Tropical North Queensland

Cairns, the unofficial capital of Tropical North Queensland, offers families so more than diving and snorkelling (although you’ll want to do this too). From learning about turtle rehabilitation at Cairns Aquarium to floating through the rainforest on a giant inner tube, seeing military tanks from around the world, riding a semi-submersible, and soaring above ancient landscapes in a cable car, there is plenty to keep kids of all ages (and their parents) entertained in Cairns. With loads of family-friendly tours to choose from and dozens of things to do just a short walk from your hotel, this action packed itinerary offers plenty of fun for everyone.

Day One

AM

Cairns International Airport is only a 10-minute drive from the CBD so you’ll be at your accommodation in no time. Riley, an upmarket resort hotel on the Cairns Esplanade, has contemporary tropical décor and a 1,000 sqm pool with a sandy beach and children’s wading area. The friendly staff make it feel like you’re on holiday from the moment you arrive. Rooms at Riley sleep up to six people with a choice of two king beds or four king singles. If you would prefer self-contained accommodation, the modern apartment hotel Bailey in the heart of the CBD has you covered and is close to pretty much everything.

PM

After lunch at Candy Café or a burger at Sauce Brewing Co, cool off with a swim at the man-made saltwater Esplanade Lagoon which has space for one thousand swimmers and is patrolled by multiple lifeguards. Even better, it's free. Bring a towel and plenty of sunscreen. Enjoy sunset drinks and a casual dinner at Prawn Star, a row of prawn trawlers that have been converted into a laid back drinking and dining venue serving freshly caught seafood. If your kids don’t enjoy King Neptune’s bounty, keep strolling along the Harbour Walk boardwalk and dine at Waterbar Grill & Steakhouse which offers an upmarket yet family-friendly night out and a yummy kid’s menu.

Day Two

If the weather is good, take a Sunlover Reef Cruises day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It takes two hours to reach Moore Reef where you can zip down a waterslide and discover clown fish peeking out of their anemones and delicate fan coral shimmering in the sunshine. With four hours to explore the reef, there is no need to rush.

Children (and their parents) can hold slippery sea cucumbers and marvel at how hard a starfish is during an educational marine touch tank experience. In the underwater observatory, hundreds of brightly coloured tropical fish and a passing parade of divers keep you entertained. After a tasty lunch, there is time for fish feeding, a semi-submersible ride, and glass bottom boat tour before the trip back to Cairns.

If it is raining or too windy for reef adventures, head to the Australian Armour & Artillery Museum instead and marvel at mighty tanks from around the world. This is the largest museum of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the enthusiastic volunteers here know how to spin a good yarn.

Day Three

AM

After a quick breakfast, it’s time for a half-day river tubing adventure along the Mulgrave River. Suitable for kids as young as five, this family-friendly tour is more chill than thrill but it’s also a huge amount of fun. After a short 30 minute drive it’s time to put on a lifejacket and a yellow helmet that makes you look like a Minion and jump into a red inner tube. Think of it as your very own Big Red Car. Negotiating the rapids can be harder than it looks and you’ll almost certainly get wet but that’s part of the fun. If you do fall out of the tube, it’s easy to get back in as the water is barely waist deep in most sections of the river.

PM

Spend the afternoon at Cairns Aquarium, the world’s only aquarium dedicated to the habitats and species of just one region. It is located in the heart of Cairns and home to more than 16,000 water dwelling creatures of every shape and size. General admission includes daily talks and animal presentations. Older children will enjoy the Marine Life Encounter tour which offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium and Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre plus the chance to slip squid into the velvety soft mouths of sting rays.

Day Four

Take a gondola ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a unique look at one of the planet’s most significant rainforests. Allow approximately two hours for the 7.5km ride up to Kuranda and keep an eye out for electric blue Ulysses butterflies on the way. For an extra thrill, you can book a Diamond View gondola which has a glass floor. Stop off at the ranger stations along the way where tours are available and included in the cost of your ticket. There’s time for lunch and browsing the markets at the pretty village of Kuranda before the return journey to Cairns.

Tours which include a one way trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway are also available.