26+ of the Best Things to do in Cairns With Kids [2025]

As a full-time slow-traveling family, we recently spent two unforgettable months soaking up the local life in Cairns—an ideal destination for family holidays. With its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, Cairns offers an enchanting backdrop for visiting the Wet Tropics with kids in tow.

From exhilarating adventures to relaxing days by the water, we found endless things to do. Read on to discover our favorite experiences and tips for enjoying this tropical paradise as a family!

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Discover the Great Barrier Reef

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef with kids is an unforgettable experience that brings nature to life. Family-friendly destinations like Fitzroy Island and Green Island offer plenty of activities, from building sandcastles to snorkeling in crystal-clear tropical water.

To embark on a fun and easy day trip from Cairns, you can catch a fast ferry from the Cairns Marlin Marina to either Fitzroy Island or Green Island. Both islands are just a short 45-minute boat ride away, allowing you to explore their stunning natural beauty and enjoy a variety of activities at your leisure.

Whether you choose to admire the marine life in the turquoise waters, stroll through tropical rainforest trails, or simply relax on the beach, each tropical island offers a perfect getaway for the whole family.

Various family-friendly tours ensure everyone can enjoy the reef’s beauty. Sunlover Reef Cruises offers several family-friendly excursions.

This 8-hour day trip to Fitzroy Island is suitable for the whole family. You can choose from ferry transfers or various package options. Or, visit outer reefs on this all-ages tour, including snorkeling equipment, an enclosed ocean pool for kids, and a buffet lunch.

Although our family didn’t make it to the reef this time, it’s at the top of our list for our next visit to Cairns!

Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

We were absolutely chuffed with our day out on the Skyrail from Cairns, where we marveled at the seemingly endless greenery of Barron Gorge National Park in Far North Queensland.

This incredible 7.5 km cableway travels over an ancient, dense rainforest canopy from Cairns to the idyllic village of Kuranda. The journey includes two stops at Red Peak and the spectacular Barron Falls, where you can enjoy the views for as long as you like.

Our ride to Kuranda was mostly rainy, giving way to a gorgeous mist and sunshine as we neared the village. Whether you want to wander the heritage markets or check out the native wildlife at the Butterfly Sanctuary or Koala Garden, there’s plenty to do in Kuranda.

We were lucky to experience the Diamond View with a glass-bottom cable car on the trip back. Seeing the rainforest directly below us, combined with sunny weather, was a magical finish to the day!

An alternative to the Cairns Skyrail is the Kuranda Scenic Railway. You can book a Skyrail-only trip or a combined Skyrail-railway excursion through the Cairns Skyrail website.

Read all the details about our Skyrail day trip here.

Discover everything on offer along the Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is a vibrant location in Cairns City that promises endless fun for families. With its beautiful views, playgrounds, and water features, this waterfront area offers something for everyone to enjoy together.

Swim at The Cairns Lagoon Pool

The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is one of the best places to take the kids swimming in the city. It’s open every day and costs nothing!

I think this is the biggest swimming pool we’ve ever seen, and with varying depths, it’s perfect for everyone.

The Lagoon is a fantastic spot to hang out. Aside from the swimming, there are shaded grassy areas, a shop, changing rooms with warm showers, and amazing trees to climb!

The night markets are just across the road, plus you’re pretty much in the town center if you need additional shops or restaurants.

We also enjoyed wandering along the marina and checking out the massive jellyfish population in the sea!

Muddy’s Playground

Muddy’s Playground is one of the best places to take the kids in Cairns! It’s located at the Esplanade, a little further around from the lagoon, and has the obligatory splash pad area so the kids can stay cool.

We love the leafy green, sandy setup, and there’s plenty to keep the kids happy for a long while. The hamster wheels and climbing frames are a favorite!

Muddy’s also has a cafe, so you can grab a drink or a bite to eat while the kids play.

Bouldering walls and sports courts

The Cairns Esplanade has a fantastic and free bouldering area perfect for everyone to have a play around.

It’s only about a five-minute walk from Muddy’s Playground. The area also has several other features to keep everyone active, such as a small playground, basketball courts, and beach volleyball courts.

The Fig Tree Playground

The Fig Tree Playground is another awesome playground in Cairns that the kids will love. It’s built around a massive tree with spots to walk, crawl, and climb – an explorer’s paradise. Even adults will find it enchanting and may want to play as well!

The playground has a picturesque waterfront location with an on-site cafe, a huge brewery next door, lush rainforest across the water, and a path to enjoy the scenery.

You can easily walk along to the lagoon and other Esplanade attractions from the playground.

Hang out at the Northern Beaches

When exploring the beautiful northern coast of Cairns, don’t miss the stunning Northern Beaches, which stretch for 16 miles (26 km) and offer various leisure activities.

Popular spots like Trinity Beach, Palm Cove, Yorkeys Knob, and Ellis Beach are perfect for families, featuring swimming areas with stinger nets and a vibrant atmosphere filled with dining options. With their picturesque palm-fringed settings, these beaches provide an ideal getaway for relaxation and fun in the sun.

Ellis Beach

Ellis Beach, one of the northern beaches near Cairns, is a lovely place to hang out with the littles.

We decided to stick with what most locals do and just paddle and play in the little creeks behind the beach. Ellis has a patrolled swimming area inside a stinger net. However, there is still a risk of encountering dangerous jellyfish in these tropical waters, especially from about November through until May. Some people do swim but we decided to give it a miss!

The kids can still have loads of fun playing under the shade of the trees and in the little streams. When they’ve had enough, make sure you head across to the Ellis Beach Bar and Grill for a snack or drink. It’s a fabulous spot to hang out.

Palm Cove Beach

Palm Cove is Cairn’s most famous sandy beach, so make sure you check it out if you’re in the area. The village has a resort-like feel, and it’s ultra green and gorgeous.

The beach has a stinger net for those who choose to swim. Kids can enjoy the small beachfront playground while parents grab a coffee. Otherwise, Palm Cove is perfect for relaxing under the trees or watching people fish from the jetty.

The Cairns Botanic Gardens

The Cairns Botanic Garden in Edge Hill is a beautiful and free place to take the kids to enjoy nature. The gardens have plenty of paths to wander and opportunities to spot wildlife. We saw a giant monitor lizard, smaller lizards, butterflies, brush turkeys, scrubfowl, and other birdlife.

Make sure you head across the road and follow the boardwalk to the Centenary Lakes nature playground. It has all sorts, from treasure digging spots to an obstacle course and even a fairy garden!

Cairns Skating Centre

The Cairns Skating Centre is definitely on our list of the best things to do in Cairns with kids! They’re normally only open on the weekends and Friday evenings but have extended hours in the school holidays.

The entry fee gets you two hours of skating with roller skates or blades included. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, or you can bring your own.

The staff also put on a few fun games during the sessions that the kids will love.

Defy Gravity

Bouldering, trampolines, and a ninja course – that’s what you’ll find at Defy Gravity in Cairns, and the kids will love it. It’s also open for adults who are up for it!

Your entry fee includes all three activities, although you may need to pay extra for climbing shoes, depending on any current deals they have.

The ninja course is pretty advanced, but the little ones can still practice jumping and swinging. And the bouldering section has levels from beginners to advanced, so there’s something for everyone.

Whether you’re after a fun game of dodgeball or keen to practice your wall running skills, Defy Gravity is a fun place to burn off some energy.

They also have a comfortable seating area with snacks and drinks for those who prefer to sit and relax. Check it out if you’re looking for things to do with kids in Cairns!

Inflatable Kingdom

Inflatable Kingdom is one of the favorite places to play for many kids in Cairns and a good spot to escape the rain or heat. They have several inflatable play areas, a football court, a cafe, and space for parents to sit.

Inflatable Kingdom is open on the weekends during school term and every day during the holidays. It’s also open in the mornings during term time for five and under.

The price is reasonable and your kids get a two-hour play slot. Check it out if you’re looking for fun things to do in Cairns with kids!

Sugarworld Adventure Park

Don’t miss Sugarworld Adventure Park for a fun family day out. It’s open from 10 am until 4:30 pm every day; the kids will love it!

The park has three big slides that kids over 110 cm can enjoy – a body slide, a winding tube slide, and a mat racer that you zoom down on your stomach.

There are a couple of toddler pools and a small lagoon-style pool for swimming.

You can either bring your own lunch or get something from the kiosk, making it easy to spend the whole day there.

The park also has an adventure mini golf course included in the price if you get the full access ticket. You need to pay for the balls but get your money back if you return them (beware of the murky little ponds everywhere!)

We also loved watching the many peacocks roaming the park. It was definitely a fun day out for the whole family!

The Cairns Museum

The Cairns Museum is an interesting and educational place to take the kids in Cairns. It has plenty of interactive exhibits and easy-to-read info that will keep older kids engaged.

The museum focuses on local history and culture. Ayla enjoyed exploring all the artifacts and seeing how things worked.

Her favorite section was the ground floor, highlighting some of the many animals living on boats near Cairns.

The Cairns Art Gallery

If you have any budding young artists in your family, take them to check out the Cairns art gallery in the city center. It’s well laid out and only took us about 20 minutes to get around. Ayla is quite into her fashion design and loved the textiles section.

Rusty’s Market

Rusty’s Market is a local favorite and a must-visit for fresh tropical fruits and vegetables in Cairns. This is especially so during the rainy season when the supermarket shelves can end up with barely any fresh foods, but the local suppliers are still going strong.

Aside from exotic fruits and other fresh produce, you can also find clothing, trinkets, Asian food, french pastries, and more. Rusty’s is open from Friday to Sunday, so check it out for a taste of the local food and culture.

Tobruk Memorial Pool

The Tobruk Memorial Pool is a public swimming pool in Cairns. It offers an alternative to the Lagoon if you’re after some lane swimming.

The pools are covered, so it’s also a good option if you need to get out of the hot midsummer sun (we found the lagoon turns very bath-like on the hottest days!)

The complex has two lane swimming pools, a general (and accessible) pool, and a small splash pool for the littles.

Perhaps its most exciting feature is the Flow Rider, a surf simulator where you can practice boogie boarding and surfing. The Flow Rider has an extra fee for 30 minutes of fun.

Enjoy one of the many natural swimming holes

Before arriving in Far North Queensland, many people commented that it’s not a good place for swimming.

Because, well, crocodiles. And summer is stinger season at the beaches.

So, yep, there are crocodiles in many places, but they are not everywhere! If there’s a sign, pay attention!

Cairns has several fantastic swimming holes perfect for cooling off and having a safe splash about. Here are some of our faves.

The Rocks Reserve Redlynch

The Rocks Reserve at Redlynch is the perfect spot for the kids to enjoy a bit of adventure with a small rock jump and vines to swing on.

There are also some relatively gentle rapids they can cruise down on a boogie board. The current can be a little strong in some areas, so it’s a good place for kids who are ready to navigate environments beyond completely calm waters.

The water is shallow in many spots, with a few deeper areas. And the natural environment is absolutely gorgeous! Check it out if you’re looking for fun, free, and adventurous things to do with kids in Cairns.

Goomboora Park

Goomboora Park is another favorite creek swimming spot in Cairns. It’s a bit gentler than The Rocks, with only a light current in a small part of the river.

It also has a fantastic playground, making it easy to take a picnic and stay all day. We highly recommend visiting Goomboora Park if you’re looking for fun and free outdoor activities to do with kids in Cairns.

The Crystal Cascades

The Crystal Cascades are another of our favorite swimming holes in Cairns. They’re probably the most well-known ones, but they offer several swimming locations. So, it might look more crowded in the car park than it actually is.

From the car park, a paved walkway runs alongside the stream. The stream features fun rocky areas for exploring, gorgeous little waterfalls, and refreshing swimming holes. You might even find a few rocks suitable for jumping into the water.

If you continue walking, you pass a sign that says not to swim any further upstream. But if you walk about 30 minutes from the car park, you’ll reach some waterfalls and a viewing platform.

We didn’t make it that far as we went late in the day, and the little one wasn’t into the idea of walking. So we stopped and enjoyed a swim instead. Check out the Crystal Cascades if you’re looking for the best swimming holes in Cairns!

Enjoy some family-friendly hikes

Cairns is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes that offer incredible opportunities for family-friendly hikes. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely stroll or a more adventurous trek, these trails promise stunning views and an unforgettable experience for kids and adults alike.

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park

Red and yellow arrow trails

The Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is a fantastic area to hike in Cairns. It currently has four trails of varying lengths and difficulty.

On our first outing, we completed the red and yellow arrow trails. It’s possible to complete more than one trail in one go, depending on how far you want to hike.

We went up one side of the red arrow loop, then along a small section of the blue arrow trail to reach the yellow arrow.

We then did the yellow trail two ways, came back along the short part of the blue trail, and finished with the other side of the red arrow.

In total, we spent 2 hours and 40 minutes on the trails, including breaks and time to check out the local wildlife. The tracks were both easy to follow (no trail map required), with plenty of other hikers around getting in their early morning fitness.

The Red Arrow Trail is mostly steps and took us about 35 minutes to complete on its own.

The Yellow Arrow Trail is 1.9km long (one way) with a gentle enough incline for most fitness levels. We started from the top, walked to the bottom, and then back up again, which was about 1 hour and 20 altogether.

There’s plenty of tree cover over the tracks, so it’s easy enough to stay shaded. We also saw lots of wildlife, including brush turkeys and rainforest kangaroos!

Check it out if you’re looking for family-friendly activities or places to hike in Cairns!

Green and blue arrow trails

Mount Whitfield’s green and blue arrow trails offer a little more challenge than the red and yellow arrows.

Like the red and yellow arrow trails, I combined the green and blue tracks, although the decision was spontaneous!

I started at the trailhead of the Green Arrow Trail, accessible from Bel Air Drive. It takes about 15 minutes of walking to reach the trailhead from the car park.

At that point there are some rocks you can climb up for a nice sunrise viewpoint. It’s worth stopping to enjoy the vistas because the Green Arrow Trail doesn’t offer any good views from the top.

Plus, if you stop anywhere for long, you will likely get eaten alive by mosquitoes anyway!

Because there were no viewpoints on the green arrow, I decided to take a short walk from the peak to the Lumley Hill lookout. From there, you can see part of the airport, the sea, and the lush surrounding greenery, albeit partly obscured by power lines!

After that, I decided it was a bit boring to walk back along the Green Arrow, so I linked onto the blue arrow and then continued down the red arrow to exit at the Botanic Gardens.

The green and blue arrow trails are pretty well formed and have some markings along the way. A trail map is probably unnecessary for most people, although having one is always good, especially as these tracks are less busy than the red and yellow arrows.

The Green Arrow is 3 km one way, and the Blue Arrow is a 6 km loop (I just covered one side of the loop). If you decide to take the route I did, you will need to walk or bus back to your car.

In total, I walked for about four hours on the trails (including a lunch break and lookout stops), plus another hour getting to and from the trails!

The green arrow took me about 1.25 hours one way, so with 2.5-3 hours, you could take a nice point-to-point walk if you want to end up back at your car!

The Wangetti Trail

The Wangetti Trail is a hiking and mountain biking track in Cairns. Currently, only stage one is complete – a 7.8 km stretch from Palm Cove to Ellis Beach. When the track is finished (proposed by the end of 2026), it will be a 94 km six-day trek from Palm Cove to Port Douglas.

This section of the trail is grade three. For me, as a very novice mountain biker, I think it would be very challenging. However, as a hiking trail, it’s easy-level and offers a family-friendly adventure.

The track ascends gently, winding up the hill to some gorgeous viewpoints before heading down to Ellis Beach. It took me a little under two hours at my regular (not fast) pace with time to enjoy the views and look at butterflies!

You could probably walk it in 90 minutes if you want more of a fitness walk. Or maybe allow up to three hours if hiking with little ones.

Ellis Beach Bar and Grill has a courtesy bus that runs on the weekends. So you could grab a meal and then catch the bus back to your car at Palm Cove. Or, refuel at the bar and grill and then walk back if you choose!

Hartley’s Creek Hike

The Hartley’s Creek hike is a gorgeous walking trail just north of Cairns. It starts near Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and features a beautiful waterfall and (crocodile-free) swimming holes.

There are a couple of different ways you can walk to the falls. We did a lovely 10 km loop to cover two gorgeous swimming areas.

The walk is only gently undulating, so it could be considered family-friendly if your kids are ok walking in the heat for a few hours (although, as mentioned, there are cool-off opportunities!) This time, I went kid-free with a local hiking group.

We walked up a road to the trail’s start point, which led us through the trees to the main waterfall. You can swim right up to the waterfall and the cool water is incredible after working up a sweat on the trail.

We followed the stream from there. It was quite rocky and very slippery in parts and involved one or two creek crossings.

Then, we arrived at the second swimming area with an idyllic natural “spa.” It has a mini waterfall you can sit behind! We also saw turtles in the water here, which was quite special.

From there, we continued along the trail and finished with a short stretch of walking along the Highway to complete the loop. If you’re looking for stunning waterfall trails near Cairns, make sure you check out the Hartley’s Creek hike!

Other things to do with kids in and near Cairns

We didn’t get to do and see everything in and around Cairns during our stay. It was the wet season when we visited, and with a very wet final few weeks, a few places were off-limits for exploration. Tropical North Queensland offers so much, and we will be excited to explore again!

Other things you might want to see and do in the area include:

• Check out swimming spots in the Mossman Gorge, the gateway to the magnificent Daintree Rainforest.
• Take a road trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation and discover the Daintree Rainforest, a World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest. It’s about 79 km from Cairns City to the Mossman Gorge, or 140 km (including a ferry trip) to Cape Tribulation. You can take day tours there from Cairns, such as this 10-hour trip for the whole family. We will definitely visit next time!
• Many families enjoy discovering the many tropical fish and marine creatures at the Cairns Aquarium in the city. We don’t support zoos or aquariums, so we chose not to visit.
• The Cattana Wetlands for leisurely walks in nature and the chance to spot many species of birds.
• A road trip covering the most beautiful waterfalls in the Southern Tablelands. Millaa Millaa Falls is perhaps the most scenic and well-known, but many others are in the area, including Ellinjaa, Zillie, Serendipity, and Mungalli Falls.
• Josephine Falls is another must-visit waterfall. It’s in the Wooroonooran National Park, just 74.6 km south of Cairns.
• If you’re staying somewhere without a swimming pool, you can visit the Cairns Colonial Club and use their resort pool if you spend at their restaurant.
• Cairns Wake Park offers fun for the whole family with a wakeboarding circuit for all levels, plus floating slides and trampolines.
• Cairns Canyoning offers exciting excursions for adventurous souls, including activities like abseiling and jumping off cliffs, plus ziplining over pristine waterfalls.
• If you’re looking for stunning beaches to visit in Tropical North Queensland, check out Mission Beach, which is just under two hours’ drive south of Cairns City.
• The Babinda Boulders and Stoney Creek are two additional natural swimming spots we would have visited with a little more time (and less rain!)

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