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Best time to visit Cairns: month by month
Short answer
June to October is the best time: the dry season, with highs of 25-30°C, only 6-10 rainy days a month, calm seas and the best reef visibility. It is also the busiest period. The wet season from November to May is hotter, humid and stormy, but the rainforest is at its greenest and prices are lower.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°C | 24°C | 23 | medium |
| Feb | 30°C | 24°C | 20 | low |
| Mar | 30°C | 24°C | 17 | low |
| Apr | 29°C | 23°C | 17 | medium |
| May | 27°C | 21°C | 11 | medium |
| Jun | 26°C | 20°C | 8 | high |
| Jul | 25°C | 18°C | 9 | very high |
| Aug | 25°C | 18°C | 10 | high |
| Sep | 27°C | 20°C | 10 | high |
| Oct | 30°C | 21°C | 6 | high |
| Nov | 30°C | 23°C | 16 | medium |
| Dec | 31°C | 24°C | 17 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Warm and mostly dry, with highs of 27-30°C; October has only about 6 rainy days, while November starts the wet (16).
Summer (Dec–Feb)
The wet season: highs of 30-31°C, lows of 24°C and 17-23 rainy days a month, with stingers and cyclone risk.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Rain eases from 17 days in March to 11 in May; highs fall from 30°C to 27°C.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Ideal dry season: highs of 25-26°C, lows of 18-20°C and only 8-10 rainy days; peak season on the reef.
Events worth planning around
- Cairns Festival, usually late August-early September (check dates)
- Coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef, usually some nights after the full moon in November-December
- Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), usually July
- Port Douglas Carnivale, May (check dates)
When to avoid
January to March is the wettest and stickiest, with the highest cyclone and stinger risk and some days when reef boats cancel. If the reef is your main reason, avoid these months.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Cairns?
June to October, with highs of 25-30°C, little rain and the clearest water.
Can you visit the reef in the wet season?
Yes, boats run most days, but expect more rain, rougher seas, stinger suits and occasional cancellations.
Is Cairns hot all year?
Warm all year: highs range from about 25°C in July to 31°C in December.