Cairns tours & holidays

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

Any time of year is a good time to visit Cairns. Summer is hot and humid and perfect for swimming. Spring and Autumn are cooler and the region tends to be quieter. Winter is ideal for those who don't enjoy humid temperatures and the weather is typically good. 

If you are visiting between October and May and swimming in the ocean, it is advisable to wear a 'stinger suit' to protect yourself from possible jellyfish stings. 

Cairns tends to be a casual place, so you can leave your fancy clothes at home. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are a must, even in winter. If you forget any essentials, it’s easy to pick up whatever you need in the Cairns CBD. 

Cairns is a laidback destination, which means casual clothes or active wear are fine to wear during the day. Smart casual is the norm for restaurants, including the more upmarket dining spots in town.

Because Cairns is a region where crocodiles and jellyfish enjoy the warm water as much as we do, there are precautions about where to go swimming around the CBD. Always read the informational signs before entering any water, swim between the flags the surf lifesavers put on the beach and obey any warning signs.

Jellyfish, such as blue bottles, box jellyfish and Irukandji, are particularly active during stinger season, from November to March. However, visitors can still enjoy the waters but should always swim in stinger-resistant enclosures and wear stinger suits. These suits are full-body lightweight wetsuits that prevent tentacles from touching skin and offer sun protection. While offering a high level of protection, these suits are not 100% foolproof at preventing a jellyfish sting.

These are the best places to go swimming around Cairns:

• Esplanade Lagoon – a man-made saltwater pool with on-duty lifeguards and no jellyfish.
• Palm Cove Beach – this beach has swimming enclosures that aim to keep as many harmful stingers as possible; however, it is still advised to wear stinger suits. Lifeguards patrol at peak periods.
• Trinity Beach – from November to May, this beach has a swimming enclosure and is patrolled by lifeguards.
• Kewarra Beach – located about 20 minutes away from the CBD, this beach also has a stinger net and is patrolled at certain times.

The best way to see the Great Barrier Reef is usually on a full-day or half-day boat trip. These tours come in a range of styles, including snorkelling or scuba-diving specific trips, or non-swimming glass-bottom cruises.

Tours to many of the reefs depart from Cairns daily, with some that include expert knowledge from marine biologists and reef experts.  

We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.

We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Travelling from Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to: Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to: US Department of State

Learn more about safe travels with Intrepid

We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.

Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.