Cairns tours & vacations

Absolutely. All passengers traveling 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 travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

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.

If you don't want to travel too far or are visiting with young children, day trips to Fitzroy Island or Green Island are a good option. Full and half-day tours to the outer reef depart daily from downtown Cairns, including a First Nations tour with Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel. Overnight liveaboard trips are also available depending on demand. 

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.