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Cairns is a tropical city, surrounded by rainforest, which needs rain to survive. So yes, it does rain here, but that doesn’t mean you should sit in your hotel room and worry about the weather. To get you out the door and your holiday back on track, we’ve prepared our rainy day guide of the top 10 things you can do in Cairns and surrounds when it rains. We’ve got tours and attractions that are not weather dependent, as well as a great range of free activities too. Please note this is based on our actual experience of doing all these things in the rain and still having fun. Road tested. Good to go. Something for everyone.
If it’s raining in Cairns, it doesn’t mean it’s raining at the reef. Reef tours are good to go, no matter the weather.
You might have been hoping for big blue sky days, but when it comes to reef trips I can tell you they are just as good in the rain. What’s happening above the surface doesn’t impact what’s happening below, and you were always going to get wet to see the reef. As aside too, just because it’s raining in Cairns does not mean it’s raining at the reef (sometimes it does, but sometimes it’s sunny at sea, when you leave the coast behind). As an example, check out our Rainy Day Reef Review. If you’re looking at reef tours on a rainy day, make sure you pick either an outer reef trip or a pontoon trip. These deliver excellent experiences in all weather. Every Cairns reef boat has covered interiors, with lots of seating for everyone. The pontoons are also covered, providing a dry place to enjoy lunch and the views, when you aren’t in the water. If it’s raining, we suggest staying away from island tours, because sitting under your umbrella on the beach is not a lot of fun. Our top picks for Cairns rainy day reef tours are Silverswift for a boat trip and Sunlover for a pontoon tour. Our teenage son’s pick is the Sunlover pontoon, there were squalls last time we were out there and it was still an amazing day.
Rainforest tours are still amazing in the rain, but they are not all created equal. Let’s look at the details to find the best rainy day rainforest tour for you.
This might sound cliché, but around Cairns it’s a well-known fact that seeing the rainforest in the rain is incredible. The clouds sit low in the treetops, the leaves are sparkling and the whole vibe is just different to that of a sunny day. The rainforests surrounding Cairns are part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and are the oldest continually surviving rainforests on earth, and trust me you get that Jurassic vibe when it’s raining. From a touring perspective we can break them into 3 geographic areas. You have the Daintree National Park to the north, the Barron Gorge National Park which is central to the city, and Wooroonooran National Park to the south. All amazing places to visit on a nice day. On a rainy day we suggest sticking to Barron Gorge National Park. Why? Daintree day tours are long days on the bus, with stops where you get on and off. Not fun in the rain. Same as the Wooroonooran National Park tours. However, in the Barron Gorge National Park you have Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway, which both provide epic rainy day rainforest tours. If you’re picking Skyrail, the gondola cabins are enclosed with windows you can open and shut, and there’s complimentary umbrellas provided for your use at the station stops. Check out our Rainy Day Skyrail review. While the Kuranda Scenic Railway carriages have sliding glass window panes, which you can open or close to suit the weather. Both operate in the Barron Gorge National Park providing spectacular views of the rainforest mountains, Barron Gorge and Barron Falls. Do them separately or combine them for a great rainy day experience. See our Kuranda Scenic Railway tour listing for more information.
White water rafting is another awesome rainy day tour. A bit like the reef, you were always going to wet rafting and the rain adds another element to the adventure.
White water rafting is an adventurous rainy day tour that will see you make some epic memories. Cairns has 2 white water rafting tours and destinations, the Barron and the Tully, both are awesome. Tully River Rafting is a full day tour, namely due to the travel time involved in getting from Cairns to Tully, which is a 2 hour drive each way. The Tully River (pictured here) offers bigger rapids than the Barron and is considered a world class rafting river. The Barron River still has lots of rapids, which will get the adrenaline pumping, but is a bit more mild than the Tully. Barron River Rafting is a half-day tour, thanks to its proximity to Cairns. All rafting tours are hosting by professional river guides, with 1 guide in each raft. There’s no prior rafting experience needed to participate, with instruction provided on the bus and in the raft, with skills practised and repeated in the river. Helmets and life jackets are supplied and included. Ironically, it has rained every time we have done rafting, and we still had the very best time. You can read our reviews in the blog. So honestly, if rafting is something you’re thinking of and it’s raining, don’t think – just do. Tully River Rafting Tour and Barron River Rafting Tour.
Imagine floating down a rainforest river in the rain. Sounds pretty magical right? Well it is, we’ve done it and this is another excellent rainy day tour option.
River tubing in the rain is another excellent rainy day tour. Cairns river tubing tours take you south to float down rainforest rivers. The pace and flow of this tour is gentle, with some fun little rapids along the way. In some places the trees form a closed canopy above you, while in other places it’s more open. Obviously as you are in a river you are going to get wet, regardless of the rain, so the weather just adds another dimension to the tour. This tour includes return transfers from Cairns, large inflatable tubes, life jackets and helmets. There are always professional river guides in the water with you, to make sure you stay safe and on course. People of all ages will love this. Our teenager and his mate had an awesome time, as did we. There’s something so simple and fun about tubing, we felt like we were kids again too. Our teenage son’s top pick for Cairns rainy day rainforest tours is River Tubing.
Cairns Aquarium is an excellent rainy day attraction, featuring freshwater and saltwater displays, showcasing the diversity of our area’s ecological zones.
The Cairns Aquarium was carefully designed and planned to allow visitors to explore 10 diverse, ecological zones that represent the living landscape of Cairns and surrounds. We’re talking creeks and streams, river systems, waterways and billabongs, swamps, rainforest, forest floor, mangroves, ribbon reefs, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. As lovers of Cairns Great Barrier Reef, I can tell you the collection of marine life here is an accurate representation of what you will see on a Cairns reef tour, including turtles, sharks and rays. There are large aquariums, smaller tanks and even a marine touch tank. It’s home to 16,000 fish, saltwater and freshwater turtles, python and lizards, a juvenile saltwater crocodile, moray eels and more. You can self-guide your way around the aquarium, but there’s also presentations happening throughout the day, including River Monsters, Denizens of the Deep, Life of Sharks and Rays, Curious & Coloured and Marine Touch Tank. The Cairns Aquarium is open 7 days a week and is located at 5 Florence Street in the city. It’s suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Twilight and evening sessions are also available.
When it’s raining in Cairns, head indoors to learn more about the history of the city at the Cairns Museum. Open Monday to Saturday, suitable for all ages.
Cairns and its surrounding regions have a rich and vibrant past, which have entwined over the years to create the tapestry of people and places you see here today. From the world’s oldest living culture to the arrival of Europeans, post-war migration and more, this town is a melting pot of cultures, stories and ideas. Unlock it all on a visit to the Cairns Museum, a perfect addition to our things to do in Cairns when it rains list. Located in the historic School of Arts building in the centre of Cairns on Lake Street, the museum is open Monday to Saturday and is suitable for people of all ages. What you will find inside is a collection of photographs, objects, memorabilia and personal stories that document Cairns’ past and inform on Cairns’ present. There are permanent exhibitions, as well as changing displays. If history isn’t your thing, you might be surprised at what you find at the Cairns Museum and it’s most definitely an excellent rainy day attraction.
Cairns Art Gallery is an excellent wet weather option. Located in a heritage listed building, with restaurant out the front, it ticks the art, culture and caffeine combo I love.
A visit to Cairns Art Gallery is an excellent wet weather option. The Art Gallery is more of an art precinct, which includes 3 separate buildings, all within easy walking distance of each other. The first one is the Public Curator’s Building, a 3-storey heritage listed building located on the corner of Abbott and Shields Streets in the city. This fabulous building showcases work by local artists, as well as touring exhibitions and pieces from the Gallery’s own collection. There’s a Gallery Shop onsite for souvenirs and gifts and an excellent restaurant out the front serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Court House Building is adjacent to the Public Curator’s Building, while the Mulgrave Building is located ‘behind’ the Court House Building. Collectively they create an art precinct, where you can enjoy artworks, installations and performances. The Public Curator’s Building is open 7 days a week, while the Court House and Mulgrave Buildings are open Monday to Saturday. Entry is free. While this one might not be for everyone, trust me it’s an excellent rainy day option and provides an insight into creative Cairns and what inspires our local artists.
Tanks Arts Centre in Edge Hill is another free, rainy day in Cairns activity. The gallery is housed in a repurposed oil storage tank, a remanent from World War II.
Tanks Arts Centre is unique. A contemporary art space occupying what was formerly crude oil storage tanks, which were constructed during World War II. There are 5 tanks in total but for this rainy day activity, we’ll focus on Tank 4 which is the gallery tank. Set back from Collins Avenue in Edge Hill, Tank 4 is surrounded by rainforest creating an organic and tropical feeling space. Stepping inside the tank you are surrounded by its oil-stained walls and interior poles, it will be like no other gallery space you have seen. The exhibitions shown at Tanks Arts Centre can be quite eclectic, as the space is available to hire for individual artists and art organisations. The focus will usually be on local artists and creatives, it might be prints and works on walls or multi-media installations. Tank 4 is open 7 days a week and entry is free. If you are chasing caffeine to go with your visit, Tank 64 Café is located adjacent to Tanks Arts Cente in the Visitor Information Centre, a mirrored building that is also open every day. If you are wondering about the other tanks, Tank 5 is for live music and performances, Tank 3 is for markets and events and Tank 1 and 2 are not in use. While you are in the area, pop over to the Cairns Botanic Gardens for a look.
Explore Cairns Botanic Gardens. You will need an umbrella for this, but wandering around tropical gardens in the rain is quite a refreshing experience.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a thriving, living landscape and the place to find native and exotic tropical plant species. There are sections to the gardens, including the First Peoples Plant Use Garden, Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory with bromeliads, carnivorous plants, orchids and ferns and Flecker Garden. The First Peoples Plant Use Garden is a self-guided tour showcasing a range of plants, including ferns, gingers, lilly pilly’s, palms, quandongs and more. There are interpretive signage and a brochure available at the on-site library. I always like to visit the Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory, a beautiful enclosed space protecting some of the more sensitive plants. The gardens are open every day and are easily accessible, thanks to paved and formed walking trails and pathways. You can easily spend an hour here wondering around, exploring all the different areas and plants including the Heliconia Self-Guided walk in Flecker Garden, which includes 88 different species of heliconia! You will need an umbrella for this, but wandering around tropical gardens in the rain is quite a refreshing experience. For preview of what you might find see our Cairns Botanic Gardens review – please note there used to be a café at the Botanic Gardens, but it has since been removed. The closest café is Tank 64 Café, which is a short walk away at the Visitor Information Centre (mirrored building) on Collins Avenue.
Visit Barron Falls in the Barron Gorge National Park near Kuranda. Access is via elevated walkways that take you through the trees, with stairs down to a look out over the falls.
Barron Falls is perhaps the best known and most photographed waterfall in Cairns. Located in the Barron Gorge National Park, which is a short drive from the village of Kuranda (or 40 minute drive from Cairns). Barron Falls is 125m tall and 259m wide and is the centrepiece of the park. It’s appearance changes dramatically throughout the year, pending seasonal rainfall and because of the activities of the Barron Gorge Hydro Power Station. For the majority of the year, it’s a relatively modest flow, showcasing a large expanse of its granite wall. In the ‘wet season’, when Cairns and the Tablelands get a lot of rain, the falls transform into a thundering wall of water which draws locals and visitors alike. This is usually in February and March. Access to the Barron Falls lookout is on an elevated walkway which takes you through the trees, with stairs down to the lookout. It’s 800m one-way walk which is classified as easy on the National Parks website. You will need an umbrella for this walk if it’s raining, but it’s lovely walking through the rainforest in the rain. Afterwards, head into Kuranda for lunch, browse the markets or visit one of the wildlife attractions including Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld and the Australian Butterfly Sanctury.
You might have been hoping for big blue sky days, but when it comes to reef trips I can tell you they are just as good in the rain. What’s happening above the surface doesn’t impact what’s happening below, and
This might sound cliché, but around Cairns it’s a well-known fact that seeing the rainforest in the rain is incredible. The clouds sit low in the treetops, the leaves are sparkling and the whole vibe is just different to that
White water rafting is an adventurous rainy day tour that will see you make some epic memories. Cairns has 2 white water rafting tours and destinations, the Barron and the Tully, both are awesome. Tully River Rafting is a full
River tubing in the rain is another excellent rainy day tour. Cairns river tubing tours take you south to float down rainforest rivers. The pace and flow of this tour is gentle, with some fun little rapids along the way.
The Cairns Aquarium was carefully designed and planned to allow visitors to explore 10 diverse, ecological zones that represent the living landscape of Cairns and surrounds. We’re talking creeks and streams, river systems, waterways and billabongs, swamps, rainforest, forest floor,
Cairns and its surrounding regions have a rich and vibrant past, which have entwined over the years to create the tapestry of people and places you see here today. From the world’s oldest living culture to the arrival of Europeans,
A visit to Cairns Art Gallery is an excellent wet weather option. The Art Gallery is more of an art precinct, which includes 3 separate buildings, all within easy walking distance of each other. The first one is the Public
Tanks Arts Centre is unique. A contemporary art space occupying what was formerly crude oil storage tanks, which were constructed during World War II. There are 5 tanks in total but for this rainy day activity, we’ll focus on Tank
The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a thriving, living landscape and the place to find native and exotic tropical plant species. There are sections to the gardens, including the First Peoples Plant Use Garden, Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory with bromeliads, carnivorous
Barron Falls is perhaps the best known and most photographed waterfall in Cairns. Located in the Barron Gorge National Park, which is a short drive from the village of Kuranda (or 40 minute drive from Cairns). Barron Falls is 125m
We’ve road tested every item on our top 10 things to do in Cairns when it rains list and know they will be fun, interesting and engaging. All the activities listed here are suitable for people of all ages, except for the white water rafting, which does have some age restrictions (minimum age is 12 years old for Barron River and 14 years old for Tully River). There are more things you can do for sure, but we think these are Cairns’ best tours, attractions and free activities for rainy days. So don’t let the damp ruin your holiday, grab the umbrella get out there and get exploring, you’ll be glad you did. Reef tours, rainforest tours, attractions and free activities, there’s something for everyone and if we can help book your tours – and they cost more than $750 – we’ll even lend you a GoPro to capture those rainy day moments.
© I Love Cairns 2026
