Alright so you’ve seen the Great Barrier Reef, ridden the Skyrail from Kuranda and taken a drive through the Atherton Tablelands. Great, you definitely need to do all of those things while you’re in Cairns. Now you’ve got the night (or day) off and are wondering what to do in Cairns. I got you.
I spent a little over 3 months working and living in Cairns, getting to know the place. It’s not the most exciting town in Australia and hasn’t quite caught up with other areas in terms of food and entertainment, but don’t let that worry you, there are a lot of fun things to do in Cairns City!
I take pride in getting to know a place, learning it, feeling it, and that can be hard when you’re whole trip is fully booked with excursions, and must-see sights. I recommend taking a day to relax and explore around town. (Preferably on the weekend so you can go to Rusty’s Market, my absolute favorite of the things to do in Cairns city.)
Below you’ll find all of my favorite things to do around Cairns, from a great place to eat, plenty of places to drink, and a couple fun activities. No driving out of town, just right there in the heart of Cairns.
Things to do in Cairns City
Rusty’s Market
You absolutely MUST go to Rusty’s Market! I cannot stress this enough. Its an amazing farmers market held every Friday-Sunday featuring local vendors from all around the area selling specialty fruits, veggies, breads, snacks, sugar cane juice- everything you could ask for. I know, I know, this sounds like any farmers market but TRUST ME, its not.
Rusty’s has a vibe that’s all its own. Located in a big industrial space, the market has a beautiful energy, busy and welcoming. There are food stalls if you are looking for an entire meal, as well as all the fresh produce you could possibly need.
Rusty’s Markets 5am-6pm Fri & Sat, 5am-3pm Sun
Once you’ve made your way through the market, be sure to stop at Annee’s Caphe for the best f***ing coffee ever. Which brings us to our next point…
Grab an Iced Vietnamese Coffee from Annee’s
This is the most delicious coffee you might ever have. If you have had traditional Vietnamese coffee before you know, it’s INsane. Traditionally, it’s made with a small metal drip filter, specifically into your personal cup. Then you add in the condensed milk (!!!) So it’s basically fresh, strong coffee with sweet delicious condensed milk.
Annee’s has their own twist, using their special recipe and pouring it over ice for the perfect warm weather drink. This is a great way to start your day and a MUST do during your visit to Rusty’s Markets. Definitely one of the tastiest things to do around Cairns.
Annee’s Caphe 6:30am-2pm Wed & Thu, 6:30am-3pm Fri, 7am-3pm Sat & Sun
If you are looking for a more traditional Australian cup of Joe, check out my list of the best cafes in Cairns here.
Hemingway’s Brewery (and Trivia!)
Next on the list of awesome things to do in Cairns city? HEMINGWAY’S. Do not miss this brewery while you are in Cairns. DON’T. MISS IT. Located right on the marina, Hemingway’s is beautifully designed and has amazing views. They also make delicious beer.
Stop by for happy hour from 4-6 or if you’re in town on a Wednesday, go to trivia! Its so much fun! Joe, the host, is a venue manager hailing from England and is absolutely hilarious. Seriously, just go for the jokes if you don’t want to participate. But participate, because it’s fun. There is a great atmosphere at Hemingway’s- everyone always seems to be in a good mood and having a fantastic time.
Hemingway’s Everyday 11am until late
Grab a fancy cocktail at Three Wolves, The Chambers or Flamingo
Alright, so Cairns is a bit of a young person’s party town, but fear not, there are some awesome spots for a grown up cocktail. I love these places for their beautiful, thoughtful atmosphere and creative cocktails. Not to mention, they seem to be off the 19 year old party track, so you get only good vibes here. Plus, each one is unique, to fit every mood.
Three Wolves
Dark and moody with live music every week- you’ll feel some strong Brooklyn vibes in this hidden spot. Tucked away between the Bottle Mart and a nail salon, this gem has the most creative methods for making cocktails that you will find anywhere in Tropical North Queensland. Come in for a delicious drink and an experience. My favorite place for a romantic date in Cairns and the perfect alternative for things to do in Cairns at night, ya know, for the grownups.
Three Wolves Everyday 4pm-12am
The Chambers
Wide open and welcoming, The Chambers is hard to miss when wandering around town. Located at the intersection of Spence Street and Lake Street, you’ll see a beautiful sidewalk patio with lots of hanging plants, inviting you to sit for a nice coffee or maybe a happy hour espresso martini 😉 This is also a great place for a bite (they have happy hour snacks too!).
Tue-Sat 7am-12am, Sun & Mon 7am-3pm
Flamingo
A sister restaurant to Three Wolves, these guys know what they’re doing. Flamingo is the ultimate Tiki Bar. Decked out with amazing Polynesian themed wall paper, you’ll feel some seriously Hawaiian vibes here. Not to mention a full list of coconut, pineapple and rum based cocktails- does it get better than that??
Tue-Sun 4pm-12am, closed on Monday
Already tackled the Great Barrier Reef and Fitzroy Island? Head off the beaten path and check out these 6 waterfalls you must see near Cairns – some may surprise you 😉
Eat Pho at Viet Fresh Noodle
My favorite meal in Cairns. Call it a little unoriginal if you want, but this pho is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Noodles are homemade every day and I have never had anything like it. They also make this homemade pickled garlic that will knock your socks right off. Oh, and it’s 11 bucks which, if you have been traveling around Australia, you understand how cheap that is for an awesome meal around these parts.
Viet Fresh Noodle Everyday 11am-9pm
Eat Fresh Seafood on a Boat
Go to Prawn Star! Kitschy name, no? 😉 This little shrimp boat sits permanently in the marina, right across from Tha Fish seafood restaurant. This is such a fun and unique thing to do. Prawn Star is super casual, you just walk right up and take a seat. The menu is small and consists of fresh catches, such as crab, shrimp and salmon sashimi. The food is SO fresh AND its always happy hour. You can literally get $5 beer or wine all day. Not too shabby.
Everyday 11am-9pm
Go to Tanks Art Markets
The Tanks Art Centre consists of three converted WWII naval oil storage tanks located in the middle of the Cairns Botanic Gardens. AMAZING right??? And its a seemingly a well kept secret. We only heard about it from one Airbnb host who casually mentioned it.
These tanks house different exhibits throughout the year so definitely check out the website to get an idea of what’s on while you’re in town. If you’re there between April and November, you might be able to catch the Market Day Series, taking place the last Sunday of every month. It’s awesome and hands down one of the best things to do in Cairns City.
Artisans and food vendors come from all over to share their snacks, vintage clothing, collectibles, produce and natural health products. Stalls line the promenade and fill the tanks for a morning full of fun things to explore. Not to mention live music.
More info on Tanks Arts Centre here.
Visit the Botanical Gardens and Hike the Red Arrow
If you’ve been to the Tanks Art Centre then you have already seen the amazing gardens and hopefully spent some time exploring around. Most cities in Australia have a botanical garden of some sort but the Botanic Gardens in Cairns are super special. Being in Tropical North Queensland, the plants are absolutely unreal. Take a stroll around here if you have time and if you’re in the mood for a little exercise, hike the Red Arrow! It’s a short but steep hike up a paved path with views over the ocean (and the airport!). Great way to spend an early morning in Cairns.
Walk the Esplanade (& spot some bats)
Alright so you’ve probably heard of this one but walking the Esplanade is quite nice and relaxing. All along the edge of the city, the Esplanade runs from top to bottom, passing by restaurants, cafes, playgrounds, and ending at the marina near Hemingways. It is a beautiful view from Cairns over the ocean where you can also pop by the Esplanade lagoon if you’re up for a swim. Plus there are some amazing birds to see, like giant pelicans. AND if you stick around for dusk into night, you’ll see some insane Australian bats- these puppies are huge.
There you have it, my list of fun things to do in Cairns city. Cairns is a very friendly town so just get out and enjoy yourself, you’ll make lots of friends along the way 🙂
Looking for more amazing things to do around Cairns? Check out my guide to Kuranda, the Scenic Railway and Skyrail for an awesome day exploring the area’s rainforest.
love ya,
Hannah
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