Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Ariana Svenson
If you are looking for the perfect Cairns 7 day itinerary for a family or with kids, you have come to the right place. In the past, I’ve been reluctant to share our itineraries because we go pretty slowly and don’t necessarily hit all the big spots. A good part of our week in Cairns was spent in the swimming pool or playing at playgrounds; I felt that the slow pace and kid focus would not be interesting.
Then a friend explained that families need to know this; that going slow works when travelling with kids. She explained that she jams too much into their daily programs as she is working on couples or “adult” plans or highlight itineraries, so she doesn’t think about the kids needing break times. So she said – do it – share your Far North Queensland Itinerary; people will find it interesting!
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The Background to Planning our Cairns Itinerary: 7 Days
As a family with multiple aged kids, we need to be aware of the different rhythms and likes/dislikes. E.g. at the time of this trip, they were five months, five years and 8 years old. One child is neurodivergent with a range of special needs, so they dislike a lot of hours of driving or being made to do lots of activities. They like to play, so we need to allow a lot of free play time (up to half a day in any itinerary). All 3 of the kids adore the swimming pool, which means we will swim 1-2 times a day, and our accommodation must have a pool.
We also believe that 3-4 days is the minimum that we should stay in a place for the family’s sanity. Any less than that, and there is too much packing up, logistics and moving, and we don’t get that settled feeling. Plus, we genuinely believe that going slow makes a lot of sense. Better to have happy, settled kids than ticking off all those bucket items.
If you’re wondering when the best time to visit Cairns is. we have laid out everything in this Cairns Weather and when to visit post.
Day One: The Start of Our Cairns 1-Week Itinerary
We flew direct from Perth to Cairns on an afternoon flight arriving in the evening. You can find flights for your dates here.
Travelling from Cairns Airport into the City
We took a taxi directly from the Cairns Airport. Not only is the city of Cairns small, so is the airport. Things were quick and easy.
You can also pre-book a private transfer using this link. The trip into Cairns city was short 10 minutes. If you ask me, that’s the ideal way to explore, visit Cairns city and start a family holiday!
Where to Stay in Cairns?
Our first choice for Cairns accommodation was the Mantra Esplanade Cairns because of its self-contained holiday apartments in the centre of town, near the Cairns Lagoon. Unfortunately, it was sold out on our dates.
Check availability and prices of Mantra Esplanade Cairns on Agoda.com
We chose to stay at Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, which was conveniently located next to Muddy’s Playground on the upper end of the Esplanade. I t had family rooms with great views and a beautiful swimming pool area which was a hit with the kids. It was a decent walk to the Cairns Lagoon, but the kids played along the way, so it didn’t feel so far.
Check availability and prices of Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns on Agoda.com
We chose to start our holiday in the city to avoid hiring a car (which is an extra cost) and because, as ex-backpackers, we feel that there is no better way to experience a place than on foot. If we had hired a car, our choice of Cairns family accommodation would have been the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, which is about 8km out of town. It is a caravan park but also has apartments with kitchenettes. In addition, there is a water park, outdoor pools with waterslides, as and a kids’ play area. There’s also a casual restaurant and a café so that you can “go out” without leaving the park.
Our other choice (if we had a car) was the Cairns Colonial Club Resort which is set on 11 acres of award-winning tropical gardens about 10 minutes from the centre of town. It’s also considered a very family-friendly 3 lagoon-style pool and a man-made beach.
Check availability and prices of Cairns Colonial Club Resort on Agoda.com
For more information on where to stay in Cairns, please go to our Cairns Accommodation post.
Day 2: Day Around Cairns
When you arrive late into the city, there is nothing better than a slow morning. We eventually had breakfast and then headed out along the esplanade to explore. With Muddy’s Playground right near the Rydges hotel, we didn’t get far until the kids had a huge play.
Check availability and prices of Rydges Esplanade Resort on Agoda.com
It is 1.5 Km from the Rydges to the Cairns Lagoon Pool, which is a decent distance for little legs, but was doable for ours. This was another reason we would have liked to stay at the central Mantra Esplanade or the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, which are closer to the centre.
Check availability and prices of Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort on Agoda.com
After our late start, we basically spent the day wandering down to the lagoon pool, then swimming in the lagoon, having a picnic dinner at sunset and then walking back up the boardwalk. We’ve definitely added some down time in this Cairns 7 day itinerary, because that’s thee way we like it.
Day 3: Kuranda Day Trip
We knew that the Kuranda Day trip would be long. We also decided to take the scenic railway train from the Cairns Central Station as it wasn’t far from our hotel. It was a huge surprise to find that we were the only people in our carriage! People don’t get on the train until Freshwater Station.
Getting to and from Kuranda is fully documented in A Great Guide to Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – Cairns. We then took the Skyrail back down. Even though we were home at a decent time, we called for food in our room from Uber Eats in order to give the kids a break from being out and about. There are loads of Amazing Things To Do in Kuranda. Next time we visit FNQ (probably on another cairns itinerary in 7 days…) we will definitely stay up in the Atherton tablelands for a couple of nights; maybe in Malanda, or Yungaburra)
Day 4: Day Around Cairns
When you travel with kids, I can’t stress the importance of downtime. Therefore we try to plan our holidays to have 1 day of activities, one day of play and rest. I know many families don’t have the luxury of this time, but I would rather schedule less and have happier kids.
On this day of rest, we swam in the pools at the Rydges Hotel went to Muddy’s Playground, had a long sleep at lunchtime and then again went to the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Pool in the afternoon. We also bought supplies for our trip to Fitzroy Island.
Also check out our post on where to stay on Fitzroy Island.
We’d intended to visit the Cairns Aquarium (very close to our hotel). However, we ran out of time and thought it would be placing too much pressure on the kids to make them do it.
Day 5: Travel to Fitzroy Island
We were up early for our ferry to Fitzroy Island; we took a taxi to the ferry terminal located in the centre. We also left quite a bit of our luggage in storage at the Rydges Hotel, including the baby car seat.
Fitzroy Island is truly an island paradise. We were thrilled when we arrived to see the palm trees and gorgeous turquoise waters. We believe that family holidays are a success because of tailoring them to our needs. In this case, we really wanted to see the Great Barrier Reef but had a 5-month-old baby and a 5-year-old that didn’t like spending time on boats.
After much research and consideration, we knew that a Great Barrier Reef tour or snorkeling expedition was not going to work for my 5-year-old. The 8-year-old would have done it, but I decided that we would save that one for the future!
For more information on the Great barrier reef and Fitzroy island, here are other relevant articles:
Learn More About the Great Barrier Reef with These Great Barrier Reef Facts for Kids
Best Great Barrier Reef Tours+ Cairns Snorkeling Tips
Day 6: Exploring Fitzroy Island & The Great Barrier Reef
Some of the best things to do on Fitzroy Island are snorkeling from the beach, beach combing and visiting the world-famous Nudey Beach. You are spoiled for choice on the island.
We loved our visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and went back for a second tour; we loved it so much the first time.
My kids loved the pool, and we also spent a lot of time there.
Day 7: Exploring Fitzroy Island & The Great Barrier Reef
Spent most of the day at Nudey Beach. Named Australia’s best beach in 2018, this is not a nudist beach. Although it is gorgeously secluded with dreamy white coral sand and aquamarine water. Nudey Beach is so special because you truly feel like you are on a deserted tropical island. The 1.2 walks from the resort area (2.4km return) passes through the lush jungle rainforest and is a truly magical walk. If you are walking with small kids, you are definitely going to want to spend some time at Nudey Beach before heading back.
One important thing to remember about Nudey Beach – and all of Fitzroy Island’s beaches – they are not soft white sand, but hard coral. You need to wear reef shoes!
If we had older kids, we would have taken the trail to the lighthouse or climbed to the highest vantage point on the island for views across the Great Barrier Reef.
Extend Your Trip
After visiting Cairns, we continued our trip for another 7 days, which you can read about in this Port Douglas Itinerary. You can also read about the Best Things to do in Port Douglas here or discover our Cairns to Cape Tribulation Road Trip. If you are thinking of visiting Daintree National Park, get prepared with these Daintree Rainforest Facts.
Here are some more things you could add to your Cairns Travel Itinerary:
Visit Cairns Aquarium
Aquariums are always a good idea when travelling with kids. As you enter the aquarium, you’ll be transported to a world of underwater wonder, where you’ll encounter fascinating marine creatures from the Great Barrier Reef and beyond. Watch in awe as giant rays pass, brightly colored fish dart in and out of coral reefs, and even reef sharks swim overhead. Kids will love the interactive touch tanks, where they can get up close and personal with starfish and sea cucumbers.
You can get your Cairns Aquarium Ticket here or opt for the unique experience of a twilight tour. You could also book a marine life encounter, where you’ll have a chance to visit the turtle hospital and hand-feed the stingrays.
Rusty’s Market
Offering an eclectic mix of fresh produce, local arts and crafts, and unique souvenirs. The market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is a great place to spend a few hours browsing, tasting, and shopping. The kids will love exploring the vibrant atmosphere of Rusty’s Market, where they can discover an array of exotic fruits and vegetables, sample fresh juices and smoothies, and indulge in delicious snacks like freshly baked pastries and chocolate-dipped strawberries. There are also plenty of unique handicrafts on offer, from handmade jewelry and clothing to paintings and pottery.
Rusty’s Market is a great place to soak up Cairns’s lively atmosphere and experience the region’s diverse culture and cuisine.
Visit Palm Cove
Palm Cove is a coastal village situated 25km north of Cairns. The kids will love spending time on the palm-fringed beach, where they can build sandcastles, swim in the calm, shallow waters, and go on a snorkeling adventure to discover the colorful marine life that lives offshore.
The journey is a 25-minute drive or 44-minute bus journey. You could also visit as part of the Cairns to Port Douglas drive (post still to come)!
Go on the Reef Eye Ferris Wheel
The Reef Eye Ferris Wheel is a unique and exciting attraction. On the wheel, you’ll have stunning vistas of the cityscape, the Coral Sea, and the lush tropical rainforest beyond.
The ride is smooth and comfortable, with spacious cabins that accommodate up to six people at a time. The wheel is also a great way to see the city from a new perspective and better understand its layout and landmarks.
Explore Cairns Botanical Gardens
The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a beautiful and tranquil oasis. The Cairns Botanic Gardens are a great place to explore and learn about the plants and animals of the tropics. The gardens offer guided tours, educational exhibits, and interactive displays that help children learn about conserving and protecting the natural environment.
Kids can also enjoy running, playing in the lush green spaces, and discovering the gardens’ hidden pathways and secret corners.
Barron Gorge National Park
Barron Gorge National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful nature reserve just a short drive from Cairns. It features diverse natural landscapes, including lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and rugged mountain peaks. The park is home to abundant native flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species such as the southern cassowary and the spotted-tailed quoll.
The park offers a range of hiking trails of varying difficulty, allowing families to discover the park’s natural wonders at their own pace. Kids will love exploring the park’s winding trails, discovering hidden waterfalls and streams, and spotting wildlife.
Go on a Glass Bottom Boat Trip
Glass bottom boat tours are a perfect way to explore the stunning Great Barrier Reef with kids without getting wet. Another option is to stay at Fitzroy island, where you can be surrounded by the Great barrier reef and see it at your own pace with kids.
You can view the tours on offer here.
More Options
You can view more options by reading about the Best Day Trips from Cairns here. You could visit the Daintree river and do a Daintree river cruise, explore Mossman Gorge and even try scuba diving.
Trips to Cape Tribulation, travelling on the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Kuranda National Park and exploring the outer reefs are also must-dos. Green Island and the famous four-mile beach are also excellent options.
Cairns Itinerary FAQs
Is it Better to Stay in Port Douglas or Cairns?
The answer to this question really depends on the type of holiday you’re looking for. If you want a more laid-back, beach-focused holiday, Port Douglas is ideal as it’s much closer to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest than Cairns.
However, Cairns is the better option if you prefer city life. Both Port Douglas and Cairns have plenty of hotels and resorts to suit all budgets. No matter where you stay, you’ll find somewhere great to rest your head after a day of exploring.
If you are trying to decide between the two, doing the Port Douglas Itinerary on one trip and the Cairns Queensland Itinerary on another would be best.
Do I Need a Car to Get Around Cairns?
No, there are plenty of ways to get around in Cairns city without a car. For most attractions and activities, you can easily use public transport, such as buses and taxis.
If you do choose to hire a car, you’ll have more options for places to stay. Like the Cairns Colonial Club Resort, which is located a 10-minute drive from the centre.
What to do in Cairns for 4 Days?
If you have 4 days in Cairns, you should pick and choose your best bits from our 7 days in Cairns itinerary. If you have older kids, you could also do the same perfect one-day cairns itinerary but at a faster pace and easily fit it into 4 days.
The Verdict – Your Family-Friendly 7 Day Cairns Itinerary: Explore Tropical North Queensland with Kids
Cairns is a great family-friendly destination in the tropical North Queensland Australia. We hope our families’ Cairns Itinerary gives you a starting point for building your families own Cairns itinerary. With so much to see and do, make sure to allow plenty of days to squeeze in all the must-do activities.
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