8 Cool Things to Do in Cairns with the Kids

Explore FNQCairnsKurandaGreat Barrier Reef

Dec 29

Let me get one thing clear – when you arrive in Cairns there is no shortage of activities to choose from.

But we all know kids, sometimes its hard to work out which things will really tick all their boxes AND which activities will work for you the adult (after all we count as well!!). So here’s my list of 8 Cool Things to Do in Cairns with the kids, that I really dig doing as well!!!

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon @adventuremumma.jpg

1. Get your Groove on down at the Cairns Esplanade

Our Number 1 hang-out in Cairns – and we live here!! There are so many options for the family along this little strip of coastline. I know, I know, there is NO beach in Cairns BUT thankfully there is the beautiful Cairns Lagoon that is a real winner during the Summer months!!

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon gets plenty of visitors in the Summer Time

You'll find a beach along one side of the Cairns Lagoon and some shade sails which are great to park your little ones under as they play in the sand. There are also a couple of fountains in the lagoon which our kids love - check these out by the fish sculptures.

When the kids were very young Muddy's was always our first port of call on the Cairns Esplanade. Fountains, climbing frames, swings and plenty of benches for you to sit and chat with others whilst they burn their energy off.

The Muddy's Cafe, smack bang in the middle of the playground, offers a good selection of healthy and not so healthy food as well as good coffee. A welcome reprieve from chasing your kids all around the playground.

**The climbing wall manages to keep the kids entertained for a while**

Now our kids are a bit older we gravitate towards the Skate Park and the climbing wall down near Cairns Base Hospital. The other place that's proving popular is the Figtree Playground down by the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal - great for older kids (a bit scary with a toddler cause you can't really keep your eye on them) as they can climb the tree and play chasey (or tiggy) on all of the equipment. It's also a great place for scooters and skateboards as there are plenty of big wide paths and concrete sections to ride around on.

**We love taking the bikes down along the Cairns Esplanade**

Mostly though, when we're down on the Esplanade, we take advantage of the Cairns Esplanade Walking and Cycle Way - it's a 5-km round trip and you can do it via scooter, skateboard, roller-blades, bike or even just walking the dog. The afternoon breeze and sunsets are worthy of the extra effort of lugging everyone (and everything) down there.

The Cairns Esplanade also feature Markets on the weekends and the stalls have a good selection of handmade and local handicraft. The stalls stretch along the walking path near the Cairns Lagoon and there's often live music to chill out to as well.

**The kids love it at Mondos when there is face painting**

You'll be spoilt for choice for Food options along the Cairns Esplanade. Our favourites are:

AQUA - at the Cairns Lagoon. A Cafe that's great for fresh healthy options at lunch time and compliments it with awesome coffee. They also run the cafe (Wharf One) at the Figtree Playground which gets our thumbs up too.
Mondo's at the Hilton (near the Cairns Marina). Lunch or dinner this is always a good spot for families to dine. There's a grassy patch where the kids can run around as well.
Pizzas at Villa Romana - we order take out pizzas from here and find a bench along the Esplanade to sit and eat them. The kids love this option and the pizzas are very tasty and won't break your budget.
Prawnstar Cairns (Click to read my Blog) - if the kids LOVE seafood, especially Prawns, then check out this FNQ Favourite - seafood dining on a real Prawn Trawler. If you're nervous about your kids on a boat (it's moored at the Marina) then grab some take-away and eat them on the Esplanade.
Free BBQ's - choose anywhere along the esplanade for this option. We love the northern end (cause it has a good play area for the kids), and the southern end by the Figtree or anywhere near the Lagoon. If you want to throw a few 'prawns' on your Barbie plate then check out my Blogpost on the Prawnstar - the best local seafood at the Cairns Marina. Click HERE to read more - Seafood BBQ on the Esplanade

2. Find NEMO!! (Explore the Great Barrier Reef)

WoW!! Where do you start when choosing a reef trip out of Cairns?? It can be a little overwhelming as there as so many good options to choose from. I would suggest listen to friends and family and talk to the people who manage your accommodation – they get regular updates on the best deals around and also have a better idea as to your family's requirements.

**Family friendly snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef**

I’ve got 6 Reef trips on my Blog that you may also want to check out. These are:

"Fitzroy Island – 6 Reasons Families will love this Tropical Island"

"Green Island Cairns – Is this Turtle Heaven??"

"Sunlover Cruises - Family Friendly Great Barrier Reef Trip"

"Frankland Island Cruise & Dive – Great Barrier Reef Tours"

"Family Friendly Great Barrier Reef Tour with Great Adventures"

"Family Friendly Reef Experience"

All the above trips are fantastic family options. If you’ve got really young kids I would be opting for Green Island, Frankland Island or Sunlover Cruises for the day out – both make for an easier day out for the adults.

**Checking out the reef via Sunlover’s Seawalker Dive**

If one of the adults (or kids- Note: kids must be over 12 years) really wanted to scuba dive then I would opt for the Sunlover OR Reef Experience option (viz is generally better the further you get away from land).

**Snorkelling with a turtle is the best**

If a turtle is on your bucket-list then you can reduce the odds by going to one of the islands. And if you were keen to stay overnight on the reef then the islands will tick your box again – and Fitzroy Island will be the cheaper option of the two (they even offer camping). For the older kids Fitzroy Island offers a larger area to explore and a bit more nightlife when the sun sets over the horizon. For something really special you can swag it on a pontoon with Sunlover Cruises.

For a Quick round-up of sleepovers on the Great Barrier Reef click HERE > Sleep on the Reef.

3. Glide over World Heritage Rainforest

Whether the weather is wet or Dry, a trip on the Skyrail Gondolas are a fantastic way to spend the day with the kids. You'll get awesome views on a sunny day of Cairns and beyond, and on a rainy day you'll slip in and out of the clouds and experience the rainforest as it really should be.

**You feel like you're floating on air onboard Skyrail's Diamond View**

My kids loved their ride on Skyrail and it's definitely worth upgrading to the Diamond View option. Thanks to the glass floors you feel like you are gliding on air across the rainforest canopy, with your very own window into this special world.

If you want to read more about this activity click HERE: "6 Things you can’t afford to miss on a Kuranda Skyrail Adventure"

If you're the adventurous type (and your children are old enough) consider jumping on the canopy glider for a whole new level of excitement. Standing out in the open in an uncovered carriage, with 360 degree views and subject to all the natural elements, you start to get a real sense for how a tropical bird might feel skimming across the treetops.

If you want to read more about this activity click HERE: "Kuranda SkyRail – Canopy Glider and Rainforest Dreaming"

4. Cuddle a Koala, Feed a Kangaroo & Tickle a Crocodile

Yes, you can tick off all of these 'Must Do" items at many of the wildlife zoos around Cairns. The closest to Cairns is the Cairns Wildlife Dome or try Kuranda Koala Gardens.

If you do go to Kuranda there's a Butterfly Sanctuary and Birdworld to check out as well.

5. Zipline over a Crocodile with Cairns Zoom

The Cairns Wildlife Dome is a favourite sanctuary for our family during the Far Northern Wet Season. Its massive glass dome provides the perfect umbrella during those wet tropical downpours. It’s a great place to wander around in a natural rainforest setting and enjoy all sorts of native Australian animals that (mostly) free-roam around the enclosure.

**Keep your feet up when you Zipline over Goliath**

What makes the Wildlife Dome even more interesting is that they have created a challenging ropes course inside the wildlife enclosure (called Cairns Zoom) – it puts a new twist on a visit to a native animal sanctuary. If you're really brave you may even try ziplining over the crocodile enclosure - the photo produced afterwards is worth the effort trust me!!

If you want to read more about this activity click HERE: "Cairns Zoom – Zipline over a Saltwater Crocodile"

6. Jet Boating

Jet boating with Bad Fishy is the best pick me up ever – I recommend doing this ride in the late arvo when the heat (and the kids) can often get on top of you. You’ll definitely hop off their boat feeling revitalised.

**Fun & thrills onboard the Bad Fishy Jet Boat (with some epic views of Cairns as well)**

But it isn't all about splashdowns, thrills and spins. Despite enjoying a high-octane charge around the mouth of Trinity Inlet you are still told some interesting information on the area and its history. It's a great introduction to the wetland wilderness that sits right on the doorstep of Cairns, and a fast one at that - it will keep the kids on the edge of their seats ;) .

If you want to read more about this activity click HERE: "Cairns Jet Boat Adventure – Bad Fishy"

7. Wet & Wild

Cairns may not be blessed with Gold Coast type waves or theme parks BUT it does have the kid-friendly Flowrider and it's very own water park called Sugar World.

**The boys loved riding on the Flowrider**

For some wicked body boarding action OR Flow boarding - a hybrid board sport which combines the skill of snowboarding, skating and surfing - get yourself to Tobruk Memorial Pool and throw some gnarly moves on their waves.

Flowrider Tobruk Pool Cairns @adventuremumma.jpeg

Flowrider Tobruk Pool Cairns @adventuremumma 1.jpeg

Flowrider Tobruk Pool Cairns @adventuremumma 2.jpeg

For kids that enjoy being wet there's nothing quite like the thrills and spills you can get at Sugar World. With 3 types of waterslides, a water park and toddler pool with swimming pool, it can easily keep the kids entertained for hours.

Sugarworld Water Park Cairns Slides @adventuremumma.jpeg

Sugarworld Water Park Cairns @adventuremumma 1.jpeg

Sugarworld Water Park Cairns @adventuremumma.jpeg

Double the fun!

Hire a cabana for the day

8. Visit a Waterfall & Take a Dip in a Creek

Summer is the time when locals turn their back on the beaches around Cairns and head inland to dip and frolic in the natural watershed that cascades off the foothills of Cairns. These rivers provide the perfect escape from the heat and humidity of the wet season. To get to these spots though you'll need your own transport.

Some of our nearby ‘local’ swimming spots are:

Crystal Cascades - The best known and most popular freshwater escape near Cairns city. Just follow Redlynch Valley (and the Redlynch Intake Rd) to the very end, it should take 15-20 minutes from the city. There's a carpark and an easy walking track up along the river and plenty of access to deep swimming holes on the way up.
Freshwater Creek - This creek winds its way through Redlynch Valley and the suburb of Freshwater until it finally spills out into the Barron River. It provides plenty of swimming opportunities for locals and the most popular spots are at Goomboora Park in Brinsmead and Ryan Weare Park in Freshwater. Both are only a 10-15 minute drive from Cairns City.
Stoney Creek Falls - This small creek trickles out into the Rainforest Estate (on Stoney Creek Road, Kamerunga), a small suburb tucked away at the foot of the Barron Gorge (opposite Lake Placid). There are plenty of small pools on the way up via the old weir path but the deepest pools are towards the end of the track. The best part of Stoney Creek is that you feel like you're in a tropical wilderness although you're only 20-minutes from the centre of the city. Click HERE to read my BlogPost about this area.

You will also find a great round-up of all of Cairns favourite swimming spots HERE > Freshwater Escapes.

**The freshwater creeks are a natural playground for kids**

Good Things to Know:

If you are visiting the Cairns Lagoon go early. It gets very warm and busy towards the end of the day and the lawns fill up with backpackers sunning themselves (and working off their hangovers!). Also watch out for ‘maintenance’ days – Cairns Council often do regular ‘cleans’ of the lagoon and can shut it down for a day or two. Check this site for updates – Click HERE.
Note that Queensland is the one of the few Australian States that allow you to actually HOLD a koala. Don’t worry, they have strict guidelines and rotate the koalas being handled regularly so the animals don’t get too stressed out.
Be aware that although the freshwater creeks are extremely refreshing places to visit—they are also potentially dangerous. Flash flooding (rapidly rising water) is common during the wetter months and the rocks can be exceptionally slippery, the water cold and submerged objects may be in the creek. Take care when visiting these areas.
Remember that from November through to April is stinger season (jellyfish) up in Tropical North which means you have to take precautions if you are swimming on the beach. For more info Click HERE.

Have you visited Cairns? What are your favourite things to do in Cairns? Anything else you'd like to recommend?