CairnsPhoto: Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0Australia · Oceania
Best time to visit Cairns
Cairns is the springboard to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. The climate is tropical, driest and most pleasant from May to October, while the hot, humid wet season falls January to March. Warm water for diving year-round.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Cairns
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Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
November · Wet days
6.4 days/month
1991–2025: 11.5 days/month
-5.1 days/month · lower
October · Mean daily maximum
30.2 °C
1991–2025: 28.5 °C
+1.7 °C · higher
June · Monthly precipitation
26.4 mm/month
1991–2025: 58.7 mm/month
-32.4 mm/month · lower
January · Sea temperature
29.6 °C
1991–2025: 29.1 °C
+0.5 °C · higher
November: 102/150 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 36.1 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Rainfall rhythm
Cairns: rainfall separates the travel months
The driest and wettest months are 17.3 rainy days apart. Average daily highs vary by 7 °C, so both signals matter when choosing a month.
What matters
A warmer month is not automatically the most reliable. Read the drier windows alongside sunshine, sea temperature and the activity you have in mind.
Fewest rainy days
September · 6.4
Most rainy days
January · 23.7
Most sunshine
November · 8.5 h
Warmest sea
February · 29.2 °C
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28 | 23 | 24 | 354 | 7.4 | 85 | 1.5 | 29 | 57 |
| February | 28 | 23 | 23 | 415 | 6.9 | 88 | 1.5 | 29 | 59 |
| March | 27 | 22 | 22 | 357 | 6.6 | 88 | 1.7 | 29 | 62 |
| April | 26 | 20 | 19 | 198 | 6.1 | 87 | 1.9 | 27 | 66 |
| May | 24 | 18 | 16 | 104 | 5.3 | 86 | 1.8 | 26 | 72 |
| June | 23 | 17 | 10 | 59 | 4.9 | 84 | 1.7 | 24 | 80 |
| July | 23 | 16 | 10 | 57 | 5.3 | 82 | 1.8 | 24 | 81 |
| August | 24 | 16 | 8 | 44 | 6.2 | 78 | 1.8 | 24 | 87 |
| September | 26 | 18 | 6 | 35 | 7.5 | 75 | 1.8 | 25 | 90 |
| October | 29 | 19 | 8 | 57 | 8.3 | 73 | 1.8 | 26 | 83 |
| November | 30 | 21 | 12 | 93 | 8.5 | 74 | 1.8 | 27 | 72 |
| December | 30 | 22 | 18 | 206 | 8.0 | 79 | 1.6 | 29 | 60 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
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Where to stay in Cairns
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The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
The strongest climate months are July, August, September, October. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Cairns?
Average daily maximum temperatures in Cairns are practically tied in November and December at around 30 °C.
When is the sea warmest at Cairns?
In February, at around 29 °C.