What comes to your minds when you think of Cairns?

I don’t know about you, but the first thing it came to my minds is to visit the majestic Great Barrier Reef while I still can.

Swim over the colorful coral reefs, alongside with a myriad of tropical fish, sea turtles and exotic marine life. Simply to be in awe of the beauty and wonders of nature.

But this once-in-a-lifetime experience doesn’t come cheap.

It’s free to jump in and swim in the deep open ocean of course.

But to really get close to the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll need to take about an hour boat ride to the coral reef. For a snorkeling day trip tour to the Great Barrier Reef, it costs a whopping $170+ per person!

Yes, it’s expensive but you know it’s definitely going to worth it.

The good news is there’s plenty of free things to do and see in Cairns without burning a hole in your pocket.

If you want to get the most out of the Cairns without breaking the budget, here’s a list of things to do for free that we’ve done or are planning to do.

My Favorite 11 Free Things to do in Cairns

1. Go for a dip at Cairns Lagoon

Seriously, there’s no sun-kissed sandy beach in Cairns City.

To make up for that, you will find a man-made freshwater beach-style lagoon with white sand and crystal clear water, facing directly to the Coral Sea. It’s the best artificial manmade beach that I’ve ever seen.

Feeling warm in the subtropical climate? Let’s take a dip in the lagoon.

Find a good spot, laying on the sandy beach and enjoy a panoramic view over the ocean.

2. Watch the Sunset at the Marina in Cairns

Nothing beats a spectacular sunset and evening view at the Marina in Cairns.

Sit on the rock ledge along the coast, listen to the live street music, see the brilliant orb of amber falls behind the mountains, painting the sky in fiery orange. It’s absolutely stunning!

It’s also during this time when all the boats, dive cruises, and fishermen make their returns to the shore.

It’s definitely a great spot to enjoy people watching, sunset view and simply see the world goes by.

3. Take a stroll along Cairns Esplanade

Stretching 2.5km along the foreshore, the Cairn Esplanade Boardwalk is a popular recreational area for both locals and tourists.

There’s playgrounds for children, bicycle and running tracks, exercise equipment, skateboard ramp, BBQ facilities, beach volleyball courts along the boardwalk.

Take a stroll along the lovely esplanade, soak up some sunshine, and take in the mountain and ocean views.

If you get tired from all the walking, there’s ample pleasant space and picnic tables to rest and unwind.

4. Join the Free Fitness Class on the Esplanade

My favorite 11 free things to do in Cairns. ThinkMaverick

Photo: Cairns Regional Council

Want to burn some calories while having fun?

Join the Active Living Program on the Cairns Esplanade for free of charge!

They organize various types of fitness programs on a few picturesque spots along the esplanade. Free Classes including, Zumba, Aqua Aerobics, yoga, Chi Gong, skateboarding, bouldering and walking workouts for seniors too.

It’s a fun way to meet the locals, get healthy and connect with nature.

There’s definitely something for everyone. You can check out the free classes and timetable here.

5. Go Fishing at Cairns City Pier

If fishing is your thing or if want to try this new experience, then head to the Cairns City Pier.

Take a short walk east past the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and helipad, you’ll reach the designated fishing area at the end of Marlin Marina Jetty.

All you need is a hook, lines and baits.

This fishing area opens for all visitors from 7am to 9pm daily.

Even if you don’t have a clue about fishing just like me, you can wander through the well-paved path and get a panoramic ocean view form the pier.

6. Meander Through the Free Food Markets

While you’re in the Cairns CBD, stop at the Rusty’s Markets.

This is where the locals shop and soon it attracts crowds of world travelers with its authentic charm and local atmosphere.

Operating only during the weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), you can find a wide range of products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, seafood, delicatessens, sweet and savory snacks, coffee, clothing, accessories, and much more.

It’s almost too easy to make a free healthy breakfast out of free samples in the markets!

The Cairns Night Markets, located just opposite the Esplanade is another great place to explore. Open every day from 4.30pm to 11pm, you can grab a cheap dinner and locally made souvenirs here.

7. Find Inner Peace at Cairns Botanic Gardens

Walking is free and it’s good for health!

With a 10-minute drive from Cairns CBD, you’ll enter into the Cairns botanic Gardens.

Wander through the gorgeous garden, breath some fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature. It will do wonders for your body and minds.

You can easily spend a good full day exploring the gardens and its surrounding like Bamboo collection, Chinese Friendship Garden, rainforest boardwalk, freshwater lake, saltwater lake, Aboriginal Plant Garden, and Flecker Garden.

Nestled against Mt Whitfield Range, there are four main walking trails that you can take from the botanic gardens:

(a) Red Arrow Track (1.5km)– takes about 1 hour return, walking past the stunning rainforest to a beautiful lookout at the top, get brilliant views of the city, Northern Beach and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

(b) Blue Arrow Track (5km)- this walking trail is longer and harder. It involves lots of walking and steep climbing.

(d) Yellow Arrow Walk (1.9km)

Photo: Cairns Regional Council

If you want to learn more about the plants and feature of Cairns Botanic Gardens, you can join a free-guided tour at Flecker Gardens, 10am Monday to Friday.

For bird lovers, there’s a free guided birdwatching tour at 8.30 every Tuesdays.

8. Hike to the top of Walshs Pyramid

Photo: Cairns Attractions

Did you know that there’s a natural pyramid lying south of Cairns CBD?

Standing 922m tall, Walshs Pyramid is the world’s highest freestanding natural pyramid. Allocate about 4 hours for the climb, wear your best walking shoes, bring a bottle of drinking water, charge your camera and don’t forget to put on sunscreen.

The hike involves loads of steep climb, make sure you’re fit and remember don’t rush yourself.

Once you reach the top, you’ll be greeted with a spectacular sweeping view from atop!

It’s definitely worth the hike!

9. Cool off at Crystal Cascades Waterfalls

Photo:Flickr

Looking for a hidden gem in Cairns?

Head to the Crystal Cascades- the local’s secret recreation spot.

With just a 20-minute drive from Cairns CBD, you’ll find yourself in an enchanted tropical rainforest.

Follow the hiking trail, you’ll discover numerous small waterfalls, flowing into large secluded freshwater pools surrounded by huge granite boulders.

There’s no better way to cool off than jumping into this hidden freshwater hole on a steamy Cairns afternoon.

So pack a picnic lunch, grab your swimming gear and hit the road to explore these beautiful, all-natural swimming pools.

10. Explore the natural beauty of Atherton Tablelands

Located in the highlands west of Cairns, Atherton Tablelands (or The Tablelands) is a treasure trove of natural wonders, featuring a variety stunning landscapes from rainforest to wetlands and savanna.

Let’s get back to nature. Take a scenic self-drive into the Tablelands, stop at various lookout points for spectacular views, bushwalk through ancient rainforest, spot some native wildlife, explore the waterfalls and swim at freshwater swimming holes.

There’s a 17km Waterfalls Circuit driving loop, including the photogenic Milla Milla Falls, Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, Pepina Falls and Mungalli Falls.

Barron Gorge National Park

11. Hit the Cairns Northern Beaches

Palm Cove Beach

No trip to Northern Queensland is complete without a visit to the Cairns Northern Beaches.

There’s no real beach in Cairns CBD, but with a short 10-minute drive from the city, you’ll come to these beautiful beaches along the coast, including Machan’s Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkey’s Knob, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove Beach and Ellis Beach.

Among all the beaches, Palm Cove Beach is my favorite.

Take a stroll along the cobblestone boardwalk lined with tall palm trees. Embrace the sweet ocean breeze and stunning ocean and mountain views.

If you don’t want to drive, you can take a bus operated by Sunbus to the beach. Click here to see the Sunbus timetable.

Conclusion

We spent 3 days in Cairns and barely scratched the surface of adventures Cairns has to offer. I hope this guide will help you in planning your trip and ticking off these free things to do in Cairns.

What’s your favorite free thing to do in Cairns?

Do you have any favorite place or thing to do in Cairns that I didn’t mention in this post?

Feel free to share with us in the comment below.

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