Vacation Rentals in Cairns, Australia

Cairns is a small city in the far northeast end of Queensland that’s geographically closer to Papua New Guinea than Brisbane. The Cairns Airport, with both domestic and international terminals, is within city limits. Brisbane is a two-hour flight and 1,000 miles south down the coast, while further south is Sydney in a three-hour flight. Darwin is nearly 1,500 miles west and two and a half hours by air. The city’s downtown is walkable and there are public busses and rental cars available for further distances.

In addition to being commonly known as “the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” Cairns is also well-loved for its tropical climate and rainforests. The landscape is known to be the only place where one World Heritage Area meets another — from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef. The area’s economy is strongly dependent on tourism, especially adventure sports, though agriculture comes in second with crops such as sugar cane, tea, coffee, bananas, and the world’s first tropical wine region. Many visitors come to the region for one type of adventure and discover so much more in the area surrounding the city. The most popular outdoor adventures include skydiving, scuba diving, hot air balloon rides, and rainforest walks. Hang gliding, golf, snorkeling, and white water rafting are also available options. There are many tour operators in town, especially near The Esplanade. Beaches north and south of the city offer swimming and surfing, as there is no beach in town. Most visitors use the city as a launchpad for adventures around the area.

Vacation rentals in Cairns have a price range between $45-$3,101. The average price for rentals in Cairns is $184 per night.