Average Cairns temperatures: 17.5ºC (min) / 26.2ºC (max)
Welcome to the place where your typical idea of winter doesn’t really exist. To locals, 20ºC warrants a jacket, and jeans make their way out of the wardrobe; you’ll often hear the crew announce that wetsuits are available to help keep warm in the “chilly” 24ºC waters on the Great Barrier Reef.
Maximum temperatures remain mostly within the mid-twenties, with many brilliant sunny days perfect for exploring the region from the coast and seas to remote areas.
You may encounter a few nights where the mercury dips into the single digits, especially on the Atherton Tablelands where you’ll find a more mild climate due to its elevation. Romantic bed and breakfasts with cosy fireplaces are peppered throughout these highlands, perfect for those “tropicool” nights.
Small tent “villages” spring up around the abundant number of campgrounds as cooler and drier days make for ideal camping weather. Compasses are pointed due north and many take to the dusty road to tackle one of Australia’s most iconic 4WD journeys to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, or west to explore the ancient geological wonders along The Savannah Way.
Head into frontier country on your journey to “The Tip”. More 4WDs venture through this area than anywhere else in the country and your adventure north is as important as your final destination.
Conquer some of Australia’s most challenging 4WD crossings or cross breathtaking waterfalls off your list as you traverse through national parks, historic townships and stations before arriving at the most northerly point of mainland Australia.
Twin Falls, Cape York
One of the things that everyone loves about the tropics is that you can enjoy the outdoorsy lifestyle any time of year.
While other places are huddled inside around heaters, in Tropical North Queensland you can indulge in cocktails by the beach or laze by the pool at a luxury resort.
Palm Cove
There are not many places in the world that winter is synonymous with beach days but in Tropical North Queensland you’ll find this time of year boasts prime beach weather.
Water and outside temperatures both hover around the mid-twenties (Celsius) making the sandy shores the perfect place to hang out on a warm, sunny winter day.
Mission Beach, Cassowary Coast
Surrounded by National Parks, Marine Parks and World Heritage Areas on all sides, adventures are endless in Tropical North Queensland.
With milder temperatures – locals will say “cold”, you’ll say “perfect” – winter provides the ideal time for camping, hiking or Great Barrier Reef adventures.
Thorsborne Trail, Hinchinbrook Island
Rooftop bars and balmy winter nights are a match made in heaven in Cairns, the real urban jungle. Here you can bar-hop, rock-hop or island-hop on the same day
Throughout June and July, the Ribbon Reefs, north of Cairns and Port Douglas, becomes the temporary refuge for the only known aggregate of Dwarf Minke Whales in the world.
Humpback whales can also be sighted as they make their way north through a channel between the coast and Great Barrier Reef offering a safe shelter for mothers and calves.
Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef
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Due to lower humidity and clearer nights, winter is a great time to stargaze. Head out to Burketown in the Gulf Savannah to learn about the stars on Australia’s largest salt pans with the Gangalidda-Garawa Traditional Custodians.
Through winter, Saltwater Crocodiles sun themselves on banks for warmth. Keep an eye out for these ancient dinosaurs as you explore the region.
If you’re partial to wetting a line, Tropical North Queensland in winter is the place for you. Head out to Gulf Savannah, fish your way up Cape York Peninsula or try your hand at catching the prized barramundi.
Each July, Cairns hosts the annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. While the art fair and market might be the main drawcard, you’ll find workshops, fashion shows and satellite events across Cairns.
The must-do list to make the most of your tropical winter
Discover local specialties and hidden gems on a mini road trip through Tropical North Queensland with these one day wonders. Here are eight itineraries to get you out and about.
Winter? What winter? Chase an endless summer and experience the tropi-cool conditions of Tropical North Queensland with this guide.
A getaway is looming and you’re longing for a tropical escape – Cairns and Port Douglas are both popular holiday havens boasting a wealth of experiences. Read this guide to help plan your trip to these two seaside locales.
Surrounded by national parks, World Heritage rainforest and the Great Dividing Range, find countless bush walks or hikes within a short distance of Cairns.
Mighty mountain ranges and Wet Tropics Rainforest create the optimum environment for a myriad of extraordinary waterfalls. Fall in love with these 20 waterfall wonderlands only a short drive from Cairns.
Step away from the main strip and discover a few of the local secrets that make Palm Cove so special.
Are your campsites better described as camp palaces, or do you just roll with the bare essentials? Whether you’re at one end of the spectrum or the other, lace up your hiking shoes, load up your 4WD (or hatchback) and string your fairy lights around these camping sites near Cairns.
Hit the road and explore these tiny towns on your next adventure west into the Gulf Savannah and Outback country of Tropical North Queensland.
Don’t let its flop and drop reputation fool you, there are many things to do in Port Douglas. From hunting with Traditional Owners & exploring the Great Barrier Reef, to river floats & wildlife parks. Here’s how to spend your time in Port Douglas.
Ready to tackle one of Australia’s most remote landscapes, Cape York? Just you, a car and 1,200km of untamed, World Heritage-listed, 180 million year-old rugged rainforest beauty – aka The Tip.
Snuggly tucked along the Cassowary Coast, Mission Beach and its 14 kms of golden beaches are one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. Here are all the reasons why.
Some adventures are off the beaten track and others, like the Undara Lava Tubes, are underneath it. You’ll need to dip below the earth’s surface, to explore these famous 190,000-year-old lava tunnels that point to an explosion when 23 cubic kilometres of lava flowed for 160 kilometres, carving a natural playground south-west of Cairns.
From sculptural gorges, to bird-filled wetlands, experience 1,099kms of pure outback adventure as you drive Queensland's Savannah Way.
Tropical North Queensland is the only region in Australia with two distinct Indigenous cultures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Connect with these ancient cultures 60,000 years in the making.
Moungibi (Burketown), a small town in the Gulf of Carpentaria with a population of fewer than 300 people, may surprise you with its depth of experiences – Indigenous-owned & operated Yagurli Tours offers a collection of tours run by the Gangalidda-Garawa Traditional Custodians.
Explore the far reaches of Tropical North Queensland, from The Savannah Way to The Tip.
Cairns to Cape York
Got a heightened sense of adventure and want to take it all the way to the top (of Australia)? Jump into a 4WD and head off on an unforgettable journey from Cairns to Cape York.
View itineraryCairns to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park
The Savannah Way is an epic, two-state, one-territory, 3,700km journey across the top of Australia. You can take a section of the drive in Tropical North Queensland between Cairns on the coast and Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park close to the Northern Territory border – a distance of about 1,700km.
View itineraryCairns to Cape Tribulation (return)
Welcome to the loveliest little drive in Queensland. Short but oh-so-sweet, the Great Barrier Reef Drive covers just 140km in a straight line north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas.
View itineraryTownsville to Cairns
Stretching between Cairns and Townsville, this under-the-radar route can be completed in four hours, but is best enjoyed over a couple of days so you can soak up the region’s spectacular natural assets and relaxed friendly vibe.
View itineraryDaintree to Cooktown
The CREB Track is one of the country’s most challenging four-wheel-drive adventures, traversing spectacular World Heritage-listed rainforest as it weaves its way north from Daintree village to Cooktown.
View itineraryCardwell to Undara
The Kirrama Range Road is stunning drive across the ranges from Cardwell to Undara, with plenty to see and do, and spectacular scenery including lookouts, waterfalls, heritage-listed rainforest and swimming holes.
View itineraryCape Tribulation to Cooktown
Drive the beautiful and wild Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown – a bucket-list drive for all 4WD enthusiasts.
View itineraryUndara to The Lynd Junction
Discover real Australia and find a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes and the powerful forces of nature as you travel from Undara to the Lynd Junction along the Savannah Way.
View itineraryCultural, sporting and much more. Here are some events to check out over winter.
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