When is the best time to go to Cairns
The chart above shows the best time of year to visit Cairns, Australia. These are based on an analysis of weather averages such as temperature, rainfall and number of hours of sunshine. These ratings are based solely on the climate and do not take into account other factors such as accommodation prices and how busy it is likely to be.
Average temperatures in Cairns
Cairns weather by month
Please note our recommendations for when to visit Cairns are based solely on the weather and do not take into accounts accommodation prices, how busy it will be and what events are on.
January
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°C | 423mm | 7.1hrs | 13.8hrs | 29°C |
Hot and very wet weather often prevails in Cairns during the month of January
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Cairns for your holidays. The weather is often relatively bad and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
January is in the summer in Cairns and is typically the coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a warm 31°C (88°F), whilst at night 23°C (73°F) is normal.
On average January is the driest month of the year in Cairns with around 423mm 16.6 inches of rain making it a very wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 13 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 7.1 hours of sunshine per day.
February
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°C | 431mm | 6.4hrs | 13.4hrs | 29°C |
February in Cairns is generally very wet with the temperature being hot.
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Cairns for your holidays. The weather is often not a good and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
February is in the summer in Cairns and is typically the 2nd coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a steamy 31°C (87°F), whilst at night 23°C (73°F) is normal.
On average February is the 2nd driest month of the year in Cairns with around 431mm 17 inches of rain making it a very wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 14 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.4 hours of sunshine per day.
March
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°C | 442mm | 6.5hrs | 12.9hrs | 29°C |
The weather in March in Cairns is characteristically hot, humid and very wet.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of reasonably acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Cairns.
March is in the fall / autumn in Cairns and is typically the 3rd coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a steamy 30°C (86°F), whilst at night 22°C (72°F) is normal.
On average March is the 3rd driest month of the year in Cairns with around 442mm 17.4 inches of rain making it a very wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 13 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.5 hours of sunshine per day.
April
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°C | 232mm | 6.8hrs | 12.5hrs | 28°C |
Cairns's weather in April is typically hot, humid and very wet in nature.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of reasonably acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Cairns.
April is in the fall / autumn in Cairns and is typically the 4th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a muggy 29°C (83°F), whilst at night 21°C (70°F) is normal.
On average April is the 4th driest month of the year in Cairns with around 232mm 9.1 inches of rain making it a very wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 10 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.8 hours of sunshine per day.
May
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°C | 138mm | 6.7hrs | 12.1hrs | 26°C |
May is a wet, humid month in Cairns and the temperature is generally hot.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of pretty acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Cairns.
May is in the fall / autumn in Cairns and is typically the 5th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a muggy 27°C (80°F), whilst at night 19°C (67°F) is normal.
On average May is the 5th driest month of the year in Cairns with around 138mm 5.4 inches of rain making it a wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 8 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.7 hours of sunshine per day.
June
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°C | 72mm | 7.9hrs | 13.8hrs | 25°C |
The weather in June in Cairns is characteristically warm and reasonably dry.
It is perhaps a good month to visit Cairns, with some particularly good weather at this time of year.
June is in the winter in Cairns and is typically the 6th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a comfortable 25°C (77°F), whilst at night 17°C (62°F) is normal.
On average June is the 6th driest month of the year in Cairns with around 72mm 2.8 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 6 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 7.9 hours of sunshine per day.
July
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°C | 44mm | 7.6hrs | 13.4hrs | 24°C |
July in Cairns is generally reasonably dry with the temperature being warm.
It is perhaps the perfect month to visit Cairns, with some inordinately good weather at this time of year.
July is in the winter in Cairns and is typically the 6th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a comfortable 25°C (77°F), whilst at night 16°C (61°F) is normal.
On average July is the 6th wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 44mm 1.7 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 6 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 7.6 hours of sunshine per day.
August
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°C | 38mm | 8.4hrs | 12.9hrs | 24°C |
The weather in August in Cairns is characteristically warm and reasonably dry.
It is perhaps the perfect month to visit Cairns, with some inordinately good weather at this time of year.
August is in the winter in Cairns and is typically the 5th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a comfortable 26°C (79°F), whilst at night 17°C (62°F) is normal.
On average August is the 5th wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 38mm 1.5 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 4 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 8.4 hours of sunshine per day.
September
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°C | 39mm | 8.6hrs | 12.5hrs | 25°C |
Cairns's weather in September is typically warm and reasonably dry in nature.
It is perhaps the perfect month to visit Cairns, with some very good weather at this time of year.
September is in the spring in Cairns and is typically the 4th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a comfortable 27°C (81°F), whilst at night 18°C (65°F) is normal.
On average September is the 4th wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 39mm 1.5 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 3 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 8.6 hours of sunshine per day.
October
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°C | 45mm | 9hrs | 12.1hrs | 26°C |
October is a reasonably dry month in Cairns and the temperature is generally hot.
It is perhaps the perfect month to visit Cairns, with some inordinately good weather at this time of year.
October is in the spring in Cairns and is typically the 3rd warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around 29°C (84°F), whilst at night 20°C (68°F) is normal.
On average October is the 3rd wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 45mm 1.8 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 4 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 9 hours of sunshine per day.
November
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°C | 101mm | 8.7hrs | 13.8hrs | 27°C |
Hot and damp weather often prevails in Cairns during the month of November
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of pretty acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Cairns.
November is in the spring in Cairns and is typically the 2nd warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a warm 30°C (86°F), whilst at night 22°C (71°F) is normal.
On average November is the 2nd wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 101mm 4 inches of rain making it a damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 5 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 8.7 hours of sunshine per day.
December
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°C | 188mm | 8.2hrs | 13.4hrs | 28°C |
December in Cairns is generally wet with the temperature being hot.
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Cairns for your holidays. The weather is often relatively bad and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
December is in the summer in Cairns and is typically the warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a warm 31°C (88°F), whilst at night 23°C (73°F) is normal.
On average December is the wettest month of the year in Cairns with around 188mm 7.4 inches of rain making it a wet time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 9 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 8.2 hours of sunshine per day.
Other monthly averages
Cairns weather stats
| Hottest month: | January | 30.8°C 87.4°F |
|---|---|---|
| Driest month: | August | 38mm 1.5ins |
| Sunniest month: | October | 9hrs |
| Coldest month: | July | 24.6°C 76.3°F |
| Wettest month: | March | 442mm 17.4ins |
| Warmest sea: | February | 29.1°C 84.4°F |
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