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Cairns school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, and a Cairns summer means heat, humidity and the odd storm. Water play and shade in the morning, somewhere indoors and air conditioned by early afternoon, and a plan B for the wet days.

Holiday programs and events

Dated events running during the break. Always confirm with the organiser before you drive over.

🎪 New Year's Eve family fireworks at 8:30pm, Cairns Esplanade
Cairns City · Thu 31 Dec, family fireworks at 8:30pm, midnight fireworks too · Free
Free☕ 220m to coffee
 🎪 New Year's Eve family fireworks at 8:30pm, Edmonton
Edmonton · Thu 31 Dec, family fireworks at 8:30pm · Free
Free☕ 90m to coffee
 🎪 New Year's Eve family fireworks at 8:30pm, Palm Cove Jetty
Palm Cove · Thu 31 Dec, family fireworks at 8:30pm · Free
Free☕ 530m to coffee

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around Cairns: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights.

Water play, for the hot days

Splash pads, pumps and creeks. Free, and the most reliable way to make a hot day work.

🎡 Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Cairns City · Thu to Tue 6am to 9pm; Wed noon to 9pm (closed mornings for cleaning) · Free
FreeToiletsWater play☕ 220m to coffee
 🛝 Muddy's Playground, Cairns Esplanade
Cairns North · Open daily; parts close Tue and Thu mornings until noon for maintenance · Free
FreeToiletsBBQPicnic areaWater playSwings☕ 130m to coffee
 🎡 Sugarworld Adventure Park waterslides, Edmonton
Edmonton · Weekends and school holidays, 10am to 4:30pm · Entry fee applies, see sugarworldadventurepark.com.au
Water playSlides☕ 90m to coffee

Indoors, for the wet days and the hottest ones

Air conditioning and somewhere to burn energy. Play centres are spread across the suburbs, and the free museums and libraries are the cheapest cool room in town.

🎡 Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Cairns City · Thu to Tue 6am to 9pm; Wed noon to 9pm (closed mornings for cleaning) · Free
FreeToiletsWater play☕ 220m to coffee
 🎡 Cairns Botanic Gardens and Nature Playground
Edge Hill · Flecker Gardens daily 7:30am to 5:30pm; other areas open all hours. Visitor Centre weekdays 8:30am to 4pm, weekends 9:30am to 2pm · Free
FreeToiletsBBQPicnic areaNature play☕ 60m to coffee
 🎡 Lake Eacham day-use area
Lake Eacham · Open 24 hours · Free
FreeToiletsParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 950m to coffee

Big days out

When you need one proper outing to break the week up. Book ahead for the ticketed ones.

🎡 Cairns Aquarium
Cairns City · Daily 9:30am to 3:30pm, last entry 2:30pm, including public holidays · General admission from $61 (see site for child and family prices)
☕ 250m to coffee
 🎡 Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Cairns City · Thu to Tue 6am to 9pm; Wed noon to 9pm (closed mornings for cleaning) · Free
FreeToiletsWater play☕ 220m to coffee
 🎡 Cairns Koalas & Creatures
Cairns City · Daily 9am to 5pm · Tickets on the booking page; koala holding photos extra
Parking☕ 70m to coffee
 🎡 Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns City · Daily except Christmas Day: leaves Cairns 8:45am and 9:30am, Freshwater 25 minutes later; returns from Kuranda 2:45pm and 3:30pm · Heritage one way: adult $58, child (4 to 14) $29, family $145; return $87 / $43.50 / $217.50; under 4s free
☕ 130m to coffee
 🎡 Cairns Botanic Gardens and Nature Playground
Edge Hill · Flecker Gardens daily 7:30am to 5:30pm; other areas open all hours. Visitor Centre weekdays 8:30am to 4pm, weekends 9:30am to 2pm · Free
FreeToiletsBBQPicnic areaNature play☕ 60m to coffee
 🎡 Sugarworld Adventure Park waterslides, Edmonton
Edmonton · Weekends and school holidays, 10am to 4:30pm · Entry fee applies, see sugarworldadventurepark.com.au
Water playSlides☕ 90m to coffee
 🎡 Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda
Kuranda · Daily 9:30am to 3:30pm · See site for prices; combo deals with Birdworld and Koala Gardens from adult $46, child $25.50
☕ 60m to coffee
 🎡 Birdworld Kuranda
Kuranda · Daily 10am to 4pm · Adult $24, child $12, family $60
☕ 50m to coffee
 🎡 Kuranda Koala Gardens
Kuranda · Daily 9:30am to 4pm · Adult $24, child $12; koala photo extra
☕ 60m to coffee
 🎡 Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda
Kuranda · Daily 9am to 3:30pm · Ticket prices on the booking page
☕ 1.6km to coffee
 🎡 Lake Barrine boat cruise and Teahouse
Lake Barrine · Teahouse daily 9am to 3pm; 45 minute cruises daily at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm · Cruise adult $25, child $15, under 5s free
 🎡 Lake Eacham day-use area
Lake Eacham · Open 24 hours · Free
FreeToiletsParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 950m to coffee
 🎡 Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre and shuttle
Mossman · Shuttle to the gorge every 15 minutes, 8am to 5pm daily (last bus back 4:30pm); not Christmas Day · Shuttle adult $15.50, child (5 to 15) $7.75, family $38.75, under 5s free
ToiletsParking☕ 70m to coffee
 🎡 Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Port Douglas · Daily 8am to 4pm · Tickets on site or online, see booking page
Parking
 🎡 Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Smithfield · Daily; first departure from Smithfield 8:45am, last 2pm · Return adult $111, child $55.50; one way adult $74, child $37
Parking☕ 20m to coffee
 🎡 Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
Wangetti · Daily 8:30am to 5pm; closed Christmas Day and Cairns Ironman day · Adult $50, child (4 to 15) $25, family (2+2) $125
Parking

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Cairns school holidays?
The summer school holidays run Sat 12 December to Tue 26 January 2027. The autumn school holidays run Fri 26 March to Sun 11 April 2027. The winter school holidays run Sat 26 June to Sun 11 July 2027. The spring school holidays run Sat 18 September to Mon 4 October 2027. These are Queensland government school dates. Catholic and independent schools set their own, and government schools add their own pupil free days, so check with your school.
What is there to do in the Cairns school holidays that is free?
A great deal. Every council playground is free, as are the water play areas, the library holiday programs and most of the community events on the what's on page.
What can you do with kids in Cairns when it is raining?
Indoor play centres, the free museums and galleries, the library, and the indoor pools. On a warm wet day a splash pad still works: they are already wet.