Cairns Packing List: What to Pack & What to Leave at Home

Packing List Overview

Cairns, a gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, offers travelers a unique blend of tropical climate, lush rainforests, and vibrant marine life.

Climate: With temperatures ranging from 23°C to 31°C year-round, Cairns experiences two main seasons: the wet season (November to May), characterized by higher humidity and rainfall, which is great for rainforest and waterfall adventures, and the dry season (June to October), known for cooler, more comfortable weather that is still warm for swimming and snorkelling!

Packing considerations: This destination is ideal for adventurers and nature lovers, offering activities from snorkeling and scuba diving to hiking in the ancient Daintree Rainforest. The city itself exudes a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, with bustling markets, cafes, and beachfront boardwalks and most locals get around in a t-shirt, shorts, and thongs year round.

Useful Things to Pack for Cairns

1. Grayl Water Purifying Bottle

For those wanting to explore the waterfalls and hikes that Cairns has to offer do not forget to pack a useful water bottle filter.

My go-to bottle is the Grayl water purifying bottle as it allows you to filter water from anywhere and reduces the risk of becoming dehydrated in the Cairns heat. I bring this on all my adventures in Cairns and it lets me get safe, clean drinking water out of any stream!

2. Insect Repellent

This is a must-have item when traveling to Cairns, especially during the wet season. Mosquitos, march flies, ticks, and leeches are no joke in the tropics and they can become quite agitating on hikes or waterfall adventures.

I have found the Bushman Ultra Heavy Deet to be the best for keeping away these pesky insects.

3. A Reliable Power Bank

Having a reliable power bank is important for your travels in Cairns. The last thing you need is to have your phone with 0% battery when you try to take a photo of a wild cassowary or when you need to upload your latest Instagram picture from Fitzroy Island Resort.

I have found the Anker 737 Power Bank to be the most reliable when traveling and this is the one I use to charge my phone, camera, and laptop on the go.

4. A Dry bag

Whether you have a waterfall adventure or a packed day on the reef a dry bag is a must to ensure your valuable items stay safe and dry! The best part is they come in a range of sizes to make it easier to pack into your luggage or day bag.

Many say to skip a dry bag but there have been many instances where this bag has saved an iPhone, passport, and DSLR camera from being destroyed.

5. Kindle or eReader

The Kindle is another item that should be packed in your day bag for those days that you will be relaxing by the ocean at Fitzroy Island or for those hikes when you're waiting for the sun to rise. I carry my Kindle around the world and find it very handy when lines are long or you're waiting for the ferry to arrive.

6. Packing Cubes - Travel Packing Essential

Have you ever needed to find something in your suitcase and it ends with your clothes all over the hotel floor?

The Nomatic packing cubes are a great way to stay organized on your travels. These come in a range of sizes and allow for your bag/suitcase to be packed more easily.

Read: Travel Gift Ideas

7. A Quick-dry Towel

Another item that should not be missed is a quick-dry travel towel. The quick-dry towel is a great addition for those wanting to adventure to waterfalls, snorkel on the reef or relax on the beach at Green Island.

Travel towels are lightweight and with the Cairns heat they dry very quickly! Moreover, if you're traveling to Cairns in the wet season, you'll be glad you brought a towel like this because you'll be using it a lot!

The last thing you want on your dive or snorkeling trip on the reef is to have a secondhand leaking mask! Bringing your own mask to Cairns is a must as many tours or secondhand masks leak and can be a real pain when you're trying to enjoy a snorkel or dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

When choosing a mask, I highly recommend trying it on before buying. I used to work as a dive master and always told my customers that the best mask is the mask that fits. Generally, I have found the Mini Shadow and Oceanic Shadow Mask to be a great travel mask that fits most faces.

9. Stinger Suit

Traveling to Cairns during the months from November until May you might want to invest in a stinger suit.

During these months there is an increase in harmful marine jellyfish near Cairns and its surrounding islands. Although these can be hired from the tour boats and Islands some may find it more comfortable (and hygienic) to have their own.

These lightweight stinger suits are a great addition to your must-bring items as it could potentially save your life.

10. Travel Insurance

I've been traveling full-time now for close to 6 years and I always purchase cheap travel insurance for every single country I visit, including trips around Australia and Queensland. In fact, this is especially true for adventure destinations like Cairns, where I do a lot of hiking and outdoor adventure activities.

If you're planning a trip to Cairns from within Australia, then HeyMondo offers easy travel insurance at good rates. These guys cover pretty much everything and are one of the cheaper options. They also have an excellent app that makes managing claims stress-free on the go.

Plus, We Seek Travel readers get 5% OFF HeyMondo travel insurance!

Essential Things to Pack for Cairns

1. Clothes

Cairns is located in Tropical Far North Queensland. In terms of clothes, pack lightweight garments for warm weather. Honestly, you won't need a warm jumper or even a pair of jeans at any time of year. Shirts, t-shirts, singlets, shorts, and thongs are the go-to for Cairns locals because that's what the weather calls for.

I'd also suggest packing clothes that dry quickly. This is especially a good idea if you plan to explore the rainforest and its many freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls.

Make sure also to pack swimmers, you'll need them for any trip out to the Great Barrier Reef!

Here's a summary:

• Clothes to keep you cool (t-shirt and shorts/light dress/skirt)
• Swimmers
• A hardshell jacket or light raincoat (for when it rains)
• Socks (hiking socks, ankle socks)
• Hat
• Quick dry underwear

Tip: If you're planning to visit the waterfalls and natural attractions in the Atherton Tablelands on a day trip, then it's a good idea to bring at least one set of warm clothes. This region is 700-900 meters higher than Cairns and the weather can be slightly cooler.

2. Shoes

What shoes to pack for Cairns will depend on the activities you're planning to embark on during your trip. I recommend packing some trail runners or running sneakers for any hikes, a pair of thongs, and maybe a decent pair of sneakers or other suitable shoes for restaurants or pubs/clubs.

Don't worry too much about packing big hiking boots. I always wear trail runners on even the steepest and longest hikes like Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland's tallest mountain).

Also, don't pack "reef shoes". These things should be illegal. There's no worse sight than watching tourists trample over the fragile reef ecosystems. Coral is sharp for a reason, to protect itself from harm, don't step on them.

Summary:

• Trail runners or joggers for hiking
• Thongs
• Pair of nice shoes for restaurants/town

3. Toiletries

Toiletries are always a personal item on any packing list of things to bring. However, below I'll still jot down a few essentials to serve as a convenient reminder for your trip to Cairns.

Summary:

• Electric Travel Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Travel Shampoo and conditioner
• Hair brush
• Travel/ hiking first aid kit
• Medications
• Light makeup - Remembering Cairns can be very humid and makeup will be sweating off very quickly.

4. Camera or Go Pro

For me, my camera is always the most important thing on my packing list for Cairns. I think it's safe to say that everyone will want some sort of device to capture the epic memories of their Cairns trip.

Phone cameras are decent these days but I do recommend bringing at least a GoPro or Action Camera. That's because so many of the activities in Cairns revolve around water. This is true from the reef to the rainforest, so it's only common sense to bring something to take photos and videos where you're not afraid of getting your device wet.

Summary:

• Go Pro Hero 11
• Long selfy or action pole for your Go Pro
• A quality waterproof phone pouch that you can submerge underwater (buy one in advance, they charge close to $50 for these on the reef boats).
• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
• Drone if you have one (I use the Mavic Pro 3)