Cairns is home to roughly 60,000 people, and is equipped with amazing free activities for any interest! Honestly, everyone in the city is incredibly friendly, and the vibe is that of total relaxation and chill. The following is a list of things, in no particular order, that I absolutely loved to do during our time in Cairns.
1. Night Markets
Located right in the heart of the esplanade shopping area, the night markets are just as they sound: touristy shops bustling with sales and cheap t-shirts. Typically I am not a fan of more touristy areas, however you can forgive the tourist nature when it comes to the Markets, because the selection and range of merch you can buy is amazing. There is your typical Australian souvienirs (boomerangs, T-shirts, jewellery, etc.) but also some really cool things like hand-spun turkish towels and gorgeous glass artwork blown right in front of your eyes. The Night Markets are definitely a Cairns must-see, if only to get a quick massage ;).
2. The Lagoon
Another touristy area, the lagoon is a beautiful man-made beach complete with lifeguards and giant fish sculptures. It's incredibly easy to avoid the crowds here, simply wake up a little early or come when it's a little cloudy (it's tropical Cairns people! It's literally never cold, a couple clouds never hurt nobody). When I lived in Cairns, the Lagoon ended up being a daily activity. It's simply a short walk to and from just about anywhere, and so refreshing!
3. Sunset (or sunrise) 'Barbie' (BBQ) on the Esplanade
This seems like one of the most basic and obvious things on this list, which is why for the first month I avoided doing it. I didn't want to seem like "that kind of backpacker". Except, when I actually did it I realized how crazy fun it was. Having a sunset barbie is a great way to meet people and have an incredibly relaxing and fun evening as you watch the sun go down over the water. The barbies are free and easy to use and clean. (Pro Tip: if you go first thing in the morning for a spot of brekkie, the bbqs will be perfectly clean and ready for use with no drama. The fairies clean them every night!)
4. Free Fitness Activities on the Esplanade
A diet of ramen noodles can start to take its toll after 2 months. Luckily, the Cairns Esplanade offers free fitness classes throughout the week! We discovered this by accidentally stumbling across (and joining in) an Aqua Zumba class taking place in the Lagoon. These activities are fine for beginners, a great way to meet people, and actually tons of fun! Also did I mention free.
The family we stayed with in Cairns recommended this one, and it was honestly so much fun. Head out to a rainforest creek (Goomburra was our choice) with either just your bodies or a tube, and enjoy floating down the lazy length of the river. This gives you a totally unique perspective of the rainforest, and makes for an amazingly fun afternoon. Swimming in the rainforest offers an entirely different feeling than simply doing a forest walk, and to get a complete picture of the region you have to do both!
6. Crystal Cascades
This is one of those secret-but-not-actually-secret places that supposedly only the locals know of (despite the clearly marked signs pointing you in the right direction. The walk is short and beautiful, and the river offers a couple calm swimming holes and minor falls that you can shower under. The falls themselves are definitely worth the short trek, and if you are lucky you can spot tons of turtles and fish moseying along.
Directions Here
7. Rusty's Markets
If you are like me and almost died when you saw the price of an avocado here (highest I have seen is $5.50 EACH), rest assured that Rusty's Markets has you covered. With avocados going for $0.50 a pop, and various other local produce going for just as cheap, Rusty's offers a slightly more authentic market experience than the Night Markets, and you can buy everything from food to flowers, even pots and pans. You can even catch a bit of a show watching stalky men hacking at coconuts with foot-long machetes, occasionally lobbing off a finger or two in the process. Stock up here, and you'll definitely thank yourself later!
8. Drive to the Daintree
This one isn't quite free unless you have a car to get there (hey, hitch-hiking is a valid option, just don't watch Wolf Creek first), but I highly recommend you attempt to make your way up to the Daintree region. Trust me, you'll regret not going. If you can't afford it, don't even do the paid activities like croc cruises or the Cassowary world, just do the free walks. You will never experience rainforest quite like the one in Daintree, and the walks alone are equal parts incredibly beautiful and terrifying. We saw a Cassowary on one of our walks (the free walk that is right beside the pricey Daintree Discovery Center, if you're tight for cash, don't waste your money on the center itself), as well as several mudcrabs and gigantic spiders. Absolutely amazing!
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