Geography of Cairns
Geography of Cairns: location, coordinates, elevation, terrain and the places around it.
Geography of Cairns
Port Douglas is 37 mi to the north-west, Great Barrier Reef is 158 mi to the south-east, Whitehaven Beach is 315 mi to the south-east and Papua New Guinea is 525 mi to the north.
Map of Cairns
Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.
Coordinates: 16°55′7″S 145°46′41.2″E (-16.9186, 145.7781)
Quick facts about Cairns
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | Queensland |
| Country | Australia |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 16°55′7″S 145°46′41.2″E (-16.9186, 145.7781) |
| Population | 153.000 |
| Known for | Great Barrier Reef gateway |
| Local time | 7:05 AM (UTC+10:00) |
| Best months | June, July, August, September, October and November |
| Climate | Tropical |
Geography by attraction in Cairns
1 attractions mapped in this atlas
Summary
Cairns is a city in Queensland. Cairns is known for Great Barrier Reef gateway. It has a population of about 153.000.
Right now it is 72°F (22°C) in Cairns with partly cloudy. It feels like 72°F. Today runs from 69°F to 77°F. Chance of precipitation is 55%. Sightseeing conditions score 8/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Cairns is June, July, August, September, October and November. The climate is tropical. January, February and March tend to be the least comfortable months. January is the warmest month with average highs near 87°F, while August is the coldest with lows near 65°F.
Nearby highlights include Great Barrier Reef and Great Barrier Reef.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 77°F is 5.8°F below the 82°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Cairns today at 8.9/10. Gusts to 39 mph will push high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Climate in Cairns month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 87° | 77° | 17,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 86° | 77° | 13,5 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 84° | 76° | 18,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 82° | 74° | 5,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 79° | 71° | 3,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 77° | 67° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 76° | 66° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 77° | 65° | 1,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 79° | 69° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 82° | 71° | 1,2 in | ★★★★★ |
| November | 85° | 74° | 1,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 85° | 76° | 21,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Tropical. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Explore Cairns
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Geography for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cairns?
Cairns is a city in Queensland. Its coordinates are -16.9186, 145.7781. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Cairns right now?
It is currently 72°F (22°C) with partly cloudy. Humidity is 80% and wind is 11 mph.
When is the best time to visit Cairns?
June, July, August, September, October and November offer the most comfortable conditions in Cairns, which has a tropical climate. January, February and March are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Cairns in?
Cairns observes Australia/Brisbane (UTC+10:00). The local time is 7:05 AM.
How many people live in Cairns?
Cairns has a population of approximately 153.000.
What are the top things to do in Cairns?
Popular options include Great Barrier Reef and Great Barrier Reef.
What places are in Cairns?
Cairns covers 1 places in this atlas, including Great Barrier Reef.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-world) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 4, 2026 at 7:05 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
