What to do in Cairns when it rains
The weather needn't spoil Cairns. Its galleries, museums and indoor markets are at their best on a grey day, with cafés on every corner.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Cairns Museum 93/105 Lake St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Cairns City Centre 7 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Samurai Gallery Australia 1/22 Shields St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Cairns Miniatures g1a Pier Point Rd, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Kokoda Hall - Memorial Museum Level 2/119 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Converge Heritage + Community The Boland's Centre, 14 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Cairns Art Gallery 40 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Tanks Arts Centre 46 Collins Ave, Edge Hill QLD 4870, Australia
- Cairns Art Gallery, Court House Building 38 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artefacts 49 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- UnderArt Gallery Shop 5/12 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Cairns Art Gallery, Mulgrave Building 51 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Historical Chinatown 97-99 Grafton St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Cairns Esplanade Olympic Torch Monument Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Old Cairns Ambulance Brigade 135 Grafton St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Smart De Sac 26 Smallwood St, Mooroobool QLD 4870, Australia
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Cairns Night Markets 54-60 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Rusty's Markets Shop 3/89 Grafton St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Ocean World Seafood Market 379 Sheridan St, Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia
- X-press Food & Grocery North Cairns 383 Sheridan St, Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia
- IGA Local Grocer Mooroobool 193 Swallow St, Mooroobool QLD 4870, Australia
- The Healthy Hub 45 Moffat St, Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Muddy's Cafe 174 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- The Reef Hotel Casino 35-41 Wharf St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- McDonald's Suncorp Building The, Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- McDonald's Cairns City 7-11 Martyn St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- The Chambers 21 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Guyala Cafe 2 Smith St, Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Cairns Central Shopping Centre 1/21 McLeod St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- DFO Cairns 274 Mulgrave Rd, Westcourt QLD 4870, Australia
- Night Markets 71 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
- Earlville Shopping Town 537 Mulgrave Rd, Earlville QLD 4870, Australia
- Raintrees Shopping Centre Cnr Alfred Street &, Koch St, Manunda QLD 4870, Australia
- The Pier, Cairns 1 Pier Point Rd, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 34 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.