
Cairns on a Budget
Cheap things to do in Cairns! Budget tours and accommodation, sightseeing tours, free activities - making sure you have a great holiday at a budget price in North Queensland

Discover the Best Deals in Cairns
Experience Cairns and Tropical North Queensland on a budget!
The region boasts the meeting of two UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural wonders: the spectacular Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Daintree Rainforest.
You can visit the AthertonTablelands, Port Douglas and even see the oldest aboriginal art on the planet, and the list goes on with a good assortment of tours and accommodation for those who are on a budget and want to experience the true beauty of Tropical North Queensland.
With its breathtaking scenery and warm climate, this region has become the most desired domestic holiday spot and a world-class international tourist destination.
Cheap boat tours include snorkelling, lunch, glass-bottom boats and more. It might just take a little longer to get to the Reef the tours still offer the same attractions as the more prominent more expensive operators.
Top 5 things to do in Cairns on a BUDGET
- Reef Experience is Cairns’s all-inclusive Great Barrier Reef tour
- Crocodiles at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
- Train & Skyrail visit to the Kuranda Village
- Fitzroy Island, hiking, swimming
- Tablelands and Waterfalls Tour
Top 10 Things to Do in Cairns for FREE
- Cairns Lagoon
- Muddies if you have kids Muddies is so much fun
- Cairns Botanical Gardens
- If you love fitness & bushwalking the Red, Blue, Green & Yellow Arrows are awesome.
- Centenary Lakes Nature Play has a great play area for kids
- Rusty’s Farm Markets is open Friday to Sunday
- Swimming holes Behana Gorge and Crystal Cascades are great spots for a refreshing dip
- Munro Martin Parklands are World Class gardens
- Free Activities on the Esplanade – Skate Park, Exercise Equipment, Yoga, Beach Volleyball
- Treehouse is another excellent option for kids and Wharf One Cafe is right next door
Cairns Attractions
Great Barrier Reef

No visit to Tropical North Queensland is complete without a visit to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
You can take in the world’s largest living structure from a glass-bottom boat and witness the reef’s incredible aquatic life.
The Esplanade

Cairns Esplanade is one of Cairns’ most affordable attractions.
From yoga to Zumba, fitness programmes for all fitness levels and ages are free.
Once you’ve burned the calories, you can cool down in Cairns lagoon surrounded by sand with a clear view of the Coral Sea.
Shops, art, and live entertainment are open to backpackers and families alike.
Galleries &Museums

Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Cairns’ rich and varied culture expressed through indigenous and contemporary art displayed in its host of art galleries.
The Cairns Museum offers diverse collections. That illustrates Cairns’ growth from a frontier town for gold miners to the top-class tourist attraction it is today.
Botanic Gardens

Cairns has one of the best botanic exhibits in Australia.
One of the free things to do in Cairns is the Cairns Botanical Gardens.
Located only 4 kilometres from the city’s heart, the gardens are a prime example of the types of plants that grow in the tropical atmosphere of the Daintree Rainforest.

20 of the Best Value things to do in Cairns

Birdworld Kuranda
Birdworld Kuranda is home to one of Australia's greatest collections of free-flying birds, so prepare to be surrounded by vibrant colour when you visit.
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Australian Butterfly Sanctuary 🦋
Visit the largest butterfly aviary in the Southern Hemisphere! Find the Ulysses Butterfly and the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly.
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Mamu Tropical Skywalk
Not only beautiful but sustainable too! You will explore the rainforest from the floor to the canopy and experience breathtaking views from this canopy boardwalk.
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Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
Hartleys Crocodile Adventure is located just minutes north of Cairns or minutes south of Port Douglas Located on a hectare World Heritage location at Wangetti
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Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat
No trip to Far North Queensland is complete without a visit to Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat!
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Cairns to Fitzroy Island One-Way Ferry
Fitzroy Island Ferry departs several times a day from Cairns Choose from half-day and full-day.
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Kuranda Scenic Railway Experience
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Train, winding through rainforests, tunnels, and waterfalls, to the charming village of Kuranda.
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Cairns Aquarium 🐠
Discover over 16,000 creatures from the reef and rainforest by immersing yourself in the 5 unique habitats which are on display.
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Paronella Park
The Spanish Castle in the Rainforest Spread over 5 Hectares Jose Paronella began construction of his labour of love in the early 1930s
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Port Douglas Sunset Cruise
Relax and unwind on this Sunset sailing trip to the Outer Barrier Reef from Port Douglas with Sailaway Port Douglas.
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Giant Jungle Swing at Skypark Cairns
AJ Hackett Giant Jungle Swing is the only multi-person swing in Australia swooping through the jungle from 45 metres to 1 metre in 3.5 seconds!
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Green Island Day Trip – Ferry transfers
Green Island Reef Cruise options for both full or half day spend a lovely day options for snorkeling relaxing on the beach walking and more
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Cairns Sight Seeing
The ultimate “City Sights” tour of Cairns and its spectacular tropical environs Offering so much more than the usual City tours this truly rewarding afternoon.
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Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure Half Day
Experience the famous Crocodile Attack Show where you see the notorious head shake and death roll of these huge prehistoric animals
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Cairns Calm Water Fishing
Only the best equipment is supplied to ensure the best Cairns fishing trips.
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Green Island Half Day Tour
Enjoy beautiful Green Island with the Green Island Half Day tour. Laze on the beach, snorkel, dive or wander the rainforest boardwalks.
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Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Roundtrip – with Cairns City transfers
Cairns Skyrail gives you a whole new perspective of North Queensland's rainforest. With an amazing boardwalk tour and the village to explore.
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Half Day Rafting Barron River
A fantastic introduction to White Water Rafting. It’s fun, exciting and exhilarating, suitable for all the family.
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Green Island Discovery Tour
Green Island Discovery tour A wonderful day of sightseeing with transfers, snorkelling equipment, a glass-bottom boat excursion, and up to 7 hours on the island
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Fishing Cairns Inlet
Cairns Fishing Tours the open waters, creeks and deep channels of the Cairns Estuary System are a paradise for anglers and fishermen alike.
Read moreLiveaboards in Cairns

Reef Encounter Stateroom
Cairns best liveaboard rated unbeatable on locations, service and value! Staying on Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the number one thing to do in Australia
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Tropic Days Backpackers
Set in a beautiful landscaped tropical garden, this is your home away from home.
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