Content may contain affiliate links.
Cairns is a popular vacation destination in Queensland Australia. It is a gateway to The Great Barrier Reef, The Daintree Rainforest and the UNESCO listed Wet Tropics of Australia. But is it safe to swim? In this post we go into the dangers of swimming in the sea (The Coral Sea) from Cairns and give you ideas for safe places to cool off in the water.
Why would it not be safe to swim from Cairns? There are two major reasons people ask this question, saltwater crocodiles (salties) and deadly marine jellyfish. Notably box jellyfish and Irudkanje. Sharks aren’t usually something we worry about in the Cairns region but there could be bull sharks too. Great white sharks prefer cold waters meaning that they are rarely found in the tropics. In this post, we’re not going to worry too much about sharks!
Swimming From Cairns City
The city of Cairns stands on an inlet or estuary. It has a busy harbour used by cruise ships and a fleet of boats taking snorkellers and scuba divers to the Great Barrier Reef and off-shore islands. The Cairns Esplanade opens onto a somewhat muddy “beach”. It’s not somewhere you’d want to swim and yes, there could be crocodiles. Anywhere close to a river, inlet, or estuary is not a good place to swim. You’ll see warning signs everywhere.
The Cairns Lagoon is a gorgeous, free, swimming pool right on the Esplanade with views out to sea. This is a great place to swim at any time of year. In winter (July) it could be a bit chilly!
Beaches in and Near Cairns
North of Cairns city there is a string of beaches collectively called The Northern Beaches. Most of these are considered OK for swimming and they have stinger nets during “stinger season” which is roughly November to May, summer. A stinger net is a large swimming enclosure made of mesh, it’s weighted to the bottom and has floats along the top. They are designed to keep out large box jellies or other large types. If you visit our post on beaches in this area you’ll see photos of some beautiful unspoiled beaches north of Cairns and their nets.
Palm Cove and Port Douglas are popular holiday destinations north of Cairns. Both have nice beaches with stinger nets. There are no more stinger nets north of Port Douglas and the crocodile risk gets worse. If you’re still deciding where to stay, see our posts on Cairns vs Port Douglas vs Palm Cove.
Swimming on The Great Barrier Reef at Cairns
If you decide to stay in Cairns, you will no doubt spend a day or two snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef. The reef is about 2 hours by boat off-shore. It’s rare for a crocodile to find itself out there! In stinger season you will wear a lycra “stinger suit”. These cover you from head to toe and protect you from jellyfish. If you want to know more about snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef and what that entails, click through for more information.
You can swim on The Great Barrier Reef from Cairns year-round. In winter the water will be chilly, you may prefer to use a wetsuit. These are normally provided by the snorkel boats. In summer, stinger season, you will have to wear a stinger suit. The shoulder season, either side of stinger season, offers the best of both worlds, not too cold, not too hot.
If a tropical storm or cyclone is in the Cairns region, boats may stop running. If you read our post on The Best Time to Visit Cairns, we have more weather and sea temperature details.
Freshwater Swimming, Lakes, Streams and Waterfalls
There are also plenty of freshwater swimming holes, lakes, waterfalls and rainforest streams around Cairns. Be sure to pick one that is considered safe for swimming and croc-fre. You can book a tour to The Daintree, which will include swimming in a rainforest creek, with a guide (to tell you where is safe). Take a look at this tour here.
Millaa Milla Falls is a stand-out place if you’d like to swim under a jungle waterfall. It’s on the Tablelands, you can book a waterfalls tour here. On this trip you can also swim in Lake Eacham, a sparkling crater lake, and also at Josephine Falls where the water has formed a natural rock slide. You’ll even get a chance to spot a platypus! Swimming on The Tablelands could be chilly in winter but in the hotter months, (October into November, before the rains) it’s a dream! Book your day out here.
Hotels With Good Swimming Pools
You should try to pick a hotel with a good swimming pool. Some of the best pools in Australia are in Port Douglas, at The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort and the Pullman Sea Temple Resort and Spa. In Palm Cove there is the Pullman Sea Temple Resort Palm Cove, again with a nice lagoon pool. For backpackers and budget travellers Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel and Resort in Cairns also has a good pool.
Remember that most pools are not heated in Far North Queensland. You might find them cold in June, July, into August. In summer they will be very warm!
For the kids, there is an excellent water-play area at Muddy’s Playground on the Cairns Esplanade.
Peak season in Cairns is generally during school holidays, Easter, July, and Just after Christmas through to Australia Day. You can swim in and around Cairns at any time of year, just be aware or crocodiles and the potential dangers of jellyfish. Always follow the lifeguards’ instructions and stay in the stinger nets when they are in use.
